
Athlon II X2 240 vs Celeron B840

Athlon II X2 240

Celeron B840
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon II X2 240 is positioned at rank 852 and the Celeron B840 is on rank 1028, so the Athlon II X2 240 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 240
Performance Per Dollar Celeron B840
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 240 | Celeron B840 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X2 240 | Celeron B840 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+49%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon II X2 240 and Celeron B840

Athlon II X2 240
The Athlon II X2 240 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 July 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,060 points. Launch price was $35.

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.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon II X2 240 and Celeron B840 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Athlon II X2 240 versus 1.9 GHz on the Celeron B840 — a 38.3% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 240 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). The Athlon II X2 240 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 240 scores 1,060 against the Celeron B840's 1,065 — a 0.5% lead for the Celeron B840. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 373 vs 450, a 18.7% lead for the Celeron B840 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 700 vs 790 (12.1% advantage for the Celeron B840). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 240 vs 2 MB (total) on the Celeron B840.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 240 | Celeron B840 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+47% | 1.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+47% | 1.9 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Regor (2009−2013) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,060 | 1,065 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 373 | 450+21% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 700 | 790+13% |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X2 240 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron B840 uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1066 on the Athlon II X2 240 versus 1333 on the Celeron B840 — the Celeron B840 supports 199.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: 760G,785G,790GX,880G,890GX (Athlon II X2 240) and HM65,HM67,QM67 (Celeron B840).
| Feature | Athlon II X2 240 | Celeron B840 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | 1333+44333% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+104857500% | 16 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X2 240) vs true (Celeron B840). The Celeron B840 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)), while the Athlon II X2 240 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X2 240 targets Desktop, Celeron B840 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 240 rivals Pentium E5400; Celeron B840 rivals Pentium B940.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 240 | Celeron B840 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | None | Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | true |
| Target Use | Desktop | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X2 240 launched at $60 MSRP, while the Celeron B840 debuted at $86. At current prices ($10 vs $15), the Athlon II X2 240 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 240 delivers 106.0 pts/$ vs 71.0 pts/$ for the Celeron B840 — making the Athlon II X2 240 the 39.5% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 240 | Celeron B840 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $60-30% | $86 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-33% | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 106.0+49% | 71.0 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2011 |
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