Intel Pentium 2020M  vs Core i5 3210M 

Laptops come in many configurations in order to accommodate the various needs of each user. At the heart of the laptop is the processor. For this matchup, we’re comparing two processors with different specifications: the Intel Pentium 2020M versus the Intel Core i5 3210M. Let's take a closer look at the architecture of each CPU, and see which has the better overall value.

The basic premise of the Pentium M series is that it runs at a lower voltage, geared towards powering small laptops below 3 lbs. The Pentium 2020M is a dual core processor geared towards a budget build. It has a speed of 2.4 GHz with 2 threads and 2 MB of cache, which makes it capable of running basic tasks such as web browsing and watching movies. It packs an HD 2500 for its integrated graphics, which provides acceptable performance. As an entry level processor, added functions such as Hyperthreading and Turbo Boost are not included in its feature set.

On the other hand, the Core i5 offers decent performance which offers middle level performance; it's basically next in line to Intel's fastest Core i7 chip. The i5 3210M is a dual core processor clocked higher at 2.5 GHz with 4 threads and 3 MB cache. It packs an HD 4000 for decent integrated graphics performance, which can play games at low to medium settings. It’s hyperthreaded as well, which means that each processor core is used more effectively.

Given these specifications, it won’t come as a surprise that the 3210M was able to beat the 2020M in all benchmarks. The results show a 30% higher score in the 3DMark CPU test and an impressive 40% advantage in PassMark. Considering that both processors have the same power draw at 35W TDP, the 3210M thus offers the better performance-per-watt ratio.

Price wise, the 3210M is around $100 more expensive than the 2020M. To wrap things up, only consider the Intel Core 2020M if on a really tight budget; however, we recommend saving up for the the Intel Core i5 3210M because it’s a better bang for the buck.