Intel Core i5-2520M vs Core i7-920XM

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Combined performance score

i7-920XM
1.24

Core i5-2520M outperforms Core i7-920XM by 17% in our combined benchmark results.

General info

Comparing Core i7-920XM and Core i5-2520M processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking21852052
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i7Intel Core i5
Architecture codenameClarksfield (2009−2010)Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
Release date23 September 2009 (14 years old)1 February 2011 (13 years old)
Launch price (MSRP)$1,054$225
Current price$1212 (1.1x MSRP)$75 (0.3x MSRP)

Technical specs

Core i7-920XM and Core i5-2520M 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 cores4 (Quad-Core)2 (Dual-core)
Threads84
Base clock speed2 GHz2.5 GHz
Boost clock speed3.2 GHz3.2 GHz
Bus support2500 MHzno data
L1 cache64 KB (per core)64K (per core)
L2 cache256 KB (per core)256K (per core)
L3 cache8 MB (shared)3 MB (shared)
Chip lithography45 nm32 nm
Die size296 mm2149 mm2
Maximum core temperature100 °C100 °C
Number of transistors774 million624 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplierYesNo

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-920XM and Core i5-2520M 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 configuration11
SocketFCPGA988,PGA988PPGA988
Power consumption (TDP)55 Watt35 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-920XM and Core i5-2520M. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.2Intel® AVX
AES-NI-+
FMAno data+
AVXno data+
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
My WiFino data+
Turbo Boost Technology+2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Accessno data+
Demand Based Switching--
PAE36 Bitno data
FDIno data+
Fast Memory Accessno data+
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued

Security technologies

Core i7-920XM and Core i5-2520M technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Identity Protectionno data+
Anti-Theftno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-920XM and Core i5-2520M are enumerated here.

AMD-Vno data+
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-920XM and Core i5-2520M. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3-1066, DDR3-1333DDR3
Maximum memory size8 GB16 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth21 GB/s21.3 GB/s
ECC memory support--

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardNoneIntel HD Graphics 3000
Quick Sync Videono data+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.3 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-920XM and Core i5-2520M integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data2
eDPno data+
DisplayPortno data+
HDMIno data+
SDVOno data+
CRTno data+

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-920XM and Core i5-2520M.

PCIe version22.0
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.

i7-920XM 1.24
i5-2520M 1.45
+16.9%

Core i5-2520M outperforms Core i7-920XM by 17% in our combined benchmark results.


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.

Benchmark coverage: 68%

i7-920XM 1899
i5-2520M 2231
+17.5%

Core i5-2520M outperforms Core i7-920XM by 17% in Passmark.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 42%

i7-920XM 422
i5-2520M 465
+10.2%

Core i5-2520M outperforms Core i7-920XM by 10% in GeekBench 5 Single-Core.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 42%

i7-920XM 1128
+21.9%
i5-2520M 925

Core i7-920XM outperforms Core i5-2520M by 22% in GeekBench 5 Multi-Core.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 20%

i7-920XM 4322
+7%
i5-2520M 4041

Core i7-920XM outperforms Core i5-2520M by 7% in Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 19%

i7-920XM 11916
+35.2%
i5-2520M 8815

Core i7-920XM outperforms Core i5-2520M by 35% in Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 19%

i7-920XM 3797
+7.2%
i5-2520M 3542

Core i7-920XM outperforms Core i5-2520M by 7% in 3DMark06 CPU.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 18%

i7-920XM 19
i5-2520M 18
+5.6%

Core i7-920XM outperforms Core i5-2520M by 6% in wPrime 32.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 17%

i7-920XM 4
+35.3%
i5-2520M 3

Core i7-920XM outperforms Core i5-2520M by 35% in Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core.

Gaming performance

Advantages and disadvantages


Performance score 1.24 1.45
Recency 23 September 2009 1 February 2011
Physical cores 4 2
Threads 8 4
Cost $1054 $225
Chip lithography 45 nm 32 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 55 Watt 35 Watt

The Core i5-2520M is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-920XM in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-920XM and Core i5-2520M, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

User ratings

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


Intel Core i7-920XM
Core i7-920XM
Intel Core i5-2520M
Core i5-2520M

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