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Intel Core i7-3520M Price, Specs & Reviews | TimeToPick

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Intel Core i7-3520M

Intel

Intel Core i7-3520M

BGA 10232C / 4T35WIvy Bridge22nmunknown3.60 GHz Boost

Price

$0

CPU image not available yet

Full Specifications

Detailed architecture, platform, memory, and feature data for this CPU.

Total Cores2

Total Threads4

Base Clock2.90 GHz

Boost Clock3.60 GHz

BCLK / Multiplier100 MHz / 29.0xx

CodenameIvy Bridge

MicroarchitectureIvy Bridge

Process Node22nm

FoundryIntel

Die Size118.0 mm²

Production Statusunknown

Market SegmentMobile

Launch DateJun 3, 2012

Instruction Sets

MMXSSESSE2SSE3SSSE3SSE4.2AVXEISTIntel 64XD bitTXTVT-xVT-dHTTAES-NI

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About This Product

The Intel Core i7-3520M is a dual-core, quad-thread mobile CPU from the Ivy Bridge generation, released in 2012. With a base clock of 2.9 GHz and a boost up to 3.6 GHz, it offers adequate performance for basic productivity tasks and web browsing. Its integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics can handle light gaming at very low settings, but it is significantly outperformed by modern integrated graphics and dedicated GPUs. This CPU is suitable for users seeking to revive older laptops for non-demanding use.

Best for: Basic laptop refresh

Pros

Low power consumption (35W TDP)
Adequate for basic office tasks
Integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics
Affordable replacement for older laptops

Cons

Poor performance for modern applications
Limited gaming capability
Outdated architecture

Verdict
“Buy for basic use in older laptops; avoid for demanding tasks or modern gaming.”

Performance Benchmarks

Cross-source performance, value, and efficiency at a glance

Scores are grouped by benchmark family so it is easy to compare raw speed, threaded output, and real-world value without mixing scales.

Cinebench R23Geekbench 6PassMark

Render Workloads

Cinebench R23

Single-Core

62127%

Multi-Core

1,2733%

Cross-Platform

Geekbench 6

Single-Core

57018%

Multi-Core

1,1565%

Based on 356 user submissions.

Large Sample Pool

PassMark

Overall

2,8434%

Single-Thread

70%

PassMark rank: #3,132

Value & Efficiency

How much output you get per watt and per dollar

These derived metrics use Cinebench R23 multi-core performance to keep the value calculation consistent across the catalog.

Performance per Watt

36.4 pts/W

Performance per Dollar

21.2 pts/$

Popular Comparisons

Most people compare Core i7-3520M with

These pairings are pre-ranked from the comparison engine so readers can jump straight into the most relevant alternatives.

Athlon II X4 620e

Closest Rival

vs AMD Athlon II X4 620e

Multi-core 1,288 · $72

"83% better single-core, tied multi-core, $11 cheaper"

Upgrade Verdict

This is a sidegrade at best, and likely a downgrade for most tasks. The Athlon II X4 620e is an older, less efficient architecture, and while it has more cores, the per-core performance is significantly lower than the i7-3520M. Not worth the money.

Full Compare→

Xeon X3440

Budget Alternative

vs Intel Xeon X3440

Multi-core 2,256 · $17

"36% better single-core, 44% slower multi-core, $57 more expensive"

Upgrade Verdict

This is a sidegrade at best, and likely a downgrade for most users. The Xeon X3440 is an older, higher TDP desktop chip, incompatible with your laptop's BGA i7-3520M. Even if compatible, the performance difference would be negligible for general use, and the power consumption much higher.

Full Compare→

Core i5-3317U

Upgrade From

vs Intel Core i5-3317U

Multi-core 1,089

"29% better single-core, 17% better multi-core, $80 cheaper"

Upgrade Verdict

This is a significant downgrade. The i7-3520M has a higher clock speed and TDP, indicating better performance, while the i5-3317U is a lower-power chip. Additionally, the i5 is more expensive. This upgrade is not worth it.

Full Compare→

Compatible Motherboards (0)

See full guide →

No compatible motherboards are in our catalog yet for this socket.

Compatible RAM (0)

See full guide →

No compatible RAM kits are in our catalog yet for this platform.

Compatible CPU Coolers (0)

No compatible CPU coolers are in our catalog yet for this socket.

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