i7-8665U vs i5-2520M

Aggregate performance score

Core i5-2520M
2011
2 cores / 4 threads, 35 Watt
1.46
Core i7-8665U
2019
4 cores / 8 threads, 15 Watt
4.08
+179%

Core i7-8665U outperforms Core i5-2520M by a whopping 179% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-2520M and Core i7-8665U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking21961426
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i5Intel Core i7
Power efficiency3.8024.80
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019)
Release date1 February 2011 (13 years ago)16 April 2019 (5 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$225$409

Detailed specifications

Core i5-2520M and Core i7-8665U basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores2 (Dual-core)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads48
Base clock speed2.5 GHz1.9 GHz
Boost clock speed3.2 GHz4.8 GHz
Bus typeDMI 2.0OPI
Bus rate4 × 5 GT/s4 GT/s
Multiplier2519
L1 cache128 KB256 KB
L2 cache512 KB1 MB
L3 cache3 MB (shared)8 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm14 nm
Die size149 mm2no data
Maximum core temperature100 °C100 °C
Number of transistors624 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-2520M and Core i7-8665U compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1 (Uniprocessor)
SocketPPGA988FCBGA1528
Power consumption (TDP)35 Watt15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-2520M and Core i7-8665U. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® AVXIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
FMA+-
AVX++
vPro+no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
My WiFi++
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
TSX-+
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access++
SIPP-+
Smart Responseno data+
Demand Based Switching-no data
FDI+no data
Fast Memory Access+no data

Security technologies

Core i5-2520M and Core i7-8665U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Secure Keyno data+
MPX-+
Identity Protection++
SGXno dataYes with Intel® ME
OS Guardno data+
Anti-Theft+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-2520M and Core i7-8665U are enumerated here.

AMD-V++
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-2520M and Core i7-8665U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR4
Maximum memory size16 GB64 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth21.335 GB/s38.397 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 3000Intel® UHD Graphics for 8th Generation Intel® Processors
Max video memoryno data32 GB
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1.3 GHz1.15 GHz
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-2520M and Core i7-8665U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported23
eDP++
DisplayPort++
HDMI++
DVIno data+
SDVO+no data
CRT+no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-2520M and Core i7-8665U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution supportno data+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096 x 2304@24Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data4096 x 2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data4096 x 2304@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-2520M and Core i7-8665U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-2520M and Core i7-8665U.

PCIe version2.03.0
PCI Express lanes1616

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i5-2520M 1.46
i7-8665U 4.08
+179%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i5-2520M 2239
i7-8665U 6250
+179%

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i5-2520M 467
i7-8665U 765
+63.8%

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i5-2520M 930
i7-8665U 2425
+161%

Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core

Cinebench R10 is an ancient ray tracing benchmark for processors by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. Its single core version uses just one CPU thread to render a futuristic looking motorcycle.

i5-2520M 4041
i7-8665U 6872
+70.1%

Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 10 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R10 using all the processor threads. Possible number of threads is limited by 16 in this version.

i5-2520M 8815
i7-8665U 18427
+109%

3DMark06 CPU

3DMark06 is a discontinued DirectX 9 benchmark suite from Futuremark. Its CPU part contains two scenarios, one dedicated to artificial intelligence pathfinding, another to game physics using PhysX package.

i5-2520M 3542
i7-8665U 6365
+79.7%

wPrime 32

wPrime 32M is a math multi-thread processor test, which calculates square roots of first 32 million integer numbers. Its result is measured in seconds, so that the less is benchmark result, the faster the processor.

i5-2520M 18
i7-8665U 9.98
+80.4%

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 11.5 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R11.5 which uses all the processor threads. A maximum of 64 threads is supported in this version.

i5-2520M 3
i7-8665U 5
+70.6%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 1.46 4.08
Recency 1 February 2011 16 April 2019
Physical cores 2 4
Threads 4 8
Chip lithography 32 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 35 Watt 15 Watt

i7-8665U has a 179.5% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 8 years, 100% more physical cores and 100% more threads, a 128.6% more advanced lithography process, and 133.3% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-8665U is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-2520M in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-2520M and Core i7-8665U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i5-2520M
Core i5-2520M
Intel Core i7-8665U
Core i7-8665U

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