What To Know
- The Core 2 Duo T9400 has a TDP of 35 watts, while the i5-2520M has a TDP of 35 watts.
- The Core 2 Duo T9400 does not have integrated graphics, so you will need to use a dedicated graphics card if you want to play games or do other graphics-intensive tasks.
- The T9400 is a good choice for budget-minded users, while the i5-2520M is a better choice for users who need a more powerful laptop.
The Intel Core 2 Duo T9400 and the i5-2520M are two popular laptop processors that were released in 2008 and 2011, respectively. Both processors offer good performance for everyday tasks, but there are some key differences between them that you should be aware of before making a decision about which one to buy.
Core Architecture and Performance
The Core 2 Duo T9400 is a dual-core processor with a clock speed of 2.53 GHz. The i5-2520M is a dual-core processor with a clock speed of 2.5 GHz, but it also has a Turbo Boost feature that can overclock the processor to 3.2 GHz when needed. This gives the i5-2520M a slight edge in performance over the T9400, especially for single-threaded tasks.
Cache and Memory
The Core 2 Duo T9400 has 6 MB of L2 cache, while the i5-2520M has 3 MB of L3 cache. This means that the i5-2520M has a faster cache, which can improve performance for applications that rely heavily on cache access. The i5-2520M also supports DDR3 memory, while the T9400 only supports DDR2 memory. DDR3 memory is faster than DDR2 memory, so this gives the i5-2520M another advantage in performance.
Power Consumption
The Core 2 Duo T9400 has a TDP of 35 watts, while the i5-2520M has a TDP of 35 watts. This means that both processors consume about the same amount of power. However, the i5-2520M is more power-efficient than the T9400, so it will run cooler and last longer on battery power.
Integrated Graphics
The Core 2 Duo T9400 does not have integrated graphics, so you will need to use a dedicated graphics card if you want to play games or do other graphics-intensive tasks. The i5-2520M has integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000, which is a basic graphics solution that can handle light gaming and other graphics-intensive tasks.
Price
The Core 2 Duo T9400 is a much older processor than the i5-2520M, so it is much cheaper. You can find used T9400 processors for as little as $20, while new i5-2520M processors cost around $100.
Which One Should You Choose?
The Core 2 Duo T9400 is a good choice for budget-minded users who need a basic laptop for everyday tasks. The i5-2520M is a better choice for users who need a more powerful laptop for gaming or other graphics-intensive tasks.
The Bottom Line
The Core 2 Duo T9400 and the i5-2520M are both good laptop processors, but they offer different features and performance levels. The T9400 is a good choice for budget-minded users, while the i5-2520M is a better choice for users who need a more powerful laptop.
Questions We Hear a Lot
Q: Which processor is faster, the Core 2 Duo T9400 or the i5-2520M?
A: The i5-2520M is faster than the T9400, especially for single-threaded tasks.
Q: Which processor has more cache?
A: The Core 2 Duo T9400 has 6 MB of L2 cache, while the i5-2520M has 3 MB of L3 cache.
Q: Which processor is more power-efficient?
A: The i5-2520M is more power-efficient than the T9400.
Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?
A: The i5-2520M has integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000, while the T9400 does not have integrated graphics.
Q: Which processor is cheaper?
A: The Core 2 Duo T9400 is cheaper than the i5-2520M.
