Intel Core i5-2540M vs Intel Core i7-640M

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-2540M and Intel Core i7-640M processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-2540M

  • CPU is newer: launch date 5 month(s) later
  • 2x more maximum memory size: 16 GB vs 8 GB
  • Around 2% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1402 vs 1377
  • Around 13% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2362 vs 2083
  • Around 12% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 558 vs 499
  • Around 18% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1221 vs 1036
  • 3.7x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 2.022 vs 0.541
  • Around 50% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.227 vs 0.151
Specifications (specs)
Launch date 20 February 2011 vs 20 September 2010
Maximum memory size 16 GB vs 8 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1402 vs 1377
PassMark - CPU mark 2362 vs 2083
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 558 vs 499
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 1221 vs 1036
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 2.022 vs 0.541
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 29.922 vs 29.806
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.227 vs 0.151

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-640M

  • Around 5% higher clock speed: 3.46 GHz vs 3.30 GHz
  • Around 5% higher maximum core temperature: 105°C vs 100 C
  • Around 33% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
  • Around 13% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 2.292 vs 2.022
Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency 3.46 GHz vs 3.30 GHz
Maximum core temperature 105°C vs 100 C
L3 cache 4096 KB vs 3072 KB
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 2.292 vs 2.022
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 0.798 vs 0.797

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-2540M
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-640M

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1402
1377
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
2362
2083
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
558
499
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
1221
1036
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
2.022
0.541
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
29.922
29.806
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.227
0.151
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
2.022
2.292
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.797
0.798
Name Intel Core i5-2540M Intel Core i7-640M
PassMark - Single thread mark 1402 1377
PassMark - CPU mark 2362 2083
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 558 499
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 1221 1036
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 2.022 0.541
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 29.922 29.806
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.227 0.151
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 2.022 2.292
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 0.797 0.798

Compare specifications (specs)

Intel Core i5-2540M Intel Core i7-640M

Essentials

Architecture codename Sandy Bridge Arrandale
Launch date 20 February 2011 20 September 2010
Launch price (MSRP) $266 $346
Place in performance rating 2832 2922
Price now $89.97 $199.95
Processor Number i5-2540M i7-640M
Series Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status Launched Discontinued
Value for money (0-100) 12.38 4.18
Vertical segment Mobile Mobile

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 2.60 GHz 2.80 GHz
Bus Speed 5 GT/s DMI 2.5 GT/s DMI
Die size 149 mm 81 mm2
L1 cache 128 KB 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 512 KB 512 KB
L3 cache 3072 KB 4096 KB
Manufacturing process technology 32 nm 32 nm
Maximum core temperature 100 C 105°C
Maximum frequency 3.30 GHz 3.46 GHz
Number of cores 2 2
Number of threads 4 4
Transistor count 624 Million 382 million
Front-side bus (FSB) 2500 MHz

Memory

Max memory channels 2 2
Maximum memory bandwidth 21.3 GB/s 17.1 GB/s
Maximum memory size 16 GB 8 GB
Supported memory types DDR3 1066/1333 DDR3 800/1066

Graphics

Device ID 0x116
Graphics base frequency 650 MHz 500 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency 1.30 GHz 766 MHz
Graphics max frequency 1.3 GHz 766 MHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics Intel® HD Graphics 3000 Intel HD Graphics
Intel® Clear Video technology

Graphics interfaces

CRT
DisplayPort
eDP
HDMI
Number of displays supported 2 2
SDVO
Wireless Display (WiDi) support

Compatibility

Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration 1 1
Package Size 37.5mm x 37.5mm (rPGA988B); 31mm x 24mm (BGA1023) rPGA 37.5mmx 37.5mm, BGA 34mmx28mm
Sockets supported PPGA988, FCBGA1023 BGA1288, PGA988
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 35 Watt 35 Watt

Peripherals

Max number of PCIe lanes 16 16
PCI Express revision 2.0 2.0
PCIe configurations 1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4 1x16

Security & Reliability

Anti-Theft technology
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)

Advanced Technologies

4G WiMAX Wireless
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions Intel® AVX Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® My WiFi technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Physical Address Extensions (PAE) 36-bit

Virtualization

AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)