Celeron M 540 vs Athlon II X3 440
Celeron M 540
Athlon II X3 440
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 Celeron M 540 is positioned at rank 873 and the Athlon II X3 440 is on rank 722, so the Athlon II X3 440 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron M 540
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X3 440
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron M 540 | Athlon II X3 440 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron M 540 | Athlon II X3 440 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+100%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
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 Celeron M 540 and Athlon II X3 440
Celeron M 540
The Celeron M 540 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Merom (2006−2008) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.86 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,744 points. Launch price was $69.
Athlon II X3 440
The Athlon II X3 440 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 25 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,743 points. Launch price was $47.
Processing Power
The Celeron M 540 packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the Athlon II X3 440 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Athlon II X3 440 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.86 GHz on the Celeron M 540 versus 3 GHz on the Athlon II X3 440 — a 46.9% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 440. The Celeron M 540 uses the Merom (2006−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Athlon II X3 440 uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron M 540 scores 1,744 against the Athlon II X3 440's 1,743 — a 0.1% lead for the Celeron M 540.
| Feature | Celeron M 540 | Athlon II X3 440 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 3 / 3+200% |
| Boost Clock | 1.86 GHz | 3 GHz+61% |
| Base Clock | — | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+100% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Merom (2006−2008) | Rana (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,744 | 1,743 |
Memory & Platform
Maximum memory speed reaches 667 on the Celeron M 540 versus DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 440 — the Celeron M 540 supports 198.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X3 440 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 4 — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: GL960,GM965 (Celeron M 540) and AMD AM3 (Athlon II X3 440).
| Feature | Celeron M 540 | Athlon II X3 440 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | — | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | 667+22133% | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 | 32 GB+838860700% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: false (Celeron M 540) / not specified (Athlon II X3 440). Direct competitor: Celeron M 540 rivals Mobile Sempron 3600+.
| Feature | Celeron M 540 | Athlon II X3 440 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | false | — |
Value Analysis
The Celeron M 540 launched at $86 MSRP, while the Athlon II X3 440 debuted at $75. At current prices ($20 vs $10), the Athlon II X3 440 is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron M 540 delivers 87.2 pts/$ vs 174.3 pts/$ for the Athlon II X3 440 — making the Athlon II X3 440 the 66.6% better value option.
| Feature | Celeron M 540 | Athlon II X3 440 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $86 | $75-13% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20 | $10-50% |
| Performance per Dollar | 87.2 | 174.3+100% |
| Release Date | 2007 | 2010 |
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