i3-1210U vs i5-540M

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-540M and Core i3-1210U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	2372	1028
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Market segment	Laptop	Laptop
Series	Intel Core i5	Intel Alder Lake-M
Power efficiency	3.07	69.60
Architecture codename	Arrandale (2010−2011)	Alder Lake-U (2022)
Release date	7 January 2010 (14 years ago)	23 February 2022 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$257	no data

Detailed specifications

Core i5-540M and Core i3-1210U 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)	6 (Hexa-Core)
Threads	4	8
Base clock speed	2.53 GHz	1 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.07 GHz	4.4 GHz
Bus type	DMI 1.0	no data
Bus rate	1 × 2.5 GT/s	no data
Multiplier	19	no data
L1 cache	128 KB	80K (per core)
L2 cache	512 KB	1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache	3 MB (shared)	10 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	32 nm	Intel 7 nm
Die size	81+114 mm2	no data
Maximum core temperature	105 °C	100 °C
Number of transistors	382+177 Million	no data
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	+

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-540M and Core i3-1210U 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
Socket	BGA1288,PGA988	FCBGA1781
Power consumption (TDP)	35 Watt	9 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-540M and Core i3-1210U. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

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

Security technologies

Core i5-540M and Core i3-1210U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	+
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	no data	+
OS Guard	no data	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-540M and Core i3-1210U are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-540M and Core i3-1210U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory size	8 GB	64 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	17.051 GB/s	no data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	Intel® HD Graphics for Previous Generation Intel® Processors	Intel® UHD Graphics for 12th Gen Intel® Processors
Quick Sync Video	-	+
Clear Video	+	no data
Clear Video HD	+	no data
Graphics max frequency	766 MHz	850 MHz
Execution Units	no data	64

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-540M and Core i3-1210U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

2

4

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-540M and Core i3-1210U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	no data	4096 x 2304 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	no data	4096 x 2304 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort	no data	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-540M and Core i3-1210U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	no data	12.1
OpenGL	no data	4.6

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-540M and Core i3-1210U.

PCIe version	2.0	4.0
PCI Express lanes	16	14

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	1.18	6.87
Recency	7 January 2010	23 February 2022
Physical cores	2	6
Threads	4	8
Power consumption (TDP)	35 Watt	9 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-540M and Core i3-1210U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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