Core i5-520UM vs Phenom X4 9850B
Core i5-520UM
Phenom X4 9850B
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 Phenom X4 9850B is on rank 331, 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 Phenom X4 9850B
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-520UM | Phenom X4 9850B |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Agena (2007−2008) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-520UM | Phenom X4 9850B |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Phenom X4 9850B
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.
Phenom X4 9850B
The Phenom X4 9850B is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Agena (2007−2008) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: AM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,946 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i5-520UM packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom X4 9850B offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom X4 9850B has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.87 GHz on the Core i5-520UM versus 2.5 GHz on the Phenom X4 9850B — a 28.8% clock advantage for the Phenom X4 9850B. The Core i5-520UM uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Phenom X4 9850B uses Agena (2007−2008) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-520UM scores 1,943 against the Phenom X4 9850B's 1,946 — a 0.2% lead for the Phenom X4 9850B. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i5-520UM vs 2 MB (total) on the Phenom X4 9850B.
| Feature | Core i5-520UM | Phenom X4 9850B |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 1.87 GHz | 2.5 GHz+34% |
| Base Clock | 1.07 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB+50% | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm-51% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Agena (2007−2008) |
| PassMark | 1,943 | 1,946 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-520UM uses the BGA1288 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom X4 9850B uses AM2+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-520UM | Phenom X4 9850B |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1288 | AM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| 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 (Phenom X4 9850B). The Core i5-520UM includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake)), while the Phenom X4 9850B requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i5-520UM rivals Core 2 Duo SU9400.
| Feature | Core i5-520UM | Phenom X4 9850B |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
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