Intel Core i5-2520M vs Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 vs Intel Core i5-2557M
Intel Core i5-2520M
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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 2 Duo P8400
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The Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 is a dual core processor for laptops. It features 2.26 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).
The performance of the P8400 is on par with the fast Turion II Ultra with about 2.4 to 2.6 GHz. Modern demanding games like Supreme Commander may be limited by the CPU performance. High end gamers should choose a higher clocked Core 2 Duo (or Core i5 / i7).
The P8400 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 800 MHz to save power (in idle mode).
The Core 2 Duo P8400 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)
Intel Core i5-2557M
► remove from comparisonThe Intel Core i5-2557M is power efficient ULV (Ultra Low Voltage) processor for thin and light laptops. The base frequency of 1.7 GHz is relatively low, but due to Turbo Boost 2.0, the CPU may clock up to 2.7 GHz (on core loaded, 2.4 GHz with both cores loaded). However, this is depending on the cooling and power consumption of the laptop. Due to HyperThreading, the i5-2557M is able to handle 4 threads in parallel. Compared to the Core i7-2657M, the i5 offers less cache but a higher base clock speed and faster graphics turbo boost.
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 integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000 clocked at 350 or 1200MHz (Turbo Boost). Due to the slower clock rate, compared to HD Graphics 3000 in 35W and 45W processors (usually clocked at 650-1100/1300MHz in non LV processors), the performance should be noticeable lower.
The performance of the CPU should be a bit higher than a similar clocked Arrandale Core i5. In our benchmarks (see below), the similar 2657M ULV processor was as fast as a Core i3-2310M due to the high Turbo Boost frequencies. However, the laptop cooling system has to keep the processor relatively cool for the Turbo Boost to work often.
The TDP of 17W (includes the integrated GPU and memory controller) allows the use of the 2557M CPU in small subnotebooks.
| Model | Intel Core i5-2520M | Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 | Intel Core i5-2557M | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Codename | Sandy Bridge | Penryn | Sandy Bridge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series | Intel Core i5 | Intel Core 2 Duo | Intel Core i5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series: Core i5 Sandy Bridge |
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| Clock | 2500 - 3200 MHz | 2260 MHz | 1700 - 2700 MHz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| L1 Cache | 128 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 3 MB | 512 KB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 3 MB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TDP | 35 Watt | 25 Watt | 17 Watt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transistors | 624 Million | 410 Million | 624 Million | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technology | 32 nm | 45 nm | 32 nm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Die Size | 149 mm2 | 107 mm2 | 149 mm2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| max. Temp. | 100 °C | 105 °C | 100 °C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Socket | rPGA988B / BGA1023 | Socket P | BGA1023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Features | HD Graphics 3000 (650-1300MHz), DDR3-1066/1333 Memory Controller (max 8GB), HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, Virtualization | SSE4.1, Virtualization Technology, Execute Disable Bit, Enhanced Speedstep, Ehnaced Halt State (C1E), 64 Bit, Trusted Execution Technology | Turbo Boost 2.0, VPro, Hyper-Threading, Virtualization VT-x, Virtualization for Directed I/O (VT-d), Trusted Execution, AES, Intel 64, Anti-Theft, My WiFi, Idle States, Enhanced SpeedStep, Thermal Monitorin, Execute Disable Bit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| iGPU | Intel HD Graphics 3000 (650 - 1300 MHz) | Intel HD Graphics 3000 (350 - 1200 MHz) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Architecture | x86 | x86 | x86 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $225 U.S. | $209 U.S. | $250 U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Announced | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer | ark.intel.com | ark.intel.com | ark.intel.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FSB | 1066 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Voltage | 1.05-1.15 V |
Benchmarks
Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-2520M → 100% n=10
Average Benchmarks Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 → 53% n=10
Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-2557M → 81% n=10
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation
