A6-5357M vs Pentium N3540

A6-5357M vs Pentium N3540 Performance Spectrum

A6-5357M

2 / 2

1,219

+1.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Pentium N3540

4 / 4

1,207

0.0%

Celeron 1047UE

Celeron 877

Pentium Dual-Core E2180

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

A6-5357M vs Pentium N3540 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

A6-5357M vs Pentium N3540: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

A6-5357M

2013

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon HD 8450G, while Pentium N3540 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌1650% higher power demand at 35W vs 2W.

Pentium N3540

2014

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 35W, a 33W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,207 vs 1,219).
❌Launch MSRP is still $161 MSRP, while A6-5357M mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while A6-5357M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is A6-5357M better than Pentium N3540?

Yes. A6-5357M is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, A6-5357M is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.4% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, A6-5357M is the stronger fit. You are getting 1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

A6-5357M is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. A6-5357M comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $161 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Pentium N3540 only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop chip, not because it is a real desktop gaming recommendation. It simply does not keep up in modern games, especially when the gap is already 2.4% in the shared gaming data.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Pentium N3540 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2014 vs 2013). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

A6-5357M vs Pentium N3540 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

A6-5357M

The A6-5357M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Richland (2013−2014) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FP2. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,219 points. Launch price was $70.

Pentium N3540

The Pentium N3540 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 22 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.16 GHz, with boost up to 2.66 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 7.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,207 points. Launch price was $251.

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Processing Power

The A6-5357M packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Pentium N3540 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Pentium N3540 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the A6-5357M versus 2.66 GHz on the Pentium N3540 — a 27.3% clock advantage for the A6-5357M (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.16 GHz). The A6-5357M uses the Richland (2013−2014) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium N3540 uses Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the A6-5357M scores 1,219 against the Pentium N3540's 1,207 — a 1% lead for the A6-5357M. L3 cache: 0 kB on the A6-5357M vs 2 MB L2 Cache on the Pentium N3540.

Feature	A6-5357M	Pentium N3540
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz+32%	2.66 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz+34%	2.16 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	2 MB L2 Cache
L2 Cache	512K (per core)+25500%	2 MB
Process	32 nm	22 nm-31%
Architecture	Richland (2013−2014)	Bay Trail-M (2013−2014)
PassMark	1,219	1,207
Geekbench 6 Single	380	—

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Memory & Platform

The A6-5357M uses the FP2 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium N3540 uses FCBGA1170 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	A6-5357M	Pentium N3540
Socket	FP2	FCBGA1170
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1600	—
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (A6-5357M) / not specified (Pentium N3540). The A6-5357M includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 8450G), while the Pentium N3540 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A6-5357M targets Budget Laptop. Direct competitor: A6-5357M rivals Core i3-3120M.