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Core i5-3210M 2.5GHz
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Release period
03-Jun-2012
Core i5-3210M 2.5GHz Review
Core i5-3210M 2.5GHz is a fast-middle-class CPU part of the Core i5 Series released by Intel between 2010 and 2012.
It's based on the Ivy Bridge architecture and therefore features integrated graphics called Intel HD Graphics 4000 and it's manufactured with 22 nm. Previous Sandy Bridge features are also present, such as Turbo Boost and Hyper Threading.
It's built with 2 cores and each core features 2 threads, making a total of 4.
The performance it delivers is quite good but not enough run the most demanding games (The Witcher II for example) at the highest settings, even paired with a powerful GPU. However, benchmarks indicate the performance is good enough for modern demanding games like Crysis 2 and Skyrim V.
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Core i5-3210M 2.5GHz Performance Specification
CPU Speed
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CPU Details
2.5 GHz
2 cores
Ivy Bridge
35W
22nm
Socket M
Notebook CPU
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L3 Cache
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GD RATING
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Core i5-3210M 2.5GHz

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Discussion Page 1
MrChilaxer
21:25 May-20-2013

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Does this CPU have Turbo Boost?
shivamkumarjha
04:02 May-21-2013

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Yes! It has a turbo boost upto 3.1GHz. Hope you like. Thanks
MrChilaxer
21:39 May-21-2013

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Thank you good sir! for answering :D
4RBiT3R
13:16 May-03-2013

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What's the highest-end gpu this can handle?I want to upgrade my gpu.
upsurge
07:21 May-11-2013

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Laptop GPU are soldered onto the motherboard so you can't upgrade them... However, there are some exceptions and some laptops do allow a CPU or GPU change... Enquire with your laptop manufacturer first if you can upgrade... The GT650M and Radeon HD7850M are the most powerful GPUs that can safely be paired with this CPU...
Tero
12:58 May-21-2013

I think this is capable of handling most laptop GPUs with ease (not counting SLI/CF models) :)
Grimreeper786
07:09 Apr-17-2013

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Why is my CPU 2% worse than this???
S3V3NTY
09:14 Dec-06-2012

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i asked an IT expert and he said that this cpu and the i5 family is not a quad core it is only dual core like it is written here so why is it shown at the device manager as 4 cpu s and in the task manager too ???
tzzsmk
09:45 Dec-06-2012

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laptop i5s are practically same as desktop i3s
means that cpu has 2 physical cores, working as 4 threads;
so Windows shows 4 cores and handles it as 4 cores, but from hardware point, there are only 2 cores (that's why tdp is quite low:)
in games, performance is of course lower than desktop i5, but the difference isn't too noticeable:Đ
Antrikos
16:18 Nov-11-2012

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Should I get this + 660m or wait for a quad core + 660m?
Raystlyn
16:24 Nov-11-2012

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Well this CPU hyperthreads to 4, 2 virtual. And might well perform better than some quad cores. What would be your other Laptop option?
Mazasrb
17:02 Nov-11-2012

I 'd wait for a quad.
Antrikos
17:31 Nov-11-2012

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Well, it's that and the overpriced Alienwares... Most of the laptops with the quad i7s have bad GPUs.
Raystlyn
17:39 Nov-11-2012

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Alienwares are really nice, if you have the money :D
Mazasrb
17:47 Nov-11-2012

Up to 7970Mx2 or GTX680Mx2 that quite beastly ;)
Antrikos
05:36 Nov-13-2012

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Yeah, can't argue with that. The thing is I can't afford 2000 for a computer :3
ByGasal
14:05 Oct-31-2012

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Hmmmmm, This and GT 650M, or i7 3630QM with GT 640M? I really need help ASAP
Mazasrb
17:00 Oct-31-2012

This and 650M as gaming is more bounded to the CPU.
Izzy87
07:26 Nov-01-2012

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did you meant to say: to the GPU
Mazasrb
15:31 Nov-01-2012

Yeah, too many posts :D
Izzy87
00:42 Nov-02-2012

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Take a break buddy you´re overdoing it xD
zyzzbrah
15:09 Nov-01-2012

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Its up to you, I always put video cards on first place when i select pc/laptop.
Izzy87
00:43 Nov-02-2012

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he meant GPU not CPU hehe
fadlanfz
15:17 Nov-08-2012

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amd a10 4600m+ radeon 7970M is bottleneck??
Mazasrb
15:44 Nov-08-2012

It should work fine. With minimal bottleneck.
_↓_________________________________↓___
Bottleneck is always present more or less
kaloresi
21:17 Oct-29-2012

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why my task manager says my processor is a quad-core ??
Mazasrb
23:50 Oct-29-2012

Probably because it has 4 threads.
blacksoulrider
06:11 Nov-29-2012

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yap my one also says that its a quad core and thats bcoz it has 4 threads.
kaloresi
17:48 Dec-13-2012

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looks like we have the same laptop here :D...
berk07
14:49 Oct-09-2012

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ı have got and ı really like it
parafreak
14:28 Sep-27-2012

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weeeehh i got this already!
snookerluke16
15:49 Sep-15-2012

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Why is the image of Intel i3?
Izzy87
00:46 Sep-23-2012

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yeah whats up with that?
Discussion Page 1