Athlon II X2 235e vs Celeron B840

CPU

GPU

Athlon II X2 235e

2 Cores2 Thrd45 WWMax: 2.7 GHz2009

Similar parts

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Celeron B840

2 Cores2 Thrd0 WWMax: 1.9 GHz2011

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Athlon II X2 235e vs Celeron B840 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X2 235e

2 / 2

1,079

+1.3%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Celeron B840

2 / 2

1,065

0.0%

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 II X2 235e vs Celeron B840 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 II X2 235e vs Celeron B840: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon II X2 235e

2009

Why buy it

✅Costs $17 less on MSRP ($69 MSRP vs $86 MSRP).
✅Delivers 26.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 15.6 vs 12.4 PassMark/$ ($69 MSRP vs $86 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Celeron B840.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (240 vs 450).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (450 vs 790).
❌No integrated graphics, while Celeron B840 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Celeron B840

2011

Why buy it

✅+87.5% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge), while Athlon II X2 235e needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.4 vs 15.6 PassMark/$ ($86 MSRP vs $69 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X2 235e.

Quick Answers

So, is Celeron B840 better than Athlon II X2 235e?

Yes. Celeron B840 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.8% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data, 75.6% better Geekbench multi-core, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Celeron B840 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.8% more average FPS across 49 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Celeron B840 is the stronger fit. You are getting 75.6% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Celeron B840 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Celeron B840 comes in 24.6% more expensive on MSRP at $86 MSRP versus $69 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.8% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X2 235e only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 26.3% better value on paper (15.6 vs 12.4 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on AM3.

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

Celeron B840 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X2 235e vs Celeron B840 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X2 235e

The Athlon II X2 235e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,079 points. Launch price was $84.

Celeron B840

The Celeron B840 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 July 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 1.9 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,065 points. Launch price was $86.

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Processing Power

Both the Athlon II X2 235e and Celeron B840 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X2 235e versus 1.9 GHz on the Celeron B840 — a 34.8% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 235e (base: 2.7 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). The Athlon II X2 235e uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron B840 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 235e scores 1,079 against the Celeron B840's 1,065 — a 1.3% lead for the Athlon II X2 235e. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 240 vs 450, a 60.9% lead for the Celeron B840 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 450 vs 790 (54.8% advantage for the Celeron B840). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 235e vs 2 MB (total) on the Celeron B840.

Feature	Athlon II X2 235e	Celeron B840
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.7 GHz+42%	1.9 GHz
Base Clock	2.7 GHz+42%	1.9 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	2 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	45 nm	32 nm-29%
Architecture	Regor (2009−2013)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	1,079+1%	1,065
Geekbench 6 Single	240	450+88%
Geekbench 6 Multi	450	790+76%

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X2 235e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron B840 uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X2 235e) vs 16 (Celeron B840) — the Celeron B840 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: 760G,780G,785G,790GX (Athlon II X2 235e) and HM65,HM67,QM67 (Celeron B840).

Feature	Athlon II X2 235e	Celeron B840
Socket	AM3	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	1333
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X2 235e) vs true (Celeron B840). The Celeron B840 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)), while the Athlon II X2 235e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X2 235e targets Energy Efficient Legacy Desktop, Celeron B840 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 235e rivals Pentium E5300; Celeron B840 rivals Pentium B940.

Feature	Athlon II X2 235e	Celeron B840
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	true
Target Use	Energy Efficient Legacy Desktop	Budget

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X2 235e was priced at $69, while the Celeron B840 came in at $86. On launch pricing ($69 vs $86), Athlon II X2 235e was $17 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 235e delivers 15.6 pts/$ vs 12.4 pts/$ for the Celeron B840 — making the Athlon II X2 235e the 23.2% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X2 235e	Celeron B840
MSRP	$69-20%	$86
Performance per Dollar	15.6+26%	12.4
Release Date	2009	2011

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