i7-2960XM Extreme vs i5-2520M

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-2520M and Core i7-2960XM Extreme processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	2165	not rated
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Market segment	Laptop	Laptop
Series	Intel Core i5	Intel Core i7EE
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
Release date	20 February 2011 (13 years ago)	4 September 2011 (13 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$225	$1,096

Detailed specifications

Core i5-2520M and Core i7-2960XM Extreme 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	8
Base clock speed	2.5 GHz	no data
Boost clock speed	3.2 GHz	2.7 GHz
Bus type	DMI 2.0	DMI 2.0
Bus rate	4 × 5 GT/s	4 × 5 GT/s
Multiplier	25	27
L1 cache	128 KB	256 KB
L2 cache	512 KB	1 MB
L3 cache	3 MB	8 MB
Chip lithography	32 nm	32 nm
Die size	149 mm2	216 mm2
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	no data
Number of transistors	624 Million	1160 Million
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-2520M and Core i7-2960XM Extreme 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	PPGA988	Socket G2
Power consumption (TDP)	35 Watt	55 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-2520M and Core i7-2960XM Extreme. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® AVX	no data
AES-NI	+	+
FMA	+	+
AVX	+	+
vPro	+	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
My WiFi	+	no data
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	no data
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	no data
Idle States	+	no data
Thermal Monitoring	+	-
Flex Memory Access	+	no data
Demand Based Switching	-	no data
FDI	+	no data
Fast Memory Access	+	no data
Status	Discontinued	no data

Security technologies

Core i5-2520M and Core i7-2960XM Extreme technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	+
EDB	+	no data
Identity Protection	+	-
Anti-Theft	+	no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-2520M and Core i7-2960XM Extreme are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-2520M and Core i7-2960XM Extreme. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR3-1600
Maximum memory size	16 GB	32 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	21.335 GB/s	25.598 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	Intel HD Graphics 3000	Intel HD Graphics 3000
Quick Sync Video	+	-
Clear Video HD	+	no data
Graphics max frequency	1.3 GHz	no data
InTru 3D	+	no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-2520M and Core i7-2960XM Extreme integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported	2	no data
eDP	+	no data
DisplayPort	+	-
HDMI	+	-
SDVO	+	no data
CRT	+	no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-2520M and Core i7-2960XM Extreme.

PCIe version	2.0	no data
PCI Express lanes	16	no data

Pros & cons summary

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Recency	20 February 2011	4 September 2011
Physical cores	2	4
Threads	4	8
Power consumption (TDP)	35 Watt	55 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-2520M and Core i7-2960XM Extreme, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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