Xeon E5540 vs Core i5-4200M
Xeon E5540
Core i5-4200M
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 Xeon E5540 is positioned at rank 745 and the Core i5-4200M is on rank 1025, so the Xeon E5540 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5540
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4200M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5540 | Core i5-4200M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($225) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5540 | Core i5-4200M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($225) |
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 Xeon E5540 and Core i5-4200M
Xeon E5540
The Xeon E5540 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,805 points. Launch price was $30.
Core i5-4200M
The Core i5-4200M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 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: 2,809 points. Launch price was $225.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5540 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i5-4200M offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5540 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Xeon E5540 versus 3.1 GHz on the Core i5-4200M — a 10.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-4200M (base: 2.53 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Xeon E5540 uses the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-4200M uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5540 scores 2,805 against the Core i5-4200M's 2,809 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i5-4200M. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E5540 vs 3 MB on the Core i5-4200M.
| Feature | Xeon E5540 | Core i5-4200M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.1 GHz+11% |
| Base Clock | 2.53 GHz+1% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+167% | 3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Gainestown (2009−2010) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 2,805 | 2,809 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5540 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-4200M uses PGA946 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5540 | Core i5-4200M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | PGA946 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3L-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5540) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-4200M). The Core i5-4200M includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4600), while the Xeon E5540 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-4200M targets Mobile.
| Feature | Xeon E5540 | Core i5-4200M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 4600 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Mobile |
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