i3-9100 vs i5-520M

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-520M and Core i3-9100 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	2405	1380
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	no data	7.53
Market segment	Laptop	Desktop processor
Series	Intel Core i5	Intel Core i3
Power efficiency	2.92	6.07
Architecture codename	Arrandale (2010−2011)	Coffee Lake (2017−2019)
Release date	7 January 2010 (14 years ago)	1 September 2018 (6 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$225	$122

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Detailed specifications

Core i5-520M and Core i3-9100 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)	4 (Quad-Core)
Threads	4	4
Base clock speed	2.4 GHz	3.6 GHz
Boost clock speed	2.93 GHz	4.2 GHz
Bus type	DMI 1.0	DMI 3.0
Bus rate	1 × 2.5 GT/s	4 × 8 GT/s
Multiplier	18	36
L1 cache	128 KB	64K (per core)
L2 cache	512 KB	256K (per core)
L3 cache	3 MB	6 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	32 nm	14 nm
Die size	81+114 mm2	126 mm2
Maximum core temperature	105 °C	100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	no data	72 °C
Number of transistors	382+177 Million	no data
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	+

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-520M and Core i3-9100 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 (Uniprocessor)
Socket	BGA1288,PGA988	FCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)	35 Watt	65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-520M and Core i3-9100. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI	+	+
FMA	+	-
AVX	-	+
vPro	+	no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	+	2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	-
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
Flex Memory Access	+	no data
PAE	36 Bit	no data
FDI	+	no data
Fast Memory Access	+	no data

Security technologies

Core i5-520M and Core i3-9100 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	-
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	no data	+
MPX	-	+
Identity Protection	-	+
SGX	no data	Yes with Intel® ME
OS Guard	no data	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-520M and Core i3-9100 are enumerated here.

VT-d	+	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-520M and Core i3-9100. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3-800, DDR3-1066	DDR4-2400
Maximum memory size	8.3 GB	64 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	17.051 GB/s	38.397 GB/s
ECC memory support	-	+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	Intel® HD Graphics for Previous Generation Intel® Processors	Intel UHD Graphics 630
Max video memory	no data	64 GB
Quick Sync Video	-	+
Clear Video	+	+
Clear Video HD	+	+
Graphics max frequency	766 MHz	1.1 GHz
InTru 3D	no data	+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-520M and Core i3-9100 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

2

3

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-520M and Core i3-9100 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support	no data	+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	no data	4096 x 2304@24Hz
Max resolution over eDP	no data	4096 x 2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort	no data	4096 x 2304@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-520M and Core i3-9100 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	no data	12
OpenGL	no data	4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-520M and Core i3-9100.

PCIe version	2.0	3.0
PCI Express lanes	16	16

Synthetic benchmark performance

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

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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.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	1.08	4.17
Recency	7 January 2010	1 September 2018
Physical cores	2	4
Chip lithography	32 nm	14 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	35 Watt	65 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-520M and Core i3-9100, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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