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Intel Core i7-3520M

Intel 3520M

The Intel Core i7-3520M is the fastest dual-core processor for laptops based on the Ivy Bridge architecture at the time of introduction in Q2 2012. Due to Hyperthreading, the two cores can handle up to four threads in parallel leading to better utilization of the CPU. Each core offers a base speed of 2.9 GHz but can dynamically increase clock rates with Turbo Boost up to 3.4 GHz (for 2 active cores) and 3.6 GHz (for 1 active core). As its Sandy-Bridge-based predecessor Core i7-2640M, it offers a 4 MB L3-Cache.

Ivy Bridge is an enhanced die shrink of the Sandy Bridge architecture with improvements on both GPU and CPU performance. The CPUs are produced in 22nm (versus 32nm Sandy Bridge CPUs) and are the first to introduce 3D transistors for increased energy efficiency when compared to similarly clocked Sandy Bridge processors. Other new features are integrated PCI Express 3.0 and  DDR3(L)-1600 support.

The performance of the Core i7-3520M is slightly above a similarly clocked Sandy Bridge processor due to the architectural improvements. As a result, overall performance is about 5 - 10 % above the old i7-2640M (see benchmarks below).

The integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 offers 16 Execution Units (EUs) clocked at 650 MHz up to 1250 MHz with Turbo Boost, making it one of the fastest variants.

Just like most other Ivy Bridge dual-cores, the i7-3520M is rated at a TDP of 35 W. Therefore, even smaller laptops can use the Core i7.

SeriesIntel Core i7
CodenameIvy Bridge

Series: Core i7 Ivy Bridge

Intel Core i7-3940XM compare3 - 3.9 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3920XM compare2.9 - 3.8 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3840QM compare2.8 - 3.8 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3820QM compare2.7 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3740QM compare2.7 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3720QM compare2.6 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3635QM compare2.4 - 3.4 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3630QM compare2.4 - 3.4 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3615QM compare2.3 - 3.3 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3610QM compare2.3 - 3.3 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3632QM compare2.2 - 3.2 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3612QM compare2.1 - 3.1 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3540M compare3 - 3.7 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3520M « 2.9 - 3.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3687U compare2.1 - 3.3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3667U compare2 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3537U compare2 - 3.1 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3517U compare1.9 - 3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3689Y compare1.5 - 2.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Clock Rate2900 - 3600 MHz
Level 1 Cache128 KB
Level 2 Cache512 KB
Level 3 Cache4 MB
Number of Cores / Threads2 / 4
Power Consumption (TDP = Thermal Design Power)35 Watt
Manufacturing Technology22 nm
Max. Temperature105 °C
SocketBGA1023, PGA988
FeaturesHD Graphics 4000, DDR3-1600 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, Virtualization
GPUIntel HD Graphics 4000 (650 - 1250 MHz)
64 Bit64 Bit support
Architecturex86
Starting Price$346 U.S.
Announcement Date06/03/2012
Product Link (external)ark.intel.com

Benchmarks

Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
min: 3     avg: 3.3     median: 3.4 (4%)     max: 3.44 Points
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64 Bit
min: 1.41     avg: 1.4     median: 1.5 (36%)     max: 1.47 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
min: 4408     avg: 4813     median: 4855 (29%)     max: 4903 points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
min: 9112     avg: 10167     median: 10467 (8%)     max: 10605 points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
min: 11581     avg: 12766     median: 12889.5 (9%)     max: 13151 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
min: 6029     avg: 6128     median: 6146.5 (7%)     max: 6203 Points
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
min: 456     avg: 493.2     median: 492.1 (6%)     max: 570 s
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
min: 14.4     avg: 15.5     median: 15.4 (3%)     max: 17.1 s
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 2
min: 6.7     avg: 16.1     median: 18.9 (7%)     max: 19.44 fps
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 1
min: 35.1     avg: 86.2     median: 98.6 (23%)     max: 101.8 fps
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Serpent
min: 0.164     avg: 0.2     median: 0.2 (5%)     max: 0.176 GB/s
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Twofish
min: 0.249     avg: 0.3     median: 0.3 (5%)     max: 0.302 GB/s
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
min: 3528     avg: 4086     median: 4134 (9%)     max: 4212 Points
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
min: 10     avg: 10.3     median: 10 (2%)     max: 10.94 s
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
min: 24     avg: 24.8     median: 25 (1%)     max: 25.87 s
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
min: 565     avg: 591     median: 594 (3%)     max: 612 s
SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS) - SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS)
min: 55800     avg: 63808     median: 67130 (32%)     max: 69140 MIPS
SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS) - SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS)
min: 41450     avg: 42502     median: 42450 (33%)     max: 44032 MFLOPS
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
min: 9277     avg: 11188     median: 11511 (10%)     max: 11788 Points
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
min: 3582     avg: 4275     median: 4466 (12%)     max: 4774 Points
- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance

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Reviews for the Intel Core i7-3520M processor

 

Review Samsung Series 6 600B5C-S03 Notebook

Surprise candidate. It doesn't always have to be a Latitude, ThinkPad or EliteBook when thinking about a professional laptop. Samsung sends a well bundled packa...
Intel Core i7-3520M | NVIDIA NVS 5200M | 15.60" | 2.5 kg
 

Review Toshiba Tecra R940-S9440 Notebook

Sensible productivity. Toshiba’s well-rounded Tecra line of business notebooks pursues ergonomic luxury with an understated appearance. Can the R940, with the h...
Intel Core i7-3520M | AMD Radeon HD 7570M | 14.00" | 2 kg
 

Review HP EliteBook 8470p Notebook

Business and more? About a year ago we put the predecessor model, the 8460p, to the test. The manufacturer HP now introduces the EliteBook 8470p as the successo...
Intel Core i7-3520M | AMD Radeon HD 7570M | 14.00" | 2.1 kg
 

Review Update Lenovo ThinkPad T430s Notebook

More power! Having already taken a close look at the cheap US version of the ThinkPad T430s, we now turn to the high end configuration with a Core i7 processor ...
Intel Core i7-3520M | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | 14.00" | 1.8 kg
 

Review HP EliteBook 8570p-B6Q03EA-ABD Notebook

Mobile high-end. One thing is for sure: the HP EliteBook 8570p is no run-of-the-mill system designed for the masses. Rather, the system tries to appeal to the p...
Intel Core i7-3520M | AMD Radeon HD 7570M | 15.60" | 2.9 kg

HP Elitebook 2570p-B6Q10EA: Intel HD Graphics 4000, 12.50", 1.6 kg
  Review » Review HP Elitebook 2570p-B6Q10EA Notebook

Lenovo ThinkPad T430: NVIDIA NVS 5400M, 14.00", 2.3 kg
  Review » Review Lenovo ThinkPad T430 Notebook

Lenovo ThinkPad T530 2429-5XG: NVIDIA NVS 5400M, 15.60", 2.7 kg
  Review » Review Lenovo ThinkPad T530 2429-5XG Notebook

Sony Vaio SV-S13A1Z9E/S: NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M LE, 13.30", 1.7 kg
  Review » Review Sony Vaio SV-S13A1Z9E/S Notebook

HP EliteBook 8570p-B6Q03EA-ABD: AMD Radeon HD 7570M, 15.60", 2.9 kg
  External Review » HP EliteBook 8570p-B6Q03EA-ABD

HP Elitebook 2570p-B6Q10EA: Intel HD Graphics 4000, 12.50", 1.6 kg
  External Review » HP Elitebook 2570p-B6Q10EA

Lenovo ThinkPad X230-NZC23HW: Intel HD Graphics 4000, 12.50", 1.5 kg
  External Review » Lenovo ThinkPad X230-NZC23HW

Sony Vaio SV-S13A2Z9ES: NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M LE, 13.30", 1.6 kg
  External Review » Sony Vaio SV-S13A2Z9ES

Lenovo ThinkPad X230-NZA5NRT: Intel HD Graphics 4000, 12.50", 1.5 kg
  External Review » Lenovo ThinkPad X230-NZA5NRT

Toshiba Portege R930-117: Intel HD Graphics 4000, 13.30", 1.5 kg
  External Review » Toshiba Portege R930-117

HP EliteBook 8470p: AMD Radeon HD 7570M, 14.00", 2.1 kg
  External Review » HP EliteBook 8470p

Dell Latitude E6530: Intel HD Graphics 4000, 15.60", 2.4 kg
  External Review » Dell Latitude E6530

Sony Vaio SV-S13A1Z9E/S: NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M LE, 13.30", 1.7 kg
  External Review » Sony Vaio SV-S13A1Z9E/S

Lenovo ThinkPad Edge S430-N3B3DGE: NVIDIA GeForce GT 620M, 14.40", 1.9 kg
  External Review » Lenovo ThinkPad Edge S430-N3B3DGE

Dell Latitude E6330: Intel HD Graphics 4000, 13.30", 2.1 kg
  External Review » Dell Latitude E6330

HP Envy m4: Intel HD Graphics 4000, 14.00", 2.5 kg
  External Review » HP Envy m4

Lenovo ThinkPad T530 2429-5XG: NVIDIA NVS 5400M, 15.60", 2.7 kg
  External Review » Lenovo ThinkPad T530 2429-5XG

Dell Latitude E6430: Intel HD Graphics 4000, 14.10", 2.4 kg
  External Review » Dell Latitude E6430

Acer TravelMate P633-V-73528G50ikk: Intel HD Graphics 4000, 13.30", 1.9 kg
  External Review » Acer TravelMate P633-V-73528G50ikk

Sony Vaio SV-S13A1Y9ES: NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M LE, 13.30", 1.8 kg
  External Review » Sony Vaio SV-S13A1Y9ES

Sony Vaio SV-S1311AGXB: NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M, 13.30", 1.6 kg
  External Review » Sony Vaio SV-S1311AGXB

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» Mobile CPU Comparison
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Benchmarklist of all known CPUs that are used in laptops (desktop and laptop CPUs)

Other CPUs of the series Core i7

» Intel Core i7-8809G
   4x 3.1 GHz - 4.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-8709G
   4x 3.1 GHz - 4.1 GHz
» Intel Core i7-8706G
   4x 3.1 GHz - 4.1 GHz
» Intel Core i7-8705G
   4x 3.1 GHz - 4.1 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4940MX
   4x 3.1 GHz - 4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-6920HQ
   4x 2.9 GHz - 3.8 GHz
» Intel Core i7-5950HQ
   4x 2.9 GHz - 3.8 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4930MX
   4x 3 GHz - 3.9 GHz
» Intel Core i7-6970HQ
   4x 2.8 GHz - 3.7 GHz
» Intel Core i7-6870HQ
   4x 2.7 GHz - 3.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4980HQ
   4x 2.8 GHz - 4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4910MQ
   4x 2.9 GHz - 3.9 GHz
» Intel Core i7-5850HQ
   4x 2.7 GHz - 3.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3940XM
   4x 3 GHz - 3.9 GHz
» Intel Core i7-5700HQ
   4x 2.7 GHz - 3.5 GHz
» Intel Core i7-5750HQ
   4x 2.5 GHz - 3.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-6820HK
   4x 2.7 GHz - 3.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-6820HQ
   4x 2.7 GHz - 3.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-6770HQ
   4x 2.6 GHz - 3.5 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4900MQ
   4x 2.8 GHz - 3.8 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4960HQ
   4x 2.6 GHz - 3.8 GHz
» Intel Core i7-6700HQ
   4x 2.6 GHz - 3.5 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4810MQ
   4x 2.8 GHz - 3.8 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4870HQ
   4x 2.5 GHz - 3.7 GHz
» Intel Core i7-8665U
   4x 1.9 GHz - 4.8 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3920XM
   4x 2.9 GHz - 3.8 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4800MQ
   4x 2.7 GHz - 3.7 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4950HQ
   4x 2.4 GHz - 3.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4860HQ
   4x 2.4 GHz - 3.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4720HQ
   4x 2.6 GHz - 3.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3840QM
   4x 2.8 GHz - 3.8 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4850HQ
   4x 2.3 GHz - 3.5 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4710HQ
   4x 2.5 GHz - 3.5 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4710MQ
   4x 2.5 GHz - 3.5 GHz
» Intel Core i7-8565U
   4x 1.8 GHz - 4.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4770HQ
   4x 2.2 GHz - 3.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3820QM
   4x 2.7 GHz - 3.7 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3740QM
   4x 2.7 GHz - 3.7 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3720QM
   4x 2.6 GHz - 3.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4700HQ
   4x 2.4 GHz - 3.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4700MQ
   4x 2.4 GHz - 3.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4760HQ
   4x 2.1 GHz - 3.3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4722HQ
   4x 2.4 GHz - 3.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2960XM
   4x 2.7 GHz - 3.7 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4712HQ
   4x 2.3 GHz - 3.3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4712MQ
   4x 2.3 GHz - 3.3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4750HQ
   4x 2 GHz - 3.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3635QM
   4x 2.4 GHz - 3.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3630QM
   4x 2.4 GHz - 3.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4702HQ
   4x 2.2 GHz - 3.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4702MQ
   4x 2.2 GHz - 3.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2860QM
   4x 2.5 GHz - 3.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2920XM
   4x 2.5 GHz - 3.5 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3615QM
   4x 2.3 GHz - 3.3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3610QM
   4x 2.3 GHz - 3.3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3632QM
   4x 2.2 GHz - 3.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2760QM
   4x 2.4 GHz - 3.5 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2820QM
   4x 2.3 GHz - 3.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3612QM
   4x 2.1 GHz - 3.1 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2720QM
   4x 2.2 GHz - 3.3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2675QM
   4x 2.2 GHz - 3.1 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2670QM
   4x 2.2 GHz - 3.1 GHz
» Intel Core i7-6567U
   2x 3.3 GHz - 3.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2635QM
   4x 2 GHz - 2.9 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2630QM
   4x 2 GHz - 2.9 GHz
» Intel Core i7-5557U
   2x 3.1 GHz - 3.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4610M
   2x 3 GHz - 3.7 GHz
» Intel Core i7-940XM
   4x 2.13 GHz - 3.33 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4600M
   2x 2.9 GHz - 3.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4578U
   2x 3 GHz - 3.5 GHz
» Intel Core i7-920XM
   4x 2 GHz - 3.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3540M
   2x 3 GHz - 3.7 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4558U
   2x 2.8 GHz - 3.3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-6600U
   2x 2.6 GHz - 3.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-6650U
   2x 2.2 GHz - 3.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-6560U
   2x 2.2 GHz - 3.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3520M
   2x 2.9 GHz - 3.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-6500U
   2x 2.5 GHz - 3.1 GHz
» Intel Core i7-5600U
   2x 2.6 GHz - 3.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-5650U
   2x 2.2 GHz - 3.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2640M
   2x 2.8 GHz - 3.5 GHz
» Intel Core i7-5500U
   2x 2.4 GHz - 3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-5550U
   2x 2 GHz - 3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-840QM
   4x 1.86 GHz - 3.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2620M
   2x 2.7 GHz - 3.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4600U
   2x 2.1 GHz - 3.3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4650U
   2x 1.7 GHz - 3.3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3687U
   2x 2.1 GHz - 3.3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4510U
   2x 2 GHz - 3.1 GHz
» Intel Core i7-640M
   2x 2.8 GHz - 3.46 GHz
» Intel Core i7-820QM
   4x 1.73 GHz - 3.06 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3667U
   2x 2 GHz - 3.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4500U
   2x 1.8 GHz - 3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4550U
   2x 1.5 GHz - 3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-740QM
   4x 1.73 GHz - 2.93 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3537U
   2x 2 GHz - 3.1 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3517U
   2x 1.9 GHz - 3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-620M
   2x 2.66 GHz - 3.33 GHz
» Intel Core i7-720QM
   4x 1.6 GHz - 2.8 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2649M
   2x 2.3 GHz - 3.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-4610Y
   2x 1.7 GHz - 2.9 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2629M
   2x 2.1 GHz - 3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2677M
   2x 1.8 GHz - 2.9 GHz
» Intel Core i7-660LM
   2x 2.27 GHz - 3.07 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2637M
   2x 1.7 GHz - 2.8 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2657M
   2x 1.6 GHz - 2.7 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3689Y
   2x 1.5 GHz - 2.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-2617M
   2x 1.5 GHz - 2.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-640LM
   2x 2.13 GHz - 2.93 GHz
» Intel Core i7-620LM
   2x 2 GHz - 2.8 GHz
» Intel Core i7-680UM
   2x 1.47 GHz - 2.53 GHz
» Intel Core i7-660UM
   2x 1.33 GHz - 2.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-640UM
   2x 1.2 GHz - 2.27 GHz
» Intel Core i7-620UM
   2x 1.06 GHz - 2.13 GHz

Surrounding CPUs

+ Intel Core i7-6560U
   2x 2.2 GHz - 3.2 GHz
+ Intel Core i5-7200U
   2x 2.5 GHz - 3.1 GHz
+ Intel Core i5-4400E
   2x 2.7 GHz - 3.3 GHz
+ Intel Core i5-4300M
   2x 2.6 GHz - 3.3 GHz
+ Intel Core i3-7100H
   2x 3 GHz
» Intel Core i7-3520M
   2x 2.9 GHz - 3.6 GHz
- Intel Core i7-6500U
   2x 2.5 GHz - 3.1 GHz
- Intel Core i7-5600U
   2x 2.6 GHz - 3.2 GHz
- Intel Core i7-5650U
   2x 2.2 GHz - 3.2 GHz
- Intel Core i5-6360U
   2x 2 GHz - 3.1 GHz
- Intel Core i5-4210M
   2x 2.6 GHz - 3.2 GHz
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Benchmarks / Tech > Notebook Processors > Intel Core i7 > Intel Core i7 3520M Notebook Processor
Klaus Hinum, 2012-05- 3 (Update: 2012-05-26)