Phenom X3 8650 vs Pentium N3540
Phenom X3 8650
Pentium N3540
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 Phenom X3 8650 is positioned at rank 496 and the Pentium N3540 is on rank 1149, so the Phenom X3 8650 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Phenom X3 8650
Performance Per Dollar Pentium N3540
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom X3 8650 | Pentium N3540 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($161) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Toliman (2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom X3 8650 | Pentium N3540 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($161) |
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 Phenom X3 8650 and Pentium N3540
Phenom X3 8650
The Phenom X3 8650 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Toliman (2008) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Max frequency: 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: AM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,218 points. Launch price was $149.
Pentium N3540
The Pentium N3540 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 22 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.16 GHz, with boost up to 2.66 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 7.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,207 points. Launch price was $251.
Processing Power
The Phenom X3 8650 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Pentium N3540 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Pentium N3540 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Phenom X3 8650 versus 2.66 GHz on the Pentium N3540 — a 14.5% clock advantage for the Pentium N3540. The Phenom X3 8650 uses the Toliman (2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Pentium N3540 uses Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom X3 8650 scores 1,218 against the Pentium N3540's 1,207 — a 0.9% lead for the Phenom X3 8650. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Phenom X3 8650 vs 2 MB L2 Cache on the Pentium N3540.
| Feature | Phenom X3 8650 | Pentium N3540 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3 | 4 / 4+33% |
| Boost Clock | 2.3 GHz | 2.66 GHz+16% |
| Base Clock | — | 2.16 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 2 MB L2 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 2 MB+300% |
| Process | 65 nm | 22 nm-66% |
| Architecture | Toliman (2008) | Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 1,218 | 1,207 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom X3 8650 uses the AM2+ socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium N3540 uses FCBGA1170 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom X3 8650 | Pentium N3540 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM2+ | FCBGA1170 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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