Xeon E5540

Details and Benchmarks for Intel Xeon E5540

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 Xeon E5540 based on all benchmark results gathered. Look at this like a meta score, you will find more specific workload ratings below.

4,422 Rank: 1369
Rank Name Score Visual
1365 FX-8800P 4,424
+0%
1366 Core i5-2515E 4,423
+0%
1367 A10-7700K 4,423
+0%
1368 A9-9430 4,423
+0%
1369 Xeon E5540 4,422
1370 Core i5 650 4,421
+-0%
1371 Pentium G3220T 4,421
+-0%
1372 Xeon L5640 4,420
+-0%
1373 PRO A8-8650B 4,420
+-0%
1374 Intel Core i7-740QM 4,419
-0.1%

View full ranking →

Multicore Score

Multicore performance score for Xeon E5540 based on multi-threaded benchmark results.

4,443 Rank: 1339
Rank Name Score Visual
1335 Xeon E5462 4,444
+0%
1336 Core i5-5350U 4,444
+0%
1337 Core i7-2620M 4,443
+0%
1338 Intel Core i7-640M 4,443
+0%
1339 Xeon E5540 4,443
1340 FX-9830P 4,442
+-0%
1341 Athlon II X4 555 4,442
+-0%
1342 Core i3-3220T 4,442
+-0%
1343 Xeon E5-2609 v2 4,442
+-0%
1344 Core i3-3210 4,441
+-0%

View full ranking →

Singlecore Score

Single-core performance score for Xeon E5540 based on single-threaded benchmark results.

4,408 Rank: 1383
Rank Name Score Visual
1379 A10-7700K 4,413
+0.1%
1380 Core i7-8500Y 4,413
+0.1%
1381 Phenom II X4 965 4,412
+0.1%
1382 A8-7600 4,412
+0.1%
1383 Xeon E5540 4,408
1384 Core i3-3120M 4,406
+-0%
1385 Core i5-2450M 4,404
-0.1%
1386 Core i7-875K 4,404
-0.1%
1387 Xeon X5550 4,404
-0.1%
1388 Pentium Silver N6000 4,404
-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 Xeon E5540 based on integer math, floating point math, and prime number computation benchmarks.

4,587 Rank: 1002
Rank Name Score Visual
998 Core i3-8109U 4,587
+0%
999 Core i5-2310 4,587
+0%
1000 Athlon X4 845 4,587
+0%
1001 Phenom II X6 1100T 4,587
+0%
1002 Xeon E5540 4,587
1003 Athlon X4 870K 4,587
+0%
1004 Xeon X3440 4,586
+-0%
1005 A10-7850K 4,586
+-0%
1006 Xeon E5530 4,586
+-0%
1007 A10 PRO-7850B 4,586
+-0%

View full ranking →

Data Processing

Aggregated score for Xeon E5540 based on data encryption, data compression, and string sorting benchmarks.

4,557 Rank: 1032
Rank Name Score Visual
1028 Core i7-7567U 4,558
+0%
1029 Athlon X4 880K 4,558
+0%
1030 Core i5-6400T 4,557
+0%
1031 Pentium G4600 4,557
+0%
1032 Xeon E5540 4,557
1033 Core i3-4370 4,556
+-0%
1034 A12-9800 4,556
+-0%
1035 Xeon X3440 4,556
+-0%
1036 Phenom II X4 970 4,556
+-0%
1037 Core i5-6350HQ 4,555
+-0%

View full ranking →

Physics & Compute

Aggregated score for Xeon E5540 based on physics simulation and extended instruction set (SSE/AVX) benchmarks.

4,567 Rank: 1058
Rank Name Score Visual
1054 Pentium Gold G6400 4,569
+0%
1055 Athlon 240GE 4,568
+0%
1056 Xeon E5520 4,568
+0%
1057 Core i5-6300U 4,567
+0%
1058 Xeon E5540 4,567
1059 Core i7-860S 4,567
+0%
1060 Pentium Gold G5500 4,566
+-0%
1061 Core i5-4570T 4,566
+-0%
1062 Core i7-4610M 4,566
+-0%
1063 Core i7-4600M 4,565
+-0%

View full ranking →

Xeon E5540 Details

The Intel Xeon E5540 stands as a relic of the late 2000s server computing era, launched in March 2009 with a launch price of $774. While it is now over 15 years old, the processor remains a notable example of Intel's early efforts in multi-core server architecture. Built on the 45 nm process and based on the Gainestown microarchitecture, the Xeon E5540 was designed for high-performance server and workstation environments, offering a balance of core count, memory bandwidth, and virtualization capabilities that were impressive for its time.

At its core, the Xeon E5540 features four physical cores, which, with Intel's Hyper-Threading technology, effectively deliver eight threads. This allows the processor to handle a significant number of concurrent workloads, making it suitable for environments where multiple virtual machines or data-intensive applications run simultaneously. The base clock speed of 2.53 GHz can boost to 2.8 GHz under load, providing a modest performance uplift when needed. The chip operates on a 1366-pin LGA1366 socket, supported by Intel’s 5500 and X58 chipsets, and integrates a triple-channel DDR3 memory controller capable of speeds up to 1066 MT/s. This enables a maximum memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, a key factor in its performance for server applications.

The Xeon E5540 also supports up to 144 GB of ECC memory, a critical feature for enterprise environments where data integrity is paramount. With a TDP of 80 W, the processor demands adequate cooling, and its locked multiplier limits overclocking potential, which was typical for server-grade silicon. While the processor lacks integrated graphics, it includes a range of advanced features such as Intel VT-x, VT-d, and Intel vPro, enhancing its virtualization and remote management capabilities. The inclusion of AES-NI and AVX2 instructions ensures efficient encryption and data processing, further solidifying its role in professional computing.

In benchmark testing, the Xeon E5540 scores 4422 overall, placing it at rank #1369 among 2060 processors. Its single-core performance of 4408 places it at #1383, while its multicore score of 4443 ranks it #1337. These results reflect its position as a capable, albeit dated, multi-threaded processor. In comparison to contemporary CPUs, it slightly outperforms some modern low-power processors like the Core i3-7020U and the Athlon X4 870K, but is significantly outpaced by current high-end offerings. The processor’s multicore performance is particularly strong relative to its single-core score, indicating that its primary strength lies in parallel workloads rather than raw single-threaded performance.

As of March 2026, the Xeon E5540 is best suited for legacy server environments, archival systems, or educational purposes where modern hardware is not required. Its ability to support dual-processor configurations via SMP allows for scalable deployment in small to medium-sized server setups. While it is no longer competitive in the modern computing landscape, it remains a solid example of Intel’s server architecture from the early years of multi-core computing.
Frequently Compared

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Intel Xeon E5540

Main Specifications

Designer: Intel
Name: Xeon E5540
Model Number: E5540
Cores: 4
Threads: 8
Base Frequency: 2530 MHz
Clock Multiplier: 19x (locked)
Core Name: Gainestown
Socket: FCLGA1366
Package: FC-LGA8
Target Segment: Server
Max CPUs: 2
TDP: 80 W

Cache Specifications

L1 Cache: 62.464 KiB
L2 Cache: 0.244 MiB
L3 Cache: 7.629 MiB

Memory Specifications

Supported Memory Type: DDR3 800/1066
Memory Channels: 3
Maximum Memory: 0 GB
Maximum Bandwidth: 25.6 GB/s
ECC Support: Yes

PCI-Express Specifications

PCIe Revision: Up to 3.0
PCIe Lanes: 16
PCIe Configuration: Up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4

Integrated Graphics

GPU: HD Graphics
GPU Designer: Intel
GPU Max Frequency: 1100 MHz

Physical Specifications

Process: 45 nm
Die Area: 263 mm²
Transistor Count: 0.00 billion
Manufacturer: Intel
Word Size: 64-bit

CPU Features

MMX SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSSE3 SSE4.1 SSE4.2 AVX2 AES x86-64 HT EIST TXT vPro VT-x VT-d EPT Secure Key SMEP SIPP IPT TSX Flex Memory TBT 1.0 FMA
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