Intel Core i7-3540M vs Intel Core i7-4500U Comparison

The Intel Core i7-3540M and Intel Core i7-4500U are two mobile processors from different generations of Intel's lineup, and their benchmark results tell a story of trade-offs between raw compute capability and architectural efficiency. The data shows a clear split: the older 35W Ivy Bridge part dominates in Cinebench workloads, while the newer 15W Haswell chip wins in Geekbench tests. With an average benchmark score of 867 for the 3540M and 859 for the 4500U, the overall performance difference is nearly negligible, yet the individual test results reveal distinct strengths that matter for specific use cases.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head data is the 3540M's consistent dominance across all five Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the 3540M scores 254 against the 4500U's 212, a 19.8% advantage. That margin holds remarkably steady across the other Cinebench variants: R20 multicore shows 1060 versus 887 (19.5% ahead), R20 singlecore shows 149 versus 125 (19.2% ahead), R23 multicore shows 2525 versus 2113 (19.5% ahead), and R23 singlecore shows 356 versus 298 (19.5% ahead). This consistency across both single-threaded and multi-threaded Cinebench tests suggests the 3540M's higher clock speeds provide a uniform advantage in this rendering workload.

The Geekbench results flip the script entirely. In Geekbench multicore, the 4500U scores 1562 against the 3540M's 1160, which translates to a 25.7% lead for the Haswell chip. The single-core Geekbench test shows an even larger gap: 818 versus 565, a 30.9% advantage for the 4500U. These are substantial margins, not minor wins. The 4500U's Geekbench performance is particularly noteworthy because it achieves this while consuming less than half the power budget of its rival.

Looking at the broader competitive landscape, both processors sit at the 23rd percentile among all CPUs. The 3540M's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon X3460 (866 average score, 0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i5-3470T (863, 0.4% delta), while the 4500U's closest competitors are the AMD A8-7650K (860, -0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i5-2500T (856, 0.3% delta). The delta percentages between each CPU and its rivals are all under 1%, indicating that both processors are well-matched against their direct competitors in average performance.

Where Each One Wins

The 3540M is the clear winner in rendering and compute-heavy tasks that rely on Cinebench-style workloads. Its 19.8% advantage in Cinebench R15 multicore and 19.5% advantage in R23 multicore indicate that applications using these rendering engines will see meaningful performance gains. The consistent ~19% edge across all Cinebench tests, including single-core variants, makes the 3540M the better choice for 3D modeling, video rendering, and other CPU-intensive creative workloads.

The 4500U's wins are in Geekbench, which measures a broader range of real-world computing scenarios including cryptography, compression, and memory operations. Its 25.7% multicore and 30.9% single-core leads in Geekbench suggest better everyday responsiveness and efficiency in tasks that stress integer and floating-point operations differently than Cinebench does. This makes the 4500U arguably better suited for general productivity, web browsing, and office applications where Geekbench's test patterns more closely mirror typical usage.

The power envelope difference is decisive for mobile use. The 4500U's 15W TDP versus the 3540M's 35W TDP means the Haswell chip is designed for thinner, lighter laptops with longer battery life, while the 3540M requires more substantial cooling and power delivery. The 3540M's 3.00 GHz base clock and 3.70 GHz boost clock are significantly higher than the 4500U's 1.80 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost, which explains the Cinebench advantage but also hints at why the 4500U can achieve better Geekbench scores per watt.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural families. The 3540M uses Ivy Bridge architecture built on a 22 nm process, while the 4500U uses Haswell architecture, also on a 22 nm process. Both are manufactured by Intel, and both have identical die sizes of 118 mm². The 4500U's transistor count is listed at 1,300 million, a figure not provided for the 3540M, indicating the Haswell design packs more transistors into the same die area.

Cache configurations are identical: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. Both are dual-core processors with four threads, and both lack an unlocked multiplier. Neither supports ECC memory, and both have integrated graphics — the 3540M with Intel HD 4000 and the 4500U with Intel HD 4400. The newer HD 4400 graphics represent a generation improvement, though the FACT PACK provides no benchmark data to quantify this difference.

Memory support differs in detail. Both support DDR3, but the 3540M specifies dual-channel memory while the 4500U's memory bus configuration is not listed. The 3540M uses Intel Socket G2 (988B), a socketed design, while the 4500U uses Intel BGA 1168, a ball-grid-array package that is soldered directly to the motherboard. This makes the 3540M theoretically replaceable, whereas the 4500U is permanently attached to its board.

Release dates show the 3540M arriving on January 7, 2013, with the 4500U following on June 3, 2013 — roughly five months later. The 4500U belongs to the Haswell-ULT codename family, reflecting its ultra-low-power design intent, while the 3540M is part of the Ivy Bridge generation.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench tests?

A: The Intel Core i7-3540M wins all five Cinebench benchmarks. It leads by 19.8% in R15 multicore (254 vs 212), 19.5% in R20 multicore (1060 vs 887), 19.2% in R20 singlecore (149 vs 125), 19.5% in R23 multicore (2525 vs 2113), and 19.5% in R23 singlecore (356 vs 298).

Q: Why does the i7-4500U win in Geekbench despite losing Cinebench?

A: The 4500U scores 1562 in Geekbench multicore versus 1160 for the 3540M, a 25.7% advantage, and 818 vs 565 in single-core, a 30.9% lead. Geekbench tests a different mix of workloads than Cinebench, including memory-intensive operations and cryptography, where the Haswell architecture's efficiency improvements provide an edge.

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The 3540M has a TDP of 35W, while the 4500U has a TDP of 15W. This makes the 4500U significantly more power-efficient, which is reflected in its lower base clock of 1.80 GHz compared to the 3540M's 3.00 GHz.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and cache configuration?

A: Yes. Both have 2 cores, 4 threads, 64 KB L1 cache per core, 256 KB L2 cache per core, and 4 MB shared L3 cache. The transistor count differs, with the 4500U listed at 1,300 million, while the 3540M's transistor count is not provided.

Q: Can either processor be upgraded or replaced?

A: The 3540M uses Intel Socket G2 (988B), which is a socketed design that can theoretically be removed. The 4500U uses Intel BGA 1168, a ball-grid-array package soldered to the motherboard, making replacement impractical.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The 3540M's average score of 867 puts it within 0.6% of rivals like the Intel Core i5-3470T (863) and AMD Athlon PRO 3045B (872). The 4500U's average score of 859 is within 0.4% of the Intel Core i5-5250U (856) and Intel Core i5-2500T (856).

The Verdict

The data supports a straightforward recommendation based on workload. For users prioritizing rendering performance, video encoding, or any task that follows Cinebench's test patterns, the Intel Core i7-3540M is the stronger choice. Its consistent ~19% lead across all Cinebench tests, including single-core variants, means it will deliver noticeably faster results in these workloads.

For general-purpose computing, the Intel Core i7-4500U's Geekbench victories are more relevant. The 25.7% multicore and 30.9% single-core advantages in Geekbench indicate better performance in the diverse range of tasks that benchmark covers, and its 15W TDP makes it far better suited for thin-and-light laptops where thermal and power constraints are critical.

The 3540M's higher clock speeds (3.00 GHz base, 3.70 GHz boost) give it a raw compute advantage, but the 4500U's Haswell architecture achieves better results in Geekbench while using less power. The 4500U's soldered BGA package means it is found in devices where upgradeability is not a concern, whereas the 3540M's socketed design offers replacement possibilities.

The 23rd percentile ranking for both processors indicates they are mid-tier performers by modern standards. Neither chip is a powerhouse, but each serves a distinct purpose. The 3540M is for users who need maximum rendering performance from a socketed mobile platform, while the 4500U is for users who prioritize efficiency and everyday responsiveness in a compact, low-power device.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-3540M | Intel Core i7-4500U |

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

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 1.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| TDP | 35W | 15W |

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

| Architecture | Ivy Bridge | Haswell |

| Codename | Ivy Bridge | Haswell-ULT |

| Generation | Core i7 (Ivy Bridge) | Core i7 (Haswell) |

| Transistors | Not provided | 1,300 million |

| Die Size | 118 mm² | 118 mm² |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Not provided |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4000 | Intel HD 4400 |

| Release Date | January 7, 2013 | June 3, 2013 |

| Part Number | SR0X6 | SR16Z |