Core i5-540M vs Athlon II M320
Core i5-540M
Athlon II M320
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 i5-540M is positioned at rank 432 and the Athlon II M320 is on rank 809, so the Core i5-540M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-540M
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II M320
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-540M | Athlon II M320 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Caspian (2009) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-540M | Athlon II M320 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ 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 i5-540M and Athlon II M320
Core i5-540M
The Core i5-540M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 3.07 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: 1,796 points. Launch price was $257.
Athlon II M320
The Athlon II M320 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Caspian (2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.1 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g3. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 1,795 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i5-540M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Athlon II M320's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.07 GHz on the Core i5-540M versus 2.1 GHz on the Athlon II M320 — a 37.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-540M. The Core i5-540M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II M320 uses Caspian (2009) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-540M scores 1,796 against the Athlon II M320's 1,795 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i5-540M. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 300 vs 188, a 45.9% lead for the Core i5-540M that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 700 vs 1,955 (94.5% advantage for the Athlon II M320).
| Feature | Core i5-540M | Athlon II M320 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.07 GHz+46% | 2.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.53 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Caspian (2009) |
| PassMark | 1,796 | 1,795 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 300+60% | 188 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 700 | 1,955+179% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-540M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II M320 uses S1g3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1066 on the Core i5-540M versus DDR2-800 on the Athlon II M320 — the Core i5-540M supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 8 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-540M) vs 0 (Athlon II M320) — the Core i5-540M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM55,QM57,HM57,QS57,PM55 (Core i5-540M) and Socket S1g3 (Athlon II M320).
| Feature | Core i5-540M | Athlon II M320 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | S1g3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066+50% | DDR2-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-540M) vs AMD-V (Athlon II M320). The Core i5-540M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Athlon II M320 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-540M targets Mainstream Laptop, Athlon II M320 targets Legacy Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-540M rivals AMD Turion II Ultra M660; Athlon II M320 rivals Core 2 Duo T6400.
| Feature | Core i5-540M | Athlon II M320 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Mainstream Laptop | Legacy Laptop |
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