Core 2 Quad Q9550 vs Core i7-3612QM

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-3612QM
2012
4 cores / 8 threads, 35 Watt
3.04
+98.7%

Core i7-3612QM outperforms Core 2 Quad Q9550 by an impressive 99% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-3612QM and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking16402145
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i7Core 2 Quad (Desktop)
Power efficiency7.921.47
Architecture codenameIvy Bridge (2012−2013)Yorkfield (2007−2009)
Release date29 April 2012 (12 years ago)no data (2024 years ago)

Detailed specifications

Core i7-3612QM and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores4 (Quad-Core)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads84
Base clock speed2.1 GHzno data
Boost clock speed3.1 GHz2.83 GHz
Bus rate5 GT/s1333 MHz
L1 cache64K (per core)no data
L2 cache256K (per core)12288 KB
L3 cache6 MB (shared)no data
Chip lithography22 nm45 nm
Die size160 mm2no data
Maximum core temperature105 °Cno data
Number of transistors1,400 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-3612QM and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration1no data
SocketFCPGA988LGA775
Power consumption (TDP)35 Watt95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-3612QM and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® AVXno data
AES-NI+-
AVX+-
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)+no data
My WiFi+no data
Turbo Boost Technology2.0no data
Hyper-Threading Technology+no data
Idle States+no data
Thermal Monitoring+-
Flex Memory Access+no data
Demand Based Switching-no data
FDI+no data
Fast Memory Access+no data

Security technologies

Core i7-3612QM and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT+no data
EDB+no data
Secure Key+no data
Identity Protection+-
Anti-Theft+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-3612QM and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 are enumerated here.

AMD-V+-
VT-d+no data
VT-x+no data
EPT+no data

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-3612QM and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR1,DDR2,DDR3
Maximum memory size32 GBno data
Max memory channels2no data
Maximum memory bandwidth25.6 GB/sno data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 4000no data
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.1 GHzno data
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-3612QM and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported3no data
eDP+no data
DisplayPort+-
HDMI+-
SDVO+no data
CRT+no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-3612QM and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550.

PCIe version3.0no data
PCI Express lanes16no data

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i7-3612QM 3.04
+98.7%
Core 2 Quad Q9550 1.53

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i7-3612QM 4659
+98.4%
Core 2 Quad Q9550 2348

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i7-3612QM 491
+32.7%
Core 2 Quad Q9550 370

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i7-3612QM 1652
+59.2%
Core 2 Quad Q9550 1038

Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core

Cinebench R10 is an ancient ray tracing benchmark for processors by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. Its single core version uses just one CPU thread to render a futuristic looking motorcycle.

i7-3612QM 4113
+32.4%
Core 2 Quad Q9550 3106

Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 10 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R10 using all the processor threads. Possible number of threads is limited by 16 in this version.

i7-3612QM 15678
+44.8%
Core 2 Quad Q9550 10825

3DMark06 CPU

3DMark06 is a discontinued DirectX 9 benchmark suite from Futuremark. Its CPU part contains two scenarios, one dedicated to artificial intelligence pathfinding, another to game physics using PhysX package.

i7-3612QM 5466
+29.2%
Core 2 Quad Q9550 4230

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 11.5 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R11.5 which uses all the processor threads. A maximum of 64 threads is supported in this version.

i7-3612QM 6
+65.8%
Core 2 Quad Q9550 3

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.04 1.53
Threads 8 4
Chip lithography 22 nm 45 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 35 Watt 95 Watt

i7-3612QM has a 98.7% higher aggregate performance score, 100% more threads, a 104.5% more advanced lithography process, and 171.4% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-3612QM is our recommended choice as it beats the Core 2 Quad Q9550 in performance tests.

Be aware that Core i7-3612QM is a notebook processor while Core 2 Quad Q9550 is a desktop one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-3612QM and Core 2 Quad Q9550, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-3612QM
Core i7-3612QM
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550
Core 2 Quad Q9550

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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