Core 2 Solo SU3500 vs Core i3-540
Aggregate performance score
Core i3-540 outperforms Core 2 Solo SU3500 by a whopping 471% based on our aggregate benchmark results.
Primary details
Comparing Core i3-540 and Core 2 Solo SU3500 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.
| Place in the ranking | 2497 | 3284 |
| Place by popularity | not in top-100 | not in top-100 |
| Cost-effectiveness evaluation | 0.11 | no data |
| Market segment | Desktop processor | Laptop |
| Series | no data | Intel Core 2 Solo |
| Power efficiency | 1.26 | 2.93 |
| Architecture codename | Clarkdale (2010−2011) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| Release date | 7 January 2010 (14 years ago) | 1 April 2009 (15 years ago) |
| Launch price (MSRP) | $45 | $262 |
Cost-effectiveness evaluation
Performance per price, higher is better.
Detailed specifications
Core i3-540 and Core 2 Solo SU3500 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) | 1 (Single-Core) |
| Threads | 4 | 1 |
| Base clock speed | 3.06 GHz | 1.3 GHz |
| Boost clock speed | 0.07 GHz | 1.4 GHz |
| Bus rate | 2.5 GT/s | 800 MHz |
| L1 cache | 64 KB (per core) | 64 KB |
| L2 cache | 256 KB (per core) | 3 MB |
| L3 cache | 4 MB (shared) | 3 MB |
| Chip lithography | 32 nm | 45 nm |
| Die size | 81 mm2 | 107 mm2 |
| Maximum core temperature | 73 °C | 100 °C |
| Number of transistors | 382 million | 410 Million |
| 64 bit support | + | + |
| Windows 11 compatibility | - | - |
| VID voltage range | no data | 1.05V-1.15V |
Compatibility
Information on Core i3-540 and Core 2 Solo SU3500 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 | no data |
| Socket | FCLGA1156 | BGA956 |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 73 Watt | 5.5 Watt |
Technologies and extensions
Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-540 and Core 2 Solo SU3500. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.
| Instruction set extensions | Intel® SSE4.2 | no data |
| Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST) | + | + |
| Turbo Boost Technology | - | - |
| Hyper-Threading Technology | + | - |
| Idle States | + | no data |
| Demand Based Switching | - | - |
| PAE | 36 Bit | no data |
| FDI | + | no data |
| FSB parity | no data | - |
Security technologies
Core i3-540 and Core 2 Solo SU3500 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.
| TXT | - | no data |
| EDB | + | + |
Virtualization technologies
Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-540 and Core 2 Solo SU3500 are enumerated here.
| VT-x | + | + |
| EPT | + | no data |
Memory specs
Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-540 and Core 2 Solo SU3500. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.
| Supported memory types | DDR3 | no data |
| Maximum memory size | 16.38 GB | no data |
| Max memory channels | 2 | no data |
| Maximum memory bandwidth | 21 GB/s | no data |
Graphics specifications
General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.
| Integrated graphics card | Intel HD Graphics for Previous Generation Intel Processors | no data |
| Clear Video HD | + | no data |
Graphics interfaces
Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-540 and Core 2 Solo SU3500 integrated GPUs.
| Number of displays supported | 2 | no data |
Peripherals
Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-540 and Core 2 Solo SU3500.
| PCIe version | 2.0 | no data |
| PCI Express lanes | 16 | no data |
Pros & cons summary
| Performance score | 0.97 | 0.17 |
| Recency | 7 January 2010 | 1 April 2009 |
| Physical cores | 2 | 1 |
| Threads | 4 | 1 |
| Chip lithography | 32 nm | 45 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 73 Watt | 5 Watt |
i3-540 has a 470.6% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 9 months, 100% more physical cores and 300% more threads, and a 40.6% more advanced lithography process.
Core 2 Solo SU3500, on the other hand, has 1360% lower power consumption.
The Core i3-540 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core 2 Solo SU3500 in performance tests.
Note that Core i3-540 is a desktop processor while Core 2 Solo SU3500 is a notebook one.
Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-540 and Core 2 Solo SU3500, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.
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