CPU
GPU
Athlon II M320
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 II M320 is positioned at rank 809 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 II M320
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-540M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II M320 | Core i5-540M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Caspian (2009) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II M320 | Core i5-540M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ 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 II M320 and Core i5-540M
Athlon II M320
The Athlon II M320 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Caspian (2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.1 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g3. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 1,795 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 II M320 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-540M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.1 GHz on the Athlon II M320 versus 3.07 GHz on the Core i5-540M — a 37.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-540M. The Athlon II M320 uses the Caspian (2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-540M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II M320 scores 1,795 against the Core i5-540M's 1,796 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i5-540M. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 188 vs 300, a 45.9% lead for the Core i5-540M that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,955 vs 700 (94.5% advantage for the Athlon II M320).
| Feature | Athlon II M320 | Core i5-540M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.1 GHz | 3.07 GHz+46% |
| Base Clock | — | 2.53 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Caspian (2009) | Arrandale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,795 | 1,796 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 188 | 300+60% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,955+179% | 700 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II M320 uses the S1g3 socket (PCIe 2.0), 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 II M320 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. Both support up to 8 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II M320) vs 16 (Core i5-540M) — the Core i5-540M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Socket S1g3 (Athlon II M320) and HM55,QM57,HM57,QS57,PM55 (Core i5-540M).
| Feature | Athlon II M320 | Core i5-540M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1g3 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | DDR3-1066+50% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II M320) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-540M). The Core i5-540M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Athlon II M320 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II M320 targets Legacy Laptop, Core i5-540M targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Athlon II M320 rivals Core 2 Duo T6400; Core i5-540M rivals AMD Turion II Ultra M660.
| Feature | Athlon II M320 | Core i5-540M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | None | Intel HD Graphics |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Legacy Laptop | Mainstream Laptop |
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