Pentium N3540 vs Core 2 Duo E8500

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core 2 Duo E8500
2008
2 cores / 2 threads, 65 Watt
0.80
+5.3%
Pentium N3540
2014
4 cores / 4 threads, 7 Watt
0.76

Core 2 Duo E8500 outperforms Pentium N3540 by a small 5% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core 2 Duo E8500 and Pentium N3540 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking25952643
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentDesktop processorLaptop
Seriesno dataIntel Pentium
Power efficiency1.169.59
Architecture codenameWolfdale (2008−2010)Bay Trail-M (2013−2014)
Release dateJanuary 2008 (16 years ago)22 May 2014 (10 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$251

Detailed specifications

Core 2 Duo E8500 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 cores2 (Dual-core)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads24
Base clock speed3.16 GHz2.16 GHz
Boost clock speed3.17 GHz2.66 GHz
Bus rate1333 MHzno data
L1 cache64 KB224 KB
L2 cache6 MB (shared)2 MB
L3 cache0 KB2 MB L2 Cache
Chip lithography45 nm22 nm
Die size107 mm2no data
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)72 °Cno data
Number of transistors410 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
VID voltage range0.85V-1.3625Vno data

Compatibility

Information on Core 2 Duo E8500 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 configuration11
SocketLGA775FCBGA1170
Power consumption (TDP)65 Watt7.5 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core 2 Duo E8500 and Pentium N3540. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology--
Hyper-Threading Technology--
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring+-
Demand Based Switching-no data
Smart Connectno data+
FSB parity-no data

Security technologies

Core 2 Duo E8500 and Pentium N3540 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT+no data
EDB++
Secure Keyno data+
Anti-Theftno data-

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core 2 Duo E8500 and Pentium N3540 are enumerated here.

VT-d+-
VT-x++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core 2 Duo E8500 and Pentium N3540. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR1, DDR2, DDR3DDR3L-1333
Maximum memory sizeno data8 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data21.32 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel® HD Graphics for Intel Atom® Processor Z3700 Series
Quick Sync Video-+
Graphics max frequencyno data896 MHz

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core 2 Duo E8500 and Pentium N3540 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data2

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core 2 Duo E8500 and Pentium N3540 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data11.2

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core 2 Duo E8500 and Pentium N3540.

PCIe versionno data2.0
PCI Express lanesno data4
USB revisionno data3.0 and 2.0
Total number of SATA portsno data2
Number of USB portsno data5

Synthetic benchmark performance

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


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 2 Duo E8500 0.80
+5.3%
Pentium N3540 0.76

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

Core 2 Duo E8500 1276
+6.3%
Pentium N3540 1200

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

Core 2 Duo E8500 388
+102%
Pentium N3540 192

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

Core 2 Duo E8500 636
+15.8%
Pentium N3540 549

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 0.80 0.76
Physical cores 2 4
Threads 2 4
Chip lithography 45 nm 22 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 65 Watt 7 Watt

Core 2 Duo E8500 has a 5.3% higher aggregate performance score.

Pentium N3540, on the other hand, has 100% more physical cores and 100% more threads, a 104.5% more advanced lithography process, and 828.6% lower power consumption.

Given the minimal performance differences, no clear winner can be declared between Core 2 Duo E8500 and Pentium N3540.

Note that Core 2 Duo E8500 is a desktop processor while Pentium N3540 is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core 2 Duo E8500 and Pentium N3540, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core 2 Duo E8500
Core 2 Duo E8500
Intel Pentium N3540
Pentium N3540

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


3.8 624 votes

Rate Core 2 Duo E8500 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
3.2 508 votes

Rate Pentium N3540 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core 2 Duo E8500 or Pentium N3540, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.