Intel Core i7-3540M vs Intel Core i5-580M

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-3540M and Intel Core i5-580M 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), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps).

Intel Core i7-3540M

Intel Core i5-580M

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3540M

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 3 month(s) later
Around 11% higher clock speed: 3.70 GHz vs 3.33 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 32 nm
Around 33% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
4x more maximum memory size: 32 GB vs 8 GB
Around 40% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1794 vs 1284
Around 53% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2981 vs 1951
Around 53% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 665 vs 434
Around 57% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1462 vs 934

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	1 January 2013 vs 26 September 2010
Maximum frequency	3.70 GHz vs 3.33 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 32 nm
L3 cache	4096 KB vs 3072 KB
Maximum memory size	32 GB vs 8 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1794 vs 1284
PassMark - CPU mark	2981 vs 1951
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	665 vs 434
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1462 vs 934

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-3540M
CPU 2: Intel Core i5-580M

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1794

1284

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2981

1951

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

665

434

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1462

934

Name	Intel Core i7-3540M	Intel Core i5-580M
PassMark - Single thread mark	1794	1284
PassMark - CPU mark	2981	1951
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	665	434
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1462	934
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.315
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	7.374
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.261
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.115
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.627
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	2389
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	2389

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-3540M	Intel Core i5-580M
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge	Arrandale
Launch date	1 January 2013	26 September 2010
Launch price (MSRP)	$349	$266
Place in performance rating	2425	2420
Price now	$429.95	$109.95
Processor Number	i7-3540M	i5-580M
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	3.19	7.03
Vertical segment	Mobile	Mobile
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.00 GHz	2.66 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI	2.5 GT/s DMI
Die size	118 mm	81 mm2
L1 cache	128 KB	128 KB
L2 cache	512 KB	512 KB
L3 cache	4096 KB	3072 KB
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	105 °C	105°C
Maximum frequency	3.70 GHz	3.33 GHz
Number of cores	2	2
Number of threads	4	4
Front-side bus (FSB)		4800 MHz
Transistor count		382 million
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	17.1 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB	8 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3/L/-RS 1333/1600	DDR3 800/1066
Graphics
Device ID	0x166
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 4000	Intel HD Graphics
Intel® Clear Video technology
Graphics interfaces
CRT
DisplayPort
eDP
HDMI
Number of displays supported	3	2
SDVO
Wireless Display (WiDi) support
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	37.5 x 37.5mm (rPGA988B); 31.0 x 24.0mm (BGA1023)	rPGA 37.5mmx 37.5mm, BGA 34mmx28mm
Sockets supported	FCBGA1023, FCPGA988	BGA1288, PGA988
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	35 Watt	35 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16	16
PCI Express revision	3.0	2.0
PCIe configurations	1x16, 2x8, 1x8 2x4	1x16
Security & Reliability
Anti-Theft technology
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Secure Key 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)