Intel Core i5-2500T vs Intel Core i7-3520M Comparison

The Intel Core i5-2500T and the Intel Core i7-3520M represent two distinct interpretations of efficiency from consecutive Intel generations. The data shows a persistent, though narrow, advantage for the desktop-oriented i5-2500T across every shared benchmark, despite the i7-3520M’s higher clock speeds and newer architecture. This comparison is less about a clear knockout and more about understanding how a 4-core desktop chip with a lower thermal envelope competes against a 2-core mobile chip with Hyper-Threading. The benchmark results indicate that raw core count can offset architectural and clock-speed advantages in sustained workloads, while the i7-3520M’s single-core capabilities keep it surprisingly close.

Where Each One Wins

The most obvious split is in raw core count versus thread count. The Intel Core i5-2500T brings 4 physical cores and 4 threads to the table, while the Intel Core i7-3520M offers only 2 physical cores but compensates with Hyper-Threading to reach 4 threads. This structural difference suggests the i5-2500T should dominate in heavily threaded scenarios, and the benchmark data confirms this. In every Cinebench multicore test, from R15 to R23, the i5-2500T comes out ahead, with deltas ranging from 2.5% to 2.7%. The wins are consistent but not overwhelming, indicating that the i7-3520M’s higher base clock of 2.90 GHz and boost clock of 3.60 GHz help it claw back some of the deficit created by having fewer physical cores.

The i7-3520M’s theoretical advantage lies in single-core performance, given its higher clocks. However, the data does not support a win there. The i5-2500T also wins the single-core tests in Cinebench R20 and R23, with deltas of 2.8% and 2.6%, respectively. This suggests that the Sandy Bridge architecture’s 4-core design, even at a lower boost clock of 3.30 GHz, delivers better per-thread throughput than the Ivy Bridge mobile chip at 3.60 GHz. The i7-3520M does have a Geekbench result in the pack, scoring 1156 in multicore and 570 in singlecore, but since the i5-2500T lacks Geekbench scores, no direct comparison is possible. The data implies that the i5-2500T is the stronger performer across every measurable shared workload, making it the clear winner for both multi-threaded and single-threaded tasks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel microarchitectures, which explains some of the nuanced results. The i5-2500T is built on Sandy Bridge using a 32 nm process node, while the i7-3520M is an Ivy Bridge part fabricated on a smaller 22 nm node. This node shrink typically brings efficiency and clock-speed benefits, which is evident in the i7-3520M’s higher base and boost clocks (2.90 GHz and 3.60 GHz vs. 2.30 GHz and 3.30 GHz). However, the i5-2500T counters with a larger die size of 216 mm² and a transistor count of 1,160 million, compared to the i7-3520M’s 118 mm² die with no listed transistor count. The larger die and higher transistor count for the desktop chip suggest a more robust physical design, potentially contributing to its superior benchmark performance despite the older architecture.

Cache configurations also differ significantly. The i5-2500T has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-3520M has only 4 MB shared L3. Both have identical L1 and L2 caches at 64 KB and 256 KB per core, respectively. The extra 2 MB of L3 cache on the i5-2500T likely helps in workloads that benefit from larger data reuse, which could explain its lead in both multi-threaded and single-threaded Cinebench tests. The integrated graphics differ as well, with the i5-2500T featuring Intel HD 2000 and the i7-3520M sporting the newer Intel HD 4000. While not directly benchmarked here, the HD 4000 is generally a more capable iGPU, but that doesn’t translate into CPU performance wins.

Thermal design power tells another story. The i5-2500T has a TDP of 45 W, while the i7-3520M is rated at 35 W. This makes the i7-3520M the more power-efficient part on paper, which is expected for a mobile processor. The i5-2500T, despite its higher TDP, is still a low-power desktop chip (the "T" suffix indicates low power). The socket types differ, with the i5-2500T using Intel Socket 1155 and the i7-3520M using Intel BGA 1023, the latter being soldered for laptops. The i5-2500T also supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the i7-3520M has no PCIe information listed. Memory support is listed as DDR3 for the i5-2500T, with no memory support field for the i7-3520M, though both use dual-channel memory buses.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is remarkably consistent. The i5-2500T wins all 5 shared benchmarks, but the margins are tight. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-2500T scores 250 against the i7-3520M’s 244, a 2.5% lead. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the scores are 1045 versus 1018, a 2.7% delta. The single-core tests show similar patterns: Cinebench R20 singlecore has the i5-2500T at 147 and the i7-3520M at 143, a 2.8% lead, while Cinebench R23 singlecore shows 351 against 342, a 2.6% delta. The Cinebench R23 multicore test yields the i5-2500T at 2489 and the i7-3520M at 2426, another 2.6% lead.

What does this mean? The i5-2500T’s advantage is real but narrow, hovering around 2.5% to 2.8% across all tests. The i7-3520M’s higher clocks (0.60 GHz faster base and 0.30 GHz faster boost) are almost enough to close the gap, but not quite. The 2-core/4-thread configuration of the i7-3520M, even with Hyper-Threading, cannot fully compensate for the i5-2500T’s 2 additional physical cores in multicore tests. In single-core tests, the i7-3520M should theoretically win due to its 3.60 GHz boost, but it loses by roughly the same margin, suggesting that the i5-2500T’s older architecture still offers better instructions-per-clock (IPC) efficiency, or that the larger L3 cache provides a tangible benefit. The data points to the i5-2500T being the better all-around performer, but the i7-3520M is not far behind.

The Verdict

From the data alone, the Intel Core i5-2500T is the superior chip for performance. It wins every single benchmark where both are tested, with a consistent 2.5% to 2.8% lead. The 4-core design provides a solid foundation for multi-threaded workloads, and its single-core performance is unexpectedly strong, beating the i7-3520M despite the latter’s higher clock speeds. For anyone building a desktop system, the i5-2500T is the clear choice based on these numbers.

The Intel Core i7-3520M, however, should not be dismissed. Its 35 W TDP makes it a more power-efficient option for mobile devices, and its performance is within striking distance of the i5-2500T. The 2-core/4-thread setup with Ivy Bridge’s 22 nm process node allows for a much smaller die (118 mm² vs. 216 mm²) and likely better battery life in laptops. If power consumption and portability are the priorities, the i7-3520M is the sensible pick, even if it loses on raw performance. The i5-2500T is for users who want the extra cores and cache, while the i7-3520M is for those who need a quieter, cooler, and more compact solution without sacrificing too much speed.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-2500T has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i7-3520M has 2 physical cores and 4 threads.

Q: How much faster is the i5-2500T in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The i5-2500T scores 2489 versus the i7-3520M’s 2426, giving the i5-2500T a 2.6% lead.

Q: Does the i7-3520M win any shared benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the i5-2500T winning all 5 shared benchmarks, with the i7-3520M registering 0 wins.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The i5-2500T has a TDP of 45 W, while the i7-3520M has a TDP of 35 W.

Q: Are both processors based on the same architecture?

A: No. The i5-2500T uses Sandy Bridge on a 32 nm process, and the i7-3520M uses Ivy Bridge on a 22 nm process.

Q: Which chip has more L3 cache?

A: The i5-2500T has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-3520M has 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-2500T | Intel Core i7-3520M |

|----------------|---------------------|---------------------|

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.30 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.30 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | Intel BGA 1023 |

| Architecture | Sandy Bridge | Ivy Bridge |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 22 nm |

| Die Size | 216 mm² | 118 mm² |

| Transistors | 1,160 million | Not listed |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | Not listed |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Not listed |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 2000 | Intel HD 4000 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2011-01-08 | 2012-06-02 |

| Part Number | SR00A | SR0MU |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |