Turion X2 RM-70 vs Core i3-540
Turion X2 RM-70
Core i3-540
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 Turion X2 RM-70 is positioned at rank 424 and the Core i3-540 is on rank 970, so the Turion X2 RM-70 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Turion X2 RM-70
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-540
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Turion X2 RM-70 | Core i3-540 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Puma (2008−2009) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Turion X2 RM-70 | Core i3-540 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) |
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 Turion X2 RM-70 and Core i3-540
Turion X2 RM-70
The Turion X2 RM-70 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Puma (2008−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,556 points. Launch price was $69.
Core i3-540
The Core i3-540 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.06 GHz, with boost up to 0.07 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,554 points. Launch price was $45.
Processing Power
The Turion X2 RM-70 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-540's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Turion X2 RM-70 versus 0.07 GHz on the Core i3-540 — a 186.5% clock advantage for the Turion X2 RM-70. The Turion X2 RM-70 uses the Puma (2008−2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Core i3-540 uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Turion X2 RM-70 scores 1,556 against the Core i3-540's 1,554 — a 0.1% lead for the Turion X2 RM-70. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Turion X2 RM-70 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-540.
| Feature | Turion X2 RM-70 | Core i3-540 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz+2757% | 0.07 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 3.06 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 32 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Puma (2008−2009) | Clarkdale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,556 | 1,554 |
Memory & Platform
The Turion X2 RM-70 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-540 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Turion X2 RM-70 | Core i3-540 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | 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 Turion X2 RM-70 and Core i3-540
