Athlon X4 760K vs Core i7-3540M
Athlon X4 760K
Core i7-3540M
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 X4 760K is positioned at rank 599 and the Core i7-3540M is on rank 81, so the Core i7-3540M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X4 760K
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3540M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 760K | Core i7-3540M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Richland (2013−2014) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 760K | Core i7-3540M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ 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 X4 760K and Core i7-3540M
Athlon X4 760K
The Athlon X4 760K is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Richland (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 2,982 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i7-3540M
The Core i7-3540M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,984 points. Launch price was $349.
Processing Power
The Athlon X4 760K packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-3540M offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon X4 760K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Athlon X4 760K versus 3.7 GHz on the Core i7-3540M — a 10.3% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 760K (base: 3.8 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Athlon X4 760K uses the Richland (2013−2014) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-3540M uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 760K scores 2,982 against the Core i7-3540M's 2,984 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i7-3540M.
| Feature | Athlon X4 760K | Core i7-3540M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4.1 GHz+11% | 3.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.8 GHz+27% | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+1500% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Richland (2013−2014) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,982 | 2,984 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 495 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,404 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X4 760K uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-3540M uses PGA988 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1866 on the Athlon X4 760K versus 1600 on the Core i7-3540M — the Core i7-3540M supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: A55,A75,A85X,A88X (Athlon X4 760K) and HM75,HM76,HM77,QM77,QS77 (Core i7-3540M).
| Feature | Athlon X4 760K | Core i7-3540M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | 1600+53233% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+104857500% | 32 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the Athlon X4 760K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon X4 760K) vs true (Core i7-3540M). The Core i7-3540M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4000), while the Athlon X4 760K requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon X4 760K targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i7-3540M rivals AMD A10-5750M.
| Feature | Athlon X4 760K | Core i7-3540M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 4000 |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | true |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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