i5-540M vs Apple M1 Pro

Aggregate performance score

Apple M1 Pro
2021
10 cores / 10 threads, 2064 Watt
10.82
+849%
Core i5-540M
2010
2 cores / 4 threads, 35 Watt
1.14

Apple M1 Pro outperforms Core i5-540M by a whopping 849% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Apple M1 Pro and Core i5-540M processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking7132377
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesApple M-SeriesIntel Core i5
Power efficiencyno data3.08
Architecture codenameno dataArrandale (2010−2011)
Release date18 October 2021 (3 years ago)7 January 2010 (14 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$257

Detailed specifications

Apple M1 Pro and Core i5-540M basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores10 (Deca-Core)2 (Dual-core)
Threads104
Base clock speed2.064 GHz2.53 GHz
Boost clock speed3.22 GHz3.07 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 1.0
Bus rateno data1 × 2.5 GT/s
Multiplierno data19
L1 cache2.9 MB64K (per core)
L2 cache28 MB256K (per core)
L3 cache24 MB3 MB (shared)
Chip lithography5 nm32 nm
Die sizeno data81+114 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data105 °C
Number of transistors33700 Million382+177 Million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibilityno data-

Compatibility

Information on Apple M1 Pro and Core i5-540M compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configurationno data1 (Uniprocessor)
Socketno dataBGA1288,PGA988
Power consumption (TDP)2064 ‑ 3220 Watt35 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Apple M1 Pro and Core i5-540M. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2
AES-NI-+
FMA-+
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data+
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
Flex Memory Accessno data+
PAEno data36 Bit
FDIno data+
Fast Memory Accessno data+

Security technologies

Apple M1 Pro and Core i5-540M technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDBno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Apple M1 Pro and Core i5-540M are enumerated here.

VT-dno data+
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Apple M1 Pro and Core i5-540M. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR3
Maximum memory sizeno data8 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data17.051 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPUIntel HD Graphics for Previous Generation Intel Processors
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data766 MHz

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Apple M1 Pro and Core i5-540M integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data2

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Apple M1 Pro and Core i5-540M.

PCIe versionno data2.0
PCI Express lanesno data16

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

Apple M1 Pro 10.82
+849%
i5-540M 1.14

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

Apple M1 Pro 17191
+851%
i5-540M 1808

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 10.82 1.14
Recency 18 October 2021 7 January 2010
Physical cores 10 2
Threads 10 4
Chip lithography 5 nm 32 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 2064 Watt 35 Watt

Apple M1 Pro has a 849.1% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 11 years, 400% more physical cores and 150% more threads, and a 540% more advanced lithography process.

i5-540M, on the other hand, has 5797.1% lower power consumption.

The Apple M1 Pro is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-540M in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Apple M1 Pro and Core i5-540M, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Apple M1 Pro
M1 Pro
Intel Core i5-540M
Core i5-540M

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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