Intel Core i5-2520M vs Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 vs Intel Core 2 Duo P8800
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 T6400
► remove from comparisonThe Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 is an entry level dual core processor for cheap laptops. It is based on the Penryn core but offers only 2 MB level 2 cache and a slow clock speed of 2 GHz. The performance should be sufficient for office and other casual tasks but high level gaming and HD video editing for example could be limited by the CPU performance.
Intel Core 2 Duo P8800
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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)
| Model | Intel Core i5-2520M | Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 | Intel Core 2 Duo P8800 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Codename | Sandy Bridge | Penryn | Penryn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series | Intel Core i5 | Intel Core 2 Duo | Intel Core 2 Duo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series: Core 2 Duo Penryn |
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| Clock | 2500 - 3200 MHz | 2000 MHz | 2660 MHz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| L1 Cache | 128 KB | 128 KB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 2 MB | 3 MB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TDP | 35 Watt | 35 Watt | 25 Watt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transistors | 624 Million | 410 Million | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technology | 32 nm | 45 nm | 45 nm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Die Size | 149 mm2 | 107 mm2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| max. Temp. | 100 °C | 105 °C | 105 °C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Socket | rPGA988B / BGA1023 | PGA478 | BGA479, PGA478 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Features | HD Graphics 3000 (650-1300MHz), DDR3-1066/1333 Memory Controller (max 8GB), HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, Virtualization | MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology (EIST), Intel 64, XD bit (an NX bit implementation), IDA (Intel Dynamic Acceleration) | SSE4.1, Virtualization Technology, Execute Disable Bit, Enhanced Speedstep, Ehnaced Halt State (C1E), 64 Bit, Trusted Execution Technology | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| iGPU | Intel HD Graphics 3000 (650 - 1300 MHz) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Architecture | x86 | x86 | x86 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $225 U.S. | $241 U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Announced | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer | ark.intel.com | ark.intel.com | ark.intel.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FSB | 800 | 1066 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Voltage | 1.00V-1.25V V |
Benchmarks
Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-2520M → 100% n=11
Average Benchmarks Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 → 45% n=11
Average Benchmarks Intel Core 2 Duo P8800 → 60% n=11
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation
