Athlon 240GE vs Core i7-2860QM

Athlon 240GE vs Core i7-2860QM Performance Spectrum

Athlon 240GE

2 / 4

4,561

0.0%

FX-9800P

Athlon X4 830

Ryzen Embedded V1202B

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Core i7-2860QM

4 / 8

4,597

+0.8%

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Athlon 240GE vs Core i7-2860QM FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Athlon 240GE vs Core i7-2860QM: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Athlon 240GE

2018

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 45W, a 10W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Included), unlike Core i7-2860QM.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-2860QM across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (4,561 vs 4,597).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 8 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $75 MSRP, while Core i7-2860QM mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Core i7-2860QM

2011

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).
✅100% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌28.6% higher power demand at 45W vs 35W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon 240GE.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-2860QM better than Athlon 240GE?

Yes. Core i7-2860QM is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 7.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.8% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-2860QM is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 7.3% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-2860QM is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-2860QM is still the better call for a fresh build. Core i7-2860QM comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $75 MSRP, and it still gives you a 7.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon 240GE only looks stronger on raw value math because it is so cheap, but its absolute performance tier is too low to be the better recommendation now. At roughly 4,561 PassMark with 2 cores and 4 threads, it only really makes sense as a bare-minimum stopgap or a very constrained existing-platform upgrade.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Athlon 240GE makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2011). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon 240GE vs Core i7-2860QM Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Athlon 240GE

The Athlon 240GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 December 2018 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 4,561 points. Launch price was $75.

Core i7-2860QM

The Core i7-2860QM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 4,597 points. Launch price was $568.

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Processing Power

The Athlon 240GE packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-2860QM offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-2860QM has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Athlon 240GE versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-2860QM — a 2.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-2860QM (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Athlon 240GE uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-2860QM uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 240GE scores 4,561 against the Core i7-2860QM's 4,597 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i7-2860QM. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon 240GE vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-2860QM.

Feature	Athlon 240GE	Core i7-2860QM
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	4 / 8+100%
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz	3.6 GHz+3%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+40%	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	4 MB (total)	8 MB (total)+100%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)+100%	256K (per core)
Process	14 nm-56%	32 nm
Architecture	Zen (2017−2020)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	4,561	4,597
Geekbench 6 Single	930	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	2,200	—

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon 240GE uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-2860QM uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Athlon 240GE versus 1600 on the Core i7-2860QM — the Athlon 240GE supports 66.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon 240GE supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (Athlon 240GE) vs 16 (Core i7-2860QM) — the Core i7-2860QM offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A320,B450 (Athlon 240GE) and HM65,HM67,QM67,QS67 (Core i7-2860QM).

Feature	Athlon 240GE	Core i7-2860QM
Socket	AM4	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666+67%	1600
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB+100%	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	8	16+100%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Athlon 240GE has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon 240GE) vs true (Core i7-2860QM). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon Vega 3 (Athlon 240GE) and Intel HD Graphics 3000 (Core i7-2860QM) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon 240GE targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon 240GE rivals Pentium Gold G5400; Core i7-2860QM rivals AMD A8-3510MX.