i5-520M vs Apple M3 Max 16-Core

VS

Aggregate performance score

Apple M3 Max 16-Core
2023
16 cores / 16 threads, 78 Watt
25.85
+2294%
Core i5-520M
2010
2 cores / 4 threads, 35 Watt
1.08

Apple M3 Max 16-Core outperforms Core i5-520M by a whopping 2294% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing M3 Max 16-Core and Core i5-520M processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1942419
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesApple M3Intel Core i5
Power efficiency31.362.92
Architecture codenameno dataArrandale (2010−2011)
Release date30 October 2023 (1 year ago)7 January 2010 (14 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$225

Detailed specifications

M3 Max 16-Core and Core i5-520M 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 cores16 (Hexadeca-Core)2 (Dual-core)
Threads164
Base clock speed2.748 GHz2.4 GHz
Boost clock speed4.06 GHz2.93 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 1.0
Bus rateno data1 × 2.5 GT/s
Multiplierno data18
L1 cacheno data128 KB
L2 cacheno data512 KB
L3 cacheno data3 MB
Chip lithography3 nm32 nm
Die sizeno data81+114 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data105 °C
Number of transistors92000 Million382+177 Million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibilityno data-

Compatibility

Information on M3 Max 16-Core and Core i5-520M 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 configurationno data1 (Uniprocessor)
Socketno dataBGA1288,PGA988
Power consumption (TDP)78 Watt35 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by M3 Max 16-Core and Core i5-520M. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2
AES-NI-+
FMA-+
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data+
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
Flex Memory Accessno data+
PAEno data36 Bit
FDIno data+
Fast Memory Accessno data+

Security technologies

M3 Max 16-Core and Core i5-520M technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDBno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by M3 Max 16-Core and Core i5-520M are enumerated here.

VT-dno data+
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by M3 Max 16-Core and Core i5-520M. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR3-800, DDR3-1066
Maximum memory sizeno data8.3 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data17.051 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPUIntel HD Graphics for Previous Generation Intel Processors
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data766 MHz

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of M3 Max 16-Core and Core i5-520M integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data2

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by M3 Max 16-Core and Core i5-520M.

PCIe versionno data2.0
PCI Express lanesno data16

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.

Apple M3 Max 16-Core 25.85
+2294%
i5-520M 1.08

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.

Apple M3 Max 16-Core 41068
+2288%
i5-520M 1720

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 25.85 1.08
Recency 30 October 2023 7 January 2010
Physical cores 16 2
Threads 16 4
Chip lithography 3 nm 32 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 78 Watt 35 Watt

Apple M3 Max 16-Core has a 2293.5% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 13 years, 700% more physical cores and 300% more threads, and a 966.7% more advanced lithography process.

i5-520M, on the other hand, has 122.9% lower power consumption.

The M3 Max 16-Core is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-520M in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i5-520M, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Apple M3 Max 16-Core
M3 Max 16-Core
Intel Core i5-520M
Core i5-520M

Similar processor comparisons

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Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


3.1 276 votes

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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about M3 Max 16-Core or Core i5-520M, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.