Core i5-2540M

Details and Benchmarks for Intel Core i5-2540M

Sysbuilds Alpha Stage!

Please take all results with a big grain of salt. Sysbuilds is in alpha stage at the moment which can lead to wrong data, strange counting errors, silly results and more. This site is under active development.

Benchmark Results

Combined benchmark scores based on multiple data points, giving a quick overview of this processor's performance.

Overall Score

Overall score for Core i5-2540M based on all benchmark results gathered. Look at this like a meta score, you will find more specific workload ratings below.

4,406 Rank: 1390
Rank Name Score Visual
1386 Core i7-2670QM 4,410
+0.1%
1387 Core i5-661 4,409
+0.1%
1388 Pentium Silver N6000 4,409
+0.1%
1389 Phenom II X4 B40 4,408
+0%
1390 Core i5-2540M 4,406
1391 Core M 5Y70 4,405
+-0%
1392 Core i3-5015U 4,405
+-0%
1393 Core i5-760 4,405
+-0%
1394 Phenom II X4 B60 4,404
+-0%
1395 Phenom II X4 840 4,404
+-0%

View full ranking →

Multicore Score

Multicore performance score for Core i5-2540M based on multi-threaded benchmark results.

4,387 Rank: 1487
Rank Name Score Visual
1483 Atom C3538 4,390
+0.1%
1484 Core i5-2390T 4,390
+0.1%
1485 Celeron G1840 4,389
+0%
1486 Core i7-920XM 4,389
+0%
1487 Core i5-2540M 4,387
1488 Xeon L5520 4,386
+-0%
1489 Core M 5Y51 4,385
+-0%
1490 Pentium G2120 4,385
+-0%
1491 A10-5750M 4,385
+-0%
1492 Athlon II X4 605e 4,385
+-0%

View full ranking →

Singlecore Score

Single-core performance score for Core i5-2540M based on single-threaded benchmark results.

4,419 Rank: 1373
Rank Name Score Visual
1369 Pentium G640 4,422
+0.1%
1370 Core i3-3110M 4,422
+0.1%
1371 Pentium G630 4,421
+0%
1372 FX-8800P 4,420
+0%
1373 Core i5-2540M 4,419
1374 Core i5-2435M 4,419
+0%
1375 PRO A8-8650B 4,419
+0%
1376 Core i5-661 4,418
+-0%
1377 Pentium G840 4,415
-0.1%
1378 FX-6200 4,413
-0.1%

View full ranking →

Workload Scores

Performance scores grouped by workload type, normalized and aggregated from multiple raw benchmark results.

Number Crunching

Aggregated score for Core i5-2540M based on integer math, floating point math, and prime number computation benchmarks.

4,525 Rank: 1339
Rank Name Score Visual
1335 Core i5-4210U 4,526
+0%
1336 Core i3-4000M 4,526
+0%
1337 Phenom II X4 905e 4,526
+0%
1338 A8-4500M 4,526
+0%
1339 Core i5-2540M 4,525
1340 Celeron G3930T 4,525
+0%
1341 Phenom II X4 B40 4,525
+0%
1342 Celeron G1840 4,525
+0%
1343 Pentium G2020 4,525
+0%
1344 Core i3-7020U 4,525
+0%

View full ranking →

Data Processing

Aggregated score for Core i5-2540M based on data encryption, data compression, and string sorting benchmarks.

4,511 Rank: 1265
Rank Name Score Visual
1261 A12-9720P 4,512
+0%
1262 Core i3-3240T 4,512
+0%
1263 Core i5-660 4,512
+0%
1264 Celeron G5900 4,512
+0%
1265 Core i5-2540M 4,511
1266 Core i7-5550U 4,511
+0%
1267 Xeon X3430 4,511
+0%
1268 Core i5-661 4,511
+0%
1269 Core i5-3210M 4,510
+-0%
1270 Core M3-7Y32 4,509
+-0%

View full ranking →

Physics & Compute

Aggregated score for Core i5-2540M based on physics simulation and extended instruction set (SSE/AVX) benchmarks.

4,531 Rank: 1215
Rank Name Score Visual
1211 Core i3-3220T 4,532
+0%
1212 Core i7-3667U 4,532
+0%
1213 Xeon E5606 4,532
+0%
1214 Core m3-6Y30 4,531
+0%
1215 Core i5-2540M 4,531
1216 A10-5800K 4,531
+0%
1217 PRO A8-8650B 4,531
+0%
1218 A10-6700 4,530
+-0%
1219 A8-6600K 4,530
+-0%
1220 Core i5-4200U 4,530
+-0%

View full ranking →

Core i5-2540M Details

Released in 2012 as part of Intel's Sandy Bridge M architecture, the Core i5-2540M is a mobile processor that remains relevant for basic computing tasks despite its age. Built on a 32 nm process and featuring a 35 W TDP, this dual-core CPU with Hyper-Threading delivers four threads, making it suitable for light multitasking and older software environments. With a base clock of 2.6 GHz and a turbo boost up to 3.3 GHz, it leverages Intel's Turbo Boost 2.0 technology to dynamically increase performance under load.

The processor includes 3 MiB of L3 cache and 0.5 MiB of L2 cache, with 0.0625 MiB of L1 cache per core, supporting efficient data access. It is designed for Socket G2 (rPGA988B and FCBGA-1023) platforms and supports DDR3-1333 and DDR3-1066 memory across two channels, achieving a maximum memory bandwidth of 19.87 GiB/s. Integrated into the chip is Intel HD Graphics 3000, featuring 12 execution units and a base frequency of 650 MHz, capable of boosting to 1.3 GHz, supporting up to two displays.

Notable features include Intel's Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX), AES-NI encryption, and Intel VT-x virtualization, enhancing performance and security. The CPU also supports ECC memory, though this is more relevant in server environments. Despite being an older design, the Core i5-2540M holds up reasonably well in benchmark tests, scoring 4406 overall, 4419 in single-core, and 4387 in multicore performance.

In the context of 2026, the processor ranks #1390 of 2060 in overall performance, placing it below modern mainstream CPUs but ahead of some low-power and older mobile processors. Its single-core performance is particularly strong for its generation, ranking #1373, indicating it remains competitive in applications that rely on fast single-threaded execution. However, its multicore performance lags behind current offerings, with a score of 4387 placing it at #1487, reflecting the limitations of its two-core design in multi-threaded workloads.

As of March 2026, the Core i5-2540M is best suited for entry-level laptops, basic office use, and legacy systems where integrated graphics and low power consumption are priorities. While it lacks the performance and efficiency of modern processors, its durability and compatibility with older operating systems make it a viable option for users who do not require high-end computing capabilities.
Frequently Compared

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AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2200GE 1 view

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AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U 1 view

Intel Xeon Silver 4208 1 view

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Intel Xeon Silver 4110 1 view

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Intel Core i7-7660U 1 view

Intel Core i7-7600U 1 view

Intel Core i5-2540M

Main Specifications

Designer: Intel
Name: Core i5-2540M
Family: Core
Series: i5-2000
Model Number: i5-2540M
Cores: 2
Threads: 4
Base Frequency: 2600 MHz
Turbo Frequency (1 core): 3300 MHz
Turbo Frequency (2 cores): 3100 MHz
Clock Multiplier: 26x (locked)
Microarchitecture: Sandy Bridge
Core Name: Sandy Bridge M
Core Family: 6
Core Model: 42
Socket: Socket
Package: FCBGA-1023 and rPGA988B
Chipset: Cougar
Target Segment: Mobile
Max CPUs: 1
TDP: 35 W
Release Price: $266.00

Cache Specifications

L1 Cache: 128 KiB
L1 Instruction Cache: 64 KiB (8-way set associative)
L1 Data Cache: 64 KiB (8-way set associative)
L2 Cache: 0.5 MiB (8-way set associative)
L3 Cache: 3 MiB (12-way set associative)

Memory Specifications

Supported Memory Type: DDR3-1333 and DDR3-1066
Memory Channels: 2
Maximum Memory: 16 GB
Maximum Bandwidth: 19.87 GB/s
ECC Support: No

PCI-Express Specifications

PCIe Revision: 2.0
PCIe Lanes: 16
PCIe Configuration: 1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4

Integrated Graphics

GPU: HD Graphics 3000
GPU Designer: Intel
GPU Max Frequency: 1300 MHz
Execution Units: 12

Physical Specifications

Process: 32 nm
Die Area: 149 mm²
Transistor Count: 0.62 billion
Manufacturer: Intel
Technology: CMOS
Word Size: 64-bit
ISA: x86-64 (x86)

CPU Features

MMX EMMX SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSSE3 SSE4.1 SSE4.2 AVX AES RdRand CLMUL x86-16 x86-32 x86-64 Real Protected SMM FPU NX HT TBT 2.0 EIST TXT vPro VT-x VT-d EPT MPX IPT SHA Flex Memory MWT ATT FMA QAT
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