Core i5-540M vs Phenom II X3 B75
Core i5-540M
Phenom II X3 B75
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 Phenom II X3 B75 is on rank 361, so the Phenom II X3 B75 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 Phenom II X3 B75
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-540M | Phenom II X3 B75 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Heka (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-540M | Phenom II X3 B75 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Phenom II X3 B75
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.
Phenom II X3 B75
The Phenom II X3 B75 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Heka (2009−2010) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 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: 1,783 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i5-540M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X3 B75 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Phenom II X3 B75 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.07 GHz on the Core i5-540M versus 3 GHz on the Phenom II X3 B75 — a 2.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-540M (base: 2.53 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-540M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Phenom II X3 B75 uses Heka (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-540M scores 1,796 against the Phenom II X3 B75's 1,783 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i5-540M. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-540M vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X3 B75.
| Feature | Core i5-540M | Phenom II X3 B75 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.07 GHz+2% | 3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.53 GHz | 3 GHz+19% |
| 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 | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Heka (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,796 | 1,783 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 300 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 700 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-540M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X3 B75 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-540M | Phenom II X3 B75 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-540M) / not specified (Phenom II X3 B75). The Core i5-540M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Phenom II X3 B75 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 | Phenom II X3 B75 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Mainstream Laptop | — |
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