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.

 

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: 1272 vs 1237
  • Around 28% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 1538 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 1272 vs 1237
PassMark - CPU mark 1538 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
1272
1237
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1538
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 1272 1237
PassMark - CPU mark 1538 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 2964 2971
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)