Core i5-540M vs Core 2 Quad Q8400

Aggregate performance score

Core 2 Quad Q8400
2009
4 cores / 4 threads, 95 Watt
1.30
+14%
Core i5-540M
2010
2 cores / 4 threads, 35 Watt
1.14

Core 2 Quad Q8400 outperforms Core i5-540M by a moderate 14% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core 2 Quad Q8400 and Core i5-540M processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking22682377
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentDesktop processorLaptop
Seriesno dataIntel Core i5
Power efficiency1.303.08
Architecture codenameYorkfield (2007−2009)Arrandale (2010−2011)
Release date19 April 2009 (15 years ago)7 January 2010 (14 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$257

Detailed specifications

Core 2 Quad Q8400 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 cores4 (Quad-Core)2 (Dual-core)
Threads44
Base clock speed2.66 GHz2.53 GHz
Boost clock speed0.67 GHz3.07 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 1.0
Bus rate1333 MHz1 × 2.5 GT/s
Multiplierno data19
L1 cache64 KB (per core)64K (per core)
L2 cache4 MB (shared)256K (per core)
L3 cache0 KB3 MB (shared)
Chip lithography45 nm32 nm
Die size2x 82 mm281+114 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data105 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)71 °Cno data
Number of transistors456 million382+177 Million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
VID voltage range0.85V-1.3625Vno data

Compatibility

Information on Core 2 Quad Q8400 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 configuration11 (Uniprocessor)
SocketFCLGA775,LGA775BGA1288,PGA988
Power consumption (TDP)95 Watt35 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core 2 Quad Q8400 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)++
Turbo Boost Technology-+
Hyper-Threading Technology-+
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Accessno data+
Demand Based Switching-no data
PAEno data36 Bit
FDIno data+
Fast Memory Accessno data+
FSB parity-no data

Security technologies

Core 2 Quad Q8400 and Core i5-540M technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT-+
EDB++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core 2 Quad Q8400 and Core i5-540M are enumerated here.

VT-dno data+
VT-x++
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core 2 Quad Q8400 and Core i5-540M. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR1, DDR2, DDR3DDR3
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 cardOn certain motherboards (Chipset feature)Intel 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 Core 2 Quad Q8400 and Core i5-540M integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data2

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core 2 Quad Q8400 and Core i5-540M.

PCIe version2.02.0
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.

Core 2 Quad Q8400 1.30
+14%
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.

Core 2 Quad Q8400 2067
+14.3%
i5-540M 1808

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

Core 2 Quad Q8400 328
i5-540M 375
+14.3%

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

Core 2 Quad Q8400 896
+24.4%
i5-540M 720

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 1.30 1.14
Recency 19 April 2009 7 January 2010
Physical cores 4 2
Chip lithography 45 nm 32 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 95 Watt 35 Watt

Core 2 Quad Q8400 has a 14% higher aggregate performance score, and 100% more physical cores.

i5-540M, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 8 months, a 40.6% more advanced lithography process, and 171.4% lower power consumption.

The Core 2 Quad Q8400 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-540M in performance tests.

Note that Core 2 Quad Q8400 is a desktop processor while Core i5-540M is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core 2 Quad Q8400 and Core i5-540M, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400
Core 2 Quad Q8400
Intel Core i5-540M
Core i5-540M

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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