Core i7-3540M vs Pentium Silver
Core i7-3540M
Pentium Silver
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 i7-3540M is positioned at rank 81 and the Pentium Silver is on rank 120, so the Core i7-3540M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3540M
Performance Per Dollar Pentium Silver
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-3540M | Pentium Silver |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Legacy / Standard Node) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-3540M | Pentium Silver |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 i7-3540M and Pentium Silver
Core i7-3540M
The Core i7-3540M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,984 points. Launch price was $349.
Pentium Silver
The Pentium Silver is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. Passmark benchmark score: 2,989 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core i7-3540M is built on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i7-3540M scores 2,984 against the Pentium Silver's 2,989 — a 0.2% lead for the Pentium Silver.
| Feature | Core i7-3540M | Pentium Silver |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | — |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | — |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | — |
| Process | 22 nm | — |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | — |
| PassMark | 2,984 | 2,989 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core i7-3540M) / not specified (Pentium Silver). The Core i7-3540M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4000), while the Pentium Silver requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-3540M rivals AMD A10-5750M.
| Feature | Core i7-3540M | Pentium Silver |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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