AMD FX-4100 vs Intel Core i3-540

Comparative analysis of AMD FX-4100 and Intel Core i3-540 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Security & Reliability. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

AMD FX-4100

Intel Core i3-540

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD FX-4100

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 8 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
Around 24% higher clock speed: 3.8 GHz vs 3.06 GHz
Around 50% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
8x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 1% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1289 vs 1272
Around 70% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2618 vs 1538
Around 1% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 463 vs 459
Around 27% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1286 vs 1015
8.3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 4.203 vs 0.508
Around 55% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.234 vs 0.151
Around 30% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 2.939 vs 2.263

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	October 2011 vs January 2010
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	4 vs 2
Maximum frequency	3.8 GHz vs 3.06 GHz
L1 cache	192 KB vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	4 MB vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	8 MB vs 4096 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1289 vs 1272
PassMark - CPU mark	2618 vs 1538
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	463 vs 459
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1286 vs 1015
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	4.203 vs 0.508
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.234 vs 0.151
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.939 vs 2.263

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-540

Around 3% higher maximum core temperature: 72.6°C vs 70.50°C
Around 30% lower typical power consumption: 73 Watt vs 95 Watt
2.8x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 29.815 vs 10.462
Around 60% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 0.816 vs 0.51

Specifications (specs)
Maximum core temperature	72.6°C vs 70.50°C
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	73 Watt vs 95 Watt
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	29.815 vs 10.462
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.816 vs 0.51

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD FX-4100
CPU 2: Intel Core i3-540

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1289

1272

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2618

1538

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

463

459

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1286

1015

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

4.203

0.508

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

10.462

29.815

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.234

0.151

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.51

0.816

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.939

2.263

Name	AMD FX-4100	Intel Core i3-540
PassMark - Single thread mark	1289	1272
PassMark - CPU mark	2618	1538
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	463	459
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1286	1015
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	4.203	0.508
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	10.462	29.815
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.234	0.151
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.51	0.816
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.939	2.263

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD FX-4100	Intel Core i3-540
Essentials
Architecture codename	Zambezi	Clarkdale
Family	AMD FX-Series Processors
Launch date	October 2011	January 2010
OPN PIB	FD4100WMGUSBX
OPN Tray	FD4100WMW4KGU
Place in performance rating	2959	2964
Price now	$129.99	$21
Series	AMD FX 4-Core Black Edition Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Value for money (0-100)	9.22	37.72
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$45
Processor Number		i3-540
Status		Discontinued
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.6 GHz	3.06 GHz
Die size	315 mm	81 mm2
L1 cache	192 KB	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	4 MB	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	8 MB	4096 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm SOI	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	70.50°C	72.6°C
Maximum frequency	3.8 GHz	3.06 GHz
Number of cores	4	2
Number of threads	4	4
P0 Vcore voltage	Min: 1.1 V - Max: 1.4125 V
Transistor count	1200 million	382 million
Unlocked
Bus Speed		2.5 GT/s DMI
VID voltage range		0.6500V-1.4000V
Memory
Supported memory frequency	1866 MHz
Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR3 1066/1333
Max memory channels		2
Maximum memory bandwidth		21 GB/s
Maximum memory size		16.38 GB
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	AM3+	FCLGA1156
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	73 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size		37.5mm x 37.5mm
Peripherals
PCI Express revision	n / a	2.0
Max number of PCIe lanes		16
PCIe configurations		1x16, 2x8
Advanced Technologies
Fused Multiply-Add (FMA)
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions		Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)		36-bit
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
Graphics
Graphics base frequency		733 MHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Processor graphics		Intel HD Graphics
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported		2
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)