Core i7-640LM vs Core i3-530
Core i7-640LM
Core i3-530
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 i7-640LM is positioned at rank 333 and the Core i3-530 is on rank 933, so the Core i7-640LM offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-640LM
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-530
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-640LM | Core i3-530 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-640LM | Core i3-530 |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Path of Exile 2
League of Legends
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-640LM and Core i3-530
Core i7-640LM
The Core i7-640LM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.13 GHz, with boost up to 2.93 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1288. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 1,529 points. Launch price was $332.
Core i3-530
The Core i3-530 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 2.93 GHz, with boost up to 0.93 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: 1,516 points. Launch price was $60.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-640LM and Core i3-530 share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.93 GHz on the Core i7-640LM versus 0.93 GHz on the Core i3-530 — a 103.6% clock advantage for the Core i7-640LM (base: 2.13 GHz vs 2.93 GHz). The Core i7-640LM uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-530 uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-640LM scores 1,529 against the Core i3-530's 1,516 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i7-640LM. Both processors carry 4 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i7-640LM | Core i3-530 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.93 GHz+215% | 0.93 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.13 GHz | 2.93 GHz+38% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Clarkdale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,529 | 1,516 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-640LM uses the BGA1288 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-530 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-640LM | Core i3-530 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1288 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1066 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core i7-640LM) / not specified (Core i3-530). The Core i7-640LM includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake)), while the Core i3-530 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-640LM rivals Core 2 Duo SL9400.
| Feature | Core i7-640LM | Core i3-530 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
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