Product comparison · 2 laptops

Lenovo ThinkPad 420 Intel® Core™ i5 i5-2540M vs MSI Classic CR640-458NL laptop Intel® Core™ i3 i3-2330M

126specifications compared
36differ
90identical
25known for one product only

Key differences

Display diagonal
- ThinkPad 420 Intel® Core™ i5 i5-2540M:35.6 cm (14")
- Classic CR640-458NL laptop Intel® Core™ i3 i3-2330M:39.6 cm (15.6")
Processor family
- ThinkPad 420 Intel® Core™ i5 i5-2540M:Intel® Core™ i5
- Classic CR640-458NL laptop Intel® Core™ i3 i3-2330M:Intel® Core™ i3
Processor generation
- ThinkPad 420 Intel® Core™ i5 i5-2540M:2nd gen Intel® Core™ i5
- Classic CR640-458NL laptop Intel® Core™ i3 i3-2330M:2nd gen Intel® Core™ i3
Processor model
- ThinkPad 420 Intel® Core™ i5 i5-2540M:i5-2540M
- Classic CR640-458NL laptop Intel® Core™ i3 i3-2330M:i3-2330M
Processor frequency
- ThinkPad 420 Intel® Core™ i5 i5-2540M:2.6 GHz
- Classic CR640-458NL laptop Intel® Core™ i3 i3-2330M:2.2 GHz
Processor cache type
- ThinkPad 420 Intel® Core™ i5 i5-2540M:Smart Cache
- Classic CR640-458NL laptop Intel® Core™ i3 i3-2330M:L3
Tjunction
- ThinkPad 420 Intel® Core™ i5 i5-2540M:100 C
- Classic CR640-458NL laptop Intel® Core™ i3 i3-2330M:85C ; 100C
PCI Express configurations
- ThinkPad 420 Intel® Core™ i5 i5-2540M:1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4
- Classic CR640-458NL laptop Intel® Core™ i3 i3-2330M:1x16, 2x8

Side by side

Differences highlightedShow differences only

Comparison of 420, CR640-458NL
151 specifications	A Lenovo ThinkPad 420 Intel® Core™ i5 i5-2540M Model 420 View product	B MSI Classic CR640-458NL laptop Intel® Core™ i3 i3-2330M Model CR640-458NL View product
Designidentical
Product colour	Black	Black
Display1 differ
Display diagonalDiffers	35.6 cm (14")	39.6 cm (15.6")
Display resolutionKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	1366 x 768 pixels
LED backlight	Yes	Yes
Native aspect ratioKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	16:9
Display surfaceKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Gloss
Processor9 differ
Processor manufacturer	Intel	Intel
Processor familyDiffers	Intel® Core™ i5	Intel® Core™ i3
Processor generationDiffers	2nd gen Intel® Core™ i5	2nd gen Intel® Core™ i3
Processor modelDiffers	i5-2540M	i3-2330M
Processor cores	2	2
Processor threads	4	4
Processor frequencyDiffers	2.6 GHz	2.2 GHz
System bus rate	5 GT/s	5 GT/s
Processor cache	3 MB	3 MB
Processor cache typeDiffers	Smart Cache	L3
Processor socket	BGA 1023	BGA 1023
Processor lithography	32 nm	32 nm
Processor operating modes	64-bit	64-bit
Processor seriesDiffers	Intel Core i5-2500 Mobile Series	Intel Core i3-2300 Mobile Series
Processor codename	Sandy Bridge	Sandy Bridge
Bus type	DMI	DMI
FSB Parity	No	No
Stepping	J1	J1
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	35 W	35 W
TjunctionDiffers	100 C	85C ; 100C
Maximum number of PCI Express lanes	16	16
PCI Express configurationsDiffers	1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4	1x16, 2x8
PCI Express slots version	2.0	2.0
CPU multiplier (bus/core ratio)Differs	26	22
ECC supported by processor	No	No
Processor boost frequencyKnown for one	3.3 GHz	Unknown — not stated by the source
Memoryidentical
Internal memory	4 GB	4 GB
Internal memory type	DDR3-SDRAM	DDR3-SDRAM
Memory clock speed	1333 MHz	1333 MHz
Memory layout (slots x size)Known for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	2 x 2 GB
Memory slots	2x SO-DIMM	2x SO-DIMM
Memory slots (available)Known for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	0
Maximum internal memory	8 GB	8 GB
Storage3 differ
Total storage capacityDiffers	320 GB	500 GB
Number of HDDs installed	1	1
HDD capacityDiffers	320 GB	500 GB
HDD interface	SATA	SATA
HDD speedDiffers	7200 RPM	5400 RPM
Optical drive typeKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	DVD Super Multi
Card reader integrated	Yes	Yes
Compatible memory cardsKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Memory Stick (MS), MMC, MS PRO, MS Pro-HG, SD, SDHC, SDXC
Storage mediaKnown for one	HDD	Unknown — not stated by the source
Graphics1 differ
On-board graphics card	Yes	Yes
Discrete graphics cardKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Yes
Discrete graphics card modelKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Intel® HD Graphics 3000
Graphics card family	Intel	Intel
On-board graphics card family	Intel® HD Graphics	Intel® HD Graphics
On-board graphics card model	Intel® HD Graphics 3000	Intel® HD Graphics 3000
On-board graphics card base frequency	650 MHz	650 MHz
On-board graphics card dynamic frequency (max)Differs	1300 MHz	1100 MHz
On-board graphics card ID	0x116	0x116
Audio1 differ
Audio systemDiffers	HD	SRS
Number of built-in speakersKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	2
Built-in microphoneKnown for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
Cameraidentical
Front camera resolution (numeric)Known for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	1.3 MP
Network1 differ
Wi-Fi	Yes	Yes
Networking featuresKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	CR640-066UK
Top Wi-Fi standardKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
Wi-Fi standardsDiffers	802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g	802.11b, 802.11g, Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
Ethernet LAN	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth	No	No
Cabling technology	10/100/1000Base-T(X)	10/100/1000Base-T(X)
Integrated 4G WiMAX	Yes	Yes
Ports & interfaces6 differ
USB 2.0 ports quantity	2	2
USB 3.2 Gen 1 (3.1 Gen 1) Type-A ports quantityDiffers	0	2
eSATA/USB 2.0 ports quantityDiffers	1	0
eSATA/USB 3.2 Gen 1 (3.1 Gen 1) ports quantity	0	0
eSATA ports quantity	0	0
Ethernet LAN (RJ-45) ports	1	1
HDMI ports quantityDiffers	0	1
DisplayPorts quantityDiffers	1	0
DVI port	No	No
VGA (D-Sub) ports quantityDiffers	0	1
Firewire (IEEE 1394) ports	0	0
Thunderbolt ports quantity	0	0
Headphone outputs	1	1
S/PDIF out port	No	No
Microphone in	Yes	Yes
Docking connector	No	No
ExpressCard slotDiffers	Yes	No
CardBus PCMCIA slots quantity	0	0
CardBus PCMCIA slot type	No	No
SmartCard slot	No	No
TV-out	No	No
Performance1 differ
Motherboard chipsetDiffers	Intel® QM67 Express	Intel® HM65 Express
Keyboardidentical
Pointing deviceKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Touchpad
Full-size keyboard	Yes	Yes
Numeric keypadKnown for one	No	Unknown — not stated by the source
Software1 differ
Operating system installedDiffers	Windows 7 Professional	Windows 7 Home Premium
Operating system architecture	64-bit	64-bit
Drivers includedKnown for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
Processor special features7 differ
Intel® Wireless Display (Intel® WiDi)	Yes	Yes
CPU configuration (max)	1	1
Embedded options available	No	No
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology	Yes	Yes
Execute Disable Bit	Yes	Yes
Graphics & IMC lithography	32 nm	32 nm
Idle States	Yes	Yes
Intel 64	Yes	Yes
Intel Clear Video Technology	No	No
Intel Demand Based Switching	No	No
Intel Dual Display Capable Technology	Yes	Yes
Intel Enhanced Halt State	Yes	Yes
Intel FDI Technology	Yes	Yes
Intel Fast Memory Access	Yes	Yes
Intel Flex Memory Access	Yes	Yes
Intel Identity Protection Technology version	1.00	1.00
Intel Rapid Storage Technology	No	No
Intel Trusted Execution TechnologyDiffers	Yes	No
Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)	Yes	Yes
Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)	Yes	Yes
Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)Differs	Yes	No
Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI)Differs	Yes	No
Intel® Anti-Theft Technology (Intel® AT)	Yes	Yes
Intel® Clear Video HD Technology (Intel® CVT HD)	Yes	Yes
Intel® Clear Video Technology for Mobile Internet Devices (Intel CVT for MID)	No	No
Intel® Hyper Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology)	Yes	Yes
Intel® Identity Protection Technology (Intel® IPT)	Yes	Yes
Intel® InTru™ 3D Technology	Yes	Yes
Intel® Insider™Differs	No	Yes
Intel® My WiFi Technology (Intel® MWT)	Yes	Yes
Intel® Quick Sync Video Technology	Yes	Yes
Intel® Smart CacheKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Yes
Intel® Turbo Boost TechnologyDiffers	2.0	No
Processor ARK IDDiffers	50072	53434
Processor codeDiffers	SR046	SR04J
Processor package size	37.5 x 37.5 (rPGA988B); 31 x 24 (BGA1023)	37.5 x 37.5 (rPGA988B); 31 x 24 (BGA1023)
Supported instruction sets	AVX	AVX
Thermal Monitoring Technologies	Yes	Yes
Conflict-Free processor	No	No
Batteryidentical
Number of battery cellsKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	6
Poweridentical
AC adapter powerKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	65 W
DC-in jack	Yes	Yes
Securityidentical
Cable lock slot	No	No
Weight & dimensions5 differ
WeightDiffers	2.24 kg	2.6 kg
WidthDiffers	340 mm	380 mm
DepthDiffers	230 mm	260 mm
Height (front)Differs	3 cm	2.7 cm
Height (rear)Differs	3.04 cm	3.4 cm
Packaging contentidentical
AC adapter included	Yes	Yes
Other featuresidentical
Infrared data port	No	No
Supplied AC adapter type	AC	AC
Power supply typeKnown for one	AC - DC	Unknown — not stated by the source
Intel segment taggingKnown for one	Home office, Small Business	Unknown — not stated by the source
Optical driveidentical
LightScribeKnown for one	No	Unknown — not stated by the source

A dash means the value is not stated by the source. Unknown values are never counted for or against a product, and there is no overall score.

More laptop comparisons

All laptop comparisons