Celeron M 540 vs i5-520M

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Aggregate performance score

Core i5-520M
2010
2 cores / 4 threads, 35 Watt
1.08
+218%
Celeron M 540
2007
1 core / 1 thread, 30 Watt
0.34

Core i5-520M outperforms Celeron M 540 by a whopping 218% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Contents

i5-520M i5-520M
Celeron M 540 Celeron M 540

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-520M and Celeron M 540 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking24053058
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i5Celeron M
Power efficiency2.921.07
Architecture codenameArrandale (2010−2011)Merom (2006−2008)
Release date7 January 2010 (14 years ago)1 October 2007 (17 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$225no data

Detailed specifications

Core i5-520M and Celeron M 540 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)1 (Single-Core)
Threads41
Base clock speed2.4 GHzno data
Boost clock speed2.93 GHz1.86 GHz
Bus typeDMI 1.0no data
Bus rate1 × 2.5 GT/s533 MHz
Multiplier18no data
L1 cache128 KBno data
L2 cache512 KB1 MB
L3 cache3 MBno data
Chip lithography32 nm65 nm
Die size81+114 mm2no data
Maximum core temperature105 °Cno data
Number of transistors382+177 Millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-520M and Celeron M 540 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)no data
SocketBGA1288,PGA988no data
Power consumption (TDP)35 Watt30 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-520M and Celeron M 540. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2no data
AES-NI+-
FMA+-
vPro+no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)+no data
Turbo Boost Technology+no data
Hyper-Threading Technology+no data
Idle States+no data
Thermal Monitoring+-
Flex Memory Access+no data
PAE36 Bitno data
FDI+no data
Fast Memory Access+no data

Security technologies

Core i5-520M and Celeron M 540 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT+no data
EDB+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-520M and Celeron M 540 are enumerated here.

VT-d+no data
VT-x+no data
EPT+no data

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-520M and Celeron M 540. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3-800, DDR3-1066no data
Maximum memory size8.3 GBno data
Max memory channels2no data
Maximum memory bandwidth17.051 GB/sno data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics for Previous Generation Intel Processorsno data
Clear Video+no data
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency766 MHzno data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-520M and Celeron M 540 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported2no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-520M and Celeron M 540.

PCIe version2.0no data
PCI Express lanes16no data

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.

i5-520M 1.08
+218%
Celeron M 540 0.34

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.

i5-520M 1718
+217%
Celeron M 540 542

Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core

Cinebench R10 is an ancient ray tracing benchmark for processors by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. Its single core version uses just one CPU thread to render a futuristic looking motorcycle.

i5-520M 3046
+74.7%
Celeron M 540 1744

3DMark06 CPU

3DMark06 is a discontinued DirectX 9 benchmark suite from Futuremark. Its CPU part contains two scenarios, one dedicated to artificial intelligence pathfinding, another to game physics using PhysX package.

i5-520M 2729
+240%
Celeron M 540 803

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary

Performance score 1.08 0.34
Recency 7 January 2010 1 October 2007
Physical cores 2 1
Threads 4 1
Chip lithography 32 nm 65 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 35 Watt 30 Watt

i5-520M has a 217.6% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 2 years, 100% more physical cores and 300% more threads, and a 103.1% more advanced lithography process.

Celeron M 540, on the other hand, has 16.7% lower power consumption.

The Core i5-520M is our recommended choice as it beats the Celeron M 540 in performance tests.

Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-520M and Celeron M 540, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.

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Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.

3.6 370 votes

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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i5-520M or Celeron M 540, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.