Intel Core i5 540M

The Intel Core i5-540M is a high end dual core CPU for laptops and clocks (due to the Turbo Mode) from 2.53 to 3.06 GHz. Each core is based on the Nehalem (Westemere) micro-architecture. Hyperthreading enables the Dual Core CPU to handle 4 threads at once (for a better usage of the pipeline). Compared to the faster Core i7-620M, the 540M only has 3 MB Level 3 Cache and a lower clock speed.

A feature of the new Core i5-540M is the integrated graphics card called GMA HD and memory controller. Both are on a separate die that is still manufactured in 45nm whereas the CPU die is already manufactured in the new 32nm process.

The performance of the Core i5-540M is on average faster than a 2.8 GHz Core 2 Duo T9800 and in some benchmarks even faster than the fastest Core 2 Duo T9900 (e.g. 3DMark 06 CPU Score). Therefore, the Core i5-540M is a high end dual core cpu which should handle all daily work and gaming tasks. Only the quad core i7 CPUs can be noticeably faster at tasks that require four or more threads (e.g. rendering).

The 32nm cpu cores of the Westmere generation can also process some new instructions to accelerate AES encryptions.

The integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD (GMA HD) graphics card is known to be clocked up to 500-766 MHz and should be clearly faster than the old GMA 4500MHD. A GeForce 9400M (ION) should still be a faster (especially as Nvidia and ATI cards have a better driver support than Intel up to now). According to rumors, the GMA core will also use the Turbo Mode regulate the clock speed.

The power consumption of 35 Watt TDP (max.) counts for the whole package and therefore it is clearly better than the 35 Watt TDP of the Core 2 Duo T-series (CPU alone). Due to the Turbo Boost, the Core i5 is likely to use the whole TDP of 35 Watt under load and therefore can use more power than a similar specified Core 2 Duo. In Idle mode, the i5 uses clearly less power than the Core 2 Duo CPUs.

Series	Intel Core i5
Codename	Arrandale
Clock Rate	2530 - 3066 MHz
Front Side Bus	2500 MHz
Level 1 Cache	128 KB
Level 2 Cache	512 KB
Level 3 Cache	3072 KB
Number of Cores	2 / 4
Max. Power Consumption (TDP = Thermal Dissipation Power)	35 Watt
Transistor Count	382+177 Million
Manufacturing Technology	32 nm
Die Size	81+114 mm2
Max. Temperature	105 °C
Socket	BGA1288, PGA988
Features	Turbo Boost, Hyper Threading, Enhanced Speedstep, integrierte GMA HD 733MHz,
64 Bit	64 Bit support
Hardware Virtualization	VT-x
Starting Price	$257 U.S.
Announcement Date	01/04/2010
Product Link (external)	Intel Core i5 540M

CPU Benchmarks

3DMark 06 - CPU: Super Pi 1M: Super Pi 2M: Super Pi 32M: SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS): SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS): PCMark 05: Standard 1024x768 PCMark Vantage: Result 1024x768 Cinebench R10: Rendering Single Cinebench R10: Rendering Multiple CPUs Cinebench R10: Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit Cinebench R10: Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit 3DMark Vantage: P CPU no PhysX 1280x1024 wPrime: 32m wPrime: 1024m Windows 7 Experience Index: Processor Cinebench R11.5: CPU 64Bit

Reviews for the Intel Core i5 540M processor

Apple MacBook Pro 17 inch 2010-04 (NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M, 17")
» Review Apple MacBook Pro 17 inch 2010-04 Notebook - Review
» Apple MacBook Pro 17 inch 2010-04 - External Review

Asus K42F (Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 4500MHD, 14.0")
» Asus K42F - External Review

HP EliteBook 2740p (Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD Graphics, 12.1")
» HP EliteBook 2740p - External Review

HP EliteBook 8440p-WL653PA (Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD Graphics, 14.0")
» HP EliteBook 8440p-WL653PA - External Review

HP EliteBook 8540p (NVIDIA Quadro NVS 5100M, 15.6")
» Review HP EliteBook 8540p Notebook - Review
» HP EliteBook 8540p - External Review

Lenovo Ideapad G560 (NVIDIA GeForce 310M, 15.6")
» Lenovo Ideapad G560 - External Review

Lenovo ThinkPad X201 (Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD Graphics, 12.1")
» Lenovo ThinkPad X201 - External Review

Other CPUs of the series Intel Core i5

Surrounding CPUs