Athlon II P360 vs Core i5-520UM

Athlon II P360 vs Core i5-520UM Performance Spectrum

Athlon II P360

2 / 2

1,946

+0.2%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i5-520UM

2 / 4

1,943

0.0%

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Athlon II P360 vs Core i5-520UM FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Athlon II P360 vs Core i5-520UM: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Athlon II P360

2010

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 1W instead of 18W, a 17W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $60 MSRP, while Core i5-520UM mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-520UM can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-520UM

2010

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake), while Athlon II P360 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon II P360 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (1,943 vs 1,946).
❌1700% higher power demand at 18W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II P360 better than Core i5-520UM?

Yes. Athlon II P360 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 3.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.2% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon II P360 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 3.6% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II P360 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Athlon II P360 is the better buy right now. Athlon II P360 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $60 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (32.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-520UM is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more room to grow and a better platform outlook.

Athlon II P360 vs Core i5-520UM Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Athlon II P360

The Athlon II P360 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.3 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g4. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,946 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i5-520UM

The Core i5-520UM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.07 GHz, with boost up to 1.87 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1288. Thermal design power (TDP): 18 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800. Passmark benchmark score: 1,943 points. Launch price was $241.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon II P360 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-520UM's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Athlon II P360 versus 1.87 GHz on the Core i5-520UM — a 20.6% clock advantage for the Athlon II P360. The Athlon II P360 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-520UM uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II P360 scores 1,946 against the Core i5-520UM's 1,943 — a 0.2% lead for the Athlon II P360.

Feature	Athlon II P360	Core i5-520UM
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.3 GHz+23%	1.87 GHz
Base Clock	—	1.07 GHz
L3 Cache	—	3 MB
L2 Cache	1 MB+100%	512 kB
Process	45 nm	32 nm-29%
Architecture	Champlain (2010−2011)	Arrandale (2010−2011)
PassMark	1,946	1,943

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II P360 uses the S1g4 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-520UM uses BGA1288 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1066 on the Athlon II P360 versus 800 on the Core i5-520UM — the Athlon II P360 supports 33.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 8 of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II P360) vs 16 (Core i5-520UM) — the Core i5-520UM offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: S1g4 (Athlon II P360) and HM55,HM57,QM57,QS57 (Core i5-520UM).

Feature	Athlon II P360	Core i5-520UM
Socket	S1g4	BGA1288
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	1066+33%	800
Max RAM Capacity	8	8
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support true virtualization. The Core i5-520UM includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake)), while the Athlon II P360 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Athlon II P360 rivals Pentium P6000; Core i5-520UM rivals Core 2 Duo SU9400.