Core i3-540 vs Phenom II X4 N930
Core i3-540
Phenom II X4 N930
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 Phenom II X4 N930 is on rank 422, so the Phenom II X4 N930 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 Phenom II X4 N930
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-540 | Phenom II X4 N930 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-540 | Phenom II X4 N930 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) | ✅ 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 i3-540 and Phenom II X4 N930
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.
Phenom II X4 N930
The Phenom II X4 N930 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,558 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-540 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X4 N930 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 N930 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 0.07 GHz on the Core i3-540 versus 2 GHz on the Phenom II X4 N930 — a 186.5% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 N930. The Core i3-540 uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Phenom II X4 N930 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-540 scores 1,554 against the Phenom II X4 N930's 1,558 — a 0.3% lead for the Phenom II X4 N930.
| Feature | Core i3-540 | Phenom II X4 N930 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 0.07 GHz | 2 GHz+2757% |
| Base Clock | 3.06 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2 MB+700% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Clarkdale (2010−2011) | Champlain (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,554 | 1,558 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-540 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X4 N930 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-540 | Phenom II X4 N930 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | S1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
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