Core 2 Duo E6540 vs Opteron X3216
Core 2 Duo E6540
Opteron X3216
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 Opteron X3216 is on rank 395, so the Opteron X3216 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 Opteron X3216
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E6540 | Opteron X3216 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 65 nm) | ✨ Modern (Excavator (2017−2018) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E6540 | Opteron X3216 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ 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 Core 2 Duo E6540 and Opteron X3216
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.
Opteron X3216
The Opteron X3216 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Excavator (2017−2018) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FP4. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,498 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo E6540 and Opteron X3216 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. The Opteron X3216 is built on the Excavator (2017−2018) architecture. In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E6540 scores 1,495 against the Opteron X3216's 1,498 — a 0.2% lead for the Opteron X3216.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E6540 | Opteron X3216 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | — | 3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.33 GHz+46% | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB L2 Cache | — |
| L2 Cache | — | 1 MB (total) |
| Process | 65 nm | 28 nm-57% |
| Architecture | — | Excavator (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 1,495 | 1,498 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo E6540 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Opteron X3216 uses FP4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E6540 | Opteron X3216 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | FP4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | 1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core 2 Duo E6540) / not specified (Opteron X3216). Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E6540 rivals Athlon 64 X2 6000+.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E6540 | Opteron X3216 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core 2 Duo E6540 and Opteron X3216
