The Core i5-9600K is a clear winner – it's at least 2x faster gaming CPU than the Core i3-540 and it's also a slightly better value for money, as it's only $94.79 more expensive!
Advantages of the Core i5-9600K
- At least 2x faster CPU for gaming
- A slightly better value for money for gaming
- Can execute more multi-threaded tasks simultaneously – 6 vs 4 threads
Advantages of the Core i3-540
- Up to 73% cheaper – $35.00 vs $129.79
- Consumes up to 23% less energy – 73 vs 95 Watts
Core i5-9600K vs Core i3-540 for Gaming
The CPU's performance in selected game and settings
Core i5-9600K
Oct 19th, 2018
Average FPS
192
100%
Min 1% FPS
127
100%
Price, $
$129.79
26%
Value, $/FPS
$0.67/FPS
31%
Core i5-9600K vs Core i3-540 in My Games
The FPS you'll get in saved games
The FPS you'll get in saved games
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Synthetic Benchmarks
The Core i5-9600K vs Core i3-540 in synthetic CPU benchmarks
Performance Specifications
The Core i5-9600K vs Core i3-540 in core CPU performance specifications
Core i5-9600K
Oct 19th, 2018
Cores
6-core
100%
L3 Cache
9 MB
100%
Base Frequency
3.7 GHz
100%
Turbo Frequency
4.6 GHz
100%
Max. DDR4 RAM Speed
2666 MHz
100%
Core i3-540
Jan 7th, 2010
Cores
2-core
33%
L3 Cache
4 MB
44%
Base Frequency
3.07 GHz
83%
Turbo Frequency
GHz
Max. DDR3 RAM Speed
1333 MHz
50%
Specifications
Comparison of all specifications
Core i5-9600K | SpecificationsComparison of all specifications | Core i3-540 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
Oct 19th, 2018 | Release Date | Jan 7th, 2010 |
| Not Available | MSRP | $133.00 |
Desktop | Segment | Desktop |
| Intel Socket 1151 | Socket | Intel Socket 1156 |
| Coffee Lake | Codename | Clarkdale |
| 95 W | Power Consumption | 73 W |
| Performance | ||
6 | Cores | 2 |
6 | Threads | 4 |
3.7 GHz | Base Frequency | 3.1 GHz |
| 4.6 GHz | Turbo Frequency | Non-Turbo |
9 MB | L3 Cache | 4 MB |
| Other Features | ||
| DDR4 @ 2666 MHz | RAM | DDR3 @ 1333 MHz |
| UHD 630 | Integrated Graphics | Intel HD |
Yes | Overclockable | No |
