Intel Core i5-2540M vs Intel Core i7-820QM

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-2540M and Intel Core i7-820QM 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).

Intel Core i5-2540M

Intel Core i7-820QM

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-2540M

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 4 month(s) later
Around 8% higher clock speed: 3.30 GHz vs 3.06 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
2x more maximum memory size: 16 GB vs 8 GB
Around 29% lower typical power consumption: 35 Watt vs 45 Watt
Around 38% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1407 vs 1022
Around 33% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2361 vs 1774
Around 46% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 558 vs 381
Around 3% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1221 vs 1185
Around 45% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 29.922 vs 20.687

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	20 February 2011 vs 23 September 2009
Maximum frequency	3.30 GHz vs 3.06 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 45 nm
Maximum memory size	16 GB vs 8 GB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	35 Watt vs 45 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1407 vs 1022
PassMark - CPU mark	2361 vs 1774
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	558 vs 381
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1221 vs 1185
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	29.922 vs 20.687

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-820QM

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
4 more threads: 8 vs 4
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2.7x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
2.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 4.276 vs 2.022
Around 18% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.267 vs 0.227

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	4 vs 2
Number of threads	8 vs 4
L1 cache	256 KB vs 128 KB
L2 cache	1024 KB vs 512 KB
L3 cache	8196 KB vs 3072 KB
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	4.276 vs 2.022
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.267 vs 0.227

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-2540M
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-820QM

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1407

1022

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2361

1774

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

558

381

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1221

1185

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.022

4.276

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

29.922

20.687

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.227

0.267

Name	Intel Core i5-2540M	Intel Core i7-820QM
PassMark - Single thread mark	1407	1022
PassMark - CPU mark	2361	1774
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	558	381
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1221	1185
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.022	4.276
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	29.922	20.687
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.227	0.267
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.022
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.797

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-2540M	Intel Core i7-820QM
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge	Clarksfield
Launch date	20 February 2011	23 September 2009
Launch price (MSRP)	$266	$546
Place in performance rating	2822	2816
Price now	$89.97	$139
Processor Number	i5-2540M	i7-820QM
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	12.38	6.84
Vertical segment	Mobile	Mobile
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.60 GHz	1.73 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI	2.5 GT/s DMI
Die size	149 mm	296 mm2
L1 cache	128 KB	256 KB
L2 cache	512 KB	1024 KB
L3 cache	3072 KB	8196 KB
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	100 C	100°C
Maximum frequency	3.30 GHz	3.06 GHz
Number of cores	2	4
Number of threads	4	8
Transistor count	624 Million	774 million
Front-side bus (FSB)		2500 MHz
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	21.3 GB/s	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	16 GB	8 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1066/1333	DDR3 1066/1333
Graphics
Device ID	0x116
Graphics base frequency	650 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.30 GHz
Graphics max frequency	1.3 GHz
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
Graphics interfaces
CRT
DisplayPort
eDP
HDMI
Number of displays supported	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)	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	PPGA988, FCBGA1023	PGA988
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	35 Watt	45 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16	16
PCI Express revision	2.0	2
PCIe configurations	1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4	1x16, 2x8
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® SSE4.2
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)