Intel Core i5-540M vs Intel Core 2 Duo P9500
Intel Core i5-540M
► remove from comparisonThe Intel Core i5-540M is a mid-range 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 (Westmere) 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.
Intel Core 2 Duo P9500
► remove from comparisonThe Intel Core 2 Duo P9500 was a upper middle class dual core CPU for laptops, at the time of introduction. It is similar to the Core 2 Duo T9400 except for the lower TDP of 25 versus 35 Watt).
Due to the relatively high clock speed and 6MB Level 2 cache, the P9500 offers enough performance for most demanding games (in 2009) and applications.
The P9500 uses a Penryn (Montevina Update) core that features 2 integer units, 1 floating point unit, 1 load unit, and 1 store unit in a 14-stages long pipeline. Due to the Wide Dynamic Execution Technology, the core is able to simultaneously execute up to four instructions.
The integrated Enhanced Speedstep is able to downclock the core dynamically to save power (in idle mode).
Model | Intel Core i5-540M | Intel Core 2 Duo P9500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Series | Intel Core i5 | Intel Core 2 Duo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Codename | Arrandale | Penryn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Series: Core 2 Duo Penryn |
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Clock | 2530 - 3066 MHz | 2530 MHz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FSB | 2500 | 1066 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
L1 Cache | 128 KB | 128 KB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
L2 Cache | 512 KB | 6 MB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
L3 Cache | 3 MB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TDP | 35 Watt | 25 Watt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Transistors | 382+177 Million | 410 Million | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Technology | 32 nm | 45 nm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Die Size | 81+114 mm2 | 107 mm2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
max. Temp. | 105 °C | 105 °C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Socket | BGA1288, PGA988 | BGA479, PGA478 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Features | Turbo Boost, Hyper Threading, Enhanced Speedstep, integrierte GMA HD 733MHz, | Virtualization Technology (VT-x), Trusted Execution, Intel 64, Enhanced Speedstep, Execute Disable Bit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Architecture | x86 | x86 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$257 U.S. | $348 U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Announced | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Manufacturer | ark.intel.com | ark.intel.com |