CPU
GPU
Core i5-540UM
Pentium D 960
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 i5-540UM is positioned at rank 1081 and the Pentium D 960 is on rank 1104, so the Core i5-540UM offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-540UM
Performance Per Dollar Pentium D 960
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-540UM | Pentium D 960 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (NetBurst (2000−2006) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-540UM | Pentium D 960 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 i5-540UM and Pentium D 960
Core i5-540UM
The Core i5-540UM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1288. Thermal design power (TDP): 18 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,002 points. Launch price was $250.
Pentium D 960
The Pentium D 960 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,005 points. Launch price was $523.
Processing Power
The Core i5-540UM packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Pentium D 960's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Core i5-540UM versus 3.6 GHz on the Pentium D 960 — a 57.1% clock advantage for the Pentium D 960 (base: 1.2 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i5-540UM uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium D 960 uses NetBurst (2000−2006) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-540UM scores 1,002 against the Pentium D 960's 1,005 — a 0.3% lead for the Pentium D 960. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i5-540UM vs 0 kB on the Pentium D 960.
| Feature | Core i5-540UM | Pentium D 960 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 3.6 GHz+80% |
| Base Clock | 1.2 GHz | 3.6 GHz+200% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 2 MB (total)+300% |
| Process | 32 nm-51% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | NetBurst (2000−2006) |
| PassMark | 1,002 | 1,005 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-540UM uses the BGA1288 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium D 960 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-540UM | Pentium D 960 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1288 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | 800 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core i5-540UM) / not specified (Pentium D 960). The Core i5-540UM includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake)), while the Pentium D 960 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i5-540UM rivals Core 2 Duo SU9400.
| Feature | Core i5-540UM | Pentium D 960 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
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