i7-620LM vs i5-2520M

Aggregate performance score

Core i5-2520M
2011
2 cores / 4 threads, 35 Watt
1.41
+58.4%
Core i7-620LM
2010
2 cores / 4 threads, 25 Watt
0.89

Core i5-2520M outperforms Core i7-620LM by an impressive 58% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-2520M and Core i7-620LM processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking22022543
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i5Intel Core i7
Power efficiency3.813.37
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Arrandale (2010−2011)
Release date1 February 2011 (13 years ago)7 January 2010 (14 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$225$300

Detailed specifications

Core i5-2520M and Core i7-620LM 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 cores2 (Dual-core)2 (Dual-core)
Threads44
Base clock speed2.5 GHz2 GHz
Boost clock speed3.2 GHz2.8 GHz
Bus typeDMI 2.0DMI 1.0
Bus rate4 × 5 GT/s1 × 2.5 GT/s
Multiplier2515
L1 cache64K (per core)64 KB (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)256 KB (per core)
L3 cache3 MB (shared)4 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm32 nm
Die size149 mm281+144 mm2
Maximum core temperature100 °C105 °C
Number of transistors624 million382+177 Million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-2520M and Core i7-620LM 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 configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1 (Uniprocessor)
SocketPPGA988BGA1288
Power consumption (TDP)35 Watt25 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-2520M and Core i7-620LM. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® AVXIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2
AES-NI++
FMA++
AVX+-
vPro++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
My WiFi+no data
Turbo Boost Technology2.0+
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access++
Demand Based Switching-no data
PAEno data36 Bit
FDI++
Fast Memory Access++

Security technologies

Core i5-2520M and Core i7-620LM technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

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

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-2520M and Core i7-620LM are enumerated here.

AMD-V+-
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-2520M and Core i7-620LM. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3-800, DDR3-1066
Maximum memory size16 GB8 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth21.335 GB/s17.051 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 3000Intel® HD Graphics for Previous Generation Intel® Processors
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1.3 GHz566 MHz
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-2520M and Core i7-620LM integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported22
eDP+no data
DisplayPort+-
HDMI+-
SDVO+no data
CRT+no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-2520M and Core i7-620LM.

PCIe version2.02.0
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.

i5-2520M 1.41
+58.4%
i7-620LM 0.89

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.

i5-2520M 2239
+59.2%
i7-620LM 1406

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.

i5-2520M 468
+15.3%
i7-620LM 406

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.

i5-2520M 932
+22.3%
i7-620LM 762

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.

i5-2520M 4041
+37.6%
i7-620LM 2937

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.

i5-2520M 8815
+56.3%
i7-620LM 5640

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.

i5-2520M 3542
+50.2%
i7-620LM 2358

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.

i5-2520M 18
+47.3%
i7-620LM 26.52

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 1.41 0.89
Recency 1 February 2011 7 January 2010
Power consumption (TDP) 35 Watt 25 Watt

i5-2520M has a 58.4% higher aggregate performance score, and an age advantage of 1 year.

i7-620LM, on the other hand, has 40% lower power consumption.

The Core i5-2520M is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-620LM in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-2520M and Core i7-620LM, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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


Intel Core i5-2520M
Core i5-2520M
Intel Core i7-620LM
Core i7-620LM

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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