EPYC 7542 vs i5-661

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-661 and EPYC 7542 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	2112	162
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	0.08	5.10
Market segment	Desktop processor	Server
Series	no data	AMD EPYC
Power efficiency	1.69	11.92
Architecture codename	Clarkdale (2010−2011)	Zen 2 (2017−2020)
Release date	7 January 2010 (14 years ago)	7 August 2019 (5 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$252	$3,400

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

EPYC 7542 has 6275% better value for money than i5-661.

Detailed specifications

Core i5-661 and EPYC 7542 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)	32 (Dotriaconta-Core)
Threads	4	64
Base clock speed	3.33 GHz	2.9 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.6 GHz	3.4 GHz
Bus rate	2.5 GT/s	no data
Multiplier	no data	29
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	96K (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	512K (per core)
L3 cache	4 MB (shared)	128 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	32 nm	7 nm, 14 nm
Die size	81 mm2	192 mm2
Maximum core temperature	70 °C	no data
Number of transistors	382 million	4,800 million
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	+
Unlocked multiplier	-	+

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-661 and EPYC 7542 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	2 (Multiprocessor)
Socket	FCLGA1156	SP3
Power consumption (TDP)	87 Watt	225 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-661 and EPYC 7542. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.2	no data
AES-NI	+	+
AVX	-	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	no data
Turbo Boost Technology	1.0	no data
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	no data
Idle States	+	no data
Demand Based Switching	-	no data
PAE	36 Bit	no data
FDI	+	no data
Precision Boost 2	no data	+

Security technologies

Core i5-661 and EPYC 7542 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	no data
EDB	+	no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-661 and EPYC 7542 are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-661 and EPYC 7542. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR4 Eight-channel
Maximum memory size	16.38 GB	4 TiB
Max memory channels	2	8
Maximum memory bandwidth	21 GB/s	204.763 GB/s
ECC memory support	-	+

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 i5-661 and EPYC 7542 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

2

no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-661 and EPYC 7542.

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.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	1.55	28.33
Recency	7 January 2010	7 August 2019
Physical cores	2	32
Threads	4	64
Chip lithography	32 nm	7 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	87 Watt	225 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-661 and EPYC 7542, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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