Core i5-2520M vs Pentium P6100

Core i5-2520M

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 3.2 GHz2011

Pentium P6100

2 Cores2 Thrd35 WWMax: 2 GHz2010

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-2520M

2 / 4

2,241

0.0%

2,245

+0.2%

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 Pentium P6100 is on rank 825, so the Pentium P6100 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2520M

#1071

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

2946%

#1072

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

2903%

#1073

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

2665%

#1074

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

2653%

#1075

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

2628%

#1077

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

2538%

#1078

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

2434%

#1079

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

2430%

#1080

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

2364%

#1083

Core i5-2520M

MSRP: $225|Avg: N/A

100%

#1084

Core i7-2710QE

MSRP: $378|Avg: $40

100%

#1089

Core i5-3610ME

MSRP: $276|Avg: $22

96%

#1090

Core m3-7Y32

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

96%

#1092

Celeron B720

MSRP: $70|Avg: $10

95%

#1093

Celeron 847

MSRP: $134|Avg: $15

95%

#1094

Core i7-2630QM

MSRP: $378|Avg: N/A

94%

#1096

Core i7-2635QM

MSRP: $378|Avg: N/A

94%

#1097

Celeron 877

MSRP: $86|Avg: $15

94%

#1098

Celeron Dual-Core SU2300

MSRP: $134|Avg: $50

94%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Pentium P6100

#813

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

1307%

#814

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

1288%

#815

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

1182%

#816

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

1177%

#817

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

1166%

#819

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

1126%

#820

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

1080%

#821

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

1078%

#822

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

1049%

#825

Pentium P6100

MSRP: $100|Avg: $16.39

100%

#828

Celeron M 575

MSRP: $86|Avg: $12

99%

#829

Core i7-10710U

MSRP: $415|Avg: N/A

99%

#835

FX-9830P

MSRP: $150|Avg: $45

98%

#836

Celeron M P4600

MSRP: $86|Avg: $15

98%

#837

Celeron 887

MSRP: $86|Avg: $15

97%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Trade-off: The Core i5-2520M leads in gaming performance. However, the Pentium P6100 is the stronger candidate for professional workloads, offering 0.2% greater multi-core processing power.

Insight	Core i5-2520M	Pentium P6100
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	⚠️ Higher cost ($225)	✅ More affordable ($16.39)
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Efficiency: Even within a comparison of older hardware, the Pentium P6100 stands out as the superior choice. It is effectively 93% cheaper ($16.39 vs $225) while identifying as the stronger performer.

Insight	Core i5-2520M	Pentium P6100
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	✅ Better overall value (+1275%)
Upfront Cost	⚠️ Higher cost ($225)	✅ More affordable ($16.39)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i5-2520M Benchmark Check

Pentium P6100 Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-2520M and Pentium P6100

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.

Pentium P6100

The Pentium P6100 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 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: 2,245 points. Launch price was $12.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-2520M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Pentium P6100's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i5-2520M versus 2 GHz on the Pentium P6100 — a 46.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-2520M (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i5-2520M uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium P6100 uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-2520M scores 2,241 against the Pentium P6100's 2,245 — a 0.2% lead for the Pentium P6100. Both processors carry 3 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i5-2520M	Pentium P6100
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	2 / 2
Boost Clock	3.2 GHz+60%	2 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+25%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	3 MB (total)	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	32 nm	32 nm
Architecture	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)	Arrandale (2010−2011)
PassMark	2,241	2,245

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the PGA988 socket with PCIe 2.0.

Feature	Core i5-2520M	Pentium P6100
Socket	PGA988	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	1333	—
Max RAM Capacity	16	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	❌	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: true (Core i5-2520M) / not specified (Pentium P6100). The Core i5-2520M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Pentium P6100 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i5-2520M rivals Phenom II Black Edition N660.