CPU
GPU
PRO A10-9700E
Xeon W3540
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 PRO A10-9700E is positioned at rank 350 and the Xeon W3540 is on rank 843, so the PRO A10-9700E offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar PRO A10-9700E
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W3540
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | PRO A10-9700E | Xeon W3540 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | PRO A10-9700E | Xeon W3540 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
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 PRO A10-9700E and Xeon W3540
PRO A10-9700E
The PRO A10-9700E is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 3 October 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,057 points. Launch price was $69.
Xeon W3540
The Xeon W3540 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.93 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,075 points. Launch price was $699.
Processing Power
The PRO A10-9700E packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon W3540's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the PRO A10-9700E versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon W3540 — a 9% clock advantage for the PRO A10-9700E (base: 3 GHz vs 2.93 GHz). The PRO A10-9700E uses the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Xeon W3540 uses Bloomfield (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the PRO A10-9700E scores 3,057 against the Xeon W3540's 3,075 — a 0.6% lead for the Xeon W3540.
| Feature | PRO A10-9700E | Xeon W3540 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz+9% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+2% | 2.93 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2048 kB+700% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 28 nm-38% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) | Bloomfield (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 3,057 | 3,075 |
Memory & Platform
The PRO A10-9700E uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon W3540 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | PRO A10-9700E | Xeon W3540 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on PRO A10-9700E and Xeon W3540
