i9-9900KF vs i5-2540M

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Aggregate performance score

Core i5-2540M
2011
2 cores / 4 threads, 35 Watt
1.49
Core i9-9900KF
2019
8 cores / 16 threads, 95 Watt
11.47
+670%

Core i9-9900KF outperforms Core i5-2540M by a whopping 670% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-2540M and Core i9-9900KF processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking2160688
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data8.44
Market segmentLaptopDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i5Intel Core i9
Power efficiency4.0311.43
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)
Release date1 February 2011 (13 years ago)7 January 2019 (5 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$266$488

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i5-2540M and Core i9-9900KF 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 cores2 (Dual-core)8 (Octa-Core)
Threads416
Base clock speed2.6 GHz3.6 GHz
Boost clock speed3.3 GHz5 GHz
Bus typeDMI 2.0DMI 3.0
Bus rate4 × 5 GT/s4 × 8 GT/s
Multiplier26no data
L1 cache128 KB512 KB
L2 cache512 KB2 MB
L3 cache3 MB (shared)16 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm14 nm
Die size149 mm2no data
Maximum core temperature100 °C100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
Number of transistors624 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-2540M and Core i9-9900KF 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 configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1 (Uniprocessor)
SocketFCBGA1023,PPGA988FCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)35 Watt95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-2540M and Core i9-9900KF. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® AVXIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
FMA+-
AVX++
vPro+no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
My WiFi+no data
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
TSX-+
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access+no data
Demand Based Switching-no data
FDI+no data
Fast Memory Access+no data

Security technologies

Core i5-2540M and Core i9-9900KF technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT+-
EDB++
Secure Keyno data+
MPX-+
Identity Protection++
SGXno dataYes with Intel® ME
OS Guardno data+
Anti-Theft+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-2540M and Core i9-9900KF are enumerated here.

AMD-V+-
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-2540M and Core i9-9900KF. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR4-2666
Maximum memory size16 GB128 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth21.335 GB/s42.671 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 3000no data
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.3 GHzno data
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-2540M and Core i9-9900KF integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported2no data
eDP+no data
DisplayPort+-
HDMI+-
SDVO+no data
CRT+no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-2540M and Core i9-9900KF.

PCIe version2.03.0
PCI Express lanes1616

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.

i5-2540M 1.49
i9-9900KF 11.47
+670%

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.

i5-2540M 2367
i9-9900KF 18221
+670%

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.

i5-2540M 490
i9-9900KF 1722
+251%

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.

i5-2540M 980
i9-9900KF 8126
+729%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 1.49 11.47
Recency 1 February 2011 7 January 2019
Physical cores 2 8
Threads 4 16
Chip lithography 32 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 35 Watt 95 Watt

i5-2540M has 171.4% lower power consumption.

i9-9900KF, on the other hand, has a 669.8% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 7 years, 300% more physical cores and 300% more threads, and a 128.6% more advanced lithography process.

The Core i9-9900KF is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-2540M in performance tests.

Be aware that Core i5-2540M is a notebook processor while Core i9-9900KF is a desktop one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-2540M and Core i9-9900KF, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i5-2540M
Core i5-2540M
Intel Core i9-9900KF
Core i9-9900KF

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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