Intel Core i3-540 vs Intel Core 2 Duo E8400

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-540 and Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 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, 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), 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score.

Intel Core i3-540

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-540

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 0 month(s) later
Around 2% higher clock speed: 3.06 GHz vs 3 GHz
Around 0% higher maximum core temperature: 72.6°C vs 72.4°C
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
Around 3% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1269 vs 1237
Around 28% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 1540 vs 1206
Around 9% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 459 vs 422
Around 38% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1015 vs 738
Around 54% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 0.508 vs 0.33
Around 13% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 29.815 vs 26.311
Around 53% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.151 vs 0.099
Around 20% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 0.816 vs 0.68

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	January 2010 vs January 2008
Maximum frequency	3.06 GHz vs 3 GHz
Maximum core temperature	72.6°C vs 72.4°C
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 45 nm
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1269 vs 1237
PassMark - CPU mark	1540 vs 1206
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	459 vs 422
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1015 vs 738
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.508 vs 0.33
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	29.815 vs 26.311
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.151 vs 0.099
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.816 vs 0.68

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Duo E8400

12x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 12% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 73 Watt
Around 6% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 2.408 vs 2.263

Specifications (specs)
L2 cache	6144 KB vs 256 KB (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 73 Watt
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.408 vs 2.263

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-540
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1269

1237

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1540

1206

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

459

422

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1015

738

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.508

0.33

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

29.815

26.311

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.151

0.099

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.816

0.68

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.263

2.408

Name	Intel Core i3-540	Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
PassMark - Single thread mark	1269	1237
PassMark - CPU mark	1540	1206
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	459	422
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1015	738
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.508	0.33
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	29.815	26.311
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.151	0.099
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.816	0.68
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.263	2.408
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		2400

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i3-540	Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
Essentials
Architecture codename	Clarkdale	Wolfdale
Launch date	January 2010	January 2008
Launch price (MSRP)	$45
Place in performance rating	2965	2973
Price now	$21	$129.95
Processor Number	i3-540	E8400
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	37.72	4.87
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.06 GHz	3.00 GHz
Bus Speed	2.5 GT/s DMI	1333 MHz FSB
Die size	81 mm2	107 mm2
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	128 KB
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	6144 KB
L3 cache	4096 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	72.6°C	72.4°C
Maximum frequency	3.06 GHz	3 GHz
Number of cores	2	2
Number of threads	4
Transistor count	382 million	410 million
VID voltage range	0.6500V-1.4000V	0.8500V-1.3625V
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		72 °C
Memory
Max memory channels	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	16.38 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1066/1333	DDR1, DDR2, DDR3
Graphics
Graphics base frequency	733 MHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Processor graphics	Intel HD Graphics
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	2
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	FCLGA1156	LGA775
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	73 Watt	65 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16
PCI Express revision	2.0
PCIe configurations	1x16, 2x8
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)	36-bit
Thermal Monitoring
FSB parity
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)