Core i5-4200M vs Xeon E5540
Core i5-4200M
Xeon E5540
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 i5-4200M is positioned at rank 1025 and the Xeon E5540 is on rank 745, so the Xeon E5540 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4200M
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5540
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-4200M | Xeon E5540 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($225) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-4200M | Xeon E5540 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($225) | ✅ 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 i5-4200M and Xeon E5540
Core i5-4200M
The Core i5-4200M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA946. Thermal design power (TDP): 37 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,809 points. Launch price was $225.
Xeon E5540
The Xeon E5540 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,805 points. Launch price was $30.
Processing Power
The Core i5-4200M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon E5540 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon E5540 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Core i5-4200M versus 2.8 GHz on the Xeon E5540 — a 10.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-4200M (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.53 GHz). The Core i5-4200M uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E5540 uses Gainestown (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-4200M scores 2,809 against the Xeon E5540's 2,805 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i5-4200M. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i5-4200M vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E5540.
| Feature | Core i5-4200M | Xeon E5540 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz+11% | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 2.53 GHz+1% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 8 MB (total)+167% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Gainestown (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 2,809 | 2,805 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-4200M uses the PGA946 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5540 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-4200M | Xeon E5540 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA946 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-4200M) / not specified (Xeon E5540). The Core i5-4200M includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4600), while the Xeon E5540 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-4200M targets Mobile.
| Feature | Core i5-4200M | Xeon E5540 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 4600 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Mobile | — |
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