Intel Core i7-3630QM vs Intel Core i5-6500

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   Perhaps you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i7-3630QM vs Intel Core i5-6500 tests and understand which is better for games or simple use for programming, streaming, video editing, rendering, machine learning. Here you can find all information from various benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests like UserBenchmark, PCMark 10, GeekBench 6, 5.2, RealBench, Prime95, Blender, WPrime, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Handbrake, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, SuperPi, 7zip, Blender, Dolphin Emulator, VeraCrypt, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), PassMark, AIDA64, 3DMark, Furmark, MATLAB, Gears 5.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

Borderlands 3
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Death Stranding
Valorant
Last Man Standing
Overwatch
DOOM: Eternal
Cyberpunk 2077
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone
Red Dead Redemption 2
Apex Legends
Grand Theft Auto V
Valheim
Watch Dogs Legion
Rainbow Six Siege
Halo Infinite
Fortnite
Fallout 76
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-6500 or Intel Core i7-3630QM.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i7-3630QM

51%

Core i5-6500

51%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i7-3630QM

51%

Core i5-6500

51%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a low game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of less popular games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Ghostrunner, Metro Exodus, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Control, Hitman 3, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, DOTA 2A, League of Legends (LOL), Horizon Zero Dawn, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, NBA 2K20, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Monster Hunter World, Half-Life: Alyx, Battlefield V, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Forza Horizon 4, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	91.1	91.4
Valorant	103.5	103.9
Cyberpunk 2077	58.0	58.2
Apex Legends	97.3	97.6
Call of Duty Warzone	77.6	77.9
Overwatch	83.9	84.1
Red Dead Redemption 2	71.4	71.7
DOOM Eternal	51.8	51.9
Warzone	80.8	81.0
Assassin's Creed	87.0	87.3
Valheim	85.9	86.2

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The tested computers not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K or 4K. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i7-3630QM

57%

Core i5-6500

51%

To make a finishing resolution on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i7-3630QM is more energy efficient than the Core i5-6500 as it consumes less power: 45W vs. 65W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video rendering or video editing, machine learning, programming, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum efficiency, the CPU includes all cores and threads that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to run, and all the advantages of multi-core mode are unused.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i7-3630QM	Intel Core i5-6500
Cinbench 15 Single-core	120	153
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	590	565
Cinbench 20 Single-core	245	354
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1230	1299
Cinbench 23 Single-core	722	842
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	3469	2928

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i7-3630QM	Intel Core i5-6500
Single-Core	1699	2149
Multi-Core	5080	5644

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i7-3630QM	Intel Core i5-6500
Single-Core	780	1004
Multi-Core	3044	3346

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most useful. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in the newest games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i7-3630QM	Intel Core i5-6500
Announcement date	January 01, 2012	April 01, 2015
Type	Laptop	Desktop
Socket	rPGA988B	LGA 1151
Core name	Ivy Bridge	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	3	6
Turbo Frequency	3.4 MHz	3.6 MHz
Frequency	2.4 MHz	3.2 MHz
Cores	4	4
Threads	8	4
Bus rate	5 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	22 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	2460 millions	1760 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	45 W	65 W
Memory type	DDR3/L/-RS 1333/1600	DDR4-1866/2133, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V
Max. Memory	32 Gb	64 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	34.1 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	6 MB	6 MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i5-6500 is 25% better than Core i7-3630QM in terms of CPU frequency. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-3630QM is better: 5
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-6500 is better: 27
However, it should be understood that all the figures that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i7-3630QM and Intel Core i5-6500 before deciding which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i7-3630QM specs and review.

• Intel Core i5-6500 specs and review.