Intel Core i7-740QM vs Intel Core i5-2540M vs Intel Core i5-2430M
Intel Core i7-740QM
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The Intel Core i7-740QM is a fast quad-core CPU for laptops. Compared to the Core i7-720QM, the 740QM features a higher clock rate. It features 4 cores and Hyperthreading. Therefore, 8 threads can be worked on simultaneously. Compared to the faster Core i7 mobile CPUs, the 740QM only features 6MB L3 Cache (the faster ones 8 MB).
Because of the Turbo Mode, the CPU can be clocked with up to 2.93 GHz (1 core only) and therefore fast for single core applications like older games. Thanks to the 4 cores (and 8 threads), modern multi-threaded applications also profit from this CPU greatly (altough when using all cores, the clock speed remains low).
The Core i7 7xx line has an integrated memory controller for DDR3 bars (1066 or 1333). Therefore, the memory performance is very good (compared to older CPUs with external memory controllers). Still this also leads to the higher TDP of the whole chip.
The performance depends on the used thread count. If all cores are fully used, the performance of the 740QM is on a level with the fast Core i5-2520M (Sandy Bridge). If only a single core / thread is fully used, the performance depends on the Turbo Boost. Benchmarks indicate a performance on a level of the Core i5-480M.
The power consumption of up to 45 Watt (TDP) is quite high for a laptop CPU and because of the Turbo Mode, the power consumption could reach these high values. Therefore, only large laptops with good cooling solutions can house this CPU.
Intel Core i5-2540M
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The Intel Core i5-2540M is a fast high end dual core processor at the time of introduction in Q1 2011. It is based on the Sandy Bridge architecture and offers Hyperthreading to handle 4 threads at once (for a better usage of the pipeline). Compared to the faster Core i7, the i5 offers a smaller last level cache of 3MB. The base clock speed is 2.6 GHz but due to Turbo Boost it can reach 3.1 GHz (2 cores active) and 3.3 GHz (1 core active).
Sandy Bridge is the evolutionary successor of the Arrandale architecture. The most noteable improvements are the new 256Bit AVX instructions, the improved Turbo 2.0 and the integration of the graphics card into the 32nm CPU core.
Der i5-2540M offers an integrated graphics card ( Intel HD Graphics 3000) which is clearly faster then the older Intel HD Graphics in the Arrandale CPUs. As the new GPU is included in the CPU, it is also manufactured in 32nm and shares the fast level 3 cache with the CPU cores (using a new ring bus). In the 2540M it is clocked from 650-1300MHz (Turbo Boost).
Furthermore, an improved dual-channel DDR3 memory controller is included on the CPU die that is used by the CPU and GPU part.
Due to the improved architecture and the new Turbo Boost 2.0, the average performance of the Core i5-2540M is higher than a similar clocked Arrandale Core i5. In synthetic benchmarks the performance should be on a level to the old Core i7-620M and therefore suited for even demanding tasks.
The 35W TDP rating includes the integrated GPU and memory controller.
Intel Core i5-2430M
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The Intel Core i5-2430M is a fast dual core processor at the time of introduction in Q3 2011. It is based on the Sandy Bridge architecture and offers Hyperthreading to handle 4 threads at once (for a better usage of the pipeline). Compared to the faster Core i7, the i5 offers a smaller last level cache of 3MB. The base clock speed is 2.4 GHz but due to Turbo Boost it can reach 2.7 GHz (2 cores active) and 3 GHz (1 core active). Compared to the 2510M, the 2430M does not support VT-d and Trusted Execution functions.
Sandy Bridge is the evolutionary successor of the Arrandale architecture. The most noteable improvements is the improved Turbo 2.0 and the integration of the graphics card into the 32nm CPU core.
The i5-2430M offers an integrated graphics card (Intel HD Graphics 3000) which is clearly faster then the older Intel HD Graphics in the Arrandale CPUs. As the new GPU is included in the CPU, it is also manufactured in 32nm and shares the fast level 3 cache with the CPU cores (using a new ring bus). In the 2430M it is clocked from 650-1200MHz (with Turbo Boost). The faster Sandy Bridge CPUs are clocked up to 1300 MHz (like the i5-2520M or the otherwise nearly similar i5-2435M).
Furthermore, an improved dual-channel DDR3 memory controller is included on the CPU die that is used by the CPU and GPU part.
Due to the improved architecture and the new Turbo Boost 2.0, the average performance of the Core i5-2430M is higher than a similar clocked Arrandale Core i5. In our benchmarks, the 2430M was able to beat the fast Intel Core i5-560M with 2.7-3.2GHz and is therefore suited for even demanding tasks.
The 35W TDP rating includes the integrated GPU and memory controller.
| Model | Intel Core i7-740QM | Intel Core i5-2540M | Intel Core i5-2430M | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Codename | Clarksfield | Sandy Bridge | Sandy Bridge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series | Intel Core i7 | Intel Core i5 | Intel Core i5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series: Core i5 Sandy Bridge |
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| Clock | 1730 - 2930 MHz | 2600 - 3300 MHz | 2400 - 3000 MHz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FSB | 2500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| L1 Cache | 256 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 512 KB | 512 KB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| L3 Cache | 6 MB | 3 MB | 3 MB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TDP | 45 Watt | 35 Watt | 35 Watt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transistors | 774 Million | 624 Million | 624 Million | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technology | 45 nm | 32 nm | 32 nm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Die Size | 296 mm2 | 149 mm2 | 149 mm2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| max. Temp. | 100 °C | 100 °C | 100 °C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Socket | PGA988 | rPGA988B, BGA1023 | PPGA988 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Features | Turbo Boost max. 2.93GHz | HD Graphics 3000 (650-1300MHz), DDR3-1066/1333 Memory Controller (max 8GB), HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, Virtualization | HD Graphics 3000, DDR3-1066/1333 Memory Controller (max 8GB), HyperThreading, AVX, Quick Sync, Virtualization | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Architecture | x86 | x86 | x86 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $546 U.S. | $266 U.S. | $225 U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Announced | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer | ark.intel.com | ark.intel.com | ark.intel.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| iGPU | Intel HD Graphics 3000 (650 - 1300 MHz) | Intel HD Graphics 3000 (650 - 1200 MHz) |
Benchmarks
Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-740QM → 100% n=16
Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-2540M → 106% n=16
Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-2430M → 98% n=16
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation
