Core i3-4120U vs Turion II M520

Core i3-4120U vs Turion II M520 Performance Spectrum

Core i3-4120U

2 / 4

1,948

0.0%

1,955

+0.4%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

Core i3-4120U vs Turion II M520 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.

Core i3-4120U vs Turion II M520: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i3-4120U

2014

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (12 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 4400, while Turion II M520 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,948 vs 1,955).
❌51100% higher power demand at 512W vs 1W.

Turion II M520

2009

Why buy it

✅Draws 1W instead of 512W, a 511W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-4120U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Turion II M520 better than Core i3-4120U?

Yes. Turion II M520 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.4% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.4% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Turion II M520 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.4% more average FPS across 49 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Turion II M520 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Turion II M520 still makes the most sense overall. Turion II M520 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.4% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Core i3-4120U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2014 vs 2009). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i3-4120U vs Turion II M520 Technical Specifications

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

Core i3-4120U

The Core i3-4120U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 April 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,948 points. Launch price was $281.

Turion II M520

The Turion II M520 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Caspian (2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.3 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g3. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,955 points. Launch price was $69.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i3-4120U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Turion II M520's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Core i3-4120U versus 2.3 GHz on the Turion II M520 — a 14% clock advantage for the Turion II M520. The Core i3-4120U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Turion II M520 uses Caspian (2009) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-4120U scores 1,948 against the Turion II M520's 1,955 — a 0.4% lead for the Turion II M520.

Feature	Core i3-4120U	Turion II M520
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2 GHz	2.3 GHz+15%
Base Clock	2 GHz	—
L3 Cache	3 MB	—
L2 Cache	512 kB	1 MB+100%
Process	22 nm-51%	45 nm
Architecture	Haswell (2013−2015)	Caspian (2009)
PassMark	1,948	1,955
Geekbench 6 Single	462	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,071	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i3-4120U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Turion II M520 uses S1g3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i3-4120U	Turion II M520
Socket	FCBGA1168	S1g3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3L-1600	—
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	12	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: Yes (Core i3-4120U) / not specified (Turion II M520). The Core i3-4120U includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4400), while the Turion II M520 requires a dedicated GPU.