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Core i7-720QM vs i5-520M


Description
The i7-720QM is based on Nehalem architecture while the i5-520M is based on Westmere.

Using the multithread performance as a reference, the i7-720QM gets a score of 38.8 k points while the i5-520M gets 26.3 k points.

Summarizing, the i7-720QM is 1.5 times faster than the i5-520M. To get a proper comparison between both models, take a look to the data shown below.

Specs
CPUID
106e5
20655
Core
Clarksfield
Arrandale
Architecture
Base frecuency
1.6 GHz
2.4 GHz
Boost frecuency
2.8 GHz
2.933 GHz
Socket
988-pin micro-FCPGA8
FC-PGA 988
Cores/Threads
4/8
2/4
TDP
45 W
35 W
Cache L1 (d+i)
4x32+4x32 kB
2x32+2x32 kB
Cache L2
4x256 kB
2x256 kB
Cache L3
6144 kB
3072 kB
Date
September 2009
January 2010
Mean monothread perf.
13.13k points
13.1k points
Mean multithread perf.
38.78k points
26.27k points

SSE3 optimized benchmark
The benchmark in mode I (SSE) is optimized for the use of SIMD instructions with 128 bits register and the SSE set up to version 3. Nearly every modern CPU has support for this mode.
Monothread
i7-720QM
i5-520M
Test#1 (Integers)
5.49k
5.41k (x0.98)
Test#2 (FP)
3.55k
3.69k (x1.04)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
2.01k
2.12k (x1.06)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.09k
1.88k (x0.9)
TOTAL
13.13k
13.1k (x1)

Multithread

i7-720QM

i5-520M
Test#1 (Integers)
15.06k
10.7k (x0.71)
Test#2 (FP)
12.15k
7.91k (x0.65)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
7.18k
5.08k (x0.71)
Test#1 (Memory)
4.39k
2.58k (x0.59)
TOTAL
38.78k
26.27k (x0.68)

Performance/W
i7-720QM
i5-520M
Test#1 (Integers)
335 points/W
306 points/W
Test#2 (FP)
270 points/W
226 points/W
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
160 points/W
145 points/W
Test#1 (Memory)
98 points/W
74 points/W
TOTAL
862 points/W
751 points/W

Performance/GHz
i7-720QM
i5-520M
Test#1 (Integers)
1962 points/GHz
1844 points/GHz
Test#2 (FP)
1267 points/GHz
1259 points/GHz
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
717 points/GHz
723 points/GHz
Test#1 (Memory)
745 points/GHz
641 points/GHz
TOTAL
4691 points/GHz
4466 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