Intel Core 2 Solo ULV SU3500

Benchmark Performance

The Intel Core 2 Solo ULV SU3500 presents an unusual benchmark profile: its average benchmark score is recorded as 0, and it sits at the 50th percentile among all CPUs in the database. This percentile placement is not a statement of mid-range capability, but rather a reflection of the fact that this processor generates no benchmark entries in the dataset. With zero recorded benchmarks, the SU3500 cannot be meaningfully compared to any rival through direct score deltas — the nearestRivals array is empty, and no percentage differences can be calculated. The practical takeaway is that this part is not a performance-oriented product; it is a single-core, single-thread processor with a base clock of 1400.00 MHz and no boost capability. For any workload that scales with core count or frequency, the data indicates this chip will be drastically outpaced by even entry-level modern parts, though the exact margins cannot be quantified from the available facts. The 50th percentile figure, taken at face value, would suggest a median position, but with a benchmark score of zero, this is a statistical artifact rather than a meaningful performance indicator. In essence, the SU3500 exists in the database as a historical or low-power entry, not as a competitive computing solution.

Platform and Compatibility

The SU3500 uses the Intel BGA 956 socket, which is a ball-grid array package soldered directly to the motherboard — this means no upgrade path exists for the processor itself; the chip is permanently affixed. The architecture is Core 2, with the codename Penryn-L, and it belongs to the Core 2 Solo (Penryn) generation. The manufacturing process is 45 nm, with 410 million transistors on a die size of 107 mm². Memory support is limited to DDR1, which is an older memory standard with inherently lower bandwidth compared to DDR2 or DDR3. The memory bus and memory bandwidth are not specified in the data, so quantitative comparisons are not possible; however, DDR1 support alone signals a platform from the late 2000s. ECC memory is not supported. PCIe details are absent from the facts, so no statement about lane counts or versions can be made. Integrated graphics are listed as "On certain motherboards (Chipset feature)" — this means the CPU itself does not contain a graphics core, but some motherboards paired with this chip may include integrated graphics via the chipset. The multiplier is locked, so overclocking is not an option. The release date is 2009-03-28, and the production status is end-of-life. The part number is SLGFM. For a builder, the platform implications are clear: this is a closed, legacy system with no CPU upgrade potential, no modern memory support, and no discrete PCIe information to plan around.

Power and Thermals

The thermal design power (TDP) of the SU3500 is 5 watts. This is an exceptionally low figure, placing the chip in the ultra-low-voltage (ULV) category. The "ULV" designation in the product name is confirmed by the TDP data. For cooling, this means a passive heatsink or a very small, low-profile fan would be entirely sufficient; the chip generates minimal heat. The 45 nm process node contributes to this efficiency, as does the single-core design with a modest 1400.00 MHz clock. The L2 cache is 3 MB, which is relatively large for a single-core part of this era and likely helps mitigate the low clock speed in some workloads, though it cannot compensate for the lack of cores. The 5 W TDP class implies that thermal throttling should be a non-issue under sustained load — the chip simply does not produce enough heat to overwhelm even the most basic cooling solution. For a system builder, this opens the possibility of fanless designs or very compact enclosures. However, the trade-off is severe: the same power envelope that makes thermal management trivial also caps performance at a level suitable only for basic tasks. The absence of a boost clock means the SU3500 operates at a fixed 1400.00 MHz at all times, with no headroom for transient performance spikes.

FAQ

Q: How many cores and threads does the Intel Core 2 Solo ULV SU3500 have?

A: The SU3500 has 1 core and 1 thread, making it a single-threaded processor.

Q: What is the base clock speed, and does it have a boost clock?

A: The base clock is 1400.00 MHz, and there is no boost clock — the processor runs at a fixed frequency.

Q: What type of memory does this processor support?

A: The SU3500 supports DDR1 memory. ECC memory is not supported.

Q: Is the CPU socket upgradeable?

A: No. The SU3500 uses the Intel BGA 956 socket, which is a soldered ball-grid array. The processor is not removable, so there is no upgrade path.

Q: Does the processor have integrated graphics?

A: The data indicates integrated graphics are available "On certain motherboards (Chipset feature)" — meaning graphics depend on the motherboard chipset, not the CPU itself.

Q: What is the thermal design power (TDP) and what cooling does it require?

A: The TDP is 5 watts. This is an ultra-low-power design, so a passive heatsink or a minimal low-profile cooler is sufficient.

How It Compares

The nearestRivals array is empty, meaning the database contains no direct competitor entries for the SU3500. This absence is itself informative: the processor is so far outside the mainstream performance spectrum that no comparable parts are tracked. For context, the 50th percentile placement and zero benchmark score indicate it is not a meaningful participant in any performance comparison. Without rival names, scores, or deltaPct values, no quantitative positioning can be made. The only qualitative statement possible is that the SU3500 is a legacy, end-of-life mobile processor from 2009, and any modern CPU — regardless of tier — would outperform it by a substantial margin, though exact figures are not available in the fact pack. The lack of rivals also suggests that the database does not track other similarly low-power, single-core parts, which reinforces the niche status of this chip.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The SU3500 has 1 core and 1 thread, so there is no distinction between single-thread and multi-thread behavior — every workload runs on a single logical processor. The base clock of 1400.00 MHz is low by any standard, and with no boost clock, the processor cannot dynamically increase its frequency under load. The 3 MB L2 cache is the only notable asset; it is a relatively large cache for a single-core chip and may help with data locality in simple, sequential tasks. For real workloads, the implications are stark: any modern operating system, web browser with multiple tabs, or office suite that spawns background threads will be forced to time-slice all tasks onto one core. The 5 W TDP and 45 nm process suggest the design goal was maximum energy efficiency, not throughput. The 64 KB L1 cache is split in a conventional manner, but the lack of L3 cache is expected for this generation. In practice, the SU3500 can handle single-threaded, low-intensity tasks like text editing or legacy software, but it will struggle with anything that benefits from multi-threading or high clock speeds. The fixed 1400.00 MHz frequency means no burst capability, so responsiveness will feel consistent but uniformly slow. For a builder, this chip is only viable in scenarios where power consumption is paramount and performance is a secondary concern — for example, a dedicated low-power appliance running a single purpose-built application. The data does not support any claim of multi-core scaling, as the hardware simply does not exist. The 50th percentile ranking is misleading in this context; it reflects the dataset's treatment of an unbenchmarked part, not a real comparison of computational ability. The SU3500's single-thread performance is its only mode, and that mode is defined by a sub-1.5 GHz clock and a single execution core.