Intel Core i3-3240 vs Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (95W)

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-3240 and Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (95W) 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), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps).

Intel Core i3-3240

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (95W)

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-3240

CPU is newer: launch date 5 year(s) 2 month(s) later
Around 42% higher clock speed: 3.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 65 nm
Around 73% lower typical power consumption: 55 Watt vs 95 Watt
4.3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 2.252 vs 0.522
Around 88% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.26 vs 0.138
Around 45% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.088 vs 0.748

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	September 2012 vs July 2007
Maximum frequency	3.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 65 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	55 Watt vs 95 Watt
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.252 vs 0.522
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.26 vs 0.138
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.088 vs 0.748

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (95W)

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
16x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 24.255 vs 7.973
Around 43% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 3.829 vs 2.681

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	4 vs 2
L1 cache	256 KB vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	8192 KB vs 256 KB (per core)
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	24.255 vs 7.973
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	3.829 vs 2.681

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-3240
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (95W)

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.252

0.522

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

7.973

24.255

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.26

0.138

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.088

0.748

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.681

3.829

Name	Intel Core i3-3240	Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (95W)
PassMark - Single thread mark	1781
PassMark - CPU mark	2342
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	603
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1343
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.252	0.522
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	7.973	24.255
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.26	0.138
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.088	0.748
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.681	3.829
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	1356
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	1356

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i3-3240	Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (95W)
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge	Kentsfield
Launch date	September 2012	July 2007
Launch price (MSRP)	$75
Place in performance rating	2731	3306
Price now	$67.99
Processor Number	i3-3240
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched
Value for money (0-100)	18.67
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.40 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI
Die size	94 mm	2x 143 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	256 KB
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	8192 KB
L3 cache	3072 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	65 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	65 °C	62 °C
Maximum core temperature	65.3°C
Maximum frequency	3.4 GHz	2.4 GHz
Number of cores	2	4
Number of threads	4
Transistor count		582 million
Memory
Max memory channels	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1333/1600	DDR1, DDR2, DDR3
Graphics
Device ID	0x152
Graphics base frequency	650 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.05 GHz
Graphics max frequency	1.05 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 2500
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	3
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
Sockets supported	FCLGA1155	775
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	55 Watt	95 Watt
Thermal Solution	2011C
Peripherals
PCI Express revision	2.0
PCIe configurations	up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8 & 2x4
Security & Reliability
Anti-Theft technology
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Secure Key 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 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® My WiFi technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)