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Intel Core i5-540UM vs Intel Core i5-480M

Intel Core i5-540UM

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The Intel Core i5-540UM is a Ultra Low Voltage dual-core processor for small and light laptops. It is clocked with 1.2 - 2 GHz (if Turbo Boost is enabled). 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). AES, VT-d and Trusted Execution are activated (compared to the 430UM).

A feature of the new Core i5-540UM is the integrated graphics card (called Intel HD Graphics) 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.

Due to the integrated memory controller, the HyperThreading and Turbo Boost, the  Core i5-540UM is faster than a similar clocked Core 2 Duo (1.2 GHz) in all (us known) applications and benchmarks. Still the Turbo Boost may not trigger very often (sometimes it is even not activated in the BIOS) and therefore the maximum of 2 GHz may not be important.

The integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD (GMA HD) graphics card is between 166-500 MHz (Turbo Boost) and therefore the base speed is clearly below the non low voltage versions. The performance should still be faster than the old GMA 4500MHD.

The power consumption of 18 Watt TDP (max.) counts for the whole package and therefore it is clearly better than the 17 Watt TDP of the Core 2 Duo SL-series (CPU alone).

Intel Core i5-480M

► remove from comparison Intel 480M

The Intel Core i5-480M is a mid-range dual core CPU for laptops and clocks (due to the Turbo Mode) from 2.66 to 2.9 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 Core i5-540M, the 480M does most likely not support AES, VT-d and Trusted Execution functions and features a slower Turbo Boost (2.9 versus 3.06 GHz). However, the base clock rate is slightly higher.

A feature of the new Core i5-480M 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 i5-480M 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 i5-480M 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 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.

ModelIntel Core i5-540UMIntel Core i5-480M
SeriesIntel Core i5Intel Core i5
CodenameArrandaleArrandale
Series: Core i5 Arrandale
Intel Core i5-580M compare2.67 - 3.33 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-560M compare2.67 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-480M2.67 - 2.93 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-540M compare2.53 - 3.07 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-460M compare2.53 - 2.8 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-520M compare2.4 - 2.93 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-450M compare2.4 - 2.66 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-430M compare2.26 - 2.53 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-560UM compare1.33 - 2.13 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-470UM compare1.33 - 1.87 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-540UM « 1.2 - 2 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-520UM compare1.06 - 1.87 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-430UM compare1.2 - 1.73 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-580M compare2.67 - 3.33 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-560M compare2.67 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-480M « 2.67 - 2.93 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-540M compare2.53 - 3.07 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-460M compare2.53 - 2.8 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-520M compare2.4 - 2.93 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-450M compare2.4 - 2.66 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-430M compare2.26 - 2.53 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-560UM compare1.33 - 2.13 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-470UM compare1.33 - 1.87 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-540UM1.2 - 2 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-520UM compare1.06 - 1.87 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-430UM compare1.2 - 1.73 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Clock1200 - 2000 MHz2666 - 2933 MHz
FSB25002400
L2 Cache512 KB512 KB
L3 Cache3 MB3 MB
Cores / Threads2 / 42 / 4
TDP18 Watt35 Watt
Transistors382+177 Million382+177 Million
Technology32 nm32 nm
Die Size81+114 mm281+114 mm2
max. Temp.105 °C105 °C
SocketBGA1288BGA1288, PGA988
FeaturesIntel HD Graphics 166-500MHz, DDR3-800 Memory Controller, Turbo Boost, Hyper-Threading, Virtualization Technology VT-x, Intel 64, Idle States, Enhanced Speedstep, Thermal Monitoring, Fast Memory Access, Flex Memory Access, Execute Disable Bitintegrated DDR3 memory controller, GMA HD Graphics (500-766MHz), MMX, SSE (1,2,3,3S, 4.1, 3.2), EM64T, VT-x
Architecturex86x86
$250 U.S.
Announced
Manufacturerark.intel.comark.intel.com
L1 Cache128 KB

Benchmarks

Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
100%
1 480M +
min: 2.18     avg: 2.3     median: 2.3 (3%)     max: 2.37 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
100%
1 480M +
min: 3130     avg: 3192     median: 3191 (19%)     max: 3248 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
100%
1 480M +
min: 6939     avg: 7187     median: 7080 (5%)     max: 7553 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
100%
1 480M +
min: 8159     avg: 8558     median: 8556 (6%)     max: 8969 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
100%
1 480M +
min: 3831     avg: 3928     median: 3912 (5%)     max: 4030 Points
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
100%
1 480M +
min: 539     avg: 564     median: 557 (7%)     max: 600 s
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
100%
1 480M +
min: 17     avg: 18     median: 18 (4%)     max: 19.19 s
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
100%
1 480M +
min: 2579     avg: 2880     median: 2954 (6%)     max: 3093 Points
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
100%
1 480M +
min: 15     avg: 15     median: 15 (3%)     max: 15.2 s
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
100%
1 480M +
min: 35     avg: 36.1     median: 36 (2%)     max: 37 s
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
100%
1 480M +
min: 842     avg: 852     median: 851 (4%)     max: 866 s
SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS) - SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS)
100%
1 480M +
min: 33210     avg: 38100     median: 38100 (18%)     max: 42990 MIPS
SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS) - SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS)
100%
1 480M +
min: 29000     avg: 29750     median: 29750 (23%)     max: 30500 MFLOPS
PCMark 05 - PCMark 05 - Standard
100%
1 480M +
7718 Points (16%)
Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 CPU
100%
1 480M +
min: 6.8     avg: 6.9     median: 6.9 (88%)     max: 6.9 Points
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
100%
1 480M +
min: 7113     avg: 7765     median: 7845 (7%)     max: 8255 Points
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
100%
1 480M +
min: 2640     avg: 2744     median: 2741 (7%)     max: 2854 Points

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-480M → 0% n=

- 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

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