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Core i5-2520M vs i5-3210M


Description
The i5-2520M is based on Sandy Bridge architecture while the i5-3210M is based on Ivy Bridge.

Using the multithread performance as a reference, the i5-2520M gets a score of 50.2 k points while the i5-3210M gets 51.7 k points.

Summarizing, the i5-3210M is 1 times faster than the i5-2520M . To get a proper comparison between both models, take a look to the data shown below.

Specs
CPUID
206a7
306a9
Core
Sandy Bridge
Ivy Bridge
Architecture
Base frecuency
2.5 GHz
2.5 GHz
Boost frecuency
3.2 GHz
3.1 GHz
Socket
BGA1023
Socket G2 (988B)
Cores/Threads
2/2
2 /2
TDP
35 W
35 W
Cache L1 (d+i)
2x32+2x32 kB
2x32+2x32 kB
Cache L2
2x256 kB
2x256 kB
Cache L3
3072 kB
3072 kB
Date
February 2011
June 2012
Mean monothread perf.
24.13k points
24.9k points
Mean multithread perf.
50.23k points
51.73k points

Non-optimized benchmark
The benchmark in Mode 0 (FPU) measures cpu performance with non-optimized software. It uses the basic µinstructions from the i386 architecture with the i387 floating point unit. This mode is compatible with all CPUs so it's practical to compare very different CPUs
Monothread
i5-2520M
i5-3210M
Test#1 (Integers)
2.69k
3.08k (x1.15)
Test#2 (FP)
7.28k
8.58k (x1.18)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
3.84k
3.76k (x0.98)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.05k
3.99k (x1.31)
TOTAL
16.86k
19.42k (x1.15)

Multithread

i5-2520M

i5-3210M
Test#1 (Integers)
6.08k
5.79k (x0.95)
Test#2 (FP)
16.15k
18.77k (x1.16)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
8.87k
8.74k (x0.99)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.06k
4.59k (x1.5)
TOTAL
34.15k
37.89k (x1.11)

AVX optimized benchmark
The benchmark in mode II (AVX) is optimized to used 256 bits registers beside the first version of the Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX). The first AVX compatible CPU was released in 2011.
Monothread
i5-2520M
i5-3210M
Test#1 (Integers)
9.04k
9.11k (x1.01)
Test#2 (FP)
8.03k
8.88k (x1.1)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
4.06k
3.46k (x0.85)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.99k
3.45k (x1.15)
TOTAL
24.13k
24.9k (x1.03)

Multithread

i5-2520M

i5-3210M
Test#1 (Integers)
19.82k
18.72k (x0.94)
Test#2 (FP)
18.12k
21.09k (x1.16)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
9.23k
8.38k (x0.91)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.06k
3.54k (x1.16)
TOTAL
50.23k
51.73k (x1.03)

Performance/W
i5-2520M
i5-3210M
Test#1 (Integers)
566 points/W
535 points/W
Test#2 (FP)
518 points/W
603 points/W
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
264 points/W
239 points/W
Test#1 (Memory)
88 points/W
101 points/W
TOTAL
1435 points/W
1478 points/W

Performance/GHz
i5-2520M
i5-3210M
Test#1 (Integers)
2826 points/GHz
2939 points/GHz
Test#2 (FP)
2510 points/GHz
2863 points/GHz
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
1269 points/GHz
1117 points/GHz
Test#1 (Memory)
935 points/GHz
1112 points/GHz
TOTAL
7540 points/GHz
8032 points/GHz

Monothread performance graph
Monothread performance graphics gives the performance vs time. They are useful to measure the time it takes to the CPU to reach the maximum performance.

Usually, CPU's performance will be steady during these tests but if it has a slow frequency strategy, the first samples will show a lower score.


Test#1 (Integers) [points vs time]

grafica bm.hardlimit.com


Test#2 (FP) [points vs time]

grafica bm.hardlimit.com


Test#3 (Generic, ZIP) [points vs time]

grafica bm.hardlimit.com


Test#1 (Memory) [points vs time]

grafica bm.hardlimit.com

Multithread performance graph
Multithread graphs measure the performance against a heavy load during certain time.

If CPU's TDP doesn't limit the frequency and the machine is properly cooled, performance should remain steady vs time. Otherwise, the performance score will oscillate or decrease over time.


Test#1 (Integers) [points vs time]

grafica bm.hardlimit.com


Test#2 (FP) [points vs time]

grafica bm.hardlimit.com


Test#3 (Generic, ZIP) [points vs time]

grafica bm.hardlimit.com


Test#1 (Memory) [points vs time]

grafica bm.hardlimit.com

Hardlimit Benchmark Central - Ver. 3.11.4