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.
Intel Xeon D-1500 Group Intel Core i3 500
1 Generation 1
Desktop / Server Segment Desktop / Server
Intel Xeon D-1521 Name Intel Core i3-540
Intel Xeon D Family Intel Core i3
 
 

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
No Overclocking No
4 CPU Cores 2
4x Cores 2x
normal Core architecture normal
2.4 GHz Frequency 3.06 GHz
2.4 GHz Turbo Frequency (all cores) None
2.7 GHz Turbo Frequency (1 core) None
Yes Hyperthreading Yes
8 Threads 4
 
 

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.
-- Direct X 10.1
-- Generation 5
-- Max. displays --
-- Release date Q1/2010
-- Technology 32 nm
GPU name Intel HD Graphics (Westmere)
-- Execution units 12
-- GPU frequency 0.5 GHz
0 bytes Max. GPU Memory 2.0 GB
-- GPU (Turbo) 0.73 GHz
-- Shaders 24
 
 

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

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

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.
-- VP9 No
-- h265 / HEVC (8 bit) No
-- h264 Decode
-- AVC Decode
-- VP8 No
-- AV1 No
-- VC-1 No
-- JPEG No
-- h265 / HEVC (10 bit) 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.
DDR4-2133 Memory type DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333
2 Memory channels 2
pci PCIe pci
Yes AES-NI No
34.1 GB/s Bandwidth 21.0 GB/s
128.0 GB Max. Memory 16.0 GB
Yes ECC Yes
 
 

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.
-- Tjunction max --
45 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) 73 W
 
 

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.
Broadwell Architecture Clarkdale
VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d Virtualization VT-x, VT-x EPT
14 nm Technology 32 nm
6.0 MB L2-Cache 512.0 KB
-- Part Number --
x86-64 (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) x86-64 (64 bit)
BGA 1667 Socket LGA 1156
Windows 10, Linux Operating systems Windows 10, Linux
Technical data sheet Documents Technical data sheet
216 $ Release price 117 $
0 bytes L3-Cache 4.0 MB
Monolithic Chip design Monolithic
Q4/2015 Release date Q1/2010
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2 ISA extensions SSE4.1, SSE4.2