
Xeon L5335 vs Core i5-520M

Xeon L5335

Core i5-520M
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 Xeon L5335 is positioned at rank 995 and the Core i5-520M is on rank 1139, so the Xeon L5335 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon L5335
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-520M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon L5335 | Core i5-520M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($18) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($225) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clovertown (2006−2007) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon L5335 | Core i5-520M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1157%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($18) | ⚠️ 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 Xeon L5335 and Core i5-520M

Xeon L5335
The Xeon L5335 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 13 August 2007 (18 years ago). It is based on the Clovertown (2006−2007) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 50 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 1,737 points. Launch price was $380.

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.
Processing Power
The Xeon L5335 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-520M offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon L5335 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Xeon L5335 versus 2.93 GHz on the Core i5-520M — a 37.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-520M (base: 2 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Xeon L5335 uses the Clovertown (2006−2007) architecture (65 nm), while the Core i5-520M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon L5335 scores 1,737 against the Core i5-520M's 1,727 — a 0.6% lead for the Xeon L5335. L3 cache: 8 MB L2 Cache on the Xeon L5335 vs 3 MB on the Core i5-520M.
| Feature | Xeon L5335 | Core i5-520M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 2.93 GHz+47% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 2.4 GHz+20% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB L2 Cache+167% | 3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB (total)+700% | 512 kB |
| Process | 65 nm | 32 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Clovertown (2006−2007) | Arrandale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,737 | 1,727 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 360 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 695 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon L5335 uses the LGA771 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-520M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon L5335 | Core i5-520M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA771 | PGA988 |
| 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: not specified (Xeon L5335) / true (Core i5-520M). The Core i5-520M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake)), while the Xeon L5335 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i5-520M rivals AMD Turion II Ultra M660.
| Feature | Xeon L5335 | Core i5-520M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
Value Analysis
The Xeon L5335 launched at $380 MSRP, while the Core i5-520M debuted at $225.
| Feature | Xeon L5335 | Core i5-520M |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $380 | $225-41% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $18 | — |
| Release Date | 2007 | 2010 |
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