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Intel Core i5-560UM vs Intel Pentium B960 vs Intel Core i5-540M

Intel Core i5-560UM

► remove from comparison

The Intel Core i5-560UM is a Ultra Low Voltage dual-core processor for small and light laptops. It is clocked with 1.3 - 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 470UM).

A feature of the Core i5-560UM 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, HyperThreading and Turbo Boost, the  Core i5-560UM is faster than a similar clocked Core 2 Duo (1.3 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 2.13 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 Pentium B960

► remove from comparison Intel B960

The Intel Pentium B960 is a dual core processor for entry-level laptops. It is based on the Sandy Bridge architecture but many of the features like Turbo Boost for the CPU part, HyperThreading, AES, Virtualization (VT-x and VT-d), Trusted Execution or Intel Quick Sync are deactivated. The Pentium B960 integrates a graphics card called Intel HD Graphics that is based on the HD Graphics 2000 clocked at 650 / 1100 (with Turbo Boost).

The performance of the Pentium B960 should be faster than a similar clocked Arrandale Pentium CPU. Therefore, the B960 should perform similar to the Core i3-330M with 2.13 GHz, HyperThreading and 3MB Cache.

The 35W TDP rating includes the integrated GPU and DDR3-1333 memory controller.

Intel Core i5-540M

► remove from comparison Intel 540M

The 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.

ModelIntel Core i5-560UMIntel Pentium B960Intel Core i5-540M
CodenameArrandaleSandy BridgeArrandale
SeriesIntel Core i5Intel PentiumIntel Core i5
Series: Core i5 Arrandale
Intel Core i5-580M2.67 - 3.33 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-560M2.67 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-480M2.67 - 2.93 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-540M2.53 - 3.07 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-460M2.53 - 2.8 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-520M2.4 - 2.93 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-450M2.4 - 2.66 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-430M2.26 - 2.53 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-560UM « 1.33 - 2.13 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-470UM1.33 - 1.87 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-540UM1.2 - 2 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-520UM1.06 - 1.87 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-430UM1.2 - 1.73 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Pentium B9802.4 GHz2 / 2 cores2 MB L3
Intel Pentium B9702.3 GHz2 / 2 cores2 MB L3
Intel Pentium B960 « 2.2 GHz2 / 2 cores2 MB L3
Intel Pentium B9502.1 GHz2 / 2 cores2 MB L3
Intel Pentium B9402 GHz2 / 2 cores2 MB L3
Intel Pentium 9971.6 GHz2 / 2 cores2 MB L3
Intel Pentium 9871.5 GHz2 / 2 cores2 MB L3
Intel Pentium 9771.4 GHz2 / 2 cores2 MB L3
Intel Pentium 9671.3 GHz2 / 2 cores2 MB L3
Intel Pentium 9571.2 GHz2 / 2 cores2 MB L3
Intel Core i5-580M2.67 - 3.33 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-560M2.67 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-480M2.67 - 2.93 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-540M « 2.53 - 3.07 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-460M2.53 - 2.8 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-520M2.4 - 2.93 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-450M2.4 - 2.66 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-430M2.26 - 2.53 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-560UM1.33 - 2.13 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-470UM1.33 - 1.87 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-540UM1.2 - 2 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-520UM1.06 - 1.87 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-430UM1.2 - 1.73 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Clock1333 - 2130 MHz2200 MHz2530 - 3066 MHz
FSB25002500
L2 Cache512 KB512 KB512 KB
L3 Cache3 MB2 MB3 MB
Cores / Threads2 / 42 / 22 / 4
TDP18 Watt35 Watt35 Watt
Transistors382+177 Million624 Million382+177 Million
Technology32 nm32 nm32 nm
Die Size81+114 mm2149 mm281+114 mm2
max. Temp.105 °C85 °C105 °C
SocketBGA1288rPGA988BBGA1288, 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 BitHD Graphics, DDR3 Memory ControllerTurbo Boost, Hyper Threading, Enhanced Speedstep, integrierte GMA HD 733MHz,
Architecturex86x86x86
$250 U.S.$257 U.S.
Announced
Manufacturerark.intel.comark.intel.comark.intel.com
L1 Cache128 KB128 KB
iGPUIntel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) (650 - 1100 MHz)

Benchmarks

Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
1.5 Points (2%)
113%
B960 +
min: 1.45     avg: 1.6     median: 1.7 (2%)     max: 1.7 Points
149%
540M +
min: 2.16     avg: 2.2     median: 2.2 (3%)     max: 2.29 Points
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64 Bit
100%
1 B960 +
0.9 Points (20%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
100%
1 B960 +
min: 2759     avg: 2838     median: 2851 (17%)     max: 2869 Points
110%
1 540M +
min: 3061     avg: 3141     median: 3132.5 (19%)     max: 3214 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
100%
1 B960 +
min: 5019     avg: 5417     median: 5500 (4%)     max: 5550 Points
128%
1 540M +
min: 6545     avg: 6950     median: 7030.5 (5%)     max: 7211 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
5684 Points (4%)
119%
B960 +
min: 6083     avg: 6648     median: 6757.5 (4%)     max: 6815 Points
148%
540M +
min: 7844     avg: 8349     median: 8408 (5%)     max: 8600 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
2743 Points (3%)
128%
B960 +
min: 2563     avg: 3337     median: 3521 (4%)     max: 3542 Points
144%
540M +
min: 3237     avg: 3785     median: 3938 (5%)     max: 3991 Points
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
1965 s (23%)
185%
B960 +
min: 1025     avg: 1069     median: 1061 (13%)     max: 1129 s
341%
540M +
min: 569     avg: 740     median: 577 (7%)     max: 1352 s
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
61 s (12%)
182%
B960 +
min: 32.18     avg: 33.7     median: 33.5 (7%)     max: 35.7 s
330%
540M +
min: 18.1     avg: 18.8     median: 18.5 (4%)     max: 19.9 s
WinRAR - WinRAR 4.0
100%
1 B960 +
min: 1354     avg: 1367     median: 1366.5 (2%)     max: 1379 Points
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 2
100%
1 B960 +
9.2 fps (3%)
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 1
100%
1 B960 +
51.7 fps (12%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Serpent
100%
1 B960 +
min: 0.074     avg: 0.1     median: 0.1 (2%)     max: 0.0758 GB/s
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Twofish
100%
1 B960 +
min: 0.127     avg: 0.1     median: 0.1 (2%)     max: 0.133 GB/s
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt AES
100%
1 B960 +
min: 0.165     avg: 0.2     median: 0.2 (0%)     max: 0.172 GB/s
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
1976 Points (4%)
113%
B960 +
min: 2133     avg: 2215     median: 2231 (5%)     max: 2248 Points
143%
540M +
min: 2643     avg: 2814     median: 2826 (6%)     max: 2905 Points
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
22 s (5%)
122%
B960 +
min: 17.97     avg: 18.3     median: 18 (4%)     max: 18.93 s
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
51 s (2%)
124%
B960 +
min: 40.64     avg: 41.6     median: 41 (2%)     max: 43.78 s
142%
540M +
min: 35     avg: 36.2     median: 36 (2%)     max: 37 s
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
1209 s (5%)
129%
B960 +
min: 917     avg: 937     median: 937 (4%)     max: 958 s
142%
540M +
min: 822     avg: 848     median: 850 (4%)     max: 867 s
SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS) - SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS)
26690 MIPS (13%)
102%
B960 +
min: 24750     avg: 28587     median: 27320 (13%)     max: 33690 MIPS
125%
540M +
min: 32820     avg: 34953     median: 33495 (16%)     max: 40000 MIPS
SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS) - SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS)
19310 MFLOPS (15%)
min: 15880     avg: 15893     median: 15900 (12%)     max: 15900 MFLOPS
139%
540M +
min: 26630     avg: 27546     median: 26815 (21%)     max: 29923 MFLOPS
PCMark 05 - PCMark 05 - Standard
100%
1 540M +
min: 6030     avg: 6499     median: 6498.5 (13%)     max: 6967 Points
Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 CPU
100%
1 B960 +
min: 6.1     avg: 6.4     median: 6.1 (78%)     max: 7.6 Points
108%
1 540M +
min: 5.2     avg: 6.4     median: 6.6 (85%)     max: 6.8 Points
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
100%
1 B960 +
min: 4552     avg: 5131     median: 5216.5 (4%)     max: 5409 Points
152%
1 540M +
min: 7801     avg: 7897     median: 7904 (6%)     max: 7994 Points
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
100%
1 B960 +
2139 Points (5%)

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-560UM → 100% n=11

Average Benchmarks Intel Pentium B960 → 127% n=11

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-540M → 177% n=11

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

v1.33
log 09. 23:30:58

#0 ran 0s before starting gpusingle class +0s ... 0s

#1 checking url part for id 1240 +0s ... 0s

#2 checking url part for id 2988 +0s ... 0s

#3 checking url part for id 533 +0s ... 0s

#4 redirected to Ajax server, took 1752096658s time from redirect:0 +0s ... 0s

#5 did not recreate cache, as it is less than 5 days old! Created at Wed, 09 Jul 2025 12:51:29 +0200 +0s ... 0s

#6 composed specs +0.005s ... 0.006s

#7 did output specs +0s ... 0.006s

#8 getting avg benchmarks for device 1240 +0s ... 0.006s

#9 got single benchmarks 1240 +0s ... 0.006s

#10 getting avg benchmarks for device 2988 +0.001s ... 0.007s

#11 got single benchmarks 2988 +0.009s ... 0.016s

#12 getting avg benchmarks for device 533 +0.001s ... 0.017s

#13 got single benchmarks 533 +0.011s ... 0.028s

#14 got avg benchmarks for devices +0s ... 0.028s

#15 min, max, avg, median took s +0.022s ... 0.049s

#16 return log +0s ... 0.049s

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Benchmarks / Tech > Processor Comparison - Head 2 Head
Redaktion, 2017-09- 8 (Update: 2023-07- 1)