Intel Core i7-2617M vs Intel Atom Z2520

Last updated:

CPU comparison with benchmarks


Intel Core i7-2617M CPU1 vs CPU2 Intel Atom Z2520
Intel Core i7-2617M Intel Atom Z2520

CPU comparison

Intel Core i7-2617M or Intel Atom Z2520 - which processor is faster? In this comparison we look at the differences and analyze which of these two CPUs is better. We compare the technical data and benchmark results.

The Intel Core i7-2617M has 2 cores with 4 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 2.60 GHz. Up to 8 GB of memory is supported in 2 memory channels. The Intel Core i7-2617M was released in Q1/2011.

The Intel Atom Z2520 has 2 cores with 4 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 1.20 GHz. The CPU supports up to 2 GB of memory in 2 memory channels. The Intel Atom Z2520 was released in Q2/2013.
Intel Core i7 (298) Family Intel Atom (108)
Intel Core i 2000M (46) CPU group Intel Atom Z2500/Z2700 (3)
2 Generation 2
Sandy Bridge H Architecture Cloverview
Mobile Segment Mobile
-- Predecessor --
-- Successor --

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Intel Core i7-2617M has 2 CPU cores and can calculate 4 threads in parallel. The clock frequency of the Intel Core i7-2617M is 1.50 GHz (2.60 GHz) while the Intel Atom Z2520 has 2 CPU cores and 4 threads can calculate simultaneously. The clock frequency of the Intel Atom Z2520 is at 1.20 GHz.

Intel Core i7-2617M Characteristic Intel Atom Z2520
2 Cores 2
4 Threads 4
normal Core architecture normal
Yes Hyperthreading Yes
No Overclocking ? No
1.50 GHz Frequency 1.20 GHz
2.60 GHz Turbo Frequency (1 Core) --
-- Turbo Frequency (All Cores) --

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Processors with the support of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors. Algorithms for ML improve their performance the more data they have collected via software. ML tasks can be processed up to 10,000 times faster than with a classic processor.

Intel Core i7-2617M Characteristic Intel Atom Z2520
-- AI hardware --
-- AI specifications --

Internal Graphics

The Intel Core i7-2617M or Intel Atom Z2520 has integrated graphics, called iGPU for short. The iGPU uses the system's main memory as graphics memory and sits on the processor's die.

Intel HD Graphics 3000 GPU PowerVR SGX544 MP2
0.35 GHz GPU frequency 0.30 GHz
0.95 GHz GPU (Turbo) --
6 GPU Generation --
32 nm Technology 45nm
2 Max. displays 2
12 Compute units 4
96 Shader 8
No Hardware Raytracing No
No Frame Generation No
2 GB Max. GPU Memory --
10.1 DirectX Version 10.1

Hardware codec support

A photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos.

Intel HD Graphics 3000 GPU PowerVR SGX544 MP2
No Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) No
No Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) No
Decode / Encode Codec h264 Decode / Encode
No Codec VP9 No
No Codec VP8 Decode
No Codec AV1 No
Decode / Encode Codec AVC No
Decode Codec VC-1 No
No Codec JPEG No

Memory & PCIe

The Intel Core i7-2617M can use up to 8 GB of memory in 2 memory channels. The maximum memory bandwidth is 21.3 GB/s. The Intel Atom Z2520 supports up to 2 GB of memory in 2 memory channels and achieves a memory bandwidth of up to 8.5 GB/s.

Intel Core i7-2617M Characteristic Intel Atom Z2520
DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333 Memory LPDDR2-1066
8 GB Max. Memory 2 GB
2 (Dual Channel) Memory channels 2 (Dual Channel)
21.3 GB/s Max. Bandwidth 8.5 GB/s
No ECC No
-- L2 Cache 1.00 MB
4.00 MB L3 Cache --
2.0 PCIe version --
16 PCIe lanes --
8.0 GB/s PCIe Bandwidth --

Thermal Management

The thermal design power (TDP for short) of the Intel Core i7-2617M is 17 W, while the Intel Atom Z2520 has a TDP of --. The TDP specifies the necessary cooling solution that is required to cool the processor sufficiently.

Intel Core i7-2617M Characteristic Intel Atom Z2520
17 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) --
-- TDP (PL2) --
-- TDP up --
-- TDP down --
100 °C Tjunction max. 90 °C

Technical details

The Intel Core i7-2617M is manufactured in 32 nm and has 4.00 MB cache. The Intel Atom Z2520 is manufactured in 32 nm and has a 1.00 MB cache.

Intel Core i7-2617M Characteristic Intel Atom Z2520
32 nm Technology 32 nm
Monolithic Chip design Monolithic
x86-64 (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) x86-64 (64 bit)
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX ISA extensions MMX, SSE3, SSSE3
BGA 1023 Socket BGA
VT-x, VT-x EPT Virtualization None
Yes AES-NI No
Windows 10, Linux Operating systems
Q1/2011 Release date Q2/2013
270 $ Release price --
show more data show more data


Rate these processors

Here you can rate the Intel Core i7-2617M to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 0 stars (0 ratings). Rate now:
Here you can rate the Intel Atom Z2520 to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 0 stars (0 ratings). Rate now:


Geekbench 5, 64bit (Single-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Intel Core i7-2617M Intel Core i7-2617M
2C 4T @ 2.60 GHz
535 (100%)
Intel Atom Z2520 Intel Atom Z2520
2C 4T @ 1.20 GHz
0 (0%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Intel Core i7-2617M Intel Core i7-2617M
2C 4T @ 1.50 GHz
1072 (100%)
Intel Atom Z2520 Intel Atom Z2520
2C 4T @ 1.20 GHz
0 (0%)

iGPU - FP32 Performance (Single-precision GFLOPS)

The theoretical computing performance of the internal graphics unit of the processor with simple accuracy (32 bit) in GFLOPS. GFLOPS indicates how many billion floating point operations the iGPU can perform per second.
Intel Core i7-2617M Intel Core i7-2617M
Intel HD Graphics 3000 @ 0.95 GHz
182 (100%)
Intel Atom Z2520 Intel Atom Z2520
PowerVR SGX544 MP2 @ 0.30 GHz
0 (0%)

Estimated results for PassMark CPU Mark

Some of the CPUs listed below have been benchmarked by CPU-monkey. However the majority of CPUs have not been tested and the results have been estimated by a CPU-monkey’s secret proprietary formula. As such they do not accurately reflect the actual Passmark CPU mark values and are not endorsed by PassMark Software Pty Ltd.
Intel Core i7-2617M Intel Core i7-2617M
2C 4T @ 1.50 GHz
1685 (100%)
Intel Atom Z2520 Intel Atom Z2520
2C 4T @ 1.20 GHz
0 (0%)

Devices using this processor

Intel Core i7-2617M Intel Atom Z2520
Unknown Unknown

Popular comparisons containing this CPUs

1. Intel Core i7-2617MIntel Core i7-3610QM Intel Core i7-2617M vs Intel Core i7-3610QM
2. Intel Pentium Gold G5400Intel Core i7-2617M Intel Pentium Gold G5400 vs Intel Core i7-2617M
3. AMD Ryzen 3 3200GIntel Core i7-2617M AMD Ryzen 3 3200G vs Intel Core i7-2617M
4. Intel Xeon W-2245Intel Core i7-2617M Intel Xeon W-2245 vs Intel Core i7-2617M
5. AMD Phenom II X4 965Intel Core i7-2617M AMD Phenom II X4 965 vs Intel Core i7-2617M
6. AMD Ryzen 7 2700Intel Core i7-2617M AMD Ryzen 7 2700 vs Intel Core i7-2617M
7. AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900XIntel Core i7-2617M AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X vs Intel Core i7-2617M
8. Intel Celeron G5900TIntel Core i7-2617M Intel Celeron G5900T vs Intel Core i7-2617M
9. AMD Ryzen 7 3700XIntel Core i7-2617M AMD Ryzen 7 3700X vs Intel Core i7-2617M
10. Intel Pentium N3710Intel Core i7-2617M Intel Pentium N3710 vs Intel Core i7-2617M


back to index