Intel Core i5-540M processor review

Core i5-540M processor released by Intel; release date: 4 January 2010. At the time of release, the processor cost $257. The processor is designed for mobile-computers and based on Arrandale microarchitecture.

CPU is locked to prevent overclocking. Total number of cores - 2, threads - 4. Maximum CPU clock speed - 3.07 GHz. Maximum operating temperature - 105°C. Manufacturing process technology - 32 nm. Cache size: L1 - 128 KB, L2 - 512 KB, L3 - 3072 KB.

Supported memory types: DDR3 800/1066. Maximum memory size: 8 GB.

Supported socket types: BGA1288, PGA988. Maximum number of processors in a configuration - 1. Power consumption (TDP): 35 Watt.

The processor has integrated graphics Intel HD Graphics with the following parameters: maximum frequency - 766 MHz.

Benchmarks

PassMark
Single thread mark

Top 1 CPU

This CPU

4870

1153

PassMark
CPU mark

Top 1 CPU

This CPU

156834

1802

Geekbench 4
Single Core

Top 1 CPU

This CPU

5311

432

Geekbench 4
Multi-Core

Top 1 CPU

This CPU

36691

922

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop
Face Detection

Top 1 CPU

This CPU

97.640 mPixels/s

0.467 mPixels/s

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop
Ocean Surface Simulation

Top 1 CPU

This CPU

741.453 Frames/s

24.338 Frames/s

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop
T-Rex

Top 1 CPU

This CPU

4.623 Frames/s

0.134 Frames/s

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop
Video Composition

Top 1 CPU

This CPU

49.002 Frames/s

0.677 Frames/s

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop
Bitcoin Mining

Top 1 CPU

This CPU

218.231 mHash/s

1.984 mHash/s

Name	Value
PassMark - Single thread mark	1153
PassMark - CPU mark	1802
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	432
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	922
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection	0.467 mPixels/s
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation	24.338 Frames/s
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex	0.134 Frames/s
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition	0.677 Frames/s
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining	1.984 mHash/s

Specifications (specs)

Essentials
Architecture codename	Arrandale
Launch date	4 January 2010
Launch price (MSRP)	$257
Place in performance rating	3047
Price now	$189.95
Processor Number	i5-540M
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	3.80
Vertical segment	Mobile
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.53 GHz
Bus Speed	2.5 GT/s DMI
Die size	81 mm2
Front-side bus (FSB)	2500 MHz
L1 cache	128 KB
L2 cache	512 KB
L3 cache	3072 KB
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	105°C
Maximum frequency	3.07 GHz
Number of cores	2
Number of threads	4
Transistor count	382 million

Memory
Max memory channels	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	17.1 GB/s
Maximum memory size	8 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 800/1066
Graphics
Graphics base frequency	500 MHz
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)
Processor graphics	Intel HD Graphics
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	2
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1
Package Size	rPGA 37.5mmx 37.5mm, BGA 34mmx28mm
Sockets supported	BGA1288, PGA988
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	35 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16
PCI Express revision	2.0
PCIe configurations	1x16
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)	36-bit
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)