Intel Core i5-5250U vs Intel Core i7-3540M Comparison

The Intel Core i7-3540M and Intel Core i5-5250U are both dual-core, four-thread mobile processors, but they target different priorities: the former is a 35W performance-oriented part from the Ivy Bridge generation, while the latter is a 15W efficiency-focused chip from Broadwell. Benchmark results show a clear split, with the i7-3540M dominating in Cinebench tests while the i5-5250U takes a decisive lead in Geekbench. This analysis breaks down those results, the architectural reasons behind them, and what they mean for real-world selection.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data presents a striking pattern of divergence across test suites. In every Cinebench iteration, the Intel Core i7-3540M wins by a remarkably consistent margin. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 254 against the i5-5250U’s 209, a 21.5% advantage. That margin holds almost exactly across Cinebench R20 multicore (1060 vs 873, 21.4%), Cinebench R20 singlecore (149 vs 123, 21.1%), Cinebench R23 multicore (2525 vs 2079, 21.5%), and Cinebench R23 singlecore (356 vs 293, 21.5%). The uniformity of these deltas—all hovering near 21.5%—suggests a fundamental per-thread performance gap that scales linearly across workloads.

However, the Geekbench results flip the script entirely. The i5-5250U scores 1587 in Geekbench multicore versus the i7-3540M’s 1160, a 26.9% lead for the Broadwell chip. In Geekbench singlecore, the gap widens further: 825 for the i5-5250U against 565 for the i7-3540M, a 31.5% advantage. This is a massive swing—the same two processors that are nearly identical in Cinebench are 27-31% apart in Geekbench, but in the opposite direction.

The explanation lies in workload characteristics. Cinebench’s rendering tasks are heavily dependent on sustained clock speed and raw instruction throughput, where the i7-3540M’s 3.70 GHz boost clock gives it a decisive edge over the i5-5250U’s 2.70 GHz boost. Geekbench, conversely, includes memory-latency-sensitive and branch-predictor-heavy tests that reward newer microarchitecture. The i5-5250U’s Broadwell core, despite lower clocks, executes these workloads far more efficiently. The result: the i7-3540M wins 5 of 7 head-to-head tests, but the i5-5250U wins the two Geekbench tests by larger margins than the i7-3540M achieves in any Cinebench test. The average benchmark scores tell a similar story: the i7-3540M averages 867, while the i5-5250U averages 856, a difference of just 1.3%.

The nearestRivals data for each CPU puts their overall standing in context. The i7-3540M’s average score of 867 places it within 0.1% of the Intel Xeon X3460 (866), 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core i5-3470T (863), and 0.5-0.6% behind the Intel Atom C5315 (871) and AMD Athlon PRO 3045B (872). The i5-5250U, with its 856 average, sits exactly level with the Intel Core i5-2500T (856), 0.4% behind the Intel Core i7-4500U (859), and 0.5% ahead of the Intel Xeon X5492 (852). Both processors land at the 23rd percentile of all CPUs, reinforcing that they are mid-pack parts despite their generational difference.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different Intel design eras. The i7-3540M is built on Ivy Bridge, a 22 nm process, with a die size of 118 mm². The i5-5250U uses Broadwell-U, a 14 nm process, with a die size of 133 mm² and a transistor count of 1,900 million. The smaller process node is the primary driver of the i5-5250U’s efficiency gains, allowing it to deliver competitive performance at a 15W TDP versus the i7-3540M’s 35W TDP. The Broadwell chip’s larger die area, despite the newer node, reflects a more complex integrated design.

Clock speeds tell a clear story of trade-offs. The i7-3540M has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, while the i5-5250U runs at a 1600.00 MHz base (1.60 GHz) and a 2.70 GHz boost. The i7-3540M’s clocks are 87.5% higher at base and 37% higher at boost, explaining its Cinebench dominance. The i5-5250U compensates with architectural improvements per clock, which is why it wins in Geekbench despite the clock deficit.

Cache configurations differ meaningfully. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, but the i7-3540M has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-5250U has 3 MB. The larger L3 on the older chip likely helps in Cinebench’s data-heavy rendering loops, while the newer memory controller on the i5-5250U—which supports a 29.9 GB/s memory bandwidth figure not listed for the i7-3540M—may contribute to its Geekbench lead.

Integrated graphics mark another clear divergence. The i7-3540M pairs with Intel HD 4000, while the i5-5250U includes Intel HD 6000. The newer GPU generation in the Broadwell chip is expected to offer better media and display capabilities, though no benchmark numbers are provided to quantify this. Socket and packaging also differ: the i7-3540M uses Intel Socket G2 (988B), a socketed design, while the i5-5250U is soldered to Intel BGA 1168. The i5-5250U also lists PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only), a feature absent from the i7-3540M’s spec sheet. Both support DDR3 memory in dual-channel mode, and neither supports ECC memory.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-3540M averages 867 across all benchmarks, while the Intel Core i5-5250U averages 856. The i7-3540M leads by 1.3%, placing it 0.1% ahead of the Intel Xeon X3460, while the i5-5250U sits exactly level with the Intel Core i5-2500T.

Q: Why does the i7-3540M win all Cinebench tests but lose both Geekbench tests?

A: The i7-3540M’s higher clock speeds—3.00 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost versus 1.60 GHz base and 2.70 GHz boost—give it a decisive edge in Cinebench’s rendering workloads, where it wins by 21.1-21.5% across all five tests. However, the i5-5250U’s newer Broadwell architecture executes Geekbench’s memory and branch-prediction sensitive tasks more efficiently, winning by 26.9% in multicore and 31.5% in singlecore.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption?

A: The i7-3540M has a 35W TDP, while the i5-5250U has a 15W TDP. The i5-5250U draws less than half the power budget, a direct result of its 14 nm process node compared to the i7-3540M’s 22 nm node.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 2 cores and 4 threads. This means the performance differences are entirely due to clock speeds, cache sizes, and microarchitecture, not core count.

Q: Which CPU has more L3 cache?

A: The i7-3540M has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-5250U has 3 MB. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core.

Q: What are the release dates for these CPUs?

A: The i7-3540M was released on 2013-01-07, while the i5-5250U was released on 2015-02-28. The i5-5250U is marked as end-of-life, and its launch MSRP is $315.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear choice based on workload priority. For users running Cinebench-style rendering or heavily multithreaded CPU tasks, the Intel Core i7-3540M is the unambiguous winner, delivering 21.5% higher scores in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests. Its 3.70 GHz boost clock and 4 MB L3 cache give it a sustained performance advantage that the i5-5250U cannot overcome in these scenarios.

For users whose workloads resemble Geekbench’s mixed integer, memory, and branch-prediction patterns, the Intel Core i5-5250U is the better choice, offering 26.9% higher multicore and 31.5% higher singlecore scores. Its 14 nm Broadwell architecture and 29.9 GB/s memory bandwidth make it more efficient at translating each clock cycle into useful work.

The i5-5250U also wins decisively on power efficiency, with a 15W TDP versus the i7-3540M’s 35W. For thin-and-light laptops where battery life and thermals are critical, the i5-5250U is the only rational option. The i7-3540M’s 35W TDP and socketed design point toward bulkier, performance-oriented laptops or mobile workstations.

Both chips sit at the 23rd percentile of all CPUs, so neither is a high-performance part by modern standards. The i7-3540M’s average score of 867 versus the i5-5250U’s 856 is a marginal overall difference. The deciding factor is whether the workload favors raw clock speed (i7-3540M) or architectural efficiency (i5-5250U). Given that the i5-5250U wins by larger margins in its preferred tests (26.9-31.5%) than the i7-3540M does in its own (21.1-21.5%), and it does so at less than half the TDP, the i5-5250U is the more balanced recommendation for general mobile use.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-3540M | Intel Core i5-5250U |

|---|---|---|

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 1600.00 MHz (1.60 GHz) |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| TDP | 35W | 15W |

| Socket | Intel Socket G2 (988B) | Intel BGA 1168 |

| Architecture | Ivy Bridge | Broadwell |

| Codename | Ivy Bridge | Broadwell-U |

| Generation | Core i7 (Ivy Bridge) | Core i5 (Broadwell-U) |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

| Transistors | Not listed | 1,900 million |

| Die Size | 118 mm² | 133 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 3 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 29.9 GB/s |

| PCIe | Not listed | Gen 2, 12 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4000 | Intel HD 6000 |

| Release Date | 2013-01-07 | 2015-02-28 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $315 |

| Production Status | Not listed | End-of-life |

| Part Number | SR0X6 | SR26C |