Core i5-540M vs Athlon II X3 445
Core i5-540M
Athlon II X3 445
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 X3 445 is on rank 781, 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 X3 445
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-540M | Athlon II X3 445 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-540M | Athlon II X3 445 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 X3 445
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 X3 445
The Athlon II X3 445 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. 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: 1,807 points. Launch price was $91.
Processing Power
The Core i5-540M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X3 445 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Athlon II X3 445 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.07 GHz on the Core i5-540M versus 3.1 GHz on the Athlon II X3 445 — a 1% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 445 (base: 2.53 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core i5-540M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X3 445 uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-540M scores 1,796 against the Athlon II X3 445's 1,807 — a 0.6% lead for the Athlon II X3 445. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-540M vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 445.
| Feature | Core i5-540M | Athlon II X3 445 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.07 GHz | 3.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.53 GHz | 3.1 GHz+23% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Rana (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,796 | 1,807 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 300 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 700 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-540M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X3 445 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. The Athlon II X3 445 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-540M) vs 0 (Athlon II X3 445) — 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 AMD AM3 (Athlon II X3 445).
| Feature | Core i5-540M | Athlon II X3 445 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 32 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-540M) / not specified (Athlon II X3 445). The Core i5-540M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Athlon II X3 445 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-540M targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-540M rivals AMD Turion II Ultra M660.
| Feature | Core i5-540M | Athlon II X3 445 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Mainstream Laptop | — |
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