Intel Core i9-12900K vs Intel Core i3-540

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CPU comparison with benchmarks


Intel Core i9-12900K CPU1 vs CPU2 Intel Core i3-540
Intel Core i9-12900K Intel Core i3-540

CPU comparison

Intel Core i9-12900K or Intel Core i3-540 - which processor is faster? In this comparison we look at the differences and analyze which of these two CPUs is better. We compare the technical data and benchmark results.

The Intel Core i9-12900K has 16 cores with 24 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 5.20 GHz. Up to 128 GB of memory is supported in 2 memory channels. The Intel Core i9-12900K was released in Q4/2021.

The Intel Core i3-540 has 2 cores with 4 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 3.06 GHz. The CPU supports up to 16 GB of memory in 2 memory channels. The Intel Core i3-540 was released in Q1/2010.
Intel Core i9 (80) Family Intel Core i3 (205)
Intel Core i 12000 (34) CPU group Intel Core i3 500 (4)
12 Generation 1
Alder Lake S Architecture Clarkdale
Desktop Segment Desktop
Intel Core i9-11900K Predecessor --
Intel Core i9-13900K Successor --

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Intel Core i9-12900K has 16 CPU cores and can calculate 24 threads in parallel. The clock frequency of the Intel Core i9-12900K is 3.20 GHz (5.20 GHz) while the Intel Core i3-540 has 2 CPU cores and 4 threads can calculate simultaneously. The clock frequency of the Intel Core i3-540 is at 3.06 GHz.

Intel Core i9-12900K Characteristic Intel Core i3-540
16 Cores 2
24 Threads 4
hybrid (big.LITTLE) Core architecture normal
Yes Hyperthreading Yes
Yes Overclocking ? No
3.20 GHz (5.20 GHz)
8x Golden Cove
A-Core 3.06 GHz
2.40 GHz (3.90 GHz)
8x Gracemont
B-Core --

NPU AI performance

The performance values of the processor's AI unit. The isolated NPU performance is specified here, the total AI performance (NPU+CPU+iGPU) can be higher. Processors with support for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors.

Intel Core i9-12900K Characteristic Intel Core i3-540
-- AI hardware --
-- AI specifications --
-- NPU + CPU + iGPU --

Integrated graphics (iGPU)

The Intel Core i9-12900K or Intel Core i3-540 has integrated graphics, called iGPU for short. The iGPU uses the system's main memory as graphics memory and sits on the processor's die.

Intel UHD Graphics 770 GPU Intel HD Graphics (Westmere)
0.30 GHz GPU frequency 0.50 GHz
1.55 GHz GPU (Turbo) 0.73 GHz
11 GPU Generation 5
10 nm Technology 32 nm
3 Max. displays 2
32 Compute units 12
256 Shader 24
No Hardware Raytracing No
No Frame Generation No
64 GB Max. GPU Memory 2 GB
12 DirectX Version 10.1

Hardware codec support

A photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos.

Intel UHD Graphics 770 GPU Intel HD Graphics (Westmere)
Decode / Encode Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) No
Decode / Encode Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) No
Decode / Encode Codec h264 Decode
Decode / Encode Codec VP9 No
Decode / Encode Codec VP8 No
Decode Codec AV1 No
Decode / Encode Codec AVC Decode
Decode Codec VC-1 No
Decode / Encode Codec JPEG No

Memory & PCIe

The Intel Core i9-12900K can use up to 128 GB of memory in 2 memory channels. The maximum memory bandwidth is 76.8 GB/s. The Intel Core i3-540 supports up to 16 GB of memory in 2 memory channels and achieves a memory bandwidth of up to 21.3 GB/s.

Intel Core i9-12900K Characteristic Intel Core i3-540
DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 Memory DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333
128 GB Max. Memory 16 GB
2 (Dual Channel) Memory channels 2 (Dual Channel)
76.8 GB/s Max. Bandwidth 21.3 GB/s
Yes ECC Yes
14.00 MB L2 Cache 0.50 MB
30.00 MB L3 Cache 4.00 MB
5.0 PCIe version 2.0
20 PCIe lanes 16
78.8 GB/s PCIe Bandwidth 8.0 GB/s

Thermal Management

The thermal design power (TDP for short) of the Intel Core i9-12900K is 125 W, while the Intel Core i3-540 has a TDP of 73 W. The TDP specifies the necessary cooling solution that is required to cool the processor sufficiently.

Intel Core i9-12900K Characteristic Intel Core i3-540
125 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) 73 W
241 W TDP (PL2) --
-- TDP up --
-- TDP down --
100 °C Tjunction max. --

Technical details

The Intel Core i9-12900K is manufactured in 10 nm and has 44.00 MB cache. The Intel Core i3-540 is manufactured in 32 nm and has a 4.50 MB cache.

Intel Core i9-12900K Characteristic Intel Core i3-540
10 nm Technology 32 nm
Monolithic Chip design Monolithic
x86-64 (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) x86-64 (64 bit)
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2, AVX2+ ISA extensions SSE4.1, SSE4.2
LGA 1700 Socket LGA 1156
VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d Virtualization VT-x, VT-x EPT
Yes AES-NI No
Windows 10, Windows 11, Linux Operating systems Windows 10, Linux
Q4/2021 Release date Q1/2010
589 $ Release price 117 $
show more data show more data


Rate these processors

Here you can rate the Intel Core i9-12900K to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 4.1 stars (58 ratings). Rate now:
Here you can rate the Intel Core i3-540 to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 3.0 stars (2 ratings). Rate now:

Average performance in benchmarks

Single core performance in 2 CPU benchmarks
Intel Core i9-12900K (100%)
Intel Core i3-540 (21%)
Multi core performance in 4 CPU benchmarks
Intel Core i9-12900K (100%)
Intel Core i3-540 (6%)

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a partial load benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. In the single-core test, only the fastest CPU core is measured. The test run simulates the performance in practice.
Intel Core i9-12900K Intel Core i9-12900K
16C 24T @ 5.20 GHz
2560 (100%)
Intel Core i3-540 Intel Core i3-540
2C 4T @ 3.06 GHz
470 (18%)

Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)

The practical Geekbench 6 multi-core benchmark tests the system's performance under partial load. The processor's maximum power consumption is far from being used up.
Intel Core i9-12900K Intel Core i9-12900K
16C 24T @ 5.00 GHz
16244 (100%)
Intel Core i3-540 Intel Core i3-540
2C 4T @ 3.06 GHz
952 (6%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Single-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Intel Core i9-12900K Intel Core i9-12900K
16C 24T @ 5.20 GHz
1990 (100%)
Intel Core i3-540 Intel Core i3-540
2C 4T @ 3.06 GHz
478 (24%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Intel Core i9-12900K Intel Core i9-12900K
16C 24T @ 5.00 GHz
17595 (100%)
Intel Core i3-540 Intel Core i3-540
2C 4T @ 3.06 GHz
1141 (6%)

iGPU - FP32 Performance (Single-precision GFLOPS)

The theoretical computing performance of the internal graphics unit of the processor with simple accuracy (32 bit) in GFLOPS. GFLOPS indicates how many billion floating point operations the iGPU can perform per second.
Intel Core i9-12900K Intel Core i9-12900K
Intel UHD Graphics 770 @ 1.55 GHz
794 (100%)
Intel Core i3-540 Intel Core i3-540
Intel HD Graphics (Westmere) @ 0.73 GHz
35 (4%)

Estimated results for PassMark CPU Mark

Some of the CPUs listed below have been benchmarked by CPU-monkey. However the majority of CPUs have not been tested and the results have been estimated by a CPU-monkey’s secret proprietary formula. As such they do not accurately reflect the actual Passmark CPU mark values and are not endorsed by PassMark Software Pty Ltd.
Intel Core i9-12900K Intel Core i9-12900K
16C 24T @ 5.00 GHz
40902 (100%)
Intel Core i3-540 Intel Core i3-540
2C 4T @ 3.06 GHz
1516 (4%)

CPU-Z Benchmark 17 (Multi-Core)

The CPU-Z benchmark measures a processor's performance by measuring the time it takes the system to complete all benchmark calculations. The faster the benchmark is completed, the higher the score.
Intel Core i9-12900K Intel Core i9-12900K
16C 24T @ 3.20 GHz
11365 (100%)
Intel Core i3-540 Intel Core i3-540
2C 4T @ 3.06 GHz
685 (6%)

Cinebench 2024 (Single-Core)

The Cinebench 2024 benchmark is based on the Redshift rendering engine, which is also used in Maxon's 3D program Cinema 4D. The benchmark runs are each 10 minutes long to test whether the processor is limited by its heat generation.
Intel Core i9-12900K Intel Core i9-12900K
16C 24T @ 5.20 GHz
126 (100%)
Intel Core i3-540 Intel Core i3-540
2C 4T @ 3.06 GHz
0 (0%)

Cinebench 2024 (Multi-Core)

The Multi-Core test of the Cinebench 2024 benchmark uses all cpu cores to render using the Redshift rendering engine, which is also used in Maxons Cinema 4D. The benchmark run is 10 minutes long to test whether the processor is limited by its heat generation.
Intel Core i9-12900K Intel Core i9-12900K
16C 24T @ 5.20 GHz
1582 (100%)
Intel Core i3-540 Intel Core i3-540
2C 4T @ 3.06 GHz
0 (0%)

Cinebench R23 (Single-Core)

Cinebench R23 is the successor of Cinebench R20 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Intel Core i9-12900K Intel Core i9-12900K
16C 24T @ 5.20 GHz
1997 (100%)
Intel Core i3-540 Intel Core i3-540
2C 4T @ 3.06 GHz
0 (0%)

Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core)

Cinebench R23 is the successor of Cinebench R20 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Intel Core i9-12900K Intel Core i9-12900K
16C 24T @ 5.00 GHz
27472 (100%)
Intel Core i3-540 Intel Core i3-540
2C 4T @ 3.06 GHz
0 (0%)

Cinebench R20 (Single-Core)

Cinebench R20 is the successor of Cinebench R15 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Intel Core i9-12900K Intel Core i9-12900K
16C 24T @ 5.20 GHz
779 (100%)
Intel Core i3-540 Intel Core i3-540
2C 4T @ 3.06 GHz
0 (0%)

Cinebench R20 (Multi-Core)

Cinebench R20 is the successor of Cinebench R15 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Intel Core i9-12900K Intel Core i9-12900K
16C 24T @ 5.00 GHz
10511 (100%)
Intel Core i3-540 Intel Core i3-540
2C 4T @ 3.06 GHz
0 (0%)

Blender 3.1 Benchmark

In the Blender Benchmark 3.1, the scenes "monster", "junkshop" and "classroom" are rendered and the time required by the system is measured. In our benchmark we test the CPU and not the graphics card. Blender 3.1 was presented as a standalone version in March 2022.
Intel Core i9-12900K Intel Core i9-12900K
16C 24T @ 5.00 GHz
364 (100%)
Intel Core i3-540 Intel Core i3-540
2C 4T @ 3.06 GHz
0 (0%)

CPU-Z Benchmark 17 (Single-Core)

The CPU-Z benchmark measures a processor's performance by measuring the time it takes the system to complete all benchmark calculations. The faster the benchmark is completed, the higher the score.
Intel Core i9-12900K Intel Core i9-12900K
16C 24T @ 5.20 GHz
817 (100%)
Intel Core i3-540 Intel Core i3-540
2C 4T @ 3.06 GHz
0 (0%)

Cinebench R15 (Single-Core)

Cinebench R15 is the successor of Cinebench 11.5 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Intel Core i9-12900K Intel Core i9-12900K
16C 24T @ 5.20 GHz
294 (100%)
Intel Core i3-540 Intel Core i3-540
2C 4T @ 3.06 GHz
0 (0%)

Cinebench R15 (Multi-Core)

Cinebench R15 is the successor of Cinebench 11.5 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Intel Core i9-12900K Intel Core i9-12900K
16C 24T @ 5.00 GHz
4111 (100%)
Intel Core i3-540 Intel Core i3-540
2C 4T @ 3.06 GHz
0 (0%)

CPU performance per watt (efficiency)

Efficiency of the processor under full load in the Cinebench R23 (multi-core) benchmark. The benchmark result is divided by the average energy required (CPU package power in watts). The higher the value, the more efficient the CPU is under full load.
Intel Core i9-12900K Intel Core i9-12900K
27,472 CB R23 MC @ 240 W
114 (100%)
Intel Core i3-540 Intel Core i3-540
3.06 GHz
0 (0%)

Devices using this processor

Intel Core i9-12900K Intel Core i3-540
Unknown Unknown

News and articles for the Intel Core i9-12900K and the Intel Core i3-540


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