CPU
GPU
Core i3-540
Athlon II X3 420e
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 i3-540 is positioned at rank 970 and the Athlon II X3 420e is on rank 906, so the Athlon II X3 420e offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-540
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X3 420e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-540 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-540 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+199%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 i3-540 and Athlon II X3 420e
Core i3-540
The Core i3-540 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.06 GHz, with boost up to 0.07 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,554 points. Launch price was $45.
Athlon II X3 420e
The Athlon II X3 420e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,557 points. Launch price was $116.
Processing Power
The Core i3-540 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X3 420e offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Athlon II X3 420e has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 0.07 GHz on the Core i3-540 versus 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X3 420e — a 189.5% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 420e (base: 3.06 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i3-540 uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X3 420e uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-540 scores 1,554 against the Athlon II X3 420e's 1,557 — a 0.2% lead for the Athlon II X3 420e. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-540 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 420e.
| Feature | Core i3-540 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 0.07 GHz | 2.6 GHz+3614% |
| Base Clock | 3.06 GHz+18% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Clarkdale (2010−2011) | Rana (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,554 | 1,557 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 314 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 880 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-540 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X3 420e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-540 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i3-540) / AMD-V (Athlon II X3 420e). Primary use case: Athlon II X3 420e targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X3 420e rivals Athlon II X3 415e.
| Feature | Core i3-540 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Legacy Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-540 launched at $133 MSRP, while the Athlon II X3 420e debuted at $107. At current prices ($5 vs $15), the Core i3-540 is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-540 delivers 310.8 pts/$ vs 103.8 pts/$ for the Athlon II X3 420e — making the Core i3-540 the 99.9% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-540 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $133 | $107-20% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $5-67% | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 310.8+199% | 103.8 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2010 |
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