CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-560M vs Intel Core i5-2540M
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-560M in BGA 1288 packaging is a soldered dual-core Arrandale mobile processor with 2.67 GHz base and 3.2 GHz Turbo Boost, selected by OEMs for slim laptop designs where socketed CPUs were unnecessary.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Same 5% improvement over the i5-540M, noticeable only in benchmarks.
Handles basic office tasks but struggles with large spreadsheets, heavy documents, or multitasking with many browser tabs.
Gaming
Identical gaming capability to the Socket G1 variant. First-gen Intel HD Graphics remains the primary limitation.
Cannot run modern AAA titles. Only suitable for very old or lightweight games at low resolutions.
Virtualization
VT-x and VT-d present but 2 cores severely constrain any meaningful virtualization.
Can run a single lightweight VM but lacks the cores and memory bandwidth for serious virtualization.
Efficiency
35W TDP is identical across all Arrandale i5 SKUs. No efficiency advantage over lower-clocked variants.
35 W TDP is high by modern mobile standards; current chips deliver far more performance per watt.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration capabilities whatsoever
- No AI acceleration instructions
- No NPU or matrix multiplication support
- Cannot run modern AI workloads
Content Creation
Gaming
- Identical to socketed i5-560M in gaming performance
- Integrated GPU is the bottleneck, not the CPU
- Unplayable in any post-2012 game
- Intel HD 3000 lacks modern API support
- No DirectX 12 or Vulkan support
- Only playable with pre-2012 titles at low settings
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Slightly higher clocks than i5-540M at same TDP
- AES-NI hardware acceleration
- VT-x and VT-d virtualization
- Mature 32nm process meant good binning quality
Cons
- BGA package requires professional rework to replace
- No upgrade path whatsoever
- Only 3MB L3 cache
- No AVX support
- 8GB RAM maximum
- Launched just months before Sandy Bridge made it obsolete
Pros
- AES-NI hardware encryption support
- Reliable and well-tested platform
- Widely available as spare parts
- Intel HD 3000 was a meaningful graphics improvement for its era
- VT-x and VT-d virtualization support
Cons
- Only 2 cores and 4 threads
- No DirectX 12 or modern graphics API support
- 35 W TDP is high for the performance delivered
- Maximum 16 GB DDR3 memory support
- Completely obsolete for any modern demanding workload
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-560M
- AMD Turion II N540Rival
Budget Mobile
- AMD Athlon II P360Rival
Budget Mobile
- Intel Core i5-580M BGAAlt
Higher 3.333 GHz turbo if compatible with the specific laptop motherboard.
- Intel Core i5-540M BGAAlt
Functionally similar and potentially cheaper for repair purposes.
- Intel Core i7-640LMAlt
Lower 25W TDP variant if thermal constraints are a concern, though with lower clocks.
Intel Core i5-2540M
- AMD Phenom II N970Rival
Mobile Mainstream
- AMD A6-3410MXRival
Mobile APU
- AMD A8-3510MXRival
Mobile APU
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-560MRival
Previous Generation Mobile
- Intel Core i7-2620MRival
Mobile Performance
Ivy Bridge successor with 22nm process, better integrated graphics, and slightly improved performance.
Compare head-to-headHigher-clocked Ivy Bridge option, still compatible with Socket G2 motherboards.
Compare head-to-head- Any modern AMD Ryzen 5 laptopAlt
Massive performance improvement in every metric for a new laptop purchase.
Modern equivalent tier with 10 cores, vastly superior efficiency and graphics.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
The BGA variant of the i5-560M offers identical performance to its socketed counterpart but cannot be upgraded, making it relevant only for repair scenarios on existing hardware.
Best for: Board-level repair of a specific Arrandale laptop that originally shipped with this exact BGA part
Read the full reviewThe i5-2540M was a solid mid-range mobile chip in 2011, but it is now thoroughly outclassed by modern processors in every metric including efficiency, single-thread speed, and integrated graphics capability.
Best for: Upgrading an existing Socket G2 laptop at minimal cost
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-560M or Intel Core i5-2540M?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-2540M comes out ahead with a score of 5.5/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-560M or Intel Core i5-2540M?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-560M leads with a gaming performance score of 17/100 among Intel Core i5-560M and Intel Core i5-2540M.
Do Intel Core i5-560M and Intel Core i5-2540M use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-560M: Intel BGA 1288, Intel Core i5-2540M: Intel Socket G2 (988B)), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-2540M posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-560M (1,960), Intel Core i5-2540M (3,800). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.