Core i5-520UM vs Pentium G3240
Core i5-520UM
Pentium G3240
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 i5-520UM is positioned at rank 130 and the Pentium G3240 is on rank 757, so the Core i5-520UM offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-520UM
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G3240
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-520UM | Pentium G3240 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($126) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-520UM | Pentium G3240 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($126) |
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 i5-520UM and Pentium G3240
Core i5-520UM
The Core i5-520UM 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 1.07 GHz, with boost up to 1.87 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1288. Thermal design power (TDP): 18 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800. Passmark benchmark score: 1,943 points. Launch price was $241.
Pentium G3240
The Pentium G3240 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency: 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 53 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333, DDR3L-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,930 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core i5-520UM packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Pentium G3240's 2 cores. The Core i5-520UM is built on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i5-520UM scores 1,943 against the Pentium G3240's 1,930 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i5-520UM. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i5-520UM vs 3 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Pentium G3240.
| Feature | Core i5-520UM | Pentium G3240 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.87 GHz | — |
| Base Clock | 1.07 GHz | 3.1 GHz+190% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 3 MB Intel® Smart Cache |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | — |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | — |
| PassMark | 1,943 | 1,930 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-520UM uses the BGA1288 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium G3240 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-520UM | Pentium G3240 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1288 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | 800 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core i5-520UM) / not specified (Pentium G3240). The Core i5-520UM includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake)), while the Pentium G3240 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i5-520UM rivals Core 2 Duo SU9400.
| Feature | Core i5-520UM | Pentium G3240 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
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