i5-2520M vs i5-8250U

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Aggregate performance score

Core i5-8250U
2017
4 cores / 8 threads, 15 Watt
3.88
+175%
Core i5-2520M
2011
2 cores / 4 threads, 35 Watt
1.41

Core i5-8250U outperforms Core i5-2520M by a whopping 175% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-8250U and Core i5-2520M processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking14582220
Place by popularity38not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i5Intel Core i5
Power efficiency24.463.81
Architecture codenameKaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019)Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
Release date21 August 2017 (7 years ago)1 February 2011 (13 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$297$225

Detailed specifications

Core i5-8250U 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 speed1.6 GHz2.5 GHz
Boost clock speed3.4 GHz3.2 GHz
Bus typeOPIDMI 2.0
Bus rate4 GT/s4 × 5 GT/s
Multiplier1625
L1 cache64K (per core)64K (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)256K (per core)
L3 cache6 MB (shared)3 MB (shared)
Chip lithography14 nm32 nm
Die size123 mm2149 mm2
Maximum core temperature100 °C100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)72 °Cno data
Number of transistorsno data624 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility+-

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-8250U 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 configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1 (Uniprocessor)
SocketFCBGA1356,FC-BGA1356PPGA988
Power consumption (TDP)15 Watt35 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-8250U and Core i5-2520M. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2Intel® AVX
AES-NI++
FMA-+
AVX++
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shift+no data
My WiFi++
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access++
Smart Response+no data
Demand Based Switchingno data-
FDIno data+
Fast Memory Accessno data+

Security technologies

Core i5-8250U and Core i5-2520M technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT-+
EDB++
Secure Key+no data
Identity Protection++
SGXYes with Intel® MEno data
OS Guard+no data
Anti-Theftno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-8250U and Core i5-2520M are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-8250U and Core i5-2520M. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4-2400, LPDDR3-2133DDR3
Maximum memory size32 GB16 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth38.397 GB/s21.335 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel HD Graphics 620Intel HD Graphics 3000
Max video memory32 GBno data
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Video+no data
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1.1 GHz1.3 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-8250U and Core i5-2520M integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported32
eDP++
DisplayPort++
HDMI++
DVI+no data
SDVOno data+
CRTno data+

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-8250U and Core i5-2520M integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support+no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096x2304@24Hzno data
Max resolution over eDP4096x2304@60Hzno data
Max resolution over DisplayPort4096x2304@60Hzno data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-8250U and Core i5-2520M integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX12no data
OpenGL4.4no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-8250U and Core i5-2520M.

PCIe version3.02.0
PCI Express lanes1216

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.

i5-8250U 3.88
+175%
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.

i5-8250U 6158
+175%
i5-2520M 2237

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.

i5-8250U 771
+64%
i5-2520M 470

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.

i5-8250U 1971
+111%
i5-2520M 934

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.

i5-8250U 5533
+36.9%
i5-2520M 4041

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.

i5-8250U 17987
+104%
i5-2520M 8815

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.

i5-8250U 6348
+79.2%
i5-2520M 3542

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.

i5-8250U 8.06
+123%
i5-2520M 18

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.

i5-8250U 6
+108%
i5-2520M 3

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.88 1.41
Integrated graphics card 2.43 0.66
Recency 21 August 2017 1 February 2011
Physical cores 4 2
Threads 8 4
Chip lithography 14 nm 32 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 15 Watt 35 Watt

i5-8250U has a 175.2% higher aggregate performance score, 268.2% faster integrated GPU, an age advantage of 6 years, 100% more physical cores and 100% more threads, a 128.6% more advanced lithography process, and 133.3% lower power consumption.

The Core i5-8250U is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-2520M in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-8250U and Core i5-2520M, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i5-8250U
Core i5-8250U
Intel Core i5-2520M
Core i5-2520M

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Community ratings

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