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Intel Core i7-3940XM vs Intel Core i7-3517U vs Intel Core i7-3540M

Intel Core i7-3940XM

► remove from comparison Intel 3940XM

The Intel Core i7-3940XM is the fastest quad-core processor for laptops (at the time of introduction in September 2012) an successor of the i7-3920XM. Due to Hyperthreading, the four cores can handle up to eight threads in parallel leading to better utilization of the CPU. Each core offers a base speed of 3.0 GHz but can dynamically increase clock rates with Turbo Boost up to 3.7 GHz (for 4 active cores), 3.8 GHz (for 2 active cores) and 3.9 GHz (for 1 active core). Furthermore, the Extreme CPUs offer an unlocked multiplicator for easy overclocking.

Ivy Bridge is an enhanced die shrink of the Sandy Bridge architecture with improvements on both GPU and CPU performance. The CPUs are produced in 22nm (versus 32nm Sandy Bridge CPUs) and are the first to introduce 3D transistors for increased energy efficiency when compared to similarly clocked Sandy Bridge processors. Other new features are integrated PCI Express 3.0 and  DDR3(L)-1600 support.

The performance of the Core i7-3940XM should be slightly above a similarly clocked Sandy Bridge processor due to slight architectural improvements. Because of the higher clock speed, the former champion Core i7-3920XM should be outperformed by about 3%.

The integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 offers 16 Execution Units (EUs) clocked at 650 MHz up to 1350 MHz with Turbo Boost, making it the fastest variant.

The XM CPUs are rated at a TDP of 55 Watts including graphics card and memory controller and therefore 10 Watt higher than the other quad-core models.  Therefore, the CPU is well-suited for laptops 17-inches or greater.

Intel Core i7-3517U

► remove from comparison

The Intel Core i7-3517U is a fast ULV-processor for laptops based on the Ivy Bridge architecture released in Q2 2012. Due to Hyperthreading, the two cores can handle up to four threads in parallel leading to better utilization of the CPU. Each core offers a base speed of 1.9 GHz but can dynamically increase clock rates with Turbo Boost up to 2.8 GHz (for 2 active cores) and 3.0 GHz (for 1 active core). As its Sandy-Bridge-based predecessors, it offers a 4 MB L3-Cache.

Ivy Bridge is an enhanced die shrink of the Sandy Bridge architecture with improvements on both GPU and CPU performance. The CPUs are produced in 22nm (versus 32nm Sandy Bridge CPUs) and are the first to introduce 3D transistors for increased energy efficiency when compared to similarly clocked Sandy Bridge processors. Other new features are integrated PCI Express 3.0 and  DDR3(L)-1600 support.

The performance of the Core i7-3517U is slightly above a similarly clocked Sandy Bridge processor due to the architectural improvements. Therefore, and because of the higher clock speed, the older Core i7-2677M is easily outperformed.

The integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 offers 16 Execution Units (EUs) clocked at 350 MHz up to 1150 MHz with Turbo Boost, delivering a performance comparable with an AMD Radeon HD 6620G.

The ULV-CPUs are rated at a TDP of 17 W including graphics card and memory controller.  Therefore, the CPU is suited for small laptops and ultrabooks.

Intel Core i7-3540M

► remove from comparison Intel 3540M

The Intel Core i7-3540M is the fastest dual-core processor for laptops based on the Ivy Bridge architecture at the time of introduction in Q1 2013. Due to Hyperthreading, the two cores can handle up to four threads in parallel leading to better utilization of the CPU. Each core offers a base speed of 3.0 GHz but can dynamically increase clock rates with Turbo Boost up to 3.5 GHz (for 2 active cores) and 3.7 GHz (for 1 active core). As its Sandy-Bridge-based predecessor Core i7-2640M, it offers a 4 MB L3-Cache.

Ivy Bridge is an enhanced die shrink of the Sandy Bridge architecture with improvements on both GPU and CPU performance. The CPUs are produced in 22nm (versus 32nm Sandy Bridge CPUs) and are the first to introduce 3D transistors for increased energy efficiency when compared to similarly clocked Sandy Bridge processors. Other new features are integrated PCI Express 3.0 and  DDR3(L)-1600 support.

The performance of the Core i7-3540M is slightly above a similarly clocked Sandy Bridge processor due to the architectural improvements. As a result, overall performance is about 5 - 10 % above the old i7-2640M.

The integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 offers 16 Execution Units (EUs) clocked at 650 MHz up to 1300 MHz with Turbo Boost, making it one of the fastest variants.

Just like most other Ivy Bridge dual-cores, the i7-3540M is rated at a TDP of 35 W. Therefore, even smaller laptops can use the Core i7.

ModelIntel Core i7-3940XMIntel Core i7-3517UIntel Core i7-3540M
SeriesIntel Core i7Intel Core i7Intel Core i7
CodenameIvy BridgeIvy BridgeIvy Bridge
Series: Core i7 Ivy Bridge
Intel Core i7-3940XM « 3 - 3.9 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3920XM2.9 - 3.8 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3840QM2.8 - 3.8 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3820QM2.7 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3740QM2.7 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3720QM2.6 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3635QM2.4 - 3.4 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3630QM2.4 - 3.4 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3615QM2.3 - 3.3 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3610QM2.3 - 3.3 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3632QM2.2 - 3.2 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3612QM2.1 - 3.1 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3540M3 - 3.7 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3520M2.9 - 3.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3687U2.1 - 3.3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3667U2 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3537U2 - 3.1 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3517U1.9 - 3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3689Y1.5 - 2.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3940XM3 - 3.9 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3920XM2.9 - 3.8 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3840QM2.8 - 3.8 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3820QM2.7 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3740QM2.7 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3720QM2.6 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3635QM2.4 - 3.4 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3630QM2.4 - 3.4 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3615QM2.3 - 3.3 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3610QM2.3 - 3.3 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3632QM2.2 - 3.2 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3612QM2.1 - 3.1 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3540M3 - 3.7 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3520M2.9 - 3.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3687U2.1 - 3.3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3667U2 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3537U2 - 3.1 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3517U « 1.9 - 3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3689Y1.5 - 2.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3940XM3 - 3.9 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3920XM2.9 - 3.8 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3840QM2.8 - 3.8 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3820QM2.7 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3740QM2.7 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3720QM2.6 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3635QM2.4 - 3.4 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3630QM2.4 - 3.4 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3615QM2.3 - 3.3 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3610QM2.3 - 3.3 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3632QM2.2 - 3.2 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3612QM2.1 - 3.1 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3540M « 3 - 3.7 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3520M2.9 - 3.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3687U2.1 - 3.3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3667U2 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3537U2 - 3.1 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3517U1.9 - 3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-3689Y1.5 - 2.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Clock3000 - 3900 MHz1900 - 3000 MHz3000 - 3700 MHz
L1 Cache256 KB128 KB128 KB
L2 Cache1 MB512 KB512 KB
L3 Cache8 MB4 MB4 MB
Cores / Threads4 / 82 / 42 / 4
TDP55 Watt17 Watt35 Watt
Transistors1400 Million
Technology22 nm22 nm22 nm
Die Size160 mm2
max. Temp.105 °C105 °C
SocketFCPGA988BGA1023, PGA988
FeaturesHD Graphics 4000, DDR3(L)-1600 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, VirtualizationTurbo Boost 2.0, Hyper-Threading, Virtualization VT-x, Virtualization for Directed I/O (VT-d), Trusted Execution, AES, Intel 64, Anti-Theft, My WiFi, Idle States, Enhanced SpeedStep, Thermal Monitorin, Execute Disable BitHD Graphics 4000 (650 - 1300 MHz), DDR3-1600 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, Virtualization
iGPUIntel HD Graphics 4000 (650 - 1350 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 4000 (350 - 1150 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 4000 (650 - 1300 MHz)
Architecturex86x86x86
$1096 U.S.
Announced
Manufacturerark.intel.comark.intel.com

Benchmarks

Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
min: 7.45     avg: 7.5     median: 7.5 (10%)     max: 7.46 Points
min: 2.51     avg: 2.7     median: 2.8 (4%)     max: 2.82 Points
min: 3.41     avg: 3.5     median: 3.5 (4%)     max: 3.49 Points
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64 Bit
min: 1.62     avg: 1.6     median: 1.6 (40%)     max: 1.63 Points
min: 1.14     avg: 1.2     median: 1.2 (30%)     max: 1.25 Points
min: 1.52     avg: 1.5     median: 1.5 (38%)     max: 1.54 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
min: 5246     avg: 5255     median: 5252 (32%)     max: 5267 Points
min: 3860     avg: 4041     median: 4024.5 (24%)     max: 4170 Points
min: 5018     avg: 5030     median: 5029.5 (30%)     max: 5041 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
min: 20438     avg: 20582     median: 20564 (15%)     max: 20744 Points
min: 8015     avg: 8524     median: 8596.5 (6%)     max: 8704 Points
min: 10628     avg: 10811     median: 10810.5 (8%)     max: 10993 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
min: 25475     avg: 25600     median: 25624 (18%)     max: 25700 Points
min: 9842     avg: 10589     median: 10674 (7%)     max: 10904 Points
min: 13307     avg: 13435     median: 13434.5 (9%)     max: 13562 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
min: 6506     avg: 6621     median: 6669 (8%)     max: 6687 Points
min: 6326     avg: 6414     median: 6414 (8%)     max: 6502 Points
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
min: 208.8     avg: 219.2     median: 215.7 (3%)     max: 233 s
471.2 s (6%)
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
min: 6.8     avg: 7     median: 7 (1%)     max: 7.169 s
14.9 s (3%)
WinRAR - WinRAR 4.0
min: 3467     avg: 4124     median: 4123.5 (7%)     max: 4780 Points
min: 2376     avg: 2631     median: 2465 (4%)     max: 3682 Points
2940 Points (5%)
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 2
40.6 fps (14%)
min: 14.38     avg: 15.6     median: 15.9 (6%)     max: 16 fps
19.9 fps (7%)
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 1
161.1 fps (37%)
min: 82.3     avg: 83.3     median: 83 (19%)     max: 85 fps
105.3 fps (24%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Serpent
min: 0.373     avg: 0.4     median: 0.4 (0%)     max: 0.386 GB/s
min: 0.144     avg: 0.1     median: 0.1 (0%)     max: 0.15 GB/s
0.2 GB/s (0%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Twofish
min: 0.64     avg: 0.7     median: 0.7 (11%)     max: 0.66 GB/s
min: 0.245     avg: 0.2     median: 0.2 (4%)     max: 0.25 GB/s
0.3 GB/s (5%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt AES
min: 3.5     avg: 3.6     median: 3.7 (10%)     max: 3.7 GB/s
min: 0.274     avg: 1.2     median: 1.4 (4%)     max: 1.4 GB/s
1.7 GB/s (4%)
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
min: 7166     avg: 7182     median: 7176 (15%)     max: 7203 Points
min: 2949     avg: 3382     median: 3430 (7%)     max: 3570 Points
min: 4267     avg: 4320     median: 4319.5 (9%)     max: 4372 Points
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
min: 9     avg: 9.2     median: 9 (2%)     max: 9.554 s
10.4 s (2%)
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
min: 21     avg: 21.1     median: 21 (1%)     max: 21.26 s
23.9 s (1%)
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
min: 518     avg: 526     median: 525.5 (2%)     max: 533 s
557 s (2%)
SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS) - SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS)
100%
1 3940XM +
min: 147240     avg: 147620     median: 147620 (70%)     max: 148000 MIPS
34%
1 3517U +
min: 47300     avg: 50913     median: 50800 (24%)     max: 54750 MIPS
SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS) - SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS)
100%
1 3940XM +
min: 89600     avg: 89630     median: 89630 (69%)     max: 89660 MFLOPS
39%
1 3517U +
min: 34130     avg: 34858     median: 35035 (27%)     max: 35230 MFLOPS
Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 CPU
7.7 Points (99%)
min: 7     avg: 7.1     median: 7.1 (91%)     max: 7.1 Points
7.3 Points (94%)
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
min: 25344     avg: 25795     median: 25885 (23%)     max: 26157 Points
min: 6288     avg: 8846     median: 9288.5 (8%)     max: 9552 Points
11749 Points (10%)
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
min: 7611     avg: 8737     median: 9032 (24%)     max: 9568 Points
min: 2966     avg: 3437     median: 3409 (9%)     max: 3988 Points
min: 4391     avg: 4627     median: 4627 (13%)     max: 4863 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Physics
48410 Points (39%)
31781 Points (26%)
min: 40631     avg: 42023     median: 42022.5 (34%)     max: 43414 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Physics
7208 Points (18%)
2734 Points (7%)
min: 3424     avg: 3483     median: 3482.5 (9%)     max: 3541 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Physics
9863 Points (18%)
3880 Points (7%)
min: 4929     avg: 4966     median: 4966 (9%)     max: 5003 Points
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Stream
100%
1 3517U +
5172 Points (42%)
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Memory
100%
1 3517U +
5174 Points (47%)
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Floating Point
100%
1 3517U +
6165 Points (12%)
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Integer
100%
1 3517U +
5564 Points (11%)
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Geekbench Total Score
100%
1 3517U +
5657 Points (15%)

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-3940XM → 100% n=24

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-3517U → 61% n=24

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-3540M → 71% n=24

- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation

v1.26
log 28. 23:38:42

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#4 did not recreate cache, as it is less than 5 days old! Created at Thu, 28 Mar 2024 05:35:32 +0100 +0.001s ... 0.001s

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#7 getting avg benchmarks for device 3345 +0.002s ... 0.033s

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#14 min, max, avg, median took s +0.267s ... 0.394s

#15 return log +0s ... 0.394s

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Redaktion, 2017-09- 8 (Update: 2023-07- 1)