Core 2 Duo E6540 vs Athlon 64 X2 5200+
Core 2 Duo E6540
Athlon 64 X2 5200+
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 Core 2 Duo E6540 is positioned at rank 1009 and the Athlon 64 X2 5200+ is on rank 1082, so the Core 2 Duo E6540 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E6540
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 X2 5200+
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E6540 | Athlon 64 X2 5200+ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Windsor (2006−2007) / 90 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E6540 | Athlon 64 X2 5200+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1%) |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Core 2 Duo E6540 and Athlon 64 X2 5200+
Core 2 Duo E6540
The Core 2 Duo E6540 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It has 2 cores. Base frequency: 2.33 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB L2 Cache. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,495 points. Launch price was $249.
Athlon 64 X2 5200+
The Athlon 64 X2 5200+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: AM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,505 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo E6540 and Athlon 64 X2 5200+ share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. The Athlon 64 X2 5200+ is built on the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture. In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E6540 scores 1,495 against the Athlon 64 X2 5200+'s 1,505 — a 0.7% lead for the Athlon 64 X2 5200+. L3 cache: 4 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo E6540 vs 0 kB on the Athlon 64 X2 5200+.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E6540 | Athlon 64 X2 5200+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | — | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.33 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB L2 Cache | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | — | 512K |
| Process | 65 nm-28% | 90 nm |
| Architecture | — | Windsor (2006−2007) |
| PassMark | 1,495 | 1,505 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo E6540 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon 64 X2 5200+ uses AM2 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1333 on the Core 2 Duo E6540 versus DDR2-800 on the Athlon 64 X2 5200+ — the Core 2 Duo E6540 supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core 2 Duo E6540) vs 0 (Athlon 64 X2 5200+) — the Core 2 Duo E6540 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: P35,G31,G33,P45 (Core 2 Duo E6540) and AMD AM2 (Athlon 64 X2 5200+).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E6540 | Athlon 64 X2 5200+ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | AM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1333+66550% | DDR2-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | 16 GB+104857500% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core 2 Duo E6540) / not specified (Athlon 64 X2 5200+). Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E6540 rivals Athlon 64 X2 6000+.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E6540 | Athlon 64 X2 5200+ |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Duo E6540 launched at $163 MSRP, while the Athlon 64 X2 5200+ debuted at $420. At current prices ($15 vs $15), the Athlon 64 X2 5200+ is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Duo E6540 delivers 99.7 pts/$ vs 100.3 pts/$ for the Athlon 64 X2 5200+ — making the Athlon 64 X2 5200+ the 0.7% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E6540 | Athlon 64 X2 5200+ |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $163-61% | $420 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 99.7 | 100.3 |
| Release Date | 2007 | 2006 |
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