Xeon 5130 vs i3-540

Primary details

Comparing Core i3-540 and Xeon 5130 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	2444	2837
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	0.11	0.74
Market segment	Desktop processor	Server
Architecture codename	Clarkdale (2010−2011)	Woodcrest (2006)
Release date	7 January 2010 (14 years ago)	June 2006 (18 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$45	$16

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Xeon 5130 has 573% better value for money than i3-540.

Detailed specifications

Core i3-540 and Xeon 5130 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)	2 (Dual-core)
Threads	4	2
Base clock speed	3.06 GHz	2 GHz
Boost clock speed	0.07 GHz	2 GHz
Bus rate	2.5 GT/s	no data
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	0 KB
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	4 MB
L3 cache	4 MB (shared)	0 KB
Chip lithography	32 nm	65 nm
Die size	81 mm2	no data
Maximum core temperature	73 °C	65 °C
Number of transistors	382 million	no data
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-
VID voltage range	no data	B2=1V-1.5V

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-540 and Xeon 5130 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	771
Power consumption (TDP)	73 Watt	65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-540 and Xeon 5130. 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	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	-	+
Demand Based Switching	-	-
PAE	36 Bit	no data
FDI	+	no data
FSB parity	no data	+
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Security technologies

Core i3-540 and Xeon 5130 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	-	-
EDB	+	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-540 and Xeon 5130 are enumerated here.

VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	-

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-540 and Xeon 5130. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR2
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 Xeon 5130 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

2

no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-540 and Xeon 5130.

PCIe version	2.0	no data
PCI Express lanes	16	no data

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.

Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	0.99	0.51
Threads	4	2
Chip lithography	32 nm	65 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	73 Watt	65 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-540 and Xeon 5130, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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