Core i5-2540M vs Core m5-6Y57

Core i5-2540M

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 3.3 GHz2011

Core m5-6Y57

2 Cores4 Thrd4.5 WWMax: 2.8 GHz2015

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-2540M

2 / 4

2,356

+0.6%

2,342

0.0%

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 i5-2540M is positioned at rank 8 and the Core m5-6Y57 is on rank 1123, so the Core i5-2540M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2540M

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

112%

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

110%

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

101%

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

101%

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

100%

#10

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

97%

#11

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

93%

#12

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

92%

#13

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

90%

#17

Core i3-350M

MSRP: $130|Avg: $10

83%

#18

Atom x5-E8000

MSRP: $18|Avg: N/A

82%

#19

Core 2 Duo T5900

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $5

81%

#22

Core i3-3130M

MSRP: $225|Avg: N/A

73%

#23

Core 2 Duo T5550

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $5

70%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core m5-6Y57

#1110

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

3522%

#1111

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

3471%

#1112

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

3186%

#1113

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

3172%

#1114

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

3143%

#1116

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

3035%

#1117

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

2910%

#1118

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

2905%

#1119

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

2827%

#1123

Core m5-6Y57

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

100%

#1124

Core i7-610E

MSRP: $250|Avg: $40

99%

#1125

Core i5-5350U

MSRP: $315|Avg: N/A

99%

#1126

Core i3-4100E

MSRP: $225|Avg: $30

99%

#1127

Pentium Dual Core T4300

MSRP: $150|Avg: $99

99%

#1128

Core i7-3520M

MSRP: $346|Avg: N/A

99%

#1129

Core i3-2310E

MSRP: $225|Avg: $20

98%

#1130

Core i5-2510E

MSRP: $230|Avg: $30

98%

#1131

Core m5-6Y54

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

98%

#1133

Core i3-2330E

MSRP: $225|Avg: $10

97%

#1134

Core i5-4288U

MSRP: $342|Avg: N/A

93%

#1135

Core m3-6Y30

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

93%

#1136

Core i3-2340UE

MSRP: $200|Avg: $200

93%

#1137

Core i7-2820QM

MSRP: $568|Avg: N/A

93%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Leadership: The Core i5-2540M delivers superior performance across the board. It outperforms the Core m5-6Y57 in both compute-intensive tasks (0.6% faster) and gaming workloads.

Insight	Core i5-2540M	Core m5-6Y57
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	✅ Better multi-core power	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price	✅ More affordable ($10)	⚠️ Higher cost ($281)
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Skylake-Y (2015) / 14 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Efficiency: Even within a comparison of older hardware, the Core i5-2540M stands out as the superior choice. It is effectively 96% cheaper ($10 vs $281) while identifying as the stronger performer.

Insight	Core i5-2540M	Core m5-6Y57
Cost Efficiency	✅ Better overall value (+2727%)	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅ More affordable ($10)	⚠️ Higher cost ($281)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i5-2540M Benchmark Check

Core m5-6Y57 Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-2540M and Core m5-6Y57

Core i5-2540M

The Core i5-2540M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,356 points. Launch price was $266.

Core m5-6Y57

The Core m5-6Y57 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake-Y (2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1515. Thermal design power (TDP): 4.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,342 points. Launch price was $281.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-2540M and Core m5-6Y57 share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i5-2540M versus 2.8 GHz on the Core m5-6Y57 — a 16.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-2540M (base: 2.6 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The Core i5-2540M uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core m5-6Y57 uses Skylake-Y (2015) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-2540M scores 2,356 against the Core m5-6Y57's 2,342 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i5-2540M. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-2540M vs 4 MB (total) on the Core m5-6Y57.

Feature	Core i5-2540M	Core m5-6Y57
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.3 GHz+18%	2.8 GHz
Base Clock	2.6 GHz+136%	1.1 GHz
L3 Cache	3 MB (total)	4 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256 kB (per core)
Process	32 nm	14 nm-56%
Architecture	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)	Skylake-Y (2015)
PassMark	2,356	2,342

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-2540M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core m5-6Y57 uses FCBGA1515 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-2540M	Core m5-6Y57
Socket	PGA988	FCBGA1515
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	1333	—
Max RAM Capacity	16	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	❌	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: true (Core i5-2540M) / not specified (Core m5-6Y57). The Core i5-2540M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Core m5-6Y57 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i5-2540M rivals Phenom II Black Edition N660.

Feature	Core i5-2540M	Core m5-6Y57
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
IGPU Model	Intel HD Graphics 3000	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	true	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-2540M launched at $266 MSRP, while the Core m5-6Y57 debuted at $281. At current prices ($10 vs $281), the Core i5-2540M is $271 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-2540M delivers 235.6 pts/$ vs 8.3 pts/$ for the Core m5-6Y57 — making the Core i5-2540M the 186.3% better value option.