The Intel Core i3-3240 is a desktop processor with 2 cores, launched in September 2012. It is part of the Core i3 lineup, using the Ivy Bridge architecture with Socket 1155. Thanks to Intel Hyper-Threading the core-count is effectively doubled, to 4 threads. Core i3-3240 has 3 MB of L3 cache and operates at 3.4 GHz. Intel is making the Core i3-3240 on a 22 nm production node, the transistor count is unknown. The multiplier is locked on Core i3-3240, which limits its overclocking potential.
With a TDP of 55 W, the Core i3-3240 consumes typical power levels for a modern PC. Intel's processor supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel interface. For communication with other components in the system, Core i3-3240 uses a PCI-Express Gen 3 connection. This processor features the Intel HD 2500 integrated graphics solution.
Hardware virtualization is available on the Core i3-3240, which greatly improves virtual machine performance. Programs using Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX) can run on this processor, boosting performance for calculation-heavy applications.