i5-2520M vs Apple M3 Pro 12-Core

VS

Aggregate performance score

Apple M3 Pro 12-Core
2023
12 cores / 12 threads, 27 Watt
16.11
+1043%
Core i5-2520M
2011
2 cores / 4 threads, 35 Watt
1.41

Apple M3 Pro 12-Core outperforms Core i5-2520M by a whopping 1043% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing M3 Pro 12-Core and Core i5-2520M processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking4162221
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesApple M3Intel Core i5
Power efficiency56.473.81
Architecture codenameno dataSandy Bridge (2011−2013)
Release date30 October 2023 (1 year ago)1 February 2011 (13 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$225

Detailed specifications

M3 Pro 12-Core 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 cores12 (Dodeca-Core)2 (Dual-core)
Threads124
Base clock speed2.748 GHz2.5 GHz
Boost clock speed4.06 GHz3.2 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 2.0
Bus rateno data4 × 5 GT/s
Multiplierno data25
L1 cacheno data128 KB
L2 cacheno data512 KB
L3 cacheno data3 MB (shared)
Chip lithography3 nm32 nm
Die sizeno data149 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Number of transistors37000 Million624 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibilityno data-

Compatibility

Information on M3 Pro 12-Core 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 configurationno data1 (Uniprocessor)
Socketno dataPPGA988
Power consumption (TDP)27 Watt35 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by M3 Pro 12-Core and Core i5-2520M. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® AVX
AES-NI-+
FMA-+
AVX-+
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
My WiFino data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
Flex Memory Accessno data+
Demand Based Switchingno data-
FDIno data+
Fast Memory Accessno data+

Security technologies

M3 Pro 12-Core and Core i5-2520M technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDBno data+
Identity Protection-+
Anti-Theftno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by M3 Pro 12-Core and Core i5-2520M are enumerated here.

AMD-V-+
VT-dno data+
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by M3 Pro 12-Core and Core i5-2520M. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR3
Maximum memory sizeno data16 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data21.335 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Apple M3 Pro 18-Core GPUIntel HD Graphics 3000
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.3 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of M3 Pro 12-Core and Core i5-2520M integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data2
eDPno data+
DisplayPort-+
HDMI-+
SDVOno data+
CRTno data+

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by M3 Pro 12-Core and Core i5-2520M.

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 Pro 12-Core 16.11
+1043%
i5-2520M 1.41

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 Pro 12-Core 25587
+1044%
i5-2520M 2237

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 16.11 1.41
Recency 30 October 2023 1 February 2011
Physical cores 12 2
Threads 12 4
Chip lithography 3 nm 32 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 27 Watt 35 Watt

Apple M3 Pro 12-Core has a 1042.6% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 12 years, 500% more physical cores and 200% more threads, a 966.7% more advanced lithography process, and 29.6% lower power consumption.

The M3 Pro 12-Core is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-2520M in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Apple M3 Pro 12-Core and Core i5-2520M, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Apple M3 Pro 12-Core
M3 Pro 12-Core
Intel Core i5-2520M
Core i5-2520M

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Community ratings

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3.7 102 votes

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Questions & comments

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