Core i3-540 vs Pentium E5400
The Core i3-540 is slightly slower than the Pentium E5400 on average across 100+ games. We cannot compare value as at least one CPU is out of stock.
FPS Comparison Across Popular Games
Predicted average FPS at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, based on real game benchmarks.
Specs & Benchmark Comparison
Side-by-side specs, synthetic benchmarks, and key hardware differences.
LGA1156
Sockethelp
LGA775Clarkdale
Codenamehelp
WolfdaleDesktop
Segmenthelp
DesktopIntel HD
Integrated GPUhelp
On certain motherboards (Chipset feature)1333 MHz (DDR3)
RAMhelp
DDR1, DDR2, DDR3Not Overclockable
Overclock Supporthelp
Not OverclockableFrequently Asked Questions
compare_arrowsWhich is better, Core i3-540 or Pentium E5400?expand_more
The Pentium E5400. It's 2% faster than the Core i3-540 on average across 100+ games, scoring 48/100 vs 47/100 in our gaming rating.
speedHow much faster is Pentium E5400 than Core i3-540?expand_more
2% faster on average. The gap varies by game and resolution, check the per-game FPS comparison above.
aspect_ratioWhich is better for 1440p and 4K gaming, Core i3-540 or Pentium E5400?expand_more
The Pentium E5400 is faster at both resolutions. Toggle the resolution selector above to see per-game FPS.
paidIs the Pentium E5400 worth buying in 2026?expand_more
It scores 48/100 in our gaming rating, faster than most CPUs on the market. Good buy if the price is right.
differenceWhat is the difference between Core i3-540 and Pentium E5400?expand_more
Performance: Core i3-540 scores 47/100, Pentium E5400 scores 48/100. They also differ in core count, clock speeds, L3 cache, and power draw. Full breakdown in the specs section above.
compressWill the Core i3-540 or Pentium E5400 bottleneck my PC?expand_more
Depends on the rest of your build, especially your GPU. Swap the paired GPU in the FPS section above to see if it limits performance, or use our bottleneck calculator for a full analysis.
upgradeIs it worth upgrading to the Core i3-540 or Pentium E5400?expand_more
The Pentium E5400 is the stronger pick at 48/100. Compare your current CPU against it to see the exact FPS gain across 100+ games.
Popular Comparisons
i3-540 vs Ryzen 7 7800X3Di3-540 vs Ryzen 5 7600Xi3-540 vs Ryzen 9 9950X3Di3-540 vs Ryzen 7 7700Xi3-540 vs Ryzen 9 9900Xi3-540 vs Ryzen 7 9850X3Di3-540 vs Ryzen 7 9700Xi3-540 vs Ryzen 5 8500Gi3-540 vs Ultra 7 265KFi3-540 vs Ryzen 9 9900X3Di3-12100F vs i3-540i3-540 vs Ryzen 5 7500X3DCeleron G1610 vs i3-540Athlon II X2 240 vs i3-540i3-540 vs Ryzen 7 9800X3Di3-540 vs Ultra 5 245Ki3-540 vs Ultra 5 245KFPentium E5400 vs Ryzen 7 7800X3DPentium E5400 vs Ryzen 5 7600XPentium E5400 vs Ryzen 9 9950X3DPentium E5400 vs Ryzen 7 7700XPentium E5400 vs Ryzen 9 9900XPentium E5400 vs Ryzen 7 9850X3DPentium E5400 vs Ryzen 7 9700XPentium E5400 vs Ryzen 5 8500GUltra 7 265KF vs Pentium E5400Pentium E5400 vs Ryzen 9 9900X3Di3-12100F vs Pentium E5400Pentium E5400 vs Ryzen 5 7500X3DCeleron G1610 vs Pentium E5400Athlon II X2 240 vs Pentium E5400Pentium E5400 vs Ryzen 7 9800X3DUltra 5 245K vs Pentium E5400Ultra 5 245KF vs Pentium E5400