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Intel Core i5-2520M vs Intel Core i5-2430M

Intel Core i5-2520M

► remove from comparison Intel 2520M

The Intel Core i5-2520M is a fast dual-core processor released in Q1 2011. It is based on the Sandy Bridge architecture and offers Hyperthreading to run 4 threads simultaneously. Compared to the faster Core i7 family, the i5 offers smaller L3 cache at just 3MB. The base clock speed is 2.5 GHz with Turbo Boost potential up to 3 GHz for 2 active cores and 3.2 GHz for 1 active core.

Sandy Bridge is the evolutionary successor of the Arrandale architecture. The most notable improvements are the new 256-Bit AVX instructions, updated Turbo Boost 2.0, and the integration of a GPU onto the same 32 nm die. 

The i5-2520M offers an integrated graphics card (Intel HD Graphics 3000) that is clearly faster than the older Intel HD Graphics in Arrandale CPUs. The GPU shares the same fast L3 cache with the CPU cores by utilizing a new ring bus. GPU clock rates in the 2520M core can run from 650 MHz up to 1300 MHz with Turbo Boost.

Furthermore, an improved dual-channel DDR3 memory controller is included and shared between the CPU and GPU.

Due to the new architecture and updated Turbo Boost 2.0, the average performance of the Core i7-2540M is higher than a similarly clocked Arrandale Core i5. Its performance in synthetic benchmarks should be similar to the old Core i5-560M for demanding workloads.

The 35W TDP rating includes the integrated GPU and memory controller as well as the CPU itself.

Intel Core i5-2430M

► remove from comparison Intel 2430M

The Intel Core i5-2430M is a fast dual core processor at the time of introduction in Q3 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 2.4 GHz but due to Turbo Boost it can reach 2.7 GHz (2 cores active) and 3 GHz (1 core active). Compared to the 2510M, the 2430M does not support VT-d and Trusted Execution functions.

Sandy Bridge is the evolutionary successor of the Arrandale architecture. The most noteable improvements is the improved Turbo 2.0 and the integration of the graphics card into the 32nm CPU core. 

The i5-2430M 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 2430M it is clocked from  650-1200MHz (with Turbo Boost). The faster Sandy Bridge CPUs are clocked up to 1300 MHz (like the i5-2520M or the otherwise nearly similar i5-2435M).

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 i5-2430M is higher than a similar clocked Arrandale Core i5. In our benchmarks, the 2430M was able to beat the fast Intel Core i5-560M with 2.7-3.2GHz and is therefore suited for even demanding tasks.

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

ModelIntel Core i5-2520MIntel Core i5-2430M
SeriesIntel Core i5Intel Core i5
CodenameSandy BridgeSandy Bridge
Series: Core i5 Sandy Bridge
Intel Core i5-2540M compare2.6 - 3.3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-2520M « 2.5 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-2450M compare2.5 - 3.1 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-2435M compare2.4 - 3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-2430M2.4 - 3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-2415M compare2.3 - 2.9 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-2410M compare2.3 - 2.9 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-2557M compare1.7 - 2.7 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-2467M compare1.6 - 2.3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-2537M compare1.4 - 2.3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-2540M compare2.6 - 3.3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-2520M2.5 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-2450M compare2.5 - 3.1 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-2435M compare2.4 - 3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-2430M « 2.4 - 3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-2415M compare2.3 - 2.9 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-2410M compare2.3 - 2.9 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-2557M compare1.7 - 2.7 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-2467M compare1.6 - 2.3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-2537M compare1.4 - 2.3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Clock2500 - 3200 MHz2400 - 3000 MHz
L1 Cache128 KB128 KB
L2 Cache512 KB512 KB
L3 Cache3 MB3 MB
Cores / Threads2 / 42 / 4
TDP35 Watt35 Watt
Transistors624 Million624 Million
Technology32 nm32 nm
Die Size149 mm2149 mm2
max. Temp.100 °C100 °C
SocketrPGA988B / BGA1023PPGA988
FeaturesHD Graphics 3000 (650-1300MHz), DDR3-1066/1333 Memory Controller (max 8GB), HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, VirtualizationHD Graphics 3000, DDR3-1066/1333 Memory Controller (max 8GB), HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, Virtualization
iGPUIntel HD Graphics 3000 (650 - 1300 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 3000 (650 - 1200 MHz)
Architecturex86x86
$225 U.S.$225 U.S.
Announced
Manufacturerark.intel.comark.intel.com

Benchmarks

Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
min: 2.5     avg: 2.8     median: 2.9 (4%)     max: 2.89 Points
min: 2.32     avg: 2.6     median: 2.7 (3%)     max: 2.71 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
min: 3370     avg: 3949     median: 4040.5 (24%)     max: 4110 Points
min: 3410     avg: 3741     median: 3787 (23%)     max: 3853 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
min: 7313     avg: 8516     median: 8814.5 (6%)     max: 8858 Points
min: 7068     avg: 8075     median: 8222 (6%)     max: 8303 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
min: 8789     avg: 10373     median: 10514 (7%)     max: 10797 Points
min: 8767     avg: 9782     median: 9912 (7%)     max: 10170 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
min: 50.8     avg: 4703     median: 5004.5 (6%)     max: 5135 Points
min: 4425     avg: 4696     median: 4723 (6%)     max: 4809 Points
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
min: 526     avg: 555     median: 554 (7%)     max: 605 s
min: 564     avg: 596     median: 596 (7%)     max: 628 s
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
min: 16.6     avg: 18.1     median: 18 (4%)     max: 21 s
min: 17.7     avg: 18.9     median: 18.9 (4%)     max: 20.08 s
WinRAR - WinRAR 4.0
100%
1 2430M +
2236 Points (4%)
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 2
100%
1 2430M +
14.7 fps (5%)
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 1
100%
1 2430M +
76.5 fps (18%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Serpent
100%
1 2430M +
0.1 GB/s (0%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Twofish
100%
1 2430M +
0.2 GB/s (4%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt AES
100%
1 2430M +
1.4 GB/s (4%)
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
min: 3150     avg: 3469     median: 3541.5 (8%)     max: 3594 Points
min: 2878     avg: 3219     median: 3310.5 (7%)     max: 3375 Points
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
min: 11     avg: 12.4     median: 12 (3%)     max: 13 s
min: 13     avg: 13.1     median: 13 (3%)     max: 13.4 s
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
min: 25     avg: 28.9     median: 29 (1%)     max: 31 s
min: 30     avg: 30.4     median: 30.1 (1%)     max: 31 s
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
min: 623     avg: 677     median: 681 (3%)     max: 713 s
min: 694     avg: 723     median: 716.5 (3%)     max: 765 s
SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS) - SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS)
min: 49000     avg: 49675     median: 49675 (24%)     max: 50350 MIPS
min: 47280     avg: 50975     median: 50975 (24%)     max: 54670 MIPS
SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS) - SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS)
min: 34390     avg: 34855     median: 34855 (27%)     max: 35320 MFLOPS
min: 33000     avg: 33345     median: 33345 (26%)     max: 33690 MFLOPS
PCMark 05 - PCMark 05 - Standard
100%
1 2520M +
min: 7319     avg: 7809     median: 7514 (16%)     max: 8593 Points
min: 5.6     avg: 6.8     median: 6.9 (88%)     max: 7 Points
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
min: 7940     avg: 9053     median: 9214 (8%)     max: 9674 Points
min: 7748     avg: 9479     median: 8750 (8%)     max: 16921 Points
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
min: 3306     avg: 3510     median: 3449 (9%)     max: 3754 Points
min: 3084     avg: 3382     median: 3407.5 (9%)     max: 3631 Points

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-2520M → 100% n=16

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-2430M → 97% n=16

- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation

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v1.26
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Redaktion, 2017-09- 8 (Update: 2023-07- 1)