Intel Core i3-4010U vs Core i5-540M

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Combined performance score

i5-540M
1.18
+10.3%

Core i5-540M outperforms Core i3-4010U by 10% in our combined benchmark results.

General info

Comparing Core i5-540M and Core i3-4010U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking22192276
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i5Intel Core i3
Architecture codenameArrandale (2010−2011)Haswell (2013−2015)
Release date7 January 2010 (14 years old)4 June 2013 (10 years old)
Launch price (MSRP)$257$281
Current price$210 (0.8x MSRP)$461 (1.6x MSRP)

Technical specs

Core i5-540M and Core i3-4010U 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 speed2.53 GHz1.7 GHz
Boost clock speed3.07 GHz1.7 GHz
Bus support2500 MHzno data
L1 cache64K (per core)64K (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)256K (per core)
L3 cache3 MB (shared)3 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm22 nm
Die size81+114 mm2118 mm2
Maximum core temperature105 °C100 °C
Number of transistors382+177 Million1,400 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplierNoNo

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-540M and Core i3-4010U 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
SocketBGA1288,PGA988FCBGA1168
Power consumption (TDP)35 Watt15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-540M and Core i3-4010U. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
FMA+no data
AVXno data+
vPro+no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology+-
Hyper-Threading Technology++
TSXno data-
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access+no data
Smart Responseno data+
PAE36 Bitno data
GPIOno data+
Smart Connectno data+
FDI+-
Fast Memory Access+no data
AMTno data9.5
Matrix Storageno data-
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
HD Audiono data+
RSTno data+

Security technologies

Core i5-540M and Core i3-4010U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Secure Keyno data+
Identity Protectionno data+
Anti-Theftno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-540M and Core i3-4010U are enumerated here.

AMD-Vno data+
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-540M and Core i3-4010U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3
Maximum memory size8 GB16 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth17.1 GB/s25.6 GB/s
ECC memory support--

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel® HD Graphics for Previous Generation Intel® ProcessorsIntel HD Graphics 4400
Max video memoryno data2 GB
Quick Sync Videono data+
Clear Video+no data
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency766 MHz1 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-540M and Core i3-4010U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported23
eDPno data+
DisplayPortno data+
HDMIno data+

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-540M and Core i3-4010U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data3200x2000@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data3200x2000@60Hz
Max resolution over VGAno dataN/A

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-540M and Core i3-4010U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data11.2/12
OpenGLno data4.3

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-540M and Core i3-4010U.

PCIe version2.02.0
PCI Express lanes1612
PCI supportno data-
USB revisionno data3.0
Total number of SATA portsno data4
Max number of SATA 6 Gb/s Portsno data4
Integrated IDEno data-
Number of USB portsno data4
Integrated LANno data-
UARTno data+

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.

i5-540M 1.18
+10.3%
i3-4010U 1.07

Core i5-540M outperforms Core i3-4010U by 10% 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%

i5-540M 1811
+9.7%
i3-4010U 1651

Core i5-540M outperforms Core i3-4010U by 10% 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%

i5-540M 360
i3-4010U 520
+44.4%

Core i3-4010U outperforms Core i5-540M by 44% 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%

i5-540M 694
i3-4010U 1076
+55%

Core i3-4010U outperforms Core i5-540M by 55% 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%

i5-540M 3133
+26.9%
i3-4010U 2469

Core i5-540M outperforms Core i3-4010U by 27% 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%

i5-540M 7031
+25.9%
i3-4010U 5584

Core i5-540M outperforms Core i3-4010U by 26% 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%

i5-540M 2826
+24%
i3-4010U 2280

Core i5-540M outperforms Core i3-4010U by 24% 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%

i5-540M 18.5
+76.2%
i3-4010U 32.6

Core i3-4010U outperforms Core i5-540M by 76% 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%

i5-540M 2
+20.8%
i3-4010U 2

Core i5-540M outperforms Core i3-4010U by 21% in Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core.

Gaming performance

Advantages and disadvantages


Performance score 1.18 1.07
Recency 7 January 2010 4 June 2013
Cost $257 $281
Chip lithography 32 nm 22 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 35 Watt 15 Watt

The Core i5-540M is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i3-4010U in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-540M and Core i3-4010U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

User ratings

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Intel Core i5-540M
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Intel Core i3-4010U
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