Intel Core i5-540M vs Intel Core 2 Duo SU9600

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-540M and Intel Core 2 Duo SU9600 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 - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

Intel Core i5-540M

Intel Core 2 Duo SU9600

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-540M

CPU is newer: launch date 9 month(s) later
2 more threads: 4 vs 2
Around 92% higher clock speed: 3.07 GHz vs 1.6 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
2.7x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 0.467 vs 0.175
Around 95% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 24.338 vs 12.489
Around 88% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 0.677 vs 0.36
Around 70% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 1.984 vs 1.164

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	4 January 2010 vs 1 April 2009
Number of threads	4 vs 2
Maximum frequency	3.07 GHz vs 1.6 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 45 nm
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.467 vs 0.175
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	24.338 vs 12.489
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.677 vs 0.36
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	1.984 vs 1.164

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Duo SU9600

6x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
3.5x lower typical power consumption: 10 Watt vs 35 Watt
2.6x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1133 vs 432
Around 87% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1725 vs 922

Specifications (specs)
L2 cache	3 MB vs 512 KB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	10 Watt vs 35 Watt
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1133 vs 432
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1725 vs 922

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-540M
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Duo SU9600

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

432

1133

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

922

1725

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.467

0.175

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

24.338

12.489

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.677

0.36

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.984

1.164

Name	Intel Core i5-540M	Intel Core 2 Duo SU9600
PassMark - Single thread mark	1156
PassMark - CPU mark	1803
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	432	1133
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	922	1725
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.467	0.175
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	24.338	12.489
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.134
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.677	0.36
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	1.984	1.164

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-540M	Intel Core 2 Duo SU9600
Essentials
Architecture codename	Arrandale	Penryn
Launch date	4 January 2010	1 April 2009
Launch price (MSRP)	$257	$289
Place in performance rating	3044	3046
Price now	$189.95
Processor Number	i5-540M	SU9600
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	3.80
Vertical segment	Mobile	Mobile
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.53 GHz	1.60 GHz
Bus Speed	2.5 GT/s DMI	800 MHz FSB
Die size	81 mm2	107 mm2
Front-side bus (FSB)	2500 MHz	800 MHz
L1 cache	128 KB	128 KB
L2 cache	512 KB	3 MB
L3 cache	3072 KB
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	105°C	105°C
Maximum frequency	3.07 GHz	1.6 GHz
Number of cores	2	2
Number of threads	4	2
Transistor count	382 million	410 million
VID voltage range		1.050V-1.150V
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	22mm x 22mm
Sockets supported	BGA1288, PGA988	BGA956
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	35 Watt	10 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
FSB parity
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)