i5-540M vs i3-6100

Primary details

Comparing Core i3-6100 and Core i5-540M processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	1697	2369
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	0.67	no data
Market segment	Desktop processor	Laptop
Series	Intel Core i3	Intel Core i5
Power efficiency	4.99	3.07
Architecture codename	Skylake (2015−2016)	Arrandale (2010−2011)
Release date	1 September 2015 (9 years ago)	7 January 2010 (14 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$117	$257

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Detailed specifications

Core i3-6100 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 cores	2 (Dual-core)	2 (Dual-core)
Threads	4	4
Base clock speed	3.7 GHz	2.53 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.7 GHz	3.07 GHz
Bus type	DMI 3.0	DMI 1.0
Bus rate	4 × 8 GT/s	1 × 2.5 GT/s
Multiplier	37	19
L1 cache	128 KB	128 KB
L2 cache	512 KB	512 KB
L3 cache	3 MB (shared)	3 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	14 nm	32 nm
Die size	98.57 mm2	81+114 mm2
Maximum core temperature	no data	105 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	65 °C	no data
Number of transistors	1,400 million	382+177 Million
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-6100 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 configuration	1 (Uniprocessor)	1 (Uniprocessor)
Socket	FCLGA1151	BGA1288,PGA988
Power consumption (TDP)	51 Watt	35 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-6100 and Core i5-540M. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2
AES-NI	+	+
FMA	-	+
AVX	+	-
vPro	no data	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	-	+
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	+
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
Flex Memory Access	no data	+
PAE	no data	36 Bit
FDI	no data	+
Fast Memory Access	no data	+

Security technologies

Core i3-6100 and Core i5-540M technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	-	+
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	+	no data
MPX	+	-
Identity Protection	+	-
SGX	Yes with Intel® ME	no data
OS Guard	+	no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-6100 and Core i5-540M are enumerated here.

VT-d	+	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-6100 and Core i5-540M. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR4	DDR3
Maximum memory size	64 GB	8 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	34.134 GB/s	17.051 GB/s
ECC memory support	+	-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	Intel HD Graphics 530	Intel® HD Graphics for Previous Generation Intel® Processors
Max video memory	64 GB	no data
Quick Sync Video	+	-
Clear Video	+	+
Clear Video HD	+	+
Graphics max frequency	1.05 GHz	766 MHz
InTru 3D	+	no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-6100 and Core i5-540M integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported	3	2
eDP	+	no data
DisplayPort	+	-
HDMI	+	-
DVI	+	no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i3-6100 and Core i5-540M integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support	+	no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096x2304@24Hz	no data
Max resolution over eDP	4096x2304@60Hz	no data
Max resolution over DisplayPort	4096x2304@60Hz	no data
Max resolution over VGA	N/A	no data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i3-6100 and Core i5-540M integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	12	no data
OpenGL	4.5	no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-6100 and Core i5-540M.

PCIe version	3.0	2.0
PCI Express lanes	16	16

Synthetic benchmark performance

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

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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.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	2.79	1.18
Recency	1 September 2015	7 January 2010
Chip lithography	14 nm	32 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	51 Watt	35 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-6100 and Core i5-540M, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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