AMD Athlon X4 830 vs Intel Core i7-3540M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a consistent, though narrow, victory for the Intel Core i7-3540M across every shared benchmark. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel scores 254 against the AMD Athlon X4 830's 248, a 2.4% advantage. The same 2.4% delta appears in Cinebench R20 multicore, where Intel posts 1060 to AMD's 1035. Cinebench R23 multicore follows the pattern exactly: 2525 for Intel versus 2465 for AMD, another 2.4% lead. The margins are not large, but they are uniform, which points to a structural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Single-core results tell the same story with slightly smaller deltas. In Cinebench R20 single-core, Intel leads 149 to 146, a 2.1% gap. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 356 against 348, a 2.3% difference. The Intel part wins all five head-to-head measurements. The AMD Athlon X4 830 secures no victories in any shared test. The average benchmark score reinforces the hierarchy: Intel sits at 867, AMD at 848, a gap of roughly 19 points, or about 2.2% of the AMD score.

Context from the nearest rivals clarifies what these numbers mean. The Intel Core i7-3540M's average score of 867 places it within 0.1% of the Intel Xeon X3460, which records 866. It also edges out the Intel Core i5-3470T at 863 by 0.4%. On the other side, the AMD Athlon X4 830's average of 848 trails the Intel Core i5-5250U by 0.9% (856) and the Intel Xeon X5492 by 0.4% (852). Both processors sit at the 23rd percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy the same broad performance tier despite the Intel part's consistent per-test advantage.

The Cinebench R23 single-core result deserves special attention. Intel's 356 score exceeds AMD's 348 by 8 points, which is a 2.3% improvement. That is a meaningful margin for a mobile dual-core chip with hyper-threading against a desktop quad-core without it. The Intel part's boost clock of 3.70 GHz, compared to AMD's 3.40 GHz, likely drives much of this single-thread edge, though the architecture differences covered later also contribute.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-3540M wins every measured benchmark category. In multicore workloads, it beats the Athlon X4 830 by 2.4% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. In single-core workloads, it wins by 2.1% in Cinebench R20 and 2.3% in Cinebench R23. There is no test in the head-to-head set where AMD pulls ahead. The data offers no scenario, based on these benchmarks, where the Athlon X4 830 takes the lead.

The use-case split therefore comes down to platform rather than performance. The Intel part is a mobile processor with a 35 W TDP, integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics, and an Intel Socket G2 (988B) interface. The AMD part is a desktop processor with a 65 W TDP, no integrated graphics, and an AMD Socket FM2+ interface. A system builder choosing between them is deciding between a low-power mobile platform with on-chip graphics and a higher-power desktop platform that requires a separate GPU. The benchmark results themselves favor Intel in every case, but the platform differences may matter more than the 2.4% performance gap.

The AMD part does offer an unlocked multiplier, which suggests overclocking headroom. Its 4 MB of L2 cache and 256 KB of L1 cache are also larger than the Intel's per-core figures, though the Intel's 4 MB of shared L3 cache adds a third cache level. The AMD's 34.1 GB/s memory bandwidth and Gen 3 PCIe with 16 CPU lanes are desktop-class features absent from the Intel's specification sheet. None of these features translate into a benchmark win in the recorded data, but they define where each chip fits.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different manufacturers, different nodes, and different design philosophies. Intel uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process built by Intel, with a die size of 118 mm². AMD uses the Steamroller architecture on a 28 nm process built by GlobalFoundries, with a die size of 245 mm² and 2,411 million transistors. The Intel die is smaller, but the AMD die packs more than twice the transistor count into roughly twice the area.

Core counts differ sharply. Intel provides 2 cores and 4 threads, relying on hyper-threading to reach four execution contexts. AMD provides 4 physical cores and 4 threads, with no hyper-threading equivalent. The base clocks are identical at 3.00 GHz, but Intel boosts to 3.70 GHz while AMD reaches only 3.40 GHz. The Intel part's higher boost clock helps explain its single-core wins despite having half the physical cores.

Cache hierarchies diverge in structure. Intel allocates 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, then adds 4 MB of shared L3. AMD provides 256 KB of L1 and 4 MB of L2, with no L3 at all. The AMD's larger L1 and L2 pools compensate for the missing L3, but the Intel's three-level hierarchy allows all four threads to share the 4 MB L3. Memory support is DDR3 dual-channel for both, but AMD lists a specific memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s while Intel does not report one. Neither supports ECC memory.

Integrated graphics appear only on the Intel side, with Intel HD 4000. The AMD Athlon X4 830 lists no integrated graphics, meaning a discrete GPU is mandatory. The Intel part targets the mobile segment, while AMD targets desktop. AMD's production status is marked end-of-life, and its multiplier is unlocked. Intel's multiplier is locked. The Intel part carries the part number SR0X6, and the AMD carries AD830XYBI44JA. Both use DDR3 memory and dual-channel buses.

The process node gap is significant: 22 nm for Intel versus 28 nm for AMD. That difference shows up in TDP, with Intel at 35 W and AMD at 65 W. The Intel chip draws less than half the power budget of the AMD chip while still winning every benchmark. The 118 mm² Intel die versus the 245 mm² AMD die further illustrates the efficiency gap. The AMD part's higher transistor count (2,411 million) and larger die do not translate into higher benchmark scores.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i7-3540M as the faster processor in every shared benchmark. It wins all five head-to-head tests, and its average benchmark score of 867 exceeds the AMD's 848. The Intel part also does this at 35 W TDP versus 65 W for AMD, and it includes integrated graphics, which the AMD lacks. For any workload represented by Cinebench R15, R20, or R23, the Intel part is the better choice.

The AMD Athlon X4 830 does have arguments in its favor, but they are not benchmark arguments. It offers 4 physical cores, an unlocked multiplier, a larger L2 cache, and desktop platform features like Gen 3 PCIe with 16 CPU lanes and a listed memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. Its production status is end-of-life, however, and its average score of 848 puts it behind several Intel rivals, including the Core i5-5250U (856), the Xeon X5492 (852), and the Core i7-3520M (843, which it beats by 0.6%). The nearest rival to the AMD, the Intel Core i7-3520M, is essentially the same chip as the item A in this comparison, highlighting how close these processors are.

For a mobile system where power draw and integrated graphics matter, the Intel Core i7-3540M is the clear pick. For a desktop system where a discrete GPU is already planned and the unlocked multiplier appeals to overclockers, the AMD Athlon X4 830 remains a viable, if slower, option. The benchmark data, however, shows no scenario where the AMD wins a performance test. The verdict is straightforward: the Intel part is faster in every measured category, and the AMD part's only advantages are platform-level features that do not appear in the recorded scores.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-3540M has an average benchmark score of 867, while the AMD Athlon X4 830 scores 848.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two in any shared test?

A: The largest gap is 2.4%, which appears in Cinebench R15 multicore, R20 multicore, and R23 multicore, all favoring the Intel Core i7-3540M.

Q: Does the AMD Athlon X4 830 win any head-to-head benchmark?

A: No. The AMD records zero wins out of five shared tests.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-3540M has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD Athlon X4 830 has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The Intel part is rated at 35 W, and the AMD part is rated at 65 W.

Q: Does the AMD processor include integrated graphics?

A: No. The AMD Athlon X4 830 lists no integrated graphics, while the Intel Core i7-3540M includes Intel HD 4000.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-3540M | AMD Athlon X4 830 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket G2 (988B) | AMD Socket FM2+ |

| Architecture | Ivy Bridge | Steamroller |

| Codename | Ivy Bridge | Kaveri |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | Not listed | 2,411 million |

| Die Size | 118 mm² | 245 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 256 KB |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 4 MB |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | None |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 34.1 GB/s |

| PCIe | Not listed | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4000 | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | Not listed | End-of-life |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | SR0X6 | AD830XYBI44JA |