Core i5-2520M vs Xeon E5462

Core i5-2520M

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 3.2 GHz2011

Xeon E5462

4 Cores4 Thrd80 WWMax: 2.8 GHz2007

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-2520M

2 / 4

2,241

+1.3%

2,213

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.

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 Xeon E5462 is on rank 955, so the Xeon E5462 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 Xeon E5462

Xeon Platinum 8454H

MSRP: $6540|Avg: N/A

32121%

Xeon Gold 6240R

MSRP: $2444|Avg: N/A

6065%

#10

Xeon 6337P

MSRP: $60|Avg: $5

5388%

#15

EPYC 9174F

MSRP: $194|Avg: $30

4163%

#529

Xeon Max 9480

MSRP: $12980|Avg: $12980

99%

#530

Xeon E5-2689 v4

MSRP: $2723|Avg: $100

97%

#531

EPYC 7543

MSRP: $10257|Avg: $468

95%

#532

Xeon Platinum 8368Q

MSRP: $7719|Avg: $7719

94%

#533

Xeon Gold 6250

MSRP: $3400|Avg: $2000

93%

#534

Xeon E5-2699 v4

MSRP: $4115|Avg: $400

93%

#955

Xeon E5462

MSRP: $342|Avg: $45

100%

#958

Xeon E5-4650 v2

MSRP: $1723|Avg: $48

98%

#959

Xeon E5-1620 v4

MSRP: $1166|Avg: $160

97%

#963

Xeon E5-2660

MSRP: $1329|Avg: $65

94%

#964

Xeon E5-2667 v3

MSRP: $2057|Avg: $150

94%

#966

Xeon E3110

MSRP: $214|Avg: $158

94%

#969

Xeon L3406

MSRP: $189|Avg: $30

90%

#970

Xeon E5-2687W v2

MSRP: $2112|Avg: $62

90%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Use Case Distinction: This is a comparison between a Professional Workstation processor ($45) and a Consumer Desktop CPU. The Xeon E5462 is engineered for massive parallel workloads (rendering, scientific simulations), offering significantly higher core counts.

Insight	Core i5-2520M	Xeon E5462
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	✅ Better multi-core power	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price	⚠️ Higher cost ($225)	✅ More affordable ($45)
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Harpertown (2007−2008) / 45 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Core i5-2520M ($225), however, is optimized for mixed workloads and gaming. For most users, it offers superior single-thread performance and responsiveness at a fraction of the cost ($180 less, 400% cheaper), making it the better choice for daily use and gaming.

Insight	Core i5-2520M	Xeon E5462
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	✅ Better overall value (+394%)
Upfront Cost	⚠️ Higher cost ($225)	✅ More affordable ($45)

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

Xeon E5462 Benchmark Check

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-2520M and Xeon E5462

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.

Xeon E5462

The Xeon E5462 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 November 2007 (18 years ago). It is based on the Harpertown (2007−2008) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 2,213 points. Launch price was $797.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-2520M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon E5462 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5462 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i5-2520M versus 2.8 GHz on the Xeon E5462 — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-2520M (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i5-2520M uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E5462 uses Harpertown (2007−2008) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-2520M scores 2,241 against the Xeon E5462's 2,213 — a 1.3% lead for the Core i5-2520M. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-2520M vs 12 MB L2 Cache on the Xeon E5462.

Feature	Core i5-2520M	Xeon E5462
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	3.2 GHz+14%	2.8 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	2.8 GHz+12%
L3 Cache	3 MB (total)	12 MB L2 Cache+300%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	6 MB (total)+2300%
Process	32 nm-29%	45 nm
Architecture	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)	Harpertown (2007−2008)
PassMark	2,241+1%	2,213
Geekbench 6 Single	—	363
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	1,239

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-2520M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5462 uses LGA771 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1333 on the Core i5-2520M versus DDR2 on the Xeon E5462 — the Core i5-2520M supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5462 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 16 — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM65,HM67,QM67,QS67 (Core i5-2520M) and 5000P,3210,G31,P35 (Xeon E5462).

Feature	Core i5-2520M	Xeon E5462
Socket	PGA988	LGA771
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	1333+66550%	DDR2
Max RAM Capacity	16	64 GB+419430300%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	❌	✅
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Core i5-2520M) vs VT-x (Xeon E5462). The Core i5-2520M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Xeon E5462 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon E5462 targets Server. Direct competitor: Core i5-2520M rivals Phenom II Black Edition N660; Xeon E5462 rivals Athlon 64 X2 4000+.