Intel Core i5-3450 vs Intel Core i3-540

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-3450 and Intel Core i3-540 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, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, 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), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps).

Intel Core i5-3450

Intel Core i3-540

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-3450

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 2 month(s) later
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
Around 14% higher clock speed: 3.50 GHz vs 3.06 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 32 nm
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 50% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 95% higher maximum memory size: 32 GB vs 16.38 GB
Around 48% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1874 vs 1265
2.9x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 4518 vs 1541
Around 57% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 721 vs 459
2.3x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2379 vs 1015
6.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 3.092 vs 0.508
2.5x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 73.265 vs 29.815
2.4x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.367 vs 0.151
2.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.736 vs 0.816
2.3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 5.132 vs 2.263

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	April 2012 vs January 2010
Number of cores	4 vs 2
Maximum frequency	3.50 GHz vs 3.06 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 32 nm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	6144 KB (shared) vs 4096 KB (shared)
Maximum memory size	32 GB vs 16.38 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1874 vs 1265
PassMark - CPU mark	4518 vs 1541
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	721 vs 459
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2379 vs 1015
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.092 vs 0.508
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	73.265 vs 29.815
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.367 vs 0.151
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.736 vs 0.816
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	5.132 vs 2.263

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-540

Around 8% higher maximum core temperature: 72.6°C vs 67.4°C
Around 5% lower typical power consumption: 73 Watt vs 77 Watt

Maximum core temperature	72.6°C vs 67.4°C
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	73 Watt vs 77 Watt

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-3450
CPU 2: Intel Core i3-540

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1874

1265

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4518

1541

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

721

459

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

2379

1015

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

3.092

0.508

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

73.265

29.815

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.367

0.151

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.736

0.816

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

5.132

2.263

Name	Intel Core i5-3450	Intel Core i3-540
PassMark - Single thread mark	1874	1265
PassMark - CPU mark	4518	1541
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	721	459
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2379	1015
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	2657
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.092	0.508
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	73.265	29.815
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.367	0.151
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.736	0.816
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	5.132	2.263
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	2004
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	2004

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-3450	Intel Core i3-540
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge	Clarkdale
Launch date	April 2012	January 2010
Launch price (MSRP)	$186	$45
Place in performance rating	2276	2973
Price now	$127.99	$21
Processor Number	i5-3450	i3-540
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	15.00	37.72
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.10 GHz	3.06 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI	2.5 GT/s DMI
Die size	160 mm	81 mm2
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	6144 KB (shared)	4096 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	32 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	67 °C
Maximum core temperature	67.4°C	72.6°C
Maximum frequency	3.50 GHz	3.06 GHz
Number of cores	4	2
Number of threads	4	4
Transistor count	1400 million	382 million
VID voltage range		0.6500V-1.4000V
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB	16.38 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1333/1600	DDR3 1066/1333
Graphics
Device ID	0x152
Graphics base frequency	650 MHz	733 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.10 GHz
Graphics max frequency	1.1 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics	Intel® HD Graphics 2500	Intel HD Graphics
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	3	2
Wireless Display (WiDi) support
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	FCLGA1155	FCLGA1156
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	77 Watt	73 Watt
Thermal Solution	2011D
Peripherals
PCI Express revision	3.0	2.0
PCIe configurations	up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8 & 2x4	1x16, 2x8
Max number of PCIe lanes		16
Security & Reliability
Anti-Theft technology
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX	Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® TSX-NI
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)		36-bit
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)