Pentium N3540 vs Core i3-4170

Primary details

Comparing Core i3-4170 and Pentium N3540 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	1711	2531
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	2.29	no data
Market segment	Desktop processor	Laptop
Series	no data	Intel Pentium
Architecture codename	no data	Bay Trail-M (2013−2014)
Release date	no data	22 May 2014 (10 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	no data	$251
Current price	$72	$404 (1.6x MSRP)

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Detailed specifications

Core i3-4170 and Pentium N3540 basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores	2 (Dual-core)	4 (Quad-Core)
Threads	4	4
Base clock speed	3.7 GHz	2.16 GHz
Boost clock speed	no data	2.66 GHz
L1 cache	no data	224 KB
L2 cache	no data	2 MB
L3 cache	3 MB	2 MB L2 Cache
Chip lithography	22 nm	22 nm
Maximum core temperature	72 °C	100 °C
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-
Unlocked multiplier	No	No

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-4170 and Pentium N3540 compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Socket	FCLGA1150	FCBGA1170
Power consumption (TDP)	54 Watt	7.5 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-4170 and Pentium N3540. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	no data
AES-NI	+	-
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	-	-
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	-
TSX	-	no data
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	+	no data
SIPP	-	no data
Smart Connect	no data	+
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Security technologies

Core i3-4170 and Pentium N3540 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	-	no data
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	+	+
Anti-Theft	no data	-

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-4170 and Pentium N3540 are enumerated here.

VT-d	-	-
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	no data

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-4170 and Pentium N3540. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600, DDR3L-1333, DDR3L-1600	DDR3L-1333
Maximum memory size	32 GB	8 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	21.32 GB/s
ECC memory support	+	-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	Intel HD Graphics 4400	Intel® HD Graphics for Intel Atom® Processor Z3700 Series
Max video memory	2 GB	no data
Quick Sync Video	+	+
Clear Video HD	+	-
Graphics max frequency	1.15 GHz	896 MHz
InTru 3D	+	-

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-4170 and Pentium N3540 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported	3	2
eDP	+	no data
DisplayPort	+	no data
HDMI	+	no data
DVI	+	no data
VGA	+	no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i3-4170 and Pentium N3540 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096x2304@24Hz	no data
Max resolution over eDP	3840x2160@60Hz	no data
Max resolution over DisplayPort	3840x2160@60Hz	no data
Max resolution over VGA	1920x1200@60Hz	no data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i3-4170 and Pentium N3540 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	11.1/12	11.2
OpenGL	4.3	no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-4170 and Pentium N3540.

PCIe version	Up to 3.0	2.0
PCI Express lanes	16	4
USB revision	no data	3.0 and 2.0
Total number of SATA ports	no data	2
Number of USB ports	no data	5

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.

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Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

Core i3-4170 outperforms Pentium N3540 by 200% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	2.34	0.78
Physical cores	2	4
Power consumption (TDP)	54 Watt	7 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-4170 and Pentium N3540, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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