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Intel Pentium B980 vs Intel Core i5-520M vs Intel Core i5-520UM

Intel Pentium B980

► remove from comparison Intel B980

The Intel Pentium B980 is a dual core processor for entry-level laptops. It is based on the Sandy Bridge architecture but many of the features like Turbo Boost for the CPU part, HyperThreading, AES, Virtualization (VT-x and VT-d), Trusted Execution or Intel Quick Sync are deactivated. The Pentium B980 integrates a graphics card called Intel HD Graphics that is based on the desktop HD Graphics 2000 clocked at 650 / 1150 (with Turbo Boost).

The performance of the Pentium B980 should be clearly faster than a similar clocked Arrandale Pentium CPU. Due to the high clock speed, the missing HyperThreading and smaller last level cache should be equalized and therefore, the performance should be similar to a Intel Core i3-2310M with 2.1 GHz.

The 35W TDP rating includes the integrated GPU and DDR3-1333 memory controller.

Intel Core i5-520M

► remove from comparison Intel 520M

The Intel Core i5-520M is a dual core CPU for laptops and clocks (due to the Turbo Mode) from 2.4 to 2.93 GHz. Each core is based on the Nehalem (Westmere) micro-architecture. Hyperthreading enables the Dual Core CPU to handle 4 threads at once (for a better usage of the pipeline). Compared to the faster Core i7-620M, the 520M features only 3 MB Level 3 Cache and a lower clock speed (CPU and GPU).

A feature of the new Core i5-520M is the integrated graphics card called GMA HD and memory controller. Both are on a separate die that is still manufactured in 45nm whereas the CPU die is already manufactured in the new 32nm process.

The performance of the i5 520M is on average faster than a Core 2 Duo T9500 and due to the Turbo Boost, single threaded applications run even better. Therefore, the Core i5-520M is as fast as high clocked Core 2 Duo CPUs and should handle most gaming and multimedia tasks well.

The 32nm cpu cores of the Westmere generation can also process some new instructions to accelerate AES encryptions.

The integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD (GMA HD) graphics card is known to be clocked up to 500-766 MHz and should be clearly faster than the old GMA 4500MHD. A GeForce 9400M (ION) should still be a faster (especially as Nvidia and ATI cards have a better driver support than Intel up to now). According to rumors, the GMA core will also use the Turbo Mode regulate the clock speed.

The power consumption of 35 Watt TDP (max.) counts for the whole package and therefore it is clearly better than the 35 Watt TDP of the Core 2 Duo T-series (CPU alone). Due to the Turbo Boost, the Core i5 more likely uses the TDP under load than the older Core 2 Duo CPUs. Without any load, the i5 uses noticable less power.

Intel Core i5-520UM

► remove from comparison Intel 520UM

The Intel Core i5-520UM is a Ultra Low Voltage dual-core processor for small and light laptops. It is clocked with 1.06 - 1.86 GHz (if Turbo Boost is enabled). Each core is based on the Nehalem (Westmere) micro-architecture. Hyperthreading enables the Dual Core CPU to handle 4 threads at once (for a better usage of the pipeline). Compared to the Core i7-620UM, the i5 offers only 3MB Level 3 cache (i7 4MB) and a lower maximum Turbo Boost frequency. Other Core i5 CPUs (withouth the U in the name) are faster due to the higher clock speed, but need more power.

A feature of the new Core i5-520UM is the integrated graphics card (called Intel HD Graphics) and memory controller. Both are on a separate die that is still manufactured in 45nm whereas the CPU die is already manufactured in the new 32nm process.

Due to the integrated memory controller, the HyperThreading and Turbo Boost, the  Core i5-520UM is faster than a similar clocked Core 2 Duo (1.2 GHz) in all (us known) applications and benchmarks. Still the Turbo Boost may not trigger very often (sometimes it is even not activated in the BIOS) and therefore the maximum of 1.86 GHz is not very important. 

The 32nm cpu cores of the Westmere generation can also process some new instructions to accelerate AES encryptions. Modern applications that support AES encoding can profit significantly using the new instructions (e.g. the Communications Suite test in the PCMark Vantage boosts up to 70% using AES in the faster Core i5-520M).

The integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD (GMA HD) graphics card is between 166-500 MHz (Turbo Boost) and therefore the base speed is clearly below the non low voltage versions. The performance should still be faster than the old GMA 4500MHD.

The power consumption of 18 Watt TDP (max.) counts for the whole package and therefore it is clearly better than the 17 Watt TDP of the Core 2 Duo SL-series (CPU alone).

ModelIntel Pentium B980Intel Core i5-520MIntel Core i5-520UM
CodenameSandy BridgeArrandaleArrandale
SeriesIntel PentiumIntel Core i5Intel Core i5
Series: Core i5 Arrandale
Intel Pentium B980 « 2.4 GHz2 / 2 cores2 MB L3
Intel Pentium B9702.3 GHz2 / 2 cores2 MB L3
Intel Pentium B9602.2 GHz2 / 2 cores2 MB L3
Intel Pentium B9502.1 GHz2 / 2 cores2 MB L3
Intel Pentium B9402 GHz2 / 2 cores2 MB L3
Intel Pentium 9971.6 GHz2 / 2 cores2 MB L3
Intel Pentium 9871.5 GHz2 / 2 cores2 MB L3
Intel Pentium 9771.4 GHz2 / 2 cores2 MB L3
Intel Pentium 9671.3 GHz2 / 2 cores2 MB L3
Intel Pentium 9571.2 GHz2 / 2 cores2 MB L3
Intel Core i5-580M2.67 - 3.33 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-560M2.67 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-480M2.67 - 2.93 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-540M2.53 - 3.07 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-460M2.53 - 2.8 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-520M « 2.4 - 2.93 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-450M2.4 - 2.66 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-430M2.26 - 2.53 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-560UM1.33 - 2.13 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-470UM1.33 - 1.87 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-540UM1.2 - 2 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-520UM1.06 - 1.87 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-430UM1.2 - 1.73 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-580M2.67 - 3.33 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-560M2.67 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-480M2.67 - 2.93 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-540M2.53 - 3.07 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-460M2.53 - 2.8 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-520M2.4 - 2.93 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-450M2.4 - 2.66 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-430M2.26 - 2.53 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-560UM1.33 - 2.13 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-470UM1.33 - 1.87 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-540UM1.2 - 2 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-520UM « 1.06 - 1.87 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-430UM1.2 - 1.73 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Clock2400 MHz2400 - 2933 MHz1060 - 1866 MHz
L1 Cache128 KB128 KB
L2 Cache512 KB512 KB512 KB
L3 Cache2 MB3 MB3 MB
Cores / Threads2 / 22 / 42 / 4
TDP35 Watt35 Watt18 Watt
Transistors624 Million382+177 Million382+177 Million
Technology32 nm32 nm32 nm
Die Size149 mm281+114 mm281+114 mm2
max. Temp.85 °C105 °C105 °C
SocketrPGA988BBGA1288, PGA988BGA1288
FeaturesHD Graphics, DDR3 Memory ControllerTurbo Boost, Hyper Threading, Enhanced Speedstep, integrierte GMA HD 733MHz,Turbo Boost (1.86 GHz max), Hyper Threading, Enhanced Speedstep, integrated GMA HD 166-500MHz
iGPUIntel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) (650 - 1100 MHz)
Architecturex86x86x86
$125 U.S.$225 U.S.$241 U.S.
Announced
FSB25002500
Manufacturerark.intel.comark.intel.com

Benchmarks

Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
100%
B980 +
min: 1.79     avg: 1.8     median: 1.8 (2%)     max: 1.85 Points
119%
520M +
min: 1.97     avg: 2.1     median: 2.2 (3%)     max: 2.19 Points
min: 1.02     avg: 1.2     median: 1.2 (2%)     max: 1.33 Points
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64 Bit
100%
1 B980 +
min: 0.88     avg: 0.9     median: 0.9 (22%)     max: 0.95 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
100%
B980 +
min: 3054     avg: 3098     median: 3109 (19%)     max: 3118 Points
min: 2789     avg: 3017     median: 3046 (18%)     max: 3102 Points
min: 1471     avg: 1981     median: 1942.5 (12%)     max: 2569 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
100%
B980 +
min: 5027     avg: 5715     median: 5878.5 (4%)     max: 6075 Points
115%
520M +
min: 6114     avg: 6661     median: 6753 (5%)     max: 6925 Points
min: 2785     avg: 3670     median: 3778 (3%)     max: 4340 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
100%
B980 +
min: 7167     avg: 7278     median: 7304 (5%)     max: 7337 Points
112%
520M +
min: 7129     avg: 8022     median: 8165 (5%)     max: 8342 Points
min: 3946     avg: 4600     median: 4632.5 (3%)     max: 5187 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
100%
B980 +
min: 3802     avg: 3835     median: 3825.5 (5%)     max: 3885 Points
min: 1799     avg: 3636     median: 3732 (5%)     max: 3957 Points
min: 2263     avg: 2561     median: 2423.5 (3%)     max: 3135 Points
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
100%
B980 +
min: 1028     avg: 1044     median: 1037 (12%)     max: 1072 s
166%
520M +
min: 599     avg: 814     median: 623.5 (7%)     max: 1428 s
min: 995     avg: 1110     median: 1110 (13%)     max: 1225 s
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
100%
B980 +
min: 32.43     avg: 33     median: 32.9 (7%)     max: 33.67 s
165%
520M +
min: 19     avg: 26.6     median: 20 (4%)     max: 44.63 s
min: 31.8     avg: 35.2     median: 35.2 (7%)     max: 38.5 s
WinRAR - WinRAR 4.0
100%
1 B980 +
1435 Points (2%)
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 2
100%
1 B980 +
10 fps (3%)
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 1
100%
1 B980 +
55 fps (13%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Serpent
100%
1 B980 +
0.1 GB/s (2%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Twofish
100%
1 B980 +
0.1 GB/s (3%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt AES
100%
1 B980 +
0.2 GB/s (0%)
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
100%
B980 +
min: 2424     avg: 2453     median: 2462.5 (5%)     max: 2464 Points
111%
520M +
min: 2602     avg: 2728     median: 2728.5 (6%)     max: 2817 Points
min: 982     avg: 1429     median: 1492 (3%)     max: 1718 Points
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
100%
B980 +
min: 16.64     avg: 16.9     median: 16.9 (4%)     max: 17.26 s
min: 24     avg: 26.7     median: 25 (5%)     max: 31 s
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
100%
B980 +
min: 37.02     avg: 38     median: 38 (2%)     max: 38.97 s
min: 56     avg: 62.3     median: 58 (2%)     max: 73 s
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
100%
B980 +
min: 853     avg: 867     median: 863 (4%)     max: 886 s
min: 1303     avg: 1439     median: 1341 (6%)     max: 1674 s
SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS) - SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS)
100%
1 B980 +
min: 26000     avg: 30567     median: 29400 (14%)     max: 36300 MIPS
113%
1 520M +
min: 31600     avg: 34553     median: 33240 (16%)     max: 39000 MIPS
SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS) - SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS)
100%
1 B980 +
min: 17290     avg: 17370     median: 17390 (13%)     max: 17430 MFLOPS
162%
1 520M +
min: 25360     avg: 28514     median: 28250 (22%)     max: 35320 MFLOPS
PCMark 05 - PCMark 05 - Standard
100%
1 520M +
8082 Points (17%)
49%
1 520UM +
min: 2848     avg: 3571     median: 3925 (8%)     max: 3940 Points
Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 CPU
100%
B980 +
6.1 Points (78%)
min: 3.9     avg: 4.7     median: 4.8 (61%)     max: 5.4 Points
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
100%
B980 +
min: 5597     avg: 5678     median: 5699.5 (4%)     max: 5717 Points
133%
520M +
min: 7304     avg: 7540     median: 7560 (6%)     max: 7658 Points
min: 3751     avg: 4065     median: 4064.5 (3%)     max: 4378 Points
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
100%
1 B980 +
min: 2196     avg: 2204     median: 2203.5 (5%)     max: 2211 Points
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Stream
100%
1 B980 +
3855 Points (31%)
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Memory
100%
1 B980 +
3745 Points (34%)
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Floating Point
100%
1 B980 +
3798 Points (7%)
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Integer
100%
1 B980 +
3624 Points (7%)
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Total Score
100%
1 B980 +
3732 Points (10%)

Average Benchmarks Intel Pentium B980 → 100% n=13

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-520M → 118% n=13

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-520UM → 70% n=13

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

v1.33
log 15. 18:29:01

#0 ran 0s before starting gpusingle class +0s ... 0s

#1 checking url part for id 3332 +0s ... 0s

#2 checking url part for id 534 +0s ... 0s

#3 checking url part for id 563 +0s ... 0s

#4 redirected to Ajax server, took 1752596941s time from redirect:0 +0s ... 0s

#5 did not recreate cache, as it is less than 5 days old! Created at Sun, 13 Jul 2025 05:20:07 +0200 +0s ... 0s

#6 composed specs +0.006s ... 0.007s

#7 did output specs +0s ... 0.007s

#8 getting avg benchmarks for device 3332 +0.001s ... 0.007s

#9 got single benchmarks 3332 +0.006s ... 0.014s

#10 getting avg benchmarks for device 534 +0.001s ... 0.014s

#11 got single benchmarks 534 +0.029s ... 0.043s

#12 getting avg benchmarks for device 563 +0.001s ... 0.044s

#13 got single benchmarks 563 +0.005s ... 0.049s

#14 got avg benchmarks for devices +0s ... 0.049s

#15 min, max, avg, median took s +0.025s ... 0.075s

#16 return log +0s ... 0.075s

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Benchmarks / Tech > Processor Comparison - Head 2 Head
Redaktion, 2017-09- 8 (Update: 2023-07- 1)