Intel Core i3-540 vs Intel Core 2 Duo E8600

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-540 and Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 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).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-540

  • CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 5 month(s) later
  • 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
  • 2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
  • Around 11% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 1538 vs 1380
  • Around 27% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1015 vs 798
  • Around 38% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 0.508 vs 0.368
  • Around 7% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 29.815 vs 27.856
  • Around 39% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.151 vs 0.109
  • Around 17% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 0.816 vs 0.7
Specifications (specs)
Launch date January 2010 vs August 2008
Maximum core temperature 72.6°C vs 72.4°C
Manufacturing process technology 32 nm vs 45 nm
L1 cache 64 KB (per core) vs 64 KB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark 1538 vs 1380
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 1015 vs 798
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 0.508 vs 0.368
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 29.815 vs 27.856
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.151 vs 0.109
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 0.816 vs 0.7

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Duo E8600

  • Around 9% higher clock speed: 3.33 GHz vs 3.06 GHz
  • 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 10% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1401 vs 1272
  • Around 2% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 468 vs 459
  • Around 18% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 2.67 vs 2.263
Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency 3.33 GHz vs 3.06 GHz
L2 cache 6144 KB vs 256 KB (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 65 Watt vs 73 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1401 vs 1272
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 468 vs 459
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 2.67 vs 2.263

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-540
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Duo E8600

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1272
1401
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1538
1380
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
459
468
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
1015
798
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.508
0.368
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
29.815
27.856
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.151
0.109
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.816
0.7
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
2.263
2.67
Name Intel Core i3-540 Intel Core 2 Duo E8600
PassMark - Single thread mark 1272 1401
PassMark - CPU mark 1538 1380
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 459 468
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 1015 798
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 0.508 0.368
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 29.815 27.856
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.151 0.109
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 0.816 0.7
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 2.263 2.67

Compare specifications (specs)

Intel Core i3-540 Intel Core 2 Duo E8600

Essentials

Architecture codename Clarkdale Wolfdale
Launch date January 2010 August 2008
Launch price (MSRP) $45
Place in performance rating 2964 2950
Price now $21 $49.99
Processor Number i3-540 E8600
Series Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status Discontinued Discontinued
Value for money (0-100) 37.72 14.21
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.06 GHz 3.33 GHz
Bus Speed 2.5 GT/s DMI 1333 MHz FSB
Die size 81 mm2 107 mm2
L1 cache 64 KB (per core) 64 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 3.33 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)