i5-540M vs i3-3220

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Aggregate performance score

Core i3-3220
2012
2 cores / 4 threads, 55 Watt
1.43
+26.5%
Core i5-540M
2010
2 cores / 4 threads, 35 Watt
1.13

Core i3-3220 outperforms Core i5-540M by a significant 27% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i3-3220 and Core i5-540M processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking22012394
Place by popularity57not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.21no data
Market segmentDesktop processorLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i3 (Desktop)Intel Core i5
Power efficiency2.463.06
Architecture codenameIvy Bridge (2012−2013)Arrandale (2010−2011)
Release date3 September 2012 (12 years ago)7 January 2010 (14 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$117$257

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i3-3220 and Core i5-540M basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores2 (Dual-core)2 (Dual-core)
Threads44
Base clock speed3.3 GHz2.53 GHz
Boost clock speed3.3 GHz3.07 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 1.0
Bus rate5 GT/s1 × 2.5 GT/s
Multiplierno data19
L1 cache64 KB (per core)64K (per core)
L2 cache256 KB (per core)256K (per core)
L3 cache3 MB (shared)3 MB (shared)
Chip lithography22 nm32 nm
Die size94 mm281+114 mm2
Maximum core temperature67 °C105 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)65 °Cno data
Number of transistorsno data382+177 Million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-3220 and Core i5-540M compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration11 (Uniprocessor)
SocketFCLGA1155BGA1288,PGA988
Power consumption (TDP)55 Watt35 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-3220 and Core i5-540M. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVXIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2
AES-NI-+
FMA-+
AVX+-
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
My WiFi+no data
Turbo Boost Technology-+
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Accessno data+
PAEno data36 Bit
FDI++
Fast Memory Accessno data+

Security technologies

Core i3-3220 and Core i5-540M technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Secure Key-no data
Identity Protection+-
Anti-Theft+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-3220 and Core i5-540M are enumerated here.

VT-d-+
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-3220 and Core i5-540M. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3
Maximum memory size32 GB8 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth25.6 GB/s17.051 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel HD Graphics 2500Intel HD Graphics for Previous Generation Intel Processors
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1.05 GHz766 MHz
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-3220 and Core i5-540M integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported32

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-3220 and Core i5-540M.

PCIe version2.02.0
PCI Express lanesno data16

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i3-3220 1.43
+26.5%
i5-540M 1.13

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i3-3220 2267
+25.8%
i5-540M 1802

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i3-3220 528
+40.1%
i5-540M 377

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i3-3220 1084
+49.7%
i5-540M 724

Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core

Cinebench R10 is an ancient ray tracing benchmark for processors by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. Its single core version uses just one CPU thread to render a futuristic looking motorcycle.

i3-3220 4626
+47.7%
i5-540M 3133

Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 10 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R10 using all the processor threads. Possible number of threads is limited by 16 in this version.

i3-3220 10193
+45%
i5-540M 7031

3DMark06 CPU

3DMark06 is a discontinued DirectX 9 benchmark suite from Futuremark. Its CPU part contains two scenarios, one dedicated to artificial intelligence pathfinding, another to game physics using PhysX package.

i3-3220 4019
+42.2%
i5-540M 2826

wPrime 32

wPrime 32M is a math multi-thread processor test, which calculates square roots of first 32 million integer numbers. Its result is measured in seconds, so that the less is benchmark result, the faster the processor.

i3-3220 14.66
+26.2%
i5-540M 18.5

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 11.5 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R11.5 which uses all the processor threads. A maximum of 64 threads is supported in this version.

i3-3220 3
+49.8%
i5-540M 2

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 1.43 1.13
Integrated graphics card 0.69 0.77
Recency 3 September 2012 7 January 2010
Chip lithography 22 nm 32 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 55 Watt 35 Watt

i3-3220 has a 26.5% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 2 years, and a 45.5% more advanced lithography process.

i5-540M, on the other hand, has 11.6% faster integrated GPU, and 57.1% lower power consumption.

The Core i3-3220 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-540M in performance tests.

Note that Core i3-3220 is a desktop processor while Core i5-540M is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-3220 and Core i5-540M, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i3-3220
Core i3-3220
Intel Core i5-540M
Core i5-540M

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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