Intel Core i7-2635QM vs Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 vs Intel Core 2 Duo P8800

The Intel Core i7-2635QM is a fast quad core processor for laptops. It is based on the Sandy Bridge architecture and offers Hyperthreading to handle 8 threads at once (for a better usage of the pipeline). Compared to the previous Clarksdale quad-cores, the i7-2635QM is now manufactured in 32nm and offers an integrated graphics card and AES functions. Compared to the faster Core i7, the 2635QM does not support Trusted Execution functions and VT-d (VT-x Virtualization only).

Compared to the Core i7-2630QM, the 2635QM offers a slightly higher Turbo Boost frequency for the GPU (1200MHz versus 1100MHz) and is offered in the BGA Package (2630QM rPGA).

Sandy Bridge is the evolutionary successor of the Arrandale architecture. The most noteable improvements are the new 256Bit AVX instructions, the improved Turbo 2.0 and the integration of the graphics card into the 32nm CPU core. 

Der i7-2635QM offers an integrated graphics card ( Intel HD Graphics 3000) which is clearly faster then the older Intel HD Graphics in the Arrandale CPUs. As the new GPU is included in the CPU, it is also manufactured in 32nm and shares the fast level 3 cache with the CPU cores (using a new ring bus). In the 2635QM it is clocked from 650-1200MHz (Turbo Boost).

Furthermore, an improved dual-channel DDR3 memory controller is included on the CPU die that is used by the CPU and GPU part.

The performance of the Core i7-2635QM should be about 10-15% faster than a similar clocked Clarksfield Core i7 (see first tests by Anandtech). Therefore, the 2635QM should be on a level (or even faster) than a Core i7-920XM Quad-Core.

The Intel Core 2 Duo P8800 is a dual core processor for laptops. It features 2.66 GHz and a shared level 2 cache of 3 MB. Due to the smaller cache (Core 2 Duo T-Models got usually 6 MB at this clock rate), the TDP is only 25 Watt (instead of the 35 Watt of the T-models).

Due to the relatively high clock speed, modern games (in 2009) should not be limited by the CPU speed (in conjunction with a middle class graphics card). High end gamers should choose a higher clocked Dual Core instead (when using a high end GPU).

The P8800 uses a Penryn (Montevina Update) core that features 2 integer units, 1 floating point unit, 1 load unit, and 1 store unit in a 14-stages long pipeline. Due to the Wide Dynamic Execution Technology, the core is able to simultaneously execute up to four instructions.

The integrated Enhanced Speedstep is able to downclock the core dynamically as low as 1200 MHz to save power (in idle mode).

The Core 2 Duo P8800 can be used in a Socket P socket with 479 pins: Socket P / Micro Flip-Chip Pin Grid Array (Micro-FCPGA) requires 479-pin surface mount Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) socket (mPGA479M socket) or Micro Flip-Chip Ball Grid Array (Micro-FCBGA) for surface mount (479-ball)