What a first-generation Core i3 is capable of in 2017: Testing Core i3 540 3066MHz vs 4600MHz in games

The video review itself:

Below is its text version:

Today we decided to test one of the first-generation Intel Core processors. Namely, the Core i3 540.

The base frequency of this processor is 3066MHz. The CPU-NB, or UnCore part of the die, which includes the memory controller and Level 3 cache, operates at a frequency of 2133MHz.

The maximum RAM frequency that the processor supports out of the box is 1333MHz.

We managed to overclock our sample to a frequency of 4600MHz. The voltage on the cores was 1.42V, and 1.35V on the UnCore part. This suggests we got a decent sample. The maximum overclocking frequency at which first-generation Core i3 processors can work stably ranges from 4200 to 4800MHz (rare samples are capable of 5000MHz).

With such an overclock of the processor cores, the UnCore frequency was 3200MHz, and RAM was 1600MHz.

Relative to the processor's base frequency, the increase was an impressive 50%. Now it remains to be seen whether the chip can boast the same performance gain.

All games were configured manually, specifically to maximize processor load and prevent the graphics card from becoming a bottleneck.

Based on this, the screen resolution was also chosen. 720p will not allow the GeForce GTX760 to become a limiting factor.

Let's move on to the tests

The test bench consisted of the following components:

• Config: Motherboard - ASUS P7P55 LX

• CPU - Core i3 540 on Cooler Master 212+

• RAM - 2x4GB DDR3 Hynix HMT351U6CFR8C-PB

• GPU - Zotac AMP! GeForce GTX 760 2GB GDDR5

• HDD - WD 1TB WDC WD10EZEX-08WN4A0

• PSU - FSP Epsilon 900W 80+

Supporting software:

• Windows 10

• ShadowPlay

• MSI Afterburner

Game test results:

In Battlefield 1, the average frame rate increase was around 20%.

In DiRT 4, the chip gained a 25% performance increase from overclocking.

GTA 5 responded extremely positively to processor overclocking, with a 30% increase here.

In the latest Hitman, the average increase was a disappointing 19%.

The benchmark for the second part of Tomb Raider only showed the processor's inability to render some objects at stock frequency. Because of this, the results cannot be considered reference.

Watch_Dogs 2 pleased with a 24% increase in frame rate.

Conclusion

In the end, by increasing the processor frequency by 50%, we only achieved about a 24% performance gain. In our opinion, this is due to the structural features of first-generation Intel Core i3 chips, specifically their dual-die layout.

According to the test results, we can observe that a simple increase in processor frequency does not guarantee an equivalent performance gain in games.

Updated and supplemented 22.05.2020