Intel Core i3-2100 vs Intel Core i3-540

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-2100 and Intel Core i3-540 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

Intel Core i3-2100

Intel Core i3-540

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-2100

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 1 month(s) later
Around 1% higher clock speed: 3.1 GHz vs 3.06 GHz
Around 95% higher maximum memory size: 32 GB vs 16.38 GB
Around 12% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 73 Watt
Around 12% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1413 vs 1265
Around 20% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 1855 vs 1541
Around 19% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 544 vs 459
Around 19% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1208 vs 1015
4x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 2.043 vs 0.508
Around 16% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 34.598 vs 29.815
Around 50% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.227 vs 0.151
Around 15% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 0.938 vs 0.816

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	February 2011 vs January 2010
Maximum frequency	3.1 GHz vs 3.06 GHz
Maximum memory size	32 GB vs 16.38 GB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 73 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1413 vs 1265
PassMark - CPU mark	1855 vs 1541
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	544 vs 459
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1208 vs 1015
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.043 vs 0.508
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	34.598 vs 29.815
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.227 vs 0.151
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.938 vs 0.816

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-540

Around 5% higher maximum core temperature: 72.6°C vs 69.1°C
Around 33% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 2% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 2.263 vs 2.215

Specifications (specs)
Maximum core temperature	72.6°C vs 69.1°C
L3 cache	4096 KB (shared) vs 3072 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.263 vs 2.215

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-2100
CPU 2: Intel Core i3-540

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1413

1265

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1855

1541

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

544

459

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1208

1015

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.043

0.508

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

34.598

29.815

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.227

0.151

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.938

0.816

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.215

2.263

Name	Intel Core i3-2100	Intel Core i3-540
PassMark - Single thread mark	1413	1265
PassMark - CPU mark	1855	1541
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	544	459
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1208	1015
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.043	0.508
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	34.598	29.815
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.227	0.151
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.938	0.816
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.215	2.263

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i3-2100	Intel Core i3-540
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge	Clarkdale
Launch date	February 2011	January 2010
Launch price (MSRP)	$73	$45
Place in performance rating	2919	2973
Price now	$59.99	$21
Processor Number	i3-2100	i3-540
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	18.10	37.72
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.10 GHz	3.06 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI	2.5 GT/s DMI
Die size	131 mm	81 mm2
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	3072 KB (shared)	4096 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	69.1°C	72.6°C
Maximum frequency	3.1 GHz	3.06 GHz
Number of cores	2	2
Number of threads	4	4
Transistor count	504 million	382 million
VID voltage range		0.6500V-1.4000V
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	21 GB/s	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB	16.38 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1066/1333	DDR3 1066/1333
Graphics
Device ID	0x102
Graphics base frequency	850 MHz	733 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.10 GHz
Graphics max frequency	1.1 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics	Intel® HD Graphics 2000	Intel HD Graphics
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	2	2
Wireless Display (WiDi) support
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1155	FCLGA1156
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt	73 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16	16
PCI Express revision	2.0	2.0
PCIe configurations		1x16, 2x8
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX	Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)		36-bit
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)