CPU
GPU
Core i5-520M
Turion X2 RM-74
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 i5-520M is positioned at rank 1139 and the Turion X2 RM-74 is on rank 355, so the Turion X2 RM-74 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-520M
Performance Per Dollar Turion X2 RM-74
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-520M | Turion X2 RM-74 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Lion (2008−2009) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-520M | Turion X2 RM-74 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i5-520M and Turion X2 RM-74
Core i5-520M
The Core i5-520M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.93 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 1,727 points. Launch price was $225.
Turion X2 RM-74
The Turion X2 RM-74 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Lion (2008−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,740 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core i5-520M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Turion X2 RM-74's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.93 GHz on the Core i5-520M versus 2.2 GHz on the Turion X2 RM-74 — a 28.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-520M. The Core i5-520M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Turion X2 RM-74 uses Lion (2008−2009) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-520M scores 1,727 against the Turion X2 RM-74's 1,740 — a 0.7% lead for the Turion X2 RM-74. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i5-520M vs 0 kB on the Turion X2 RM-74.
| Feature | Core i5-520M | Turion X2 RM-74 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.93 GHz+33% | 2.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 1 MB+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-51% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Lion (2008−2009) |
| PassMark | 1,727 | 1,740 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 360 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 695 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-520M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Turion X2 RM-74 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-520M | Turion X2 RM-74 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | S1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1066 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core i5-520M) / not specified (Turion X2 RM-74). The Core i5-520M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake)), while the Turion X2 RM-74 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i5-520M rivals AMD Turion II Ultra M660.
| Feature | Core i5-520M | Turion X2 RM-74 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
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