Intel Core i3-3240 vs Intel Core i7-870

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-3240 and Intel Core i7-870 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 i7-870

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-3240

CPU is newer: launch date 3 year(s) 0 month(s) later
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 45 nm
2x more maximum memory size: 32 GB vs 16 GB
Around 73% lower typical power consumption: 55 Watt vs 95 Watt
Around 29% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1786 vs 1385
Around 10% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 603 vs 547
2.2x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 2.244 vs 1.029

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	September 2012 vs September 2009
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 45 nm
Maximum memory size	32 GB vs 16 GB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	55 Watt vs 95 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1786 vs 1385
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	603 vs 547
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.244 vs 1.029

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-870

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
4 more threads: 8 vs 4
Around 6% higher clock speed: 3.60 GHz vs 3.4 GHz
Around 11% higher maximum core temperature: 72.7°C vs 65.3°C
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2.7x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 35% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 3122 vs 2317
Around 51% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2032 vs 1343
Around 44% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 53.478 vs 37.104
Around 32% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.342 vs 0.26
Around 42% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.541 vs 1.087
Around 72% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 4.602 vs 2.68

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	4 vs 2
Number of threads	8 vs 4
Maximum frequency	3.60 GHz vs 3.4 GHz
Maximum core temperature	72.7°C vs 65.3°C
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	8192 KB (shared) vs 3072 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	3122 vs 2317
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2032 vs 1343
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	53.478 vs 37.104
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.342 vs 0.26
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.541 vs 1.087
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.602 vs 2.68

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-3240
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-870

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1786

1385

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2317

3122

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

603

547

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1343

2032

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.244

1.029

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

37.104

53.478

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.26

0.342

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.087

1.541

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.68

4.602

Name	Intel Core i3-3240	Intel Core i7-870
PassMark - Single thread mark	1786	1385
PassMark - CPU mark	2317	3122
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	603	547
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1343	2032
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0	2453
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.244	1.029
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	37.104	53.478
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.26	0.342
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.087	1.541
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.68	4.602
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	1356
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	1356

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i3-3240	Intel Core i7-870
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge	Lynnfield
Launch date	September 2012	September 2009
Launch price (MSRP)	$75	$197
Place in performance rating	2602	2616
Price now	$67.99	$98.99
Processor Number	i3-3240	i7-870
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	18.67	15.90
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.40 GHz	2.93 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI	2.5 GT/s DMI
Die size	94 mm	296 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)	8192 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	45 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	65 °C
Maximum core temperature	65.3°C	72.7°C
Maximum frequency	3.4 GHz	3.60 GHz
Number of cores	2	4
Number of threads	4	8
Transistor count		774 million
VID voltage range		0.6500V-1.4000V
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB	16 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1333/1600	DDR3 1066/1333
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	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1155	LGA1156
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	55 Watt	95 Watt
Thermal Solution	2011C
Peripherals
PCI Express revision	2.0	2.0
PCIe configurations	up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8 & 2x4	1x16, 2x8
Max number of PCIe lanes		16
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® SSE4.2
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
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)