Pentium N3540 vs Core i7-720QM

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Aggregate performance score

Core i7-720QM
2009
4 cores / 8 threads, 45 Watt
1.07
+37.2%

Core i7-720QM outperforms Pentium N3540 by a substantial 37% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-720QM and Pentium N3540 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking23212531
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i7Intel Pentium
Architecture codenameClarksfield (2009−2010)Bay Trail-M (2013−2014)
Release date23 September 2009 (14 years ago)22 May 2014 (10 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$546$251
Current price$418 (0.8x MSRP)$404 (1.6x MSRP)

Detailed specifications

Core i7-720QM and Pentium N3540 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 cores4 (Quad-Core)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads84
Base clock speed1.6 GHz2.16 GHz
Boost clock speed2.8 GHz2.66 GHz
Bus support2500 MHzno data
L1 cache64 KB (per core)224 KB
L2 cache256 KB (per core)2 MB
L3 cache6 MB (shared)2 MB L2 Cache
Chip lithography45 nm22 nm
Die size296 mm2no data
Maximum core temperature100 °C100 °C
Number of transistors774 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplierNoNo

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-720QM and Pentium N3540 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
SocketFCPGA988,PGA988FCBGA1170
Power consumption (TDP)45 Watt7.5 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-720QM and Pentium N3540. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.2no data
AES-NI--
vPro+no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology1.0-
Hyper-Threading Technology+-
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring+no data
PAE36 Bitno data
Smart Connectno data+
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued

Security technologies

Core i7-720QM and Pentium N3540 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT+no data
EDB++
Secure Keyno data+
Anti-Theftno data-

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-720QM and Pentium N3540 are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-720QM and Pentium N3540. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3-1066, DDR3-1333DDR3L-1333
Maximum memory size8 GB8 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth21 GB/s21.32 GB/s
ECC memory support--

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardNoneIntel® HD Graphics for Intel Atom® Processor Z3700 Series
Quick Sync Videono data+
Graphics max frequencyno data896 MHz

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-720QM and Pentium N3540 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data2

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-720QM and Pentium N3540 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data11.2

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-720QM and Pentium N3540.

PCIe version22.0
PCI Express lanes164
USB revisionno data3.0 and 2.0
Total number of SATA portsno data2
Number of USB portsno data5

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.

i7-720QM 1.07
+37.2%
Pentium N3540 0.78

Core i7-720QM outperforms Pentium N3540 by 37% based on our aggregate 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%

i7-720QM 1657
+36.9%
Pentium N3540 1210

Core i7-720QM outperforms Pentium N3540 by 37% 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%

i7-720QM 327
+70.3%
Pentium N3540 192

Core i7-720QM outperforms Pentium N3540 by 70% 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%

i7-720QM 885
+58.6%
Pentium N3540 558

Core i7-720QM outperforms Pentium N3540 by 59% 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%

i7-720QM 2995
+120%
Pentium N3540 1364

Core i7-720QM outperforms Pentium N3540 by 120% 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%

i7-720QM 8357
+75.9%
Pentium N3540 4752

Core i7-720QM outperforms Pentium N3540 by 76% 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%

i7-720QM 16.64
+31.7%
Pentium N3540 21.92

Pentium N3540 outperforms Core i7-720QM by 32% 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%

i7-720QM 3
+53.7%
Pentium N3540 2

Core i7-720QM outperforms Pentium N3540 by 54% in Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core.

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 1.07 0.78
Recency 23 September 2009 22 May 2014
Threads 8 4
Cost $546 $251
Chip lithography 45 nm 22 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 45 Watt 7 Watt

The Core i7-720QM is our recommended choice as it beats the Pentium N3540 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-720QM and Pentium N3540, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-720QM
Core i7-720QM
Intel Pentium N3540
Pentium N3540

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Community ratings

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