Athlon II M340 vs Celeron G540T

CPU

GPU

Athlon II M340

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 2.2 GHz2009

Similar parts

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Celeron G540T

2 Cores2 Thrd35 WWMax: 2.1 GHz2011

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Athlon II M340 vs Celeron G540T Performance Spectrum

Athlon II M340

2 / 2

1,115

0.0%

Mobile Athlon 64 3700+

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Celeron G540T

2 / 2

1,137

+2.0%

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.

Athlon II M340 vs Celeron G540T 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.

Athlon II M340 vs Celeron G540T: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon II M340

2009

Why buy it

✅+123.4% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Draws 1W instead of 35W, a 34W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.9 vs 27.1 PassMark/$ ($80 MSRP vs $42 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Celeron G540T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Celeron G540T

2011

Why buy it

✅Costs $38 less on MSRP ($42 MSRP vs $80 MSRP).
✅Delivers 94.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 27.1 vs 13.9 PassMark/$ ($42 MSRP vs $80 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge), while Athlon II M340 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (384 vs 858).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (655 vs 1,500).
❌3400% higher power demand at 35W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II M340 better than Celeron G540T?

Yes. Athlon II M340 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 129% better Geekbench multi-core, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon II M340 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.7% 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, Athlon II M340 is the stronger fit. You are getting 129% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Athlon II M340 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Athlon II M340 comes in 90.5% more expensive on MSRP at $80 MSRP versus $42 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Celeron G540T only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2011 platform. Even with 94.2% better value on paper (27.1 vs 13.9 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1155.

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

Celeron G540T makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2009). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II M340 vs Celeron G540T Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II M340

The Athlon II M340 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: 2.2 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: 1,115 points. Launch price was $149.

Celeron G540T

The Celeron G540T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,137 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

Both the Athlon II M340 and Celeron G540T share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Athlon II M340 versus 2.1 GHz on the Celeron G540T — a 4.7% clock advantage for the Athlon II M340. The Athlon II M340 uses the Caspian (2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron G540T uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II M340 scores 1,115 against the Celeron G540T's 1,137 — a 2% lead for the Celeron G540T. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 858 vs 384, a 76.3% lead for the Athlon II M340 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,500 vs 655 (78.4% advantage for the Athlon II M340).

Feature	Athlon II M340	Celeron G540T
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.2 GHz+5%	2.1 GHz
Base Clock	—	2.1 GHz
L3 Cache	—	2 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB+300%	256 kB (per core)
Process	45 nm	32 nm-29%
Architecture	Caspian (2009)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	1,115	1,137+2%
Geekbench 6 Single	858+123%	384
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,500+129%	655

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II M340 uses the S1g3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron G540T uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Athlon II M340 versus DDR3-1333 on the Celeron G540T — the Celeron G540T supports 66.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron G540T supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II M340) vs 16 (Celeron G540T) — the Celeron G540T offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: RS880M (Athlon II M340) and H61,H67,P67,Z68,B75,Z77 (Celeron G540T).

Feature	Athlon II M340	Celeron G540T
Socket	S1g3	LGA1155
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-800	DDR3-1333+67%
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	32 GB+300%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II M340) vs VT-x (Celeron G540T). The Celeron G540T includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)), while the Athlon II M340 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II M340 targets Laptop, Celeron G540T targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Celeron G540T rivals Pentium G630T.

Feature	Athlon II M340	Celeron G540T
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x
Target Use	Laptop	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II M340 was priced at $80, while the Celeron G540T came in at $42. On launch pricing ($80 vs $42), Celeron G540T was $38 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II M340 delivers 13.9 pts/$ vs 27.1 pts/$ for the Celeron G540T — making the Celeron G540T the 64.1% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II M340	Celeron G540T
MSRP	$80	$42-48%
Performance per Dollar	13.9	27.1+95%
Release Date	2009	2011

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