i3-4100M vs i7-3540M

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-3540M and Core i3-4100M processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	1973	2097
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Market segment	Laptop	Laptop
Series	Intel Core i7	Intel Core i3
Power efficiency	5.06	4.05
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)	Haswell (2013−2015)
Release date	8 January 2013 (11 years ago)	4 June 2013 (11 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$349	$225

Detailed specifications

Core i7-3540M and Core i3-4100M 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 GHz	2.5 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.7 GHz	2.5 GHz
Bus rate	5 GT/s	5 GT/s
L1 cache	64K (per core)	128 KB
L2 cache	256K (per core)	512 KB
L3 cache	4 MB (shared)	3 MB
Chip lithography	22 nm	22 nm
Die size	118 mm2	130 mm2
Maximum core temperature	105 °C	100 °C
Number of transistors	no data	960 Million
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-3540M and Core i3-4100M 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	1
Socket	FCBGA1023,FCPGA988	FCPGA946
Power consumption (TDP)	35 Watt	37 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-3540M and Core i3-4100M. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® AVX	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI	+	+
AVX	+	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
My WiFi	+	no data
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	-
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	+
Idle States	+	no data
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
Flex Memory Access	+	no data
Demand Based Switching	-	no data
FDI	+	no data
Fast Memory Access	+	no data

Security technologies

Core i7-3540M and Core i3-4100M technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	-
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	+	+
Identity Protection	+	+
Anti-Theft	+	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-3540M and Core i3-4100M are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-3540M and Core i3-4100M. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR3
Maximum memory size	32 GB	32 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	25.6 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card Compare	Intel HD Graphics 4000	Intel HD Graphics 4600
Max video memory	no data	2 GB
Quick Sync Video	+	+
Clear Video HD	+	no data
Graphics max frequency	1.3 GHz	1.1 GHz
InTru 3D	+	+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-3540M and Core i3-4100M integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported	3	3
eDP	+	+
DisplayPort	+	+
HDMI	+	+
VGA	no data	+
SDVO	+	no data
CRT	+	no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-3540M and Core i3-4100M integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	no data	3840x2160@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort	no data	3840x2160@60Hz
Max resolution over VGA	no data	2880x1800@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-3540M and Core i3-4100M integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	no data	11.2/12
OpenGL	no data	4.3

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-3540M and Core i3-4100M.

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.

---

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.

---

Pros & cons summary

---

Performance score	1.88	1.59
Integrated graphics card	1.18	1.84
Recency	8 January 2013	4 June 2013
Power consumption (TDP)	35 Watt	37 Watt

---

Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-3540M and Core i3-4100M, 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.

---