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).

 

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: 1288 vs 1269
  • Around 70% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2617 vs 1540
  • 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 1288 vs 1269
PassMark - CPU mark 2617 vs 1540
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
1288
1269
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
2617
1540
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 1288 1269
PassMark - CPU mark 2617 1540
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 2960 2965
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)