Core i5-2520M vs Celeron J3455
Core i5-2520M
Celeron J3455
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i5-2520M is positioned at rank 1083 and the Celeron J3455 is on rank 994, so the Celeron J3455 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2520M
Performance Per Dollar Celeron J3455
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-2520M | Celeron J3455 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($225) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Apollo Lake (2014−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-2520M | Celeron J3455 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($225) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-2520M and Celeron J3455
Core i5-2520M
The Core i5-2520M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,241 points. Launch price was $225.
Celeron J3455
The Celeron J3455 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 August 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Apollo Lake (2014−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1296. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L/LPDDR3 up to 1866 MT/s; LPDDR4 up to 2400 MT/s. Passmark benchmark score: 2,247 points. Launch price was $107.
Processing Power
The Core i5-2520M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Celeron J3455 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Celeron J3455 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i5-2520M versus 2.3 GHz on the Celeron J3455 — a 32.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-2520M (base: 2.5 GHz vs 1.5 GHz). The Core i5-2520M uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Celeron J3455 uses Apollo Lake (2014−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-2520M scores 2,241 against the Celeron J3455's 2,247 — a 0.3% lead for the Celeron J3455. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-2520M vs 0 kB on the Celeron J3455.
| Feature | Core i5-2520M | Celeron J3455 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+39% | 2.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz+67% | 1.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 2 MB+700% |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Apollo Lake (2014−2016) |
| PassMark | 2,241 | 2,247 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 450 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 850 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-2520M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron J3455 uses FCBGA1296 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1333 on the Core i5-2520M versus DDR4-2400 on the Celeron J3455 — the Core i5-2520M supports 198.8% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-2520M supports up to 16 of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-2520M) vs 6 (Celeron J3455) — the Core i5-2520M offers 10 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM65,HM67,QM67,QS67 (Core i5-2520M) and N/A (SoC) (Celeron J3455).
| Feature | Core i5-2520M | Celeron J3455 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | FCBGA1296 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | 1333+33225% | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | 8 GB+52428700% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+167% | 6 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Core i5-2520M) vs VT-x (Celeron J3455). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics 3000 (Core i5-2520M) and HD Graphics 500 (Celeron J3455) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron J3455 targets Low Power. Direct competitor: Core i5-2520M rivals Phenom II Black Edition N660; Celeron J3455 rivals Pentium J4205.
| Feature | Core i5-2520M | Celeron J3455 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 3000 | HD Graphics 500 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Low Power |
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