i7-2660M vs i7-3520M

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-3520M and Core i7-2660M processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	2004	not rated
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Market segment	Laptop	Laptop
Series	Intel Core i7	Intel Core i7
Power efficiency	4.89	no data
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
Release date	3 June 2012 (12 years ago)	no data (2024 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$346	no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-3520M and Core i7-2660M 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)	2 (Dual-core)
Threads	4	4
Base clock speed	2.9 GHz	no data
Boost clock speed	3.6 GHz	2.9 GHz
Bus type	no data	DMI 2.0
Bus rate	5 GT/s	4 × 5 GT/s
Multiplier	no data	29
L1 cache	64K (per core)	128 KB
L2 cache	256K (per core)	512 KB
L3 cache	4 MB (shared)	4 MB
Chip lithography	22 nm	32 nm
Die size	118 mm2	no data
Maximum core temperature	105 °C	no data
Number of transistors	no data	624 Million
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-3520M and Core i7-2660M 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	1 (Uniprocessor)
Socket	FCBGA1023,FCPGA988	Socket G2
Power consumption (TDP)	35 Watt	35 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-3520M and Core i7-2660M. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® AVX	no data
AES-NI	+	+
FMA	-	+
AVX	+	+
vPro	no data	+
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

Security technologies

Core i7-3520M and Core i7-2660M technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

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

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-3520M and Core i7-2660M 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 i7-3520M and Core i7-2660M. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR3-1333
Maximum memory size	32 GB	16 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	21.335 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card Compare	Intel HD Graphics 4000	Intel HD Graphics 3000
Quick Sync Video	+	-
Clear Video HD	+	no data
Graphics max frequency	1.25 GHz	no data
InTru 3D	+	no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-3520M and Core i7-2660M integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported	3	no data
eDP	+	no data
DisplayPort	+	-
HDMI	+	-
SDVO	+	no data
CRT	+	no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-3520M and Core i7-2660M.

PCIe version	3.0	no data
PCI Express lanes	16	no data

Pros & cons summary

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Integrated graphics card	1.18	0.66
Chip lithography	22 nm	32 nm

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-3520M and Core i7-2660M, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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