Core i5-540M

Details and Benchmarks for Intel Core i5-540M

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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 i5-540M based on all benchmark results gathered. Look at this like a meta score, you will find more specific workload ratings below.

4,276 Rank: 1554
Rank Name Score Visual
1550 Core 2 Quad Q9550 4,279
+0.1%
1551 Celeron 3955U 4,278
+0%
1552 Core i3-2328M 4,277
+0%
1553 A8-3850 4,277
+0%
1554 Core i5-540M 4,276
1555 Phenom II X4 B95 4,276
+0%
1556 A10-5757M 4,275
+-0%
1557 Pentium G640T 4,274
+-0%
1558 Core i3-2100T 4,274
+-0%
1559 Atom C3955 4,273
-0.1%

View full ranking →

Multicore Score

Multicore performance score for Core i5-540M based on multi-threaded benchmark results.

4,352 Rank: 1576
Rank Name Score Visual
1572 FX-7600P 4,353
+0%
1573 Core i5-3339Y 4,353
+0%
1574 A6-7310 4,352
+0%
1575 Core i5-560M 4,352
+0%
1576 Core i5-540M 4,352
1577 Celeron G4930T 4,351
+-0%
1578 Intel Atom x5-Z8550 4,351
+-0%
1579 A10-4600M 4,351
+-0%
1580 A6-3420M 4,351
+-0%
1581 Core i3-540 4,351
+-0%

View full ranking →

Singlecore Score

Single-core performance score for Core i5-540M based on single-threaded benchmark results.

4,225 Rank: 1551
Rank Name Score Visual
1547 Pentium G6950 4,233
+0.2%
1548 Phenom II X4 940 4,232
+0.2%
1549 Core 2 Duo E8300 4,227
+0%
1550 Core i3-2100T 4,227
+0%
1551 Core i5-540M 4,225
1552 Pentium B970 4,224
+-0%
1553 Pentium E6300 4,224
+-0%
1554 A4-4020 4,218
-0.2%
1555 Core i3-6102E 4,217
-0.2%
1556 Core 2 Duo T9800 4,217
-0.2%

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 i5-540M based on integer math, floating point math, and prime number computation benchmarks.

4,509 Rank: 1468
Rank Name Score Visual
1464 Celeron N3450 4,509
+0%
1465 Pentium G630 4,509
+0%
1466 A6-9500E 4,509
+0%
1467 Phenom II X3 710 4,509
+0%
1468 Core i5-540M 4,509
1469 A6-5400B 4,509
+0%
1470 A6-3600 4,509
+0%
1471 Atom x7-E3950 4,509
+0%
1472 Core i3-2370M 4,508
+-0%
1473 Pentium G840 4,508
+-0%

View full ranking →

Data Processing

Aggregated score for Core i5-540M based on data encryption, data compression, and string sorting benchmarks.

4,484 Rank: 1431
Rank Name Score Visual
1427 Celeron G1840 4,484
+0%
1428 A6-7470K 4,484
+0%
1429 Core M-5Y51 4,484
+0%
1430 A6-7310 4,484
+0%
1431 Core i5-540M 4,484
1432 Athlon II X2 280 4,484
+0%
1433 Pentium G2030 4,483
+-0%
1434 Atom x7-Z8700 4,482
+-0%
1435 Xeon E5504 4,482
+-0%
1436 A8-5550M 4,482
+-0%

View full ranking →

Physics & Compute

Aggregated score for Core i5-540M based on physics simulation and extended instruction set (SSE/AVX) benchmarks.

4,488 Rank: 1486
Rank Name Score Visual
1482 Athlon II X3 450 4,488
+0%
1483 Xeon W3505 4,488
+0%
1484 A8-7100 4,488
+0%
1485 Core i3-4012Y 4,488
+0%
1486 Core i5-540M 4,488
1487 Core i5-460M 4,488
+0%
1488 PRO A6-9500 4,488
+0%
1489 Athlon II X3 445 4,487
+-0%
1490 Pentium G620 4,487
+-0%
1491 Celeron G550 4,487
+-0%

View full ranking →

Core i5-540M Details

The Intel Core i5-540M represents a significant step in mobile computing when it was released in January 2010, bridging the gap between performance and power efficiency for laptops. Built on the Arrandale architecture using a 32 nm process, it features a dual-core design with Hyper-Threading, allowing it to effectively handle four threads simultaneously. While the processor has a base clock of 2.533 GHz and can boost up to 3.073 GHz, its 35 W TDP makes it suitable for systems where thermal management is critical. The 2.861 MiB of L3 cache and 382 million transistors contribute to its performance, though its 32 nm manufacturing node reflects the technology of its era. As of early 2026, the Core i5-540M is considered a legacy processor, having been superseded by modern multi-core designs that offer vastly superior performance.

The Core i5-540M operates on the rPGA socket, commonly found in laptops from the late 2000s and early 2010s, and supports DDR3 memory with a maximum bandwidth of 10.6 GB/s. It includes integrated graphics, though availability depends on the motherboard and chipset configuration, and supports features such as Intel's Enhanced SpeedStep Technology (EIST) for dynamic power scaling. The processor also supports hardware virtualization via VT-x and VT-d, enabling efficient virtual machine operations. Additionally, it supports a range of instruction sets including SSE4.1 and SSE4.2, which improve performance in multimedia and data processing workloads.

In benchmark testing, the Core i5-540M achieves an Overall Score of 4276, placing it at #1554 out of 2060 processors, with a Singlecore Score of 4225 and a Multicore Score of 4352. While its single-core performance is competitive with some early-generation Intel processors like the Core 2 Duo E8300, its multicore performance is comparable to mid-tier mobile CPUs of the time, such as the Core i5-480M. It falls behind modern processors in the top 50, with leading CPUs like the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX scoring over double its multicore performance. This highlights the processor's limitations in today’s computing environment.

The Core i5-540M’s strengths lie in its integrated virtualization support and efficient power usage, making it a solid choice for light productivity and multimedia tasks in older systems. However, its lack of modern features such as AVX-512 and limited memory bandwidth restrict its capabilities in demanding applications. For users maintaining legacy hardware, the processor remains functional for basic use cases, but it is no longer suitable for modern multitasking, content creation, or gaming. As of February 2026, the Core i5-540M is best suited for retro computing projects or systems where energy efficiency and compatibility with older software are priorities.
Frequently Compared

Intel Core i3-4030U 5 views

AMD A10-7400P 5 views

AMD Ryzen 5 3500X 4 views

Intel Pentium G2130 4 views

Intel Core i5-4460S 4 views

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3 views

AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 3 views

Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 3 views

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X 3 views

Intel Core i5-3450S 3 views

Intel Core i5-540M

Main Specifications

Designer: Intel
Name: Core i5-540M
Cores: 2
Threads: 4
Base Frequency: 2533 MHz
Clock Multiplier: 19x (locked)
Core Name: Arrandale
Socket: Socket G1
Package: rPGA
Target Segment: Mobile
TDP: 35 W

Cache Specifications

L1 Cache: 62.464 KiB
L2 Cache: 0.244 MiB
L3 Cache: 2.861 MiB

Memory Specifications

Supported Memory Type: DDR3

Physical Specifications

Process: 32 nm
Die Area: 81 mm²
Transistor Count: 0.00 billion
Manufacturer: Intel

CPU Features

MMX SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSSE3 SSE4.1 SSE4.2 EIST TXT VT-x VT-d
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