Core i3-4020Y vs Core i5-540M
Aggregate performance score
Core i5-540M outperforms Core i3-4020Y by a significant 24% based on our aggregated benchmark results.
Primary details
Comparing Core i5-540M and Core i3-4020Y processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.
| Place in performance ranking | 2260 | 2402 |
| Place by popularity | not in top-100 | not in top-100 |
| Market segment | Laptop | Laptop |
| Series | Intel Core i5 | Intel Core i3 |
| Architecture codename | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| Release date | 7 January 2010 (14 years ago) | 1 September 2013 (10 years ago) |
| Launch price (MSRP) | $257 | $304 |
| Current price | $210 (0.8x MSRP) | $393 (1.3x MSRP) |
Detailed specifications
Core i5-540M and Core i3-4020Y 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 cores | 2 (Dual-core) | 2 (Dual-core) |
| Threads | 4 | 4 |
| Base clock speed | 2.53 GHz | 1.5 GHz |
| Boost clock speed | 3.07 GHz | 1.5 GHz |
| Bus support | 2500 MHz | no data |
| L1 cache | 64K (per core) | 128 KB |
| L2 cache | 256K (per core) | 512 KB |
| L3 cache | 3 MB (shared) | 3 MB |
| Chip lithography | 32 nm | 22 nm |
| Die size | 81+114 mm2 | no data |
| Maximum core temperature | 105 °C | 100 °C |
| Number of transistors | 382+177 Million | no data |
| 64 bit support | + | + |
| Windows 11 compatibility | - | - |
| Unlocked multiplier | No | No |
Compatibility
Information on Core i5-540M and Core i3-4020Y 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 configuration | 1 | 1 |
| Socket | BGA1288,PGA988 | FCBGA1168 |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 35 Watt | 11.5 Watt |
Technologies and extensions
Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-540M and Core i3-4020Y. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.
| Instruction set extensions | Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2 |
| AES-NI | + | + |
| FMA | + | no data |
| AVX | no data | + |
| vPro | + | no data |
| Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST) | + | + |
| Turbo Boost Technology | + | - |
| Hyper-Threading Technology | + | + |
| TSX | no data | - |
| Idle States | + | + |
| Thermal Monitoring | + | + |
| Flex Memory Access | + | no data |
| Smart Response | no data | + |
| PAE | 36 Bit | no data |
| GPIO | no data | + |
| Smart Connect | no data | + |
| FDI | + | - |
| Fast Memory Access | + | no data |
| AMT | no data | 9.5 |
| Matrix Storage | no data | - |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| HD Audio | no data | + |
| RST | no data | + |
Security technologies
Core i5-540M and Core i3-4020Y technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.
| TXT | + | - |
| EDB | + | + |
| Secure Key | no data | + |
| Identity Protection | no data | + |
| Anti-Theft | no data | + |
Virtualization technologies
Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-540M and Core i3-4020Y are enumerated here.
| AMD-V | no data | + |
| VT-d | + | - |
| VT-x | + | + |
| EPT | + | + |
Memory specs
Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-540M and Core i3-4020Y. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.
| Supported memory types | DDR3 | DDR3 |
| Maximum memory size | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| Max memory channels | 2 | 2 |
| Maximum memory bandwidth | 17.1 GB/s | 25.6 GB/s |
| ECC memory support | - | - |
Graphics specifications
General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.
| Integrated graphics card | Intel® HD Graphics for Previous Generation Intel® Processors | Intel HD Graphics 4200 |
| Max video memory | no data | 2 GB |
| Quick Sync Video | no data | + |
| Clear Video | + | no data |
| Clear Video HD | + | + |
| Graphics max frequency | 766 MHz | 850 MHz |
| InTru 3D | no data | + |
Graphics interfaces
Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-540M and Core i3-4020Y integrated GPUs.
| Number of displays supported | 2 | 3 |
| eDP | no data | + |
| DisplayPort | no data | + |
| HDMI | no data | + |
Graphics image quality
Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-540M and Core i3-4020Y integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.
| Max resolution over HDMI 1.4 | no data | 2560x1600@60Hz |
| Max resolution over DisplayPort | no data | 2561x1600@60Hz |
| Max resolution over VGA | no data | N/A |
Graphics API support
APIs supported by Core i5-540M and Core i3-4020Y integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.
| DirectX | no data | 11.2/12 |
| OpenGL | no data | 4.3 |
Peripherals
Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-540M and Core i3-4020Y.
| PCIe version | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| PCI Express lanes | 16 | 12 |
| PCI support | no data | - |
| USB revision | no data | 3.0 |
| Total number of SATA ports | no data | 4 |
| Max number of SATA 6 Gb/s Ports | no data | 4 |
| Integrated IDE | no data | - |
| Number of USB ports | no data | 4 |
| Integrated LAN | no data | - |
| UART | no 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.
Core i5-540M outperforms Core i3-4020Y by 24% based on our aggregated 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%
Core i5-540M outperforms Core i3-4020Y by 25% 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%
Core i3-4020Y outperforms Core i5-540M by 27% 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%
Core i3-4020Y outperforms Core i5-540M by 26% 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%
Core i5-540M outperforms Core i3-4020Y by 93% 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%
Core i5-540M outperforms Core i3-4020Y by 48% in Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core.
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%
Core i3-4020Y outperforms Core i5-540M by 91% 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%
Core i5-540M outperforms Core i3-4020Y by 39% in Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core.
Pros & cons summary
| Performance score | 1.17 | 0.94 |
| Recency | 7 January 2010 | 1 September 2013 |
| Cost | $257 | $304 |
| Chip lithography | 32 nm | 22 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 35 Watt | 11 Watt |
The Core i5-540M is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i3-4020Y in performance tests.
Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-540M and Core i3-4020Y, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.
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