Intel Xeon D-1521 vs Intel Core i3-540

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CPU comparison with benchmarks

-VS-

CPU lineage

Intel Xeon D-1521 or Intel Xeon D-1521 – which processor offers superior performance? In this comparison, we examine disparities and assess which of these two CPUs outperforms the other. We delve into technical specifications and benchmark outcomes.
The Intel Xeon D-1521 features 4 processor cores and has the capability to manage 8 threads concurrently.
It was released in Q4/2015 and belongs to the 1 generation of the Intel Xeon D series.
To use the Intel Xeon D-1521, you'll need a motherboard with a BGA 1667 socket.
The Intel Core i3-540 features 2 processor cores and has the capability to manage 4 threads concurrently.
It was released in Q1/2010 and belongs to the 1 generation of the Intel Core i3 series.
To use the Intel Core i3-540, you'll need a motherboard with a LGA 1156 socket.
1 Generation 1
Intel Xeon D Family Intel Core i3
Intel Xeon D-1500 Group Intel Core i3 500
Intel Xeon D-1521 Name Intel Core i3-540
Desktop / Server Segment Desktop / Server
 
 

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Intel Xeon D-1521 has 4 CPU cores and can calculate 8 threads in parallel.
The clock frequency of the Intel Xeon D-1521 is 2.4 GHz
and turbo frequency for one core is 2.7 GHz.
The Intel Core i3-540 has 2 CPU cores and can calculate 4 threads in parallel.
The clock frequency of the Intel Core i3-540 is 3.06 GHz
4 CPU Cores 2
8 Threads 4
2.7 GHz Turbo Frequency (1 core) None
2.4 GHz Frequency 3.06 GHz
4x Cores 2x
normal Core architecture normal
No Overclocking No
Yes Hyperthreading Yes
2.4 GHz Turbo Frequency (all cores) None
 
 

Internal Graphics

The Intel Xeon D-1521 does not have integrated graphics.
The Intel Core i3-540 has integrated graphics, called iGPU for short.
Specifically, the Intel Core i3-540 uses the Intel HD Graphics (Westmere), which has 24 texture shaders
and 12 execution units.
The iGPU uses the system's main memory as graphics memory and sits on the processor's die.
-- Generation 5
-- Release date Q1/2010
-- Max. displays --
-- Execution units 12
-- Shaders 24
-- GPU (Turbo) 0.73 GHz
-- GPU frequency 0.5 GHz
-- Technology 32 nm
GPU name Intel HD Graphics (Westmere)
0 bytes Max. GPU Memory 2.0 GB
-- Direct X 10.1
 
 

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

-- AI specifications --
-- AI hardware --
 
 

Hardware codec support

A photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos.
-- JPEG No
-- h264 Decode
-- AV1 No
-- VP9 No
-- h265 / HEVC (10 bit) No
-- AVC Decode
-- h265 / HEVC (8 bit) No
-- VP8 No
-- VC-1 No
 
 

Memory & PCIe

The processor supports a maximum memory capacity of 128.0 GB distributed across 2 memory channels. It offers a peak memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. Both the type and quantity of memory can have a substantial impact on the overall system performance.
The processor supports a maximum memory capacity of 16.0 GB distributed across 2 memory channels. It offers a peak memory bandwidth of 21.0 GB/s. Both the type and quantity of memory can have a substantial impact on the overall system performance.
2 Memory channels 2
128.0 GB Max. Memory 16.0 GB
DDR4-2133 Memory type DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333
Yes AES-NI No
34.1 GB/s Bandwidth 21.0 GB/s
Yes ECC Yes
pci PCIe pci
 
 

Thermal Management

The processor has a thermal design power (TDP) of 45 W watts.
TDP indicates the cooling solution needed to effectively manage the processor's heat. It generally provides an approximate indication of the actual power consumption of the CPU itself.
The processor has a thermal design power (TDP) of 73 W watts.
45 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) 73 W
-- Tjunction max --
 
 

Technical details

The Intel Xeon D-1521 is manufactured using a 14 nm process.
A smaller manufacturing process indicates a more contemporary and energy-efficient CPU.
A substantial cache can significantly enhance the processor's performance, particularly in scenarios like gaming.
The Intel Core i3-540 is manufactured using a 32 nm process.
In total, this processor boasts a generous 4.0 MB cache.
Q4/2015 Release date Q1/2010
Broadwell Architecture Clarkdale
Technical data sheet Documents Technical data sheet
VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d Virtualization VT-x, VT-x EPT
Monolithic Chip design Monolithic
0 bytes L3-Cache 4.0 MB
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2 ISA extensions SSE4.1, SSE4.2
14 nm Technology 32 nm
BGA 1667 Socket LGA 1156
x86-64 (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) x86-64 (64 bit)
-- Part Number --
216 $ Release price 117 $
Windows 10, Linux Operating systems Windows 10, Linux
6.0 MB L2-Cache 512.0 KB