Core i3-1215U vs Core i5-520E

Primary Details

Comparing Core i5-520E and Core i3-1215U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	not rated	905
Place by popularity	not in top-100	14
Market segment	Laptop	Laptop
Series	Intel Core i5	Intel Alder Lake-M
Architecture codename	Westmere (2010−2011)	Alder Lake-U (2022)
Release date	7 January 2010 (14 years ago)	23 February 2022 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$210	no data
Current price	$2235 (10.6x MSRP)	no data

Detailed Specifications

Core i5-520E and Core i3-1215U 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 cores	2 (Dual-core)	6 (Hexa-Core)
Threads	4	8
Base clock speed	no data	1.2 GHz
Boost clock speed	2.4 GHz	4.4 GHz
Bus support	1 × 2.5 GT/s	no data
L1 cache	128 KB	80K (per core)
L2 cache	512 KB	1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache	3 MB	10 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	32 nm	Intel 7 nm
Die size	81 mm2	no data
Maximum core temperature	no data	100 °C
Number of transistors	382 Million	no data
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	+
Unlocked multiplier	No	No

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-520E and Core i3-1215U 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 configuration	1 (Uniprocessor)	1
Socket	no data	FCBGA1744
Power consumption (TDP)	35 Watt	15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-520E and Core i3-1215U. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	no data	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI	+	+
FMA	+	+
AVX	no data	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Speed Shift	no data	+
Hyper-Threading Technology	no data	+
TSX	no data	+
Thermal Monitoring	no data	+
Flex Memory Access	no data	+
Status	no data	Launched

Security technologies

Core i5-520E and Core i3-1215U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	+
EDB	no data	+
Secure Key	no data	+
OS Guard	no data	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-520E and Core i3-1215U are enumerated here.

VT-d	+	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	no data	+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-520E and Core i3-1215U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3-1066	DDR4, DDR4, DDR5, DDR5
Maximum memory size	8 GB	64 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	17.051 GB/s	no data
ECC memory support	+	-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	Intel HD Graphics	Intel® UHD Graphics for 12th Gen Intel® Processors
Quick Sync Video	no data	+
Graphics max frequency	no data	1.1 GHz
Execution Units	no data	64

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-520E and Core i3-1215U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

no data

4

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-520E and Core i3-1215U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	no data	4096 x 2304 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	no data	4096 x 2304 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort	no data	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-520E and Core i3-1215U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	no data	12.1
OpenGL	no data	4.6

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-520E and Core i3-1215U.

PCIe version	2.0	4.0
PCI Express lanes	16	20

Pros & Cons Summary

---

Recency	7 January 2010	23 February 2022
Physical cores	2	6
Threads	4	8
Power consumption (TDP)	35 Watt	15 Watt

---

Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-520E and Core i3-1215U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for Your Favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.

---