Core i5-4310M vs Xeon W3540
Core i5-4310M
Xeon W3540
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 i5-4310M is positioned at rank 217 and the Xeon W3540 is on rank 843, so the Core i5-4310M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4310M
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W3540
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-4310M | Xeon W3540 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-4310M | Xeon W3540 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
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 i5-4310M and Xeon W3540
Core i5-4310M
The Core i5-4310M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 January 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 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: 3,067 points. Launch price was $225.
Xeon W3540
The Xeon W3540 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.93 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,075 points. Launch price was $699.
Processing Power
The Core i5-4310M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon W3540 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon W3540 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Core i5-4310M versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon W3540 — a 6.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-4310M (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.93 GHz). The Core i5-4310M uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon W3540 uses Bloomfield (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-4310M scores 3,067 against the Xeon W3540's 3,075 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon W3540. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i5-4310M vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon W3540.
| Feature | Core i5-4310M | Xeon W3540 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz+6% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 2.93 GHz+9% |
| 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) | Bloomfield (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 3,067 | 3,075 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-4310M uses the PGA946 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon W3540 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-4310M | Xeon W3540 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA946 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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