Intel Core i5-2520M

The Intel Core i7-2520M is a fast high-end dual core processor at the time of introduction in Q1 2011. It is based on the Sandy Bridge architecture and offers Hyperthreading to handle 4 threads at once (for a better usage of the pipeline). Compared to the faster Core i7, the i5 offers a smaller last level cache of 3MB. The base clock speed is 2.5 GHz but due to Turbo Boost it can reach 3 GHz (2 cores active) and 3.2 GHz (1 core active).

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 i5-2520M 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 2520M it is clocked from 650-1300MHz (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.

Due to the improved architecture and the new Turbo Boost 2.0, the average performance of the Core i7-2540M is higher than a similar clocked Arrandale Core i5. In synthetic benchmarks the performance should be on a level to the old Core i5-560M and therefore suited for even demanding tasks.

The 35W TDP rating includes the integrated GPU and memory controller.

Series	Intel Core i5
Codename	Sandy Bridge
Clock Rate	2500 - 3200 MHz
Level 1 Cache	128 KB
Level 2 Cache	512 KB
Level 3 Cache	3072 KB
Number of Cores / Threads	2 / 4
Max. Power Consumption (TDP = Thermal Design Power)	35 Watt
Transistor Count	624 Million
Manufacturing Technology	32 nm
Die Size	149 mm2
Max. Temperature	100 °C
Socket	rPGA988B / BGA1023
Features	HD Graphics 3000 (650-1300MHz), DDR3-1066/1333 Memory Controller (max 8GB), HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, Virtualization
64 Bit	64 Bit support
Hardware Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d
Starting Price	$225 U.S.
Announcement Date	02/20/2011
Product Link (external)	Intel Core i5 2520M

CPU Benchmarks

3DMark 06 - CPU:

100%

min: 3150 avg: 3469.4 (39.54%) max: 3594 Points

Model	Memory	GPU			Result
QX412-S01DE	4096 MB	GeForce GT 520M	740 / 1480MHz	1024MB Optimus mit Intel HD ForceWare 266.19	3150
Tecra R840-11E	4096 MB	HD Graphics 3000	650 / MHz	Sandy Bridge-MB GT2	3152
P530-K.AN51G	4096 MB	GeForce GT 520M	740 / 800MHz	1024MB Shader Takt: 1480 MHz; Nvidia Optimus ForceWare 268.44	3167
ProBook 5330m-LG720EA/LJ463UT	4096 MB	HD Graphics 3000	650 MHz to 1300 / MHz	shared memory 8.15.10.2342	3441
Vaio VPC-SB1Z9EB	6144 MB	Radeon HD 6470M	800 / 900MHz	512MB HD 6470M + Intel HD 3000 8.811.1.0	3471
Latitude E5520	4096 MB	HD Graphics 3000		8.15.10.2266	3516
ProBook 5330m (LG724EA)		HD Graphics 3000		8.15.10.2342	3526
XMG A501		GeForce GT 540M			3539
Thinkpad X220-4290W1B	4096 MB	HD Graphics 3000	850 / MHz	shared memory igd10umd64 8.15.10.2321	3544
Vostro 3550 (Vostro0112)	4096 MB	Radeon HD 6630M	485 / 800MHz	1024MB DDR3 8.811.1.0	3555
ThinkPad L420 NYV4UGE	4096 MB	HD Graphics 3000	650 / 665MHz	8.15.10.2321	3560
ThinkPad X1 NWK2PGE	4096 MB	HD Graphics 3000		DirectX 10.1, Shader 4.1 8.15.10.2342	3561
ProBook 6460b LG645EA	4096 MB	HD Graphics 3000			3575
ProBook 6560b-LG658EA	4096 MB	Radeon HD 6470M	750 / 900MHz	512MB Seymour atiumdag 8.821.1.0	3576
Latitude E6420 ATG	4096 MB	HD Graphics 3000			3583
ProBook 5330m-LG724EA	4096 MB	HD Graphics 3000	650 MHz bis 1300 MHz / MHz	8.15.10.2342	3594

Cinebench R10 in comparison
Intel Atom Z670 (min)	691
...
Intel Core i5 2430M	8074.9
AMD Phenom II X4 (Desktop) 905e	8241
Intel Core i5 2450M	8506.8
Intel Core i5 2520M	8515.8
Intel Core i7 3517U	8524
Intel Core i7 720QM	8759.7
Intel Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q6600	8800
...
Intel Core i7 (Desktop) 3960X (max)	27189.5

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Intel Core i5-2520M

CPU Benchmarks

Reviews for the Intel Core i5 2520M processor

Other CPUs of the series Intel Core i5

Surrounding CPUs