Core i7-3540M vs Athlon X4 760K
Core i7-3540M
Athlon X4 760K
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 i7-3540M is positioned at rank 81 and the Athlon X4 760K is on rank 599, so the Core i7-3540M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3540M
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X4 760K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-3540M | Athlon X4 760K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Richland (2013−2014) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-3540M | Athlon X4 760K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
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 i7-3540M and Athlon X4 760K
Core i7-3540M
The Core i7-3540M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,984 points. Launch price was $349.
Athlon X4 760K
The Athlon X4 760K is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Richland (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 2,982 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i7-3540M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon X4 760K offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon X4 760K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i7-3540M versus 4.1 GHz on the Athlon X4 760K — a 10.3% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 760K (base: 3 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i7-3540M uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Athlon X4 760K uses Richland (2013−2014) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-3540M scores 2,984 against the Athlon X4 760K's 2,982 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i7-3540M.
| Feature | Core i7-3540M | Athlon X4 760K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | 4.1 GHz+11% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3.8 GHz+27% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 4 MB+1500% |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Richland (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 2,984 | 2,982 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 495 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,404 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-3540M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon X4 760K uses FM2 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1600 on the Core i7-3540M versus DDR3-1866 on the Athlon X4 760K — the Core i7-3540M supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 32 of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM75,HM76,HM77,QM77,QS77 (Core i7-3540M) and A55,A75,A85X,A88X (Athlon X4 760K).
| Feature | Core i7-3540M | Athlon X4 760K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | FM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1600+53233% | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 | 32 GB+104857500% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the Athlon X4 760K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: true (Core i7-3540M) vs AMD-V (Athlon X4 760K). The Core i7-3540M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4000), while the Athlon X4 760K requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon X4 760K targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i7-3540M rivals AMD A10-5750M.
| Feature | Core i7-3540M | Athlon X4 760K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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