Core i3-540 vs Core i5-4202Y
Core i3-540
Core i5-4202Y
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i3-540 is positioned at rank 970 and the Core i5-4202Y is on rank 964, so the Core i5-4202Y offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-540
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4202Y
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-540 | Core i5-4202Y |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-540 | Core i5-4202Y |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-540 and Core i5-4202Y
Core i3-540
The Core i3-540 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.06 GHz, with boost up to 0.07 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,554 points. Launch price was $45.
Core i5-4202Y
The Core i5-4202Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 11.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,552 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Core i3-540 and Core i5-4202Y share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 0.07 GHz on the Core i3-540 versus 2 GHz on the Core i5-4202Y — a 186.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-4202Y (base: 3.06 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Core i3-540 uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i5-4202Y uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-540 scores 1,554 against the Core i5-4202Y's 1,552 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i3-540. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-540 vs 3 MB on the Core i5-4202Y.
| Feature | Core i3-540 | Core i5-4202Y |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 0.07 GHz | 2 GHz+2757% |
| Base Clock | 3.06 GHz+91% | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total)+33% | 3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Clarkdale (2010−2011) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 1,554 | 1,552 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 589 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,030 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-540 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-4202Y uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-540 | Core i5-4202Y |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | FCBGA1168 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3L-1600 / LPDDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 12 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i3-540) / VT-x / EPT (Core i5-4202Y). The Core i5-4202Y includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4200), while the Core i3-540 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-4202Y targets Ultra-portable.
| Feature | Core i3-540 | Core i5-4202Y |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 4200 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x / EPT |
| Target Use | — | Ultra-portable |
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