i5-2540LM vs i7-720QM

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-720QM and Core i5-2540LM processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	2426	not rated
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Market segment	Laptop	Laptop
Series	Intel Core i7	Intel Core i5
Power efficiency	2.20	no data
Architecture codename	Clarksfield (2009−2010)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
Release date	24 June 2009 (15 years ago)	no data (2024 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$546	no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-720QM and Core i5-2540LM 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	4 (Quad-Core)	2 (Dual-core)
Threads	8	4
Base clock speed	1.6 GHz	no data
Boost clock speed	2.8 GHz	1.8 GHz
Bus type	DMI 1.0	DMI 2.0
Bus rate	2.5 GT/s	4 × 5 GT/s
Multiplier	12	18
L1 cache	256 KB	128 KB
L2 cache	1 MB	512 KB
L3 cache	6 MB (shared)	3 MB
Chip lithography	45 nm	32 nm
Die size	296 mm2	149 mm2
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	no data
Number of transistors	774 million	624 Million
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-720QM and Core i5-2540LM 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	FCPGA988,PGA988	no data
Power consumption (TDP)	45 Watt	35 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-720QM and Core i5-2540LM. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.2	no data
AES-NI	-	+
FMA	-	+
AVX	-	+
vPro	+	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	1.0	no data
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	no data
Idle States	+	no data
Thermal Monitoring	+	-
PAE	36 Bit	no data

Security technologies

Core i7-720QM and Core i5-2540LM technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	+
EDB	+	no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-720QM and Core i5-2540LM are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-720QM and Core i5-2540LM. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333	DDR3-1333
Maximum memory size	8 GB	16 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	21.335 GB/s	21.335 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card

None

Intel HD Graphics 3000

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-720QM and Core i5-2540LM.

PCIe version	2	no data
PCI Express lanes	16	no data

Pros & cons summary

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Physical cores	4	2
Threads	8	4
Chip lithography	45 nm	32 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	45 Watt	35 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-720QM and Core i5-2540LM, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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