CPU Comparison
Intel Core i7-2635QM vs Intel Core i7-2715QE
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i7-2635QM is a BGA-packaged mobile processor that brought quad-core performance to thinner and more compact laptops in 2011. Based on the Sandy Bridge architecture, it features four cores and eight threads, delivering excellent multitasking capabilities. Operating at a 2.0 GHz base clock and boosting up to 2.9 GHz, it offered the same performance as the socketed i7-2630QM but was soldered directly to the motherboard via BGA 1223. The 32nm process housed 1,160 million transistors and a 6MB L3 cache. With a 45W TDP, it was designed for performance laptops rather than ultrabooks. It included Intel HD 3000 integrated graphics for everyday multimedia tasks. While lacking an unlocked multiplier, the i7-2635QM supported AVX and AES-NI, making it a powerful and permanent solution for portable systems requiring robust computational power without the need for future upgrades.
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Adequate for basic tasks but slow for heavy workloads.
Adequate for light office tasks but slow for heavy workloads.
Gaming
Obsolete for modern gaming; only handles old titles.
Obsolete for modern gaming; HD 3000 cannot handle new titles.
Virtualization
Supports VT-x but limited by locked nature.
Supports VT-x but limited by 45W thermal constraints.
Efficiency
45W TDP is inefficient for modern mobile standards.
32nm process is inefficient by today's mobile standards.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware
- Extremely slow compute
- No AI acceleration
- Extremely slow compute
Content Creation
Gaming
- No AVX2 support
- HD 3000 graphics are obsolete
- Low base clock
- Only suitable for retro games
- No AVX2 support
- Weak integrated graphics
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Soldered design for durability
- Good multi-threaded performance for 2011
- Hardware AES-NI support
- Reliable Sandy Bridge architecture
Cons
- Cannot be upgraded (soldered)
- 45W TDP requires active cooling
- Obsolete integrated graphics
- Lacks AVX2 support
Pros
- Soldered BGA package for durability
- Good sustained performance for 2011
- Hardware AES-NI support
- Long embedded lifecycle availability
Cons
- Cannot be upgraded (soldered)
- 45W TDP requires active cooling
- Obsolete integrated graphics
- Lacks AVX2 support
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i7-2635QM
- AMD A8-3510MXRival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-2630QMRival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-2715QERival
Mobile
- AMD Phenom II N930Rival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-2435MRival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-3612QMAlt
Ivy Bridge successor with lower power.
- AMD Ryzen 3 3200UAlt
Modern budget mobile alternative.
- Intel Core i3-3217UAlt
Lower power Ivy Bridge alternative.
- Intel Pentium 987Alt
Low power alternative for basic tasks.
Intel Core i7-2715QE
- AMD A8-3510MXRival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-2635QMRival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-2710QERival
Mobile
- AMD Embedded G-T56NRival
Embedded
- Intel Core i5-2515QERival
Embedded
Ivy Bridge successor with lower power.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen Embedded V1605BAlt
Modern embedded alternative with Vega graphics.
- Intel Atom x5-Z8350Alt
Lower power embedded alternative for basic tasks.
- Intel Core i3-3217UEAlt
Lower power Ivy Bridge embedded chip.
Our Verdict on Each
A reliable soldered mobile CPU that offered great performance for its time, now obsolete and non-upgradable.
Best for: The Core i7-2635QM is an obsolete, soldered mobile processor that cannot be upgraded. If you own a laptop with this chip, it is still functional for basic computing, media playback, and web browsing. Adding an SSD and upgrading the RAM can significantly improve the responsiveness of the system for legacy use. However, it is completely unsuitable for modern gaming or heavy productivity tasks. If the laptop fails, it is generally not worth repairing the motherboard due to the age of the platform. For new purchases, modern laptops offer exponentially better performance, battery life, and features. The i7-2635QM should only be maintained in working devices, not sought out for new builds or repairs.
Read the full reviewA solid embedded quad-core CPU that provided excellent longevity for industrial applications, now obsolete.
Best for: The Core i7-2715QE is an End-of-Life processor that is no longer viable for new designs. Because it is a BGA-packaged chip, it is soldered directly to the motherboard and cannot be upgraded. If you are maintaining an older embedded system or industrial PC that uses this processor, it remains functional for basic tasks and legacy software. However, any new project should utilize modern Intel or AMD embedded processors that offer significantly better performance per watt, smaller footprints, and modern I/O like PCIe 4.0 and USB 3.2. Finding replacement boards for this chip is becoming difficult, making it a poor choice for critical infrastructure. It is best left to repair existing hardware rather than seeking it out for new builds.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Do Intel Core i7-2635QM and Intel Core i7-2715QE use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i7-2635QM: BGA 1224, Intel Core i7-2715QE: BGA 1023), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i7-2715QE posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i7-2635QM (3,700), Intel Core i7-2715QE (3,800). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.