Turion II N530 vs Core i5-2520M
Turion II N530
Core i5-2520M
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 Turion II N530 is positioned at rank 229 and the Core i5-2520M is on rank 1083, so the Turion II N530 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Turion II N530
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2520M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Turion II N530 | Core i5-2520M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($225) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Turion II N530 | Core i5-2520M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($225) |
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 Turion II N530 and Core i5-2520M
Turion II N530
The Turion II N530 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.5 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,245 points. Launch price was $69.
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.
Processing Power
The Turion II N530 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-2520M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Turion II N530 versus 3.2 GHz on the Core i5-2520M — a 24.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-2520M. The Turion II N530 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-2520M uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Turion II N530 scores 2,245 against the Core i5-2520M's 2,241 — a 0.2% lead for the Turion II N530.
| Feature | Turion II N530 | Core i5-2520M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.2 GHz+28% |
| Base Clock | — | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Champlain (2010−2011) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,245 | 2,241 |
Memory & Platform
The Turion II N530 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-2520M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Turion II N530 | Core i5-2520M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1 | 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: not specified (Turion II N530) / true (Core i5-2520M). The Core i5-2520M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Turion II N530 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i5-2520M rivals Phenom II Black Edition N660.
| Feature | Turion II N530 | Core i5-2520M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 3000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Turion II N530 and Core i5-2520M
