Intel Atom N2600 vs Intel Core i5-520M

Comparative analysis of Intel Atom N2600 and Intel Core i5-520M processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Compatibility, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization, Graphics interfaces, Peripherals. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

Intel Atom N2600

Intel Core i5-520M

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Atom N2600

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 11 month(s) later
2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
8.8x lower typical power consumption: 3.5 Watt vs 35 Watt
Around 24% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 505 vs 408
Around 19% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1037 vs 868

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	28 December 2011 vs 4 January 2010
L2 cache	1024 KB vs 512 KB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	3.5 Watt vs 35 Watt
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	505 vs 408
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1037 vs 868

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-520M

Around 83% higher clock speed: 2.93 GHz vs 1.6 GHz
3.4x more maximum memory size: 8.3 GB vs 2.44 GB
3.8x better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1096 vs 289
4.8x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 1723 vs 360

Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency	2.93 GHz vs 1.6 GHz
Maximum memory size	8.3 GB vs 2.44 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1096 vs 289
PassMark - CPU mark	1723 vs 360

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Atom N2600
CPU 2: Intel Core i5-520M

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

289

1096

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

360

1723

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

505

408

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1037

868

Name	Intel Atom N2600	Intel Core i5-520M
PassMark - Single thread mark	289	1096
PassMark - CPU mark	360	1723
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	505	408
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1037	868
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)		0.443
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		19.231
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.104
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		0.69
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		1.328

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Atom N2600	Intel Core i5-520M
Essentials
Architecture codename	Cedarview	Arrandale
Launch date	28 December 2011	4 January 2010
Launch price (MSRP)	$47	$225
Place in performance rating	3088	3090
Processor Number	N2600	i5-520M
Series	Intel® Atom™ Processor N Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched	Launched
Vertical segment	Mobile	Mobile
Price now		$69.99
Value for money (0-100)		9.97
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	1.60 GHz	2.40 GHz
Bus Speed	2.5 GT/s DMI	2.5 GT/s DMI
Die size	66 mm	81 mm2
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	128 KB
L2 cache	1024 KB	512 KB
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	32 nm
Maximum frequency	1.6 GHz	2.93 GHz
Number of cores	2	2
Number of threads	4	4
Transistor count	176 million	382 million
Front-side bus (FSB)		2500 MHz
L3 cache		3072 KB
Maximum core temperature		105°C
Memory
Max memory channels	1	2
Maximum memory size	2.44 GB	8.3 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR3 800/1066
Maximum memory bandwidth		17.1 GB/s
Graphics
Graphics base frequency	400 MHz	500 MHz
Processor graphics	Integrated	Intel HD Graphics
Graphics max dynamic frequency		766 MHz
Graphics max frequency		766 MHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Clear Video technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	FCBGA559	PGA988, BGA1288
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	3.5 Watt	35 Watt
Package Size		rPGA 37.5mmx 37.5mm, BGA 34mmx28mm
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE2, Intel® SSE3, Intel® SSSE3	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)		36-bit
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported		2
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes		16
PCI Express revision		2.0
PCIe configurations		1x16