Intel Core i5-540M vs Core i5-2557M

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Combined performance score

i5-2557M
1.12

Core i5-540M outperforms Core i5-2557M by 5% in our combined benchmark results.

General info

Comparing Core i5-2557M and Core i5-540M processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking22502219
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i5Intel Core i5
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Arrandale (2010−2011)
Release date1 June 2011 (12 years old)7 January 2010 (14 years old)
Launch price (MSRP)$250$257
Current price$446 (1.8x MSRP)$210 (0.8x MSRP)

Technical specs

Core i5-2557M 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 speed1.7 GHz2.53 GHz
Boost clock speed2.7 GHz3.07 GHz
Bus supportno data2500 MHz
L1 cache64K (per core)64K (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)256K (per core)
L3 cache3 MB (shared)3 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm32 nm
Die size149 mm281+114 mm2
Maximum core temperature100 °C105 °C
Number of transistors624 million382+177 Million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplierNoNo

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-2557M 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
SocketFCBGA1023BGA1288,PGA988
Power consumption (TDP)17 Watt35 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-2557M and Core i5-540M. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

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

Security technologies

Core i5-2557M and Core i5-540M technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

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

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-2557M 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 i5-2557M and Core i5-540M. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3
Maximum memory size8.01 GB8 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth21.3 GB/s17.1 GB/s
ECC memory support--

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 3000Intel® HD Graphics for Previous Generation Intel® Processors
Quick Sync Video+no data
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1.2 GHz766 MHz
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-2557M and Core i5-540M integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported22
eDP+no data
DisplayPort+no data
HDMI+no data
SDVO+no data
CRT+no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-2557M and Core i5-540M.

PCIe version2.02.0
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.

i5-2557M 1.12
i5-540M 1.18
+5.4%

Core i5-540M outperforms Core i5-2557M by 5% in our combined benchmark results.


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.

Benchmark coverage: 68%

i5-2557M 1713
i5-540M 1811
+5.7%

Core i5-540M outperforms Core i5-2557M by 6% in Passmark.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 42%

i5-2557M 381
+5.8%
i5-540M 360

Core i5-2557M outperforms Core i5-540M by 6% in GeekBench 5 Single-Core.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 42%

i5-2557M 742
+6.9%
i5-540M 694

Core i5-2557M outperforms Core i5-540M by 7% in GeekBench 5 Multi-Core.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 20%

i5-2557M 3419
+9.1%
i5-540M 3133

Core i5-2557M outperforms Core i5-540M by 9% in Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 19%

i5-2557M 6534
i5-540M 7031
+7.6%

Core i5-540M outperforms Core i5-2557M by 8% in Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 19%

i5-2557M 2750
i5-540M 2826
+2.8%

Core i5-540M outperforms Core i5-2557M by 3% in 3DMark06 CPU.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 18%

i5-2557M 23.67
i5-540M 18.5
+27.9%

Core i5-2557M outperforms Core i5-540M by 28% in wPrime 32.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 17%

i5-2557M 2
+0.5%
i5-540M 2

Gaming performance

Advantages and disadvantages


Performance score 1.12 1.18
Recency 1 June 2011 7 January 2010
Cost $250 $257
Power consumption (TDP) 17 Watt 35 Watt

We couldn't decide between Core i5-2557M and Core i5-540M. The differences in performance seem too small.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-2557M and Core i5-540M, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

User ratings

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i5-2557M
Core i5-2557M
Intel Core i5-540M
Core i5-540M

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