CPU Comparison

Intel Core i7-2670QM vs Intel Core i7-2760QM

A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i7-2670QM is a performance mobile processor released in late 2011 as a slight refresh to the popular 2630QM. Built on the Sandy Bridge architecture, it features four cores and eight threads, delivering robust multitasking capabilities for laptops. Operating at a 2.2 GHz base clock with a 3.1 GHz turbo boost, it offered a modest 200 MHz speed increase over its predecessor. The 32nm chip integrated 1,160 million transistors and a 6MB L3 cache. Utilizing the Socket G2 (988B) interface, it allowed for upgradability in certain laptop models. With a 45W TDP, it was designed for performance-oriented laptops and workstations. It included Intel HD 3000 integrated graphics for everyday multimedia. While locked for overclocking, the i7-2670QM supported AVX and AES-NI, making it a highly capable and popular choice for users needing portable computational power.

Intel · Core i7
Intel Core i7-2670QM
4C / 8T3.1 GHz45 W
7.5
Full review
Top pick
Intel · Core i7
Intel Core i7-2760QM
4C / 8T3.5 GHz45 W
8
Full review

The Bottom Line

Overview & Launch

Brand
Intel
Intel
Market
Mobile
Mobile
Segment
Mobile
Mobile
Generation
2nd Generation
2nd Generation
Launched
2011
2011
Status
End-of-life
End-of-life
Codename
Sandy Bridge
Sandy Bridge
Series
Core i7
Core i7
Family
Sandy Bridge
Sandy Bridge
Predecessor
Intel Core i7-2630QM
Intel Core i7-2720QM
Successor
Intel Core i7-3610QM
Intel Core i7-3610QM

Specifications Compared

Cores & Clocks
Cores
4
4
Threads
8
8
Base Clock
2.2 GHz
2.4 GHz
Boost Clock
3.1 GHz
3.5 GHz
Cache & Power
L3 Cache
6 MB
6 MB
TDP
45 W
45 W
Architecture
Architecture
Sandy Bridge
Sandy Bridge
Process Node
32nm
32nm
Memory
Memory Type
DDR3
DDR3
Memory Speed
DDR3-1333
DDR3-1333
Memory Channels
Dual (2)
Dual (2)
Max Memory
32 GB
32 GB
Platform & I/O
Socket
Socket G2 (988B)
Socket G2 (988B)
PCIe Version
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 2.0
PCIe Lanes
16
16
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
Unlocked
No
No

Performance Compared

Productivity

Intel Core i7-2670QM35

Fine for basic office work but struggles with heavy web apps.

Intel Core i7-2760QMBest40

Good for basic office work but slow for heavy web apps.

Gaming

Intel Core i7-2670QM25

Handles old games well but bottlenecks modern GPUs.

Intel Core i7-2760QMBest30

Handles old games well but bottlenecks modern GPUs.

Virtualization

Intel Core i7-2670QM35

Can run light VMs but limited by modern standards.

Intel Core i7-2760QMBest45

VT-d support makes it decent for legacy VMs.

Efficiency

Intel Core i7-2670QM25

45W TDP is high, leading to poor battery life.

Intel Core i7-2760QM25

45W TDP is high, leading to poor battery life.

Specialized Performance

AI / ML

Intel Core i7-2670QMNone
  • No AI hardware
  • Too slow for AI workloads
Intel Core i7-2760QMNone
  • No AI hardware
  • Too slow for AI workloads

Content Creation

Intel Core i7-2670QMPoor
Basic 720p video editingPhoto management
Intel Core i7-2760QMPoor
Basic 720p video editingPhoto management

Gaming

Intel Core i7-2670QMFair
  • Good for 2011-2014 games
  • Lacks AVX2 for modern titles
  • HD 3000 is obsolete
Intel Core i7-2760QMFair
  • Good for 2011 games
  • Lacks AVX2 for modern titles
  • HD 3000 is obsolete

Industry Impact

Gaming
High
High
Workstations
Moderate
High
Content Creation
Moderate
Moderate
Virtualization
Low
High

Best CPU by Use Case

Legacy Laptop Use
Good
Good
Office Productivity
Fair
Good
Retro Gaming
Good
Modern Gaming
Poor
Poor
Video Editing
Poor
Poor
Mobile Workstation
Fair

Target Audience

Gamers
Content Creators
Developers
Workstation Users
Streamers
Office / Productivity
Targeted
Targeted
Students
Targeted

Strengths & Weaknesses

Intel Core i7-2670QM

Pros

  • Good multi-threaded performance for 2011
  • Socketed design allows replacement
  • Reliable Sandy Bridge architecture
  • Higher clocks than 2630QM

Cons

  • 45W TDP limits battery life
  • Integrated graphics are obsolete
  • Lacks AVX2 support
  • End-of-life and unsupported
Intel Core i7-2760QM

Pros

  • Good multi-threaded performance for 2011
  • Supports VT-d for virtualization
  • High turbo boost clock up to 3.5 GHz
  • Socketed design allows replacement

Cons

  • 45W TDP limits battery life
  • Integrated graphics are obsolete
  • Lacks AVX2 support
  • End-of-life and unsupported

Competitors & Alternatives

Intel Core i7-2670QM

  • AMD A8-3550MX

    Mobile

    Rival
  • Compare head-to-head
  • Compare head-to-head
  • AMD Phenom II N950

    Mobile

    Rival
  • Intel Core i5-2450M

    Mobile

    Rival
  • Intel Core i7-3610QM
    Alt

    Ivy Bridge successor with better efficiency.

  • AMD Ryzen 3 3250U
    Alt

    Modern budget mobile alternative.

  • Intel Core i5-2430M
    Alt

    Dual-core alternative for lighter laptops.

  • Intel Pentium Silver N5000
    Alt

    Modern low-power alternative.

Intel Core i7-2760QM

  • AMD A8-3550MX

    Mobile

    Rival
  • Compare head-to-head
  • Intel Core i7-2720QM

    Mobile

    Rival
  • AMD Phenom II N950

    Mobile

    Rival
  • Intel Core i7-2860QM

    Mobile

    Rival
  • Intel Core i7-3610QM
    Alt

    Ivy Bridge successor with better efficiency.

  • AMD Ryzen 3 3200U
    Alt

    Modern budget mobile alternative.

  • Dual-core alternative for lighter laptops.

    Compare head-to-head
  • Intel Pentium Silver N5000
    Alt

    Modern low-power alternative.

Our Verdict on Each

A solid mobile quad-core that provided a nice speed bump over the 2630QM, now obsolete.

Best for: The Core i7-2670QM is an obsolete processor that should not be sought out for new purchases. However, if you already own a laptop with this chip, it remains viable for basic tasks like web browsing, document editing, and media playback. In some compatible laptops, users could upgrade from an i5 or i3 to this i7, but that is no longer cost-effective. If your laptop still functions, adding an SSD and maxing out the RAM can breathe new life into it for light use. For any new computing needs, modern laptops offer vastly superior performance, battery life, and features. The i7-2670QM is best left as a component in functioning legacy devices rather than a target for upgrades.

Read the full review

A premium mobile CPU that offered excellent clocks and VT-d support, now obsolete.

Best for: The Core i7-2760QM is an obsolete processor that should not be sought out for new purchases. However, if you already own a laptop with this chip, it remains viable for basic tasks like web browsing, document editing, and media playback. Its VT-d support makes it interesting for legacy virtualization projects, provided the laptop has enough RAM. If your laptop still functions, adding an SSD and maxing out the RAM can breathe new life into it. For any new computing needs, modern laptops offer vastly superior performance, battery life, and features. The i7-2760QM is best left as a component in functioning legacy devices rather than a target for upgrades.

Read the full review

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Intel Core i7-2670QM or Intel Core i7-2760QM?

Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i7-2760QM comes out ahead with a score of 8/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.

Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i7-2670QM or Intel Core i7-2760QM?

For gaming, the Intel Core i7-2760QM leads with a gaming performance score of 30/100 among Intel Core i7-2670QM and Intel Core i7-2760QM.

Do Intel Core i7-2670QM and Intel Core i7-2760QM use the same socket?

Yes — all of these CPUs use the Socket G2 (988B) socket, so they share compatible motherboards.

Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?

The Intel Core i7-2760QM posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i7-2670QM (3,900), Intel Core i7-2760QM (4,300). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.