i3-540 vs i7-5500U

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Aggregate performance score

Core i7-5500U
2015
2 cores / 4 threads, 15 Watt
1.75
+80.4%
Core i3-540
2010
2 cores / 4 threads, 73 Watt
0.97

Core i7-5500U outperforms Core i3-540 by an impressive 80% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-5500U and Core i3-540 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking20342496
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data0.11
Market segmentLaptopDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i7no data
Power efficiency11.041.26
Architecture codenameBroadwell-U (2015)Clarkdale (2010−2011)
Release date1 March 2015 (9 years ago)7 January 2010 (14 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$393$45

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-5500U and Core i3-540 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 speed2.4 GHz3.06 GHz
Boost clock speed3 GHz0.07 GHz
Bus rate5 GT/s2.5 GT/s
L1 cache64K (per core)64 KB (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)256 KB (per core)
L3 cache4 MB (shared)4 MB (shared)
Chip lithography14 nm32 nm
Die size82 mm281 mm2
Maximum core temperature105 °C73 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)105 °Cno data
Number of transistors1300 Million382 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-5500U and Core i3-540 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
SocketFCBGA1168FCLGA1156
Power consumption (TDP)15 Watt73 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-5500U and Core i3-540. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2Intel® SSE4.2
AES-NI+-
AVX+-
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology2.0-
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring+-
Flex Memory Access+no data
Smart Response+no data
Demand Based Switchingno data-
PAEno data36 Bit
FDI++
Fast Memory Access+no data

Security technologies

Core i7-5500U and Core i3-540 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT--
EDB++
Secure Key+no data
Identity Protection+-
OS Guard+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-5500U and Core i3-540 are enumerated here.

AMD-V+-
VT-d+no data
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-5500U and Core i3-540. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3
Maximum memory size16 GB16.38 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth25.6 GB/s21 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel HD Graphics 5500Intel HD Graphics for Previous Generation Intel Processors
Max video memory16 GBno data
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Video+no data
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency950 MHzno data
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-5500U and Core i3-540 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported32
eDP+no data
DisplayPort+-
HDMI+-

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-5500U and Core i3-540 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.42560x1600@60Hzno data
Max resolution over DisplayPort3840x2160@60Hzno data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-5500U and Core i3-540 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX11.2/12no data
OpenGL4.3no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-5500U and Core i3-540.

PCIe version2.02.0
PCI Express lanes1216

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.

i7-5500U 1.75
+80.4%
i3-540 0.97

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.

i7-5500U 2786
+80.9%
i3-540 1540

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.

i7-5500U 880
+116%
i3-540 408

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.

i7-5500U 1687
+102%
i3-540 837

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 1.75 0.97
Integrated graphics card 1.51 0.77
Recency 1 March 2015 7 January 2010
Chip lithography 14 nm 32 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 15 Watt 73 Watt

i7-5500U has a 80.4% higher aggregate performance score, 96.1% faster integrated GPU, an age advantage of 5 years, a 128.6% more advanced lithography process, and 386.7% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-5500U is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i3-540 in performance tests.

Be aware that Core i7-5500U is a notebook processor while Core i3-540 is a desktop one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-5500U and Core i3-540, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-5500U
Core i7-5500U
Intel Core i3-540
Core i3-540

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-5500U or Core i3-540, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.