Intel Cor i3-540 processor: specifications and reviews

At the time of its release in 2010, "Kor i3-540" allowed to collect average in terms of performance computer configurations. Now this processor continues to be relevant and still allows you to run most of the existing software. It is about its capabilities and technical parameters that will be discussed later.

Positioning the chip

Intel Core i3-540, like all CPUs of this family, belongs to mid-level chips. The level of their performance is quite sufficient to solve most problems. And even the current most demanding toys can go on it, only under condition of not maximum settings and installed in the system very productive discrete video card. This processor has a sufficient level of performance, but not excessive. Therefore, all such CPUs are great for a mid-range PC.

Socket

The Core i3-540 is oriented to the installation of the LGA 1156 socket. Since its announcement, a lot of time has passed already. Three times, Intel's processor connectors have been updated. Therefore, this decision can not be considered relevant.

Technological process. Temperature. Thermal package

Processor i3-540 Had a two-crystal layout. On one of them were two computing cores, and it was produced using 32nm technology, and on the second one - an integrated graphics accelerator, which was already produced at 45nm. The maximum permissible temperature for this semiconductor crystal was 72.6 _^° C. In reality, the temperature range was in the range from 35 to 50 ° C. The thermal package of this semiconductor solution was 73 W. Given the technology, the layout of the crystal and the presence on it not only of computing cores, but also the graphics accelerator and the memory controller is a normal value.

Cache

"Kor i3-540" is equipped with a cache memory of 3 levels. The first of them was 128 KB and divided into 2 equal parts of 64 KB, which could only interact with only one core. These 64 KB, in turn, were still divided in half. One part in 32 KB was used for storing instructions, and the second one of the same size is for data. The total cache size of the second level was already 0.5 MB. It was also divided into 2 parts of 256 KB, which were determined by the computational module. The third level of the cache was common, and its total size was 4 MB.

RAM

The memory controller was moved from the north bridge of the system logic set to "Kor i3-540" to the CPU chip. This significantly increased the speed of the RAM subsystem. The controller itself was dual-channel and focused on the installation of memory slots DDR3. The recommended frequency is 1066 MHz or 1333 MHz. The maximum size of RAM in this case could reach 16 GB.

Frequency

The multiplier of this processor solution is blocked, the TurboBust technology in this case is also not supported. The frequency of the system bus is 133 MHz, and the chip frequency multiplier is 23. Therefore, the clock frequency of this CPU is 3.066 GHz. This is a fixed value, which does not change either from the load on the processor, or from the degree of its heating.

Architecture

Two physical processor cores are included in this representative of the "Cor i3" line. CPU 540 Supported the technology HyperTrading. With its activation it was possible to get four information processing flows instead of the usual two computing cores. Therefore, at the software level, this processor looked like a full quad-core solution. In reality, it was losing in performance to the four-module processors of the Kor Ai5 family.

Graphic arts

As noted earlier, the Core i3-540 includes an integrated graphics accelerator. His model is HD Graphics. The clock speed of this computational solution was 733 MHz. He could display the image directly on 2 monitors. The level of performance is minimal, and he could solve only the simplest tasks (office applications, unpretentious games and playing video). For something more, it was necessary to acquire a discrete accelerator, which would allow full disclosure of the capabilities of this semiconductor crystal.

Overclocking

As noted earlier, the frequency multiplier of this CPU was blocked at the value of 23. Therefore, it was simply impossible to overclock this processor with it. But here the value of the frequency of the system bus could still be changed. As a result, there were minimal overclocking possibilities for this chip. To do this, it was enough only to raise its value. This allowed an additional 3-7 percent increase in productivity.

User Reviews

Intel Core i3-540 is an excellent mid-price processor of 2010. At that time, it fully met all the requirements and allowed to solve any actual at that time tasks. Now this platform is outdated both morally and physically. Pros users noted the following:

• Excellent value for money.
• Excellent energy efficiency.
• The advanced technology for that time.

Well and a minus one - the weak integrated graphic card which even then was very much and very weak.

Results

"Cor i3-540" perfectly suited for assembling a personal computer of the middle price range. Technical specifications of such a PC are still relevant, and it allows you to solve most problems. But when assembling a new system unit, it's better to pay attention to the more recent platforms that have improved process technology, and can boast of higher performance, and their energy consumption is reduced, but their cost is higher.