Intel Core i3-540 vs Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-540 and Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 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) 10 month(s) later
  • Around 15% higher clock speed: 3.06 GHz vs 2.67 GHz
  • Around 2% higher maximum core temperature: 72.6°C vs 71.4°C
  • A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
  • Around 30% lower typical power consumption: 73 Watt vs 95 Watt
  • Around 13% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1269 vs 1128
  • Around 14% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 459 vs 403
Specifications (specs)
Launch date January 2010 vs March 2008
Maximum frequency 3.06 GHz vs 2.67 GHz
Maximum core temperature 72.6°C vs 71.4°C
Manufacturing process technology 32 nm vs 45 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 73 Watt vs 95 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1269 vs 1128
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 459 vs 403

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450

  • 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
  • 24x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
  • Around 42% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2186 vs 1540
  • Around 30% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1322 vs 1015
  • Around 13% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 0.573 vs 0.508
  • Around 7% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 31.997 vs 29.815
  • Around 17% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.177 vs 0.151
  • Around 41% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.154 vs 0.816
  • Around 88% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 4.249 vs 2.263
Specifications (specs)
Number of cores 4 vs 2
L1 cache 256 KB vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 12288 KB vs 256 KB (per core)
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark 2186 vs 1540
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 1322 vs 1015
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 0.573 vs 0.508
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 31.997 vs 29.815
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.177 vs 0.151
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 1.154 vs 0.816
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 4.249 vs 2.263

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-540
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1269
1128
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1540
2186
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
459
403
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
1015
1322
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.508
0.573
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
29.815
31.997
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.151
0.177
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.816
1.154
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
2.263
4.249
Name Intel Core i3-540 Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450
PassMark - Single thread mark 1269 1128
PassMark - CPU mark 1540 2186
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 459 403
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 1015 1322
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 0.508 0.573
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 29.815 31.997
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.151 0.177
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 0.816 1.154
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 2.263 4.249

Compare specifications (specs)

Intel Core i3-540 Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450

Essentials

Architecture codename Clarkdale Yorkfield
Launch date January 2010 March 2008
Launch price (MSRP) $45
Place in performance rating 2965 2972
Price now $21 $335
Processor Number i3-540 Q9450
Series Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status Discontinued Discontinued
Value for money (0-100) 37.72 3.31
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.06 GHz 2.66 GHz
Bus Speed 2.5 GT/s DMI 1333 MHz FSB
Die size 81 mm2 214 mm2
L1 cache 64 KB (per core) 256 KB
L2 cache 256 KB (per core) 12288 KB
L3 cache 4096 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology 32 nm 45 nm
Maximum core temperature 72.6°C 71.4°C
Maximum frequency 3.06 GHz 2.67 GHz
Number of cores 2 4
Number of threads 4
Transistor count 382 million 820 million
VID voltage range 0.6500V-1.4000V 0.8500V-1.3625V
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 95 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)