Core 2 Quad Q9500 vs Core i7-3540M

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Core 2 Quad Q8200 Core 2 Quad Q8300 Core 2 Quad Q8400 Core 2 Quad Q9300 Core 2 Quad Q9400 Core 2 Quad Q9400s Core 2 Quad Q9450 Core 2 Quad Q9500 Core 2 Quad Q9505 Core 2 Quad Q9505S Core 2 Quad Q9550s Core 2 Quad Q9650

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-3540M
2013
2 cores / 4 threads, 35 Watt
1.88
+34.3%
Core 2 Quad Q9500
4 cores / 4 threads, 95 Watt
1.40

Core i7-3540M outperforms Core 2 Quad Q9500 by a substantial 34% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Contents

i7-3540M i7-3540M
Core 2 Quad Q9500 Core 2 Quad Q9500

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-3540M and Core 2 Quad Q9500 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking19742212
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i7no data
Power efficiency5.081.39
Architecture codenameIvy Bridge (2012−2013)no data
Release date8 January 2013 (11 years ago)no data (2024 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$349no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-3540M and Core 2 Quad Q9500 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)
Threads44
Base clock speed3 GHz2.83 GHz
Boost clock speed3.7 GHzno data
Bus rate5 GT/s1333 MHz
L1 cache64K (per core)no data
L2 cache256K (per core)no data
L3 cache4 MB (shared)6 MB L2 Cache
Chip lithography22 nm45 nm
Die size118 mm2no data
Maximum core temperature105 °C71 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
VID voltage rangeno data0.85V-1.3625V

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-3540M and Core 2 Quad Q9500 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 configuration1no data
SocketFCBGA1023,FCPGA988LGA775
Power consumption (TDP)35 Watt95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-3540M and Core 2 Quad Q9500. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® AVXno data
AES-NI+-
AVX+-
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
My WiFi+no data
Turbo Boost Technology2.0-
Hyper-Threading Technology+-
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access+no data
Demand Based Switching--
FDI+no data
Fast Memory Access+no data

Security technologies

Core i7-3540M and Core 2 Quad Q9500 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT+-
EDB++
Secure Key+no data
Identity Protection+-
Anti-Theft+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-3540M and Core 2 Quad Q9500 are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-3540M and Core 2 Quad Q9500. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3no data
Maximum memory size32 GBno data
Max memory channels2no data
Maximum memory bandwidth25.6 GB/sno data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 4000no data
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.3 GHzno data
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-3540M and Core 2 Quad Q9500 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported3no data
eDP+no data
DisplayPort+-
HDMI+-
SDVO+no data
CRT+no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-3540M and Core 2 Quad Q9500.

PCIe version3.0no data
PCI Express lanes16no 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.

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.

i7-3540M 1.88
+34.3%
Core 2 Quad Q9500 1.40

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.

i7-3540M 2980
+34%
Core 2 Quad Q9500 2224

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.

i7-3540M 571
+56.9%
Core 2 Quad Q9500 364

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.

i7-3540M 1168
+14.2%
Core 2 Quad Q9500 1023

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary

Performance score 1.88 1.40
Physical cores 2 4
Chip lithography 22 nm 45 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 35 Watt 95 Watt

i7-3540M has a 34.3% higher aggregate performance score, a 104.5% more advanced lithography process, and 171.4% lower power consumption.

Core 2 Quad Q9500, on the other hand, has 100% more physical cores.

The Core i7-3540M is our recommended choice as it beats the Core 2 Quad Q9500 in performance tests.

Be aware that Core i7-3540M is a notebook processor while Core 2 Quad Q9500 is a desktop one.

Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-3540M and Core 2 Quad Q9500, 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.

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Core i7-3540M
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9500
Core 2 Quad Q9500
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Community ratings

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

4 171 vote

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4.6 1209 votes

Rate Core 2 Quad Q9500 on a scale of 1 to 5:

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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-3540M or Core 2 Quad Q9500, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.