CPU
GPU
Core i5-4202Y
Core i3-540
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 i5-4202Y is positioned at rank 964 and the Core i3-540 is on rank 970, 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 i5-4202Y
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-540
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-4202Y | Core i3-540 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-4202Y | Core i3-540 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) |
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 i5-4202Y and Core i3-540
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.
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.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-4202Y and Core i3-540 share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Core i5-4202Y versus 0.07 GHz on the Core i3-540 — a 186.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-4202Y (base: 1.6 GHz vs 3.06 GHz). The Core i5-4202Y uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i3-540 uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-4202Y scores 1,552 against the Core i3-540's 1,554 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i3-540. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i5-4202Y vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-540.
| Feature | Core i5-4202Y | Core i3-540 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz+2757% | 0.07 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 3.06 GHz+91% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 4 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Clarkdale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,552 | 1,554 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 589 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,030 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-4202Y uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-540 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-4202Y | Core i3-540 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 / LPDDR3-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x / EPT (Core i5-4202Y) / not specified (Core i3-540). 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 i5-4202Y | Core i3-540 |
|---|---|---|
| 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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