Intel Core i3-540 Benchmark, Test and specs

Last updated: 2024-04-16

The Intel Core i3-540 was released in Q1/2010 and has 2 cores. The processor can process 4 threads simultaneously and uses a mainboard with the socket LGA 1156. In the Geekbench 5 benchmark, the Intel Core i3-540 achieved a result of 478 points (single-core) or 1,141 points (multi-core).

CPU lineage
In this classification you can see to which group of processors the Intel Core i3-540 belongs. We also show the direct predecessor and successor of Intel Core i3-540.
Name:	Intel Core i3-540
Family:	Intel Core i3 (205)
CPU group:	Intel Core i3 500 (4)
Architecture:	Clarkdale
Segment:	Desktop / Server
Generation:	1
Predecessor:	--
Successor:	--

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Intel Core i3-540 has 2 cores. The clock frequency of the Intel Core i3-540 is 3.06 GHz. An initial performance assessment can be made using the number of CPU cores.

CPU Cores / Threads:	2 / 4
Core architecture:	normal
Cores:	2x

Hyperthreading / SMT:	Yes
Overclocking:	No
Frequency:	3.06 GHz
Turbo Frequency (1 Core):	--
Turbo Frequency (2 Cores):	--

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Processors with the support of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors. Algorithms for ML improve their performance the more data they have collected via software. ML tasks can be processed up to 10,000 times faster than with a classic processor.

AI hardware:	--
AI specifications:	--

Internal Graphics

The Intel Core i3-540 has an integrated graphics that the system can use to efficiently play back videos. The Intel Core i3-540 has the Intel HD Graphics (Westmere) installed, which has 12 streaming multiprocessors (24 shaders).

GPU name:	Intel HD Graphics (Westmere)
GPU frequency:	0.50 GHz
GPU (Turbo):	0.73 GHz
Compute units:	12
Shader:	24
Hardware Raytracing:	No
Release date:	Q1/2010

Max. displays:	2
Generation:	5
Direct X:	10.1
Technology:	32 nm
Max. GPU Memory:	2 GB
Frame Generation:	No

Hardware codec support

Processors with integrated graphics can process video codecs faster. Support for modern codecs can significantly increase system efficiency during video playback.

h265 / HEVC (8 bit):	No
h265 / HEVC (10 bit):	No
h264:	Decode
VP8:	No
VP9:	No

AV1:	No
AVC:	Decode
VC-1:	No
JPEG:	No

Memory type:	Memory bandwidth:
Memory & PCIe The Intel Core i3-540 supports a maximum of 16 GB memory. Depending on the mainboard, the processor can use a maximum of 2 (Dual Channel) memory channels. This results in a maximum bandwidth of the main memory of 21.3 GB/s.

DDR3-1066 DDR3-1333	17.1 GB/s 21.3 GB/s
Max. Memory:	16 GB
Memory channels:	2 (Dual Channel)
ECC:	Yes
PCIe:	2.0 x 16
PCIe Bandwidth:	8.0 GB/s

Thermal Management The Intel Core i3-540 has a TDP of 73 W. Based on the TDP, the system manufacturer can and must adapt the cooling solution to the processor.

TDP (PL1 / PBP):	73 W
TDP (PL2):	--
TDP up:	--
TDP down:	--
Tjunction max.:	--

Technical details

Modern production reduces the waste heat of a processor and increases its efficiency. The Intel Core i3-540 is made in 32 nm and has 4.50 MB cache.

Technology:	32 nm
Chip design:	Monolithic
Socket:	LGA 1156
L2-Cache:	0.50 MB
L3-Cache:	4.00 MB
AES-NI:	No
Operating systems:	Windows 10, Linux

Virtualization:	VT-x, VT-x EPT
Instruction set (ISA):	x86-64 (64 bit)
ISA extensions:	SSE4.1, SSE4.2
Release date:	Q1/2010
Release price:	117 $
Part Number:	--
Documents:	Technical data sheet

Intel Core i3-540
2C 4T @ 3.06 GHz

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Benchmark results

The benchmark results for the Intel Core i3-540 have been carefully checked by us. We only publish benchmark results that have been created by us or that have been submitted by a visitor and then checked by a team member. All results are based on and fullfill our benchmark guidelines.

Screenshots:

Geekbench 5.4.1 (8 GB DDR3-1333), Windows 10 Pro

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 Celeron 3865U 2C 2T @ 1.80 GHz	480
	AMD FX-8120 8C 8T @ 4.00 GHz	479
	Intel Core2 Duo E8500 2C 2T @ 3.16 GHz	479
	Intel Core i3-540 2C 4T @ 3.06 GHz	478
	AMD Phenom II X4 975 4C 4T @ 3.60 GHz	478
	AMD Athlon II X2 270 2C 2T @ 3.40 GHz	477
	MediaTek Dimensity 720 8C 8T @ 2.00 GHz	477

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 Celeron G1830 2C 2T @ 2.80 GHz	1150
	Intel Core i7-2677M 2C 4T @ 1.80 GHz	1147
	MediaTek MT8183 8C 8T @ 2.00 GHz	1145
	Intel Core i3-540 2C 4T @ 3.06 GHz	1141
	Intel Core i3-3220T 2C 4T @ 2.80 GHz	1141
	AMD A8-5500B 4C 4T @ 3.70 GHz	1141
	Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 4C 4T @ 2.40 GHz	1139

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The single-core benchmark only evaluates the performance of the fastest CPU core, the number of CPU cores in a processor is irrelevant here.


	Intel Pentium N6415 4C 4T @ 3.00 GHz	474
	Intel Core i7-870S 4C 8T @ 3.60 GHz	472
	Intel Core i7-875K 4C 8T @ 3.60 GHz	472
	Intel Core i3-540 2C 4T @ 3.06 GHz	470
	MediaTek Helio P90 8C 8T @ 2.20 GHz	470
	Intel Celeron N4500 2C 2T @ 2.80 GHz	470
	Intel Pentium G2010 2C 2T @ 2.80 GHz	470

Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The multi-core benchmark evaluates the performance of all of the processor's CPU cores. Virtual thread improvements such as AMD SMT or Intel's Hyper-Threading have a positive impact on the benchmark result.


	Apple A8X 3C 3T @ 1.50 GHz	959
	MediaTek Helio X20 10C 10T @ 2.10 GHz	958
	Intel Pentium G3220 2C 2T @ 3.00 GHz	957
	Intel Core i3-540 2C 4T @ 3.06 GHz	952
	MediaTek Helio X27 10C 10T @ 2.60 GHz	942
	Samsung Exynos 850 8C 8T @ 2.00 GHz	942
	Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 8C 8T @ 2.00 GHz	941

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 i5-650 Intel HD Graphics (Westmere) @ 0.73 GHz	35
	Intel Core i5-655K Intel HD Graphics (Westmere) @ 0.73 GHz	35
	Intel Core i5-660 Intel HD Graphics (Westmere) @ 0.73 GHz	35
	Intel Core i3-540 Intel HD Graphics (Westmere) @ 0.73 GHz	35
	MediaTek MT8167A PowerVR GE8300 @ 0.55 GHz	35
	MediaTek Helio A20 PowerVR GE8300 @ 0.55 GHz	35
	Intel Atom E3825 Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail GT1) @ 0.53 GHz	34

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.


	AMD A9-9425 2C 2T @ 3.10 GHz	1529
	Intel Pentium 4405Y 2C 4T @ 1.50 GHz	1526
	Samsung Exynos 7884 8C 8T @ 1.60 GHz	1521
	Intel Core i3-540 2C 4T @ 3.06 GHz	1516
	Intel Celeron G1620T 2C 2T @ 2.40 GHz	1514
	Intel Celeron G1610 2C 2T @ 2.60 GHz	1510
	MediaTek Helio X25 10C 10T @ 2.50 GHz	1507

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 i5-2520M 2C 4T @ 2.50 GHz	709
	Intel Core i5-4300U 2C 4T @ 1.90 GHz	697
	AMD A8-7600 4C 4T @ 3.10 GHz	693
	Intel Core i3-540 2C 4T @ 3.06 GHz	685
	Intel Pentium G3258 2C 2T @ 3.20 GHz	685
	Intel Core i5-2450M 2C 4T @ 2.50 GHz	682
	Intel Pentium G3420 2C 2T @ 3.20 GHz	673

Benchmarks

Geekbench 5 (SC)
2,488 entries

Geekbench 5 (MC)
2,461 entries

Geekbench 6 (SC)
1,755 entries

Geekbench 6 (MC)
1,703 entries

FP32 SP (iGPU)
2,039 entries

PassMark CPU-Mark
2,392 entries

CPU-Z Benchmark 17 (MC)
733 entries

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