i5-8257U vs i5-2540M

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Aggregate performance score

Core i5-2540M
2011
2 cores / 4 threads, 35 Watt
1.49
Core i5-8257U
2019
4 cores / 8 threads, 15 Watt
4.70
+215%

Core i5-8257U outperforms Core i5-2540M by a whopping 215% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-2540M and Core i5-8257U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking21611281
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i5Intel Core i5
Power efficiency4.0329.65
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019)
Release date1 February 2011 (13 years ago)10 July 2019 (5 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$266no data

Detailed specifications

Core i5-2540M and Core i5-8257U 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)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads48
Base clock speed2.6 GHz1.4 GHz
Boost clock speed3.3 GHz3.9 GHz
Bus typeDMI 2.0no data
Bus rate4 × 5 GT/s4 GT/s
Multiplier26no data
L1 cache64K (per core)256 KB
L2 cache256K (per core)1 MB
L3 cache3 MB (shared)6 MB
Chip lithography32 nm14 nm
Die size149 mm2no data
Maximum core temperature100 °C100 °C
Number of transistors624 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-2540M and Core i5-8257U 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 configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1
SocketFCBGA1023,PPGA988FCBGA1528
Power consumption (TDP)35 Watt15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-2540M and Core i5-8257U. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® AVXIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
FMA+-
AVX++
vPro+no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
eDRAMno data128 MB
Speed Shiftno data+
My WiFi++
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access++
Demand Based Switching-no data
FDI+no data
Fast Memory Access+no data

Security technologies

Core i5-2540M and Core i5-8257U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT+-
EDB++
Secure Keyno data+
MPX-+
Identity Protection++
SGXno dataYes with Intel® ME
OS Guardno data+
Anti-Theft+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-2540M and Core i5-8257U are enumerated here.

AMD-V++
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-2540M and Core i5-8257U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR4
Maximum memory size16 GB32 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth21.335 GB/s37.5 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel HD Graphics 3000Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645
Max video memoryno data32 GB
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1.3 GHz1.05 GHz
InTru 3D++

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-2540M and Core i5-8257U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported23
eDP++
DisplayPort++
HDMI++
DVIno data+
SDVO+no data
CRT+no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-2540M and Core i5-8257U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution supportno data+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096x2304@30Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data4096x2304@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-2540M and Core i5-8257U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-2540M and Core i5-8257U.

PCIe version2.03.0
PCI Express lanes1616

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.

i5-2540M 1.49
i5-8257U 4.70
+215%

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.

i5-2540M 2367
i5-8257U 7466
+215%

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.

i5-2540M 490
i5-8257U 1233
+152%

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.

i5-2540M 981
i5-8257U 4051
+313%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 1.49 4.70
Integrated graphics card 0.66 4.45
Recency 1 February 2011 10 July 2019
Physical cores 2 4
Threads 4 8
Chip lithography 32 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 35 Watt 15 Watt

i5-8257U has a 215.4% higher aggregate performance score, 574.2% faster integrated GPU, an age advantage of 8 years, 100% more physical cores and 100% more threads, a 128.6% more advanced lithography process, and 133.3% lower power consumption.

The Core i5-8257U is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-2540M in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-2540M and Core i5-8257U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i5-2540M
Core i5-2540M
Intel Core i5-8257U
Core i5-8257U

Similar processor comparisons

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Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


4.1 549 votes

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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i5-2540M or Core i5-8257U, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.