AMD Ryzen 5 7520U

AMD Ryzen 5 7520U: Budget Processor for Everyday Tasks and Ultraportable Laptops

(Relevant as of March 2025)

Architecture and Manufacturing Process: Zen 2 on 6 nm with Modest Graphics

The AMD Ryzen 5 7520U processor, released under the codename Mendocino, is positioned as an energy-efficient solution for budget laptops. It is built on TSMC's 6nm FinFET—an optimized version of the 7nm manufacturing process—which helps reduce power consumption without sacrificing performance.

CPU Configuration:

- 4 cores and 8 threads thanks to SMT (Simultaneous Multithreading) technology.

- Base clock speed is 2.8 GHz, with a maximum turbo frequency of 4.3 GHz.

- L3 Cache — 4 MB, which is less than on higher-end Ryzen models (for example, the Ryzen 5 7640U has 16 MB).

- Integrated Radeon 610M graphics based on the RDNA 2 architecture, but with reduced specifications: just 2 compute units (128 stream processors) and a frequency up to 1.9 GHz.

The Zen 2 architecture used in this processor is not new—it debuted in 2019. However, it is sufficient for basic tasks, and the 6nm process helps reduce heat.

Power Consumption and TDP: 15 W for Thin Laptops

The processor's TDP is 15 W, which is typical for ultrabooks. This means:

- Laptops equipped with the Ryzen 5 7520U do not require a massive cooling system—a compact cooler or even passive heat dissipation in the thinnest models is sufficient.

- The processor is adapted for "Modern Standby," which is important for devices with touch screens and instant wake-up capabilities.

Power-saving technologies:

- Precision Boost 2 — automatic core overclocking depending on workload and temperature.

- AMD PowerNow! — dynamic adjustment of frequency and voltage.

Performance: Modest, but Stable

Testing results (Geekbench 6):

- Single-Core: 1183 — comparable to Intel Core i5-1135G7 (Tiger Lake).

- Multi-Core: 3739 — slightly below Ryzen 5 5500U (6 cores, Zen 2).

Real-world scenarios:

- Office work: Chrome with 20 tabs open, Word, Excel, Zoom — the processor handles tasks without delays.

- Multimedia: Streaming 4K video, basic editing in DaVinci Resolve (videos up to 1080p).

- Gaming: Only light titles — CS:GO (60 FPS on low settings), Dota 2 (40-50 FPS), Among Us. The Radeon 610M graphics are weaker than the Radeon 680M (12 cores) and comparable to Intel Iris Xe in Core i3.

Turbo Mode: Under brief loads (e.g., opening a "heavy" website), the clock speed rises to 4.3 GHz, but under sustained workloads (rendering a 10-minute video), it stabilizes at 3.1–3.4 GHz due to TDP limitations.

Usage Scenarios: Who is the Ryzen 5 7520U Designed For?

This processor is suitable for:

- Students — for studying, document work, and Zoom meetings.

- Office workers — as an alternative to Intel Core i3.

- Users who value battery life — for example, during travel.

- Owners of budget 2-in-1 devices — tablets with keyboards.

Not suitable for:

- Gamers (other than casual gaming).

- Engineers working with CAD or 3D modeling.

- Video editors processing 4K material.

Battery Life: Up to 10 Hours of Operation

Laptops with the Ryzen 5 7520U typically come with 40–50 Wh batteries. In mixed usage (web browsing, video, documents), the operating time is 8–10 hours.

What helps save battery charge:

- Adaptive frequency scaling: when typing, the processor reduces frequency to 1.2 GHz.

- Support for LPDDR5-5500 RAM — lower energy consumption when working with memory.

Comparison with Competitors

1. AMD Ryzen 3 7420U (Zen 2, 4 cores/8 threads) — 10-15% weaker in multi-threaded tasks.

2. Intel Core i5-1335U (10 cores, 12 threads) — better in single-threaded tests (Geekbench 6 SC ~1400), but more expensive.

3. Apple M1 (8 cores) — surpasses the Ryzen 5 7520U in energy efficiency and performance, but laptops with M1 start at $900.

Price Range: Laptops with the Ryzen 5 7520U are priced at $450–700. For example:

- Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15″ (16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD) — $599.

- HP Pavilion Aero 13 (13.3″, 1 kg) — $649.

Pros and Cons

Strengths:

- Low price of laptops.

- Sufficient performance for everyday tasks.

- Good battery life.

Weaknesses:

- Outdated Zen 2 architecture.

- Weak graphics performance.

- Limited L3 cache (4 MB).

Laptop Selection Recommendations

1. Type of device: Ultrabooks (Acer Swift 3, ASUS Vivobook) or compact 2-in-1s (Lenovo Flex 5).

2. Display: IPS matrix with Full HD resolution — for comfortable work.

3. RAM: 16 GB LPDDR5 — for multitasking.

4. Storage: SSD (512 GB and above) is a must.

What not to overpay for:

- Discrete graphics — the Radeon 610M won't be a substitute.

- 4K touch screen — the processor cannot handle resource-intensive tasks.

Final Conclusion

AMD Ryzen 5 7520U is a solid choice for those looking for an inexpensive laptop for work, study, or travel. Its key advantages are:

- Energy efficiency and long battery life.

- Stable performance in office applications.

- Affordable price.

However, this is not a universal solution. If you need a mobile workstation or gaming laptop, consider models with the Ryzen 7 7840U or Intel Core Ultra 5.

Prices and models are accurate as of March 2025. Please verify the specifications of specific devices before purchasing.