Ryzen 9 5900X vs Core i3-540

Primary details

Comparing Core i3-540 and Ryzen 9 5900X processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	2377	175
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	0.11	70.98
Market segment	Desktop processor	Desktop processor
Series	no data	AMD Ryzen 9
Architecture codename	Clarkdale (2010−2011)	Vermeer (Zen3) (2020)
Release date	7 January 2010 (14 years ago)	5 November 2020 (3 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$45	$549
Current price	$43 (1x MSRP)	$303 (0.6x MSRP)

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Ryzen 9 5900X has 64427% better value for money than i3-540.

Detailed specifications

Core i3-540 and Ryzen 9 5900X basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores	2 (Dual-core)	12 (Dodeca-Core)
Threads	4	24
Base clock speed	3.06 GHz	3.7 GHz
Boost clock speed	0.07 GHz	4.8 GHz
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64K (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	512K (per core)
L3 cache	4 MB (shared)	64 MB
Chip lithography	32 nm	7 nm
Die size	81 mm2	2x 80.7 + 125 (I/O) mm2
Maximum core temperature	73 °C	no data
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	no data	95 °C
Number of transistors	382 million	no data
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	+
Unlocked multiplier	No	Yes

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-540 and Ryzen 9 5900X compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Socket	FCLGA1156	AM4
Power consumption (TDP)	73 Watt	105 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-540 and Ryzen 9 5900X. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.2	86x MMX(+), SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, SSE4A,-64, AMD-V, AES, AVX, AVX2, FMA3, SHA, Precision Boost 2
AES-NI	-	+
AVX	no data	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	no data
Turbo Boost Technology	-	no data
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	no data
Idle States	+	no data
Thermal Monitoring	-	no data
Demand Based Switching	-	no data
PAE	36 Bit	no data
FDI	+	no data
Status	Discontinued	no data

Security technologies

Core i3-540 and Ryzen 9 5900X technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	-	no data
EDB	+	no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-540 and Ryzen 9 5900X are enumerated here.

AMD-V	no data	+
VT-x	+	no data
EPT	+	no data

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-540 and Ryzen 9 5900X. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR4-3200
Maximum memory size	16.38 GB	128 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	21 GB/s	51.196 GB/s
ECC memory support	no data	-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	Intel® HD Graphics for Previous Generation Intel® Processors	-
Clear Video HD	+	-

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-540 and Ryzen 9 5900X integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

2

-

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-540 and Ryzen 9 5900X.

PCIe version	2.0	4.0
PCI Express lanes	16	no data

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.

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Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

Ryzen 9 5900X outperforms Core i3-540 by 2458% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	0.99	25.32
Recency	7 January 2010	5 November 2020
Physical cores	2	12
Threads	4	24
Cost	$45	$549
Chip lithography	32 nm	7 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	73 Watt	105 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-540 and Ryzen 9 5900X, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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