Core i3-5015U vs Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86

Core i3-5015U vs Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 Performance Spectrum

Core i3-5015U

2 / 4

1,990

+1.3%

Celeron N3350

Celeron G1610T

Core i5-4202Y

Pentium Dual Core T2390

Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86

2 / 2

1,965

0.0%

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 i3-5015U vs Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 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 i3-5015U vs Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i3-5015U

2015

Why buy it

✅+1.3% higher PassMark.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (12 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 5500, while Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌25500% higher power demand at 512W vs 2W.

Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86

2008

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 512W, a 510W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,965 vs 1,990).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-5015U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-5015U better than Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 is ahead with a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-5015U pulls ahead with 1.3% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-5015U is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.3% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i3-5015U still makes the most sense overall. Core i3-5015U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 1.3% better PassMark.

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

Core i3-5015U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2008) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i3-5015U vs Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 Technical Specifications

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

Core i3-5015U

The Core i3-5015U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,990 points. Launch price was $275.

Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86

The Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Griffin (2008−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1g2. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,965 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The Core i3-5015U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.1 GHz on the Core i3-5015U versus 2.4 GHz on the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86. The Core i3-5015U uses the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 uses Griffin (2008−2009) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-5015U scores 1,990 against the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86's 1,965 — a 1.3% lead for the Core i3-5015U. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-5015U vs 0 kB on the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86.

Feature	Core i3-5015U	Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.1 GHz	2.4 GHz+14%
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	—
L3 Cache	3 MB (total)	0 kB
L2 Cache	256K (per core)+12700%	2 MB
Process	14 nm-78%	65 nm
Architecture	Broadwell-U (2015)	Griffin (2008−2009)
PassMark	1,990+1%	1,965

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Memory & Platform

The Core i3-5015U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 uses S1g2 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3L-1600 on the Core i3-5015U versus DDR2-800 on the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 — the Core i3-5015U supports 100% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-5015U supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Core i3-5015U) vs 0 (Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86) — the Core i3-5015U offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Core i3-5015U	Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86
Socket	FCBGA1168	S1g2
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3L-1600+100%	DDR2-800
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB+300%	4 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	12	0

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-5015U) vs AMD-V (Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86). The Core i3-5015U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 5500), while the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-5015U targets Mobile, Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 targets Mobile.