Processor N100 vs i3-540
Aggregate performance score
Processor N100 outperforms Core i3-540 by a whopping 144% based on our aggregate benchmark results.
Primary details
Comparing Core i3-540 and Processor N100 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.
| Place in the ranking | 2478 | 1782 |
| Place by popularity | not in top-100 | 65 |
| Cost-effectiveness evaluation | 0.11 | no data |
| Market segment | Desktop processor | Laptop |
| Series | no data | Intel Alder Lake-N |
| Power efficiency | 1.25 | 37.08 |
| Architecture codename | Clarkdale (2010−2011) | Alder Lake-N (2023) |
| Release date | 7 January 2010 (14 years ago) | 3 January 2023 (1 year ago) |
| Launch price (MSRP) | $45 | $128 |
Cost-effectiveness evaluation
Performance per price, higher is better.
Detailed specifications
Core i3-540 and Processor N100 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 | 3.06 GHz | 0.1 GHz |
| Boost clock speed | 0.07 GHz | 3.4 GHz |
| Bus rate | 2.5 GT/s | no data |
| L1 cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |
| L2 cache | 256 KB (per core) | 2 MB (shared) |
| L3 cache | 4 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |
| Chip lithography | 32 nm | 10 nm |
| Die size | 81 mm2 | no data |
| Maximum core temperature | 73 °C | 105 °C |
| Number of transistors | 382 million | no data |
| 64 bit support | + | + |
| Windows 11 compatibility | - | + |
Compatibility
Information on Core i3-540 and Processor N100 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 | FCLGA1156 | Intel BGA 1264 |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 73 Watt | 6 Watt |
Technologies and extensions
Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-540 and Processor N100. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.
| Instruction set extensions | Intel® SSE4.2 | no data |
| AES-NI | - | + |
| FMA | - | + |
| AVX | - | + |
| Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST) | + | + |
| Turbo Boost Technology | - | no data |
| Hyper-Threading Technology | + | no data |
| Idle States | + | no data |
| Demand Based Switching | - | no data |
| PAE | 36 Bit | no data |
| FDI | + | no data |
Security technologies
Core i3-540 and Processor N100 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.
| TXT | - | + |
| EDB | + | no data |
Virtualization technologies
Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-540 and Processor N100 are enumerated here.
| VT-d | no data | + |
| VT-x | + | + |
| EPT | + | no data |
Memory specs
Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-540 and Processor N100. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.
| Supported memory types | DDR3 | DDR4, DDR5 |
| 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 | Intel UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) |
| Clear Video HD | + | no data |
Graphics interfaces
Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-540 and Processor N100 integrated GPUs.
| Number of displays supported | 2 | no data |
Peripherals
Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-540 and Processor N100.
| PCIe version | 2.0 | 3.0 |
| PCI Express lanes | 16 | 9 |
Pros & cons summary
| Performance score | 1.00 | 2.44 |
| Recency | 7 January 2010 | 3 January 2023 |
| Physical cores | 2 | 4 |
| Chip lithography | 32 nm | 10 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 73 Watt | 6 Watt |
Processor N100 has a 144% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 12 years, 100% more physical cores, a 220% more advanced lithography process, and 1116.7% lower power consumption.
The Processor N100 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i3-540 in performance tests.
Note that Core i3-540 is a desktop processor while Processor N100 is a notebook one.
Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-540 and Processor N100, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.
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