Athlon 64 FX-72 vs Core i5-540M
Athlon 64 FX-72
Core i5-540M
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon 64 FX-72 is positioned at rank 1100 and the Core i5-540M is on rank 432, so the Core i5-540M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 FX-72
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-540M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 64 FX-72 | Core i5-540M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Windsor (2006−2007) / 90 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 64 FX-72 | Core i5-540M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon 64 FX-72 and Core i5-540M
Athlon 64 FX-72
The Athlon 64 FX-72 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: F. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR1. Passmark benchmark score: 1,794 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i5-540M
The Core i5-540M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 3.07 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,796 points. Launch price was $257.
Processing Power
The Athlon 64 FX-72 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-540M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Athlon 64 FX-72 versus 3.07 GHz on the Core i5-540M — a 9.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-540M. The Athlon 64 FX-72 uses the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture (90 nm), while the Core i5-540M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 FX-72 scores 1,794 against the Core i5-540M's 1,796 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i5-540M. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon 64 FX-72 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-540M.
| Feature | Athlon 64 FX-72 | Core i5-540M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.07 GHz+10% |
| Base Clock | — | 2.53 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 90 nm | 32 nm-64% |
| Architecture | Windsor (2006−2007) | Arrandale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,794 | 1,796 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 300 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 700 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 64 FX-72 uses the F socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core i5-540M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Athlon 64 FX-72 versus DDR3-1066 on the Core i5-540M — the Core i5-540M supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon 64 FX-72 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon 64 FX-72) vs 16 (Core i5-540M) — the Core i5-540M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD F (1207) (Athlon 64 FX-72) and HM55,QM57,HM57,QS57,PM55 (Core i5-540M).
| Feature | Athlon 64 FX-72 | Core i5-540M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | F | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | DDR3-1066+50% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+100% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon 64 FX-72) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-540M). The Core i5-540M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Athlon 64 FX-72 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-540M targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-540M rivals AMD Turion II Ultra M660.
| Feature | Athlon 64 FX-72 | Core i5-540M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Mainstream Laptop |
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