Intel Core i3-540 vs Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (105W)

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-540 and Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (105W) 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 Quad Q6600 (105W)

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-540

CPU is newer: launch date 3 year(s) 0 month(s) later
Around 28% higher clock speed: 3.06 GHz vs 2.4 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 65 nm
Around 44% lower typical power consumption: 73 Watt vs 105 Watt
Around 39% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 459 vs 330
Around 23% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 29.815 vs 24.255
Around 9% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.151 vs 0.138
Around 9% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 0.816 vs 0.748

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	January 2010 vs January 2007
Maximum frequency	3.06 GHz vs 2.4 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 65 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	73 Watt vs 105 Watt
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	459 vs 330
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	29.815 vs 24.255
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.151 vs 0.138
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.816 vs 0.748

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (105W)

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
Around 3% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 0.522 vs 0.508
Around 69% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 3.829 vs 2.263

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
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1019 vs 1015
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.522 vs 0.508
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	3.829 vs 2.263

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-540
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (105W)

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

459

330

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1015

1019

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.508

0.522

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

29.815

24.255

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.151

0.138

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.816

0.748

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.263

3.829

Name	Intel Core i3-540	Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (105W)
PassMark - Single thread mark	1265
PassMark - CPU mark	1541
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	459	330
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1015	1019
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.508	0.522
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	29.815	24.255
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.151	0.138
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.816	0.748
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.263	3.829
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		0

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i3-540	Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (105W)
Essentials
Architecture codename	Clarkdale	Kentsfield
Launch date	January 2010	January 2007
Launch price (MSRP)	$45
Place in performance rating	2973	3288
Price now	$21
Processor Number	i3-540	Q6600
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	37.72
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.06 GHz	2.40 GHz
Bus Speed	2.5 GT/s DMI	1066 MHz FSB
Die size	81 mm2	286 mm2
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	256 KB
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	8192 KB
L3 cache	4096 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	65 nm
Maximum core temperature	72.6°C	B3=62.2°C; G0=71°C
Maximum frequency	3.06 GHz	2.4 GHz
Number of cores	2	4
Number of threads	4
Transistor count	382 million	582 million
VID voltage range	0.6500V-1.4000V	0.8500V-1.500V
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		71 °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	105 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)