Core i5-2540M vs Phenom II X4 840T
Core i5-2540M
Phenom II X4 840T
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 i5-2540M is positioned at rank 8 and the Phenom II X4 840T is on rank 265, so the Core i5-2540M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2540M
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X4 840T
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-2540M | Phenom II X4 840T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Zosma (2010−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-2540M | Phenom II X4 840T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ 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 i5-2540M and Phenom II X4 840T
Core i5-2540M
The Core i5-2540M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,356 points. Launch price was $266.
Phenom II X4 840T
The Phenom II X4 840T is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Zosma (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). 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: 2,367 points. Launch price was $80.
Processing Power
The Core i5-2540M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X4 840T offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 840T has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i5-2540M versus 3.2 GHz on the Phenom II X4 840T — a 3.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-2540M (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i5-2540M uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Phenom II X4 840T uses Zosma (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-2540M scores 2,356 against the Phenom II X4 840T's 2,367 — a 0.5% lead for the Phenom II X4 840T. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-2540M vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 840T.
| Feature | Core i5-2540M | Phenom II X4 840T |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz+3% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 2.9 GHz+12% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 6 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Zosma (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,356 | 2,367 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-2540M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X4 840T uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-2540M | Phenom II X4 840T |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core i5-2540M) / not specified (Phenom II X4 840T). The Core i5-2540M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Phenom II X4 840T requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i5-2540M rivals Phenom II Black Edition N660.
| Feature | Core i5-2540M | Phenom II X4 840T |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 3000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
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