CPU
GPU
Athlon II M340
Celeron G540T
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 M340 is positioned at rank 1001 and the Celeron G540T is on rank 639, so the Celeron G540T 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 M340
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G540T
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II M340 | Celeron G540T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($42) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Caspian (2009) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II M340 | Celeron G540T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+175%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($42) |
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 M340 and Celeron G540T
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.
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 40% 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 — 120% 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+50% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 32 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| 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
The Athlon II M340 launched at $80 MSRP, while the Celeron G540T debuted at $42. At current prices ($15 vs $42), the Athlon II M340 is $27 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II M340 delivers 74.3 pts/$ vs 27.1 pts/$ for the Celeron G540T — making the Athlon II M340 the 93.2% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II M340 | Celeron G540T |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $80 | $42-48% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-64% | $42 |
| Performance per Dollar | 74.3+174% | 27.1 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2011 |
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