Intel Core i7-820QM vs Intel Core2 Quad Q9000: comparison

Comparison of Intel Core i7-820QM and Intel Core2 Quad Q9000: key differences and a full specification table.

Key differences

Intel Core i7-820QM has more threads (8 vs 4).

At the same time, Intel Core2 Quad Q9000 has a higher base clock (2 GHz vs 1.73 GHz).

Both processors match on: core count (4), TDP (45 W), process node (45 nm).

These are specification values: they show differences between the models but do not determine a performance winner. For a specific workload, rely on independent benchmarks.

Key specifications

ParameterIntel Core i7-820QMIntel Core2 Quad Q9000
Cores / threads 4 / 8 4 / 4
Max boost clock 3.06 GHz —
L3 cache 8 MB —
TDP 45 W 45 W
Process 45 nm 45 nm

Full specification table

Differing values are highlighted. This is not a better/worse rating: numbers from different architectures are not always comparable.

Parameter Intel Core i7-820QM Intel Core2 Quad Q9000
General
Model i7-820QM Q9000
Codename Clarksfield Penryn
Segment Mobile Mobile
Product line Legacy Intel Core Processors Legacy Intel Core Processors
Process 45 nm 45 nm
Launch date Q3 2009 Q1 2009
Status Discontinued Discontinued
Servicing status End of Servicing Updates End of Servicing Updates
Embedded options available No No
CPU
Cores 4 4
Threads 8 4
Multithreading (SMT/HT) Yes No
Base clock 1.73 GHz 2 GHz
Max boost clock 3.06 GHz —
L2 cache — 6 MB
L3 cache 8 MB —
Bus speed 2.5 GT/s 1.066 GHz
TDP 45 W 45 W
Turbo Boost Yes (1) No
64-bit support Yes Yes
Instruction set width 64 bit 64 bit
Instruction set extensions SSE4.2 —
VID voltage range — 1.050V-1.175V
FSB parity — No
Memory
Max memory size 8 GB —
Memory types DDR3 —
Memory channels 2 —
Max memory bandwidth 21 GB/s —
ECC memory supported No —
Physical address extensions 36-bit —
I/O and interfaces
PCI Express revision 2 —
PCI Express lanes 16 —
PCI Express configurations 1x16, 2x8 —
Package and thermal
Sockets supported PGA988 PGA478
Max CPU configuration 1 —
Package size 37.5mm x 37.5mm 35mm x 35mm
TJUNCTION 100 °C 100 °C
Die size 296 mm² 107 mm²
Transistors (millions) 774 million 410 million
Security and virtualization
Virtualization (VT-x / AMD-V) Yes Yes
Virtualization for Directed I/O (VT-d) Yes —
Extended Page Tables (EPT) Yes —
AES-NI No —
Execute Disable Bit Yes Yes
vPro Eligibility Intel vPro Platform —
Technologies
Enhanced SpeedStep Yes Yes
Idle States Yes —
Thermal Monitoring Technologies Yes —

Other comparisons