Athlon II X2 240
VS
Celeron B840

Athlon II X2 240 vs Celeron B840

AMD

Athlon II X2 240

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 2.8 GHz2009
VS
Intel

Celeron B840

2 Cores2 Thrd0 WWMax: 1.9 GHz2011

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 240

#1
Ryzen 9 7950X
MSRP: $194|Avg: $20
17641%
#2
Core i9-10900T
MSRP: $120|Avg: $5
16669%
#3
Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE
MSRP: $423|Avg: $5
12103%
#4
Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
MSRP: $1399|Avg: $85
3646%
#5
Ryzen 9 9950X
MSRP: $649|Avg: $129
2888%
#6
Ryzen 5 8400F
MSRP: $303|Avg: $55
2527%
#7
Ryzen 7 PRO 2700
MSRP: $299|Avg: $60
1447%
#8
Ryzen 5 2600X
MSRP: $229|Avg: $55
1428%
#9
Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G
MSRP: $150|Avg: $60
1300%
#10
Core Ultra 5 245KF
MSRP: $294|Avg: $189
1300%
#11
Ryzen 5 5500
MSRP: $159|Avg: $85
1286%
#12
Ryzen 5 3600
MSRP: $199|Avg: $80
1251%
#13
Core i3-9100E
MSRP: $202|Avg: $30
1234%
#14
Core Ultra 5 245K
MSRP: $319|Avg: $200
1229%
#15
Core i3-8300T
MSRP: $138|Avg: $25
1217%
#852
Athlon II X2 240
MSRP: $60|Avg: $10
100%
#854
Core i5-2500S
MSRP: $192|Avg: $61
99%
#855
Athlon X2 BE-2400
MSRP: $60|Avg: $5
99%
#857
Pentium G850
MSRP: $86|Avg: $75
98%
#858
Core i3-2102
MSRP: $117|Avg: $15
98%
#859
Core i5-3475S
MSRP: $249|Avg: $42
98%
#860
Core i7-2600K
MSRP: $317|Avg: $109
98%
#861
Pentium G860
MSRP: $86|Avg: $36
98%
#862
Athlon II X2 245
MSRP: $66|Avg: $15
97%
#863
Core i7-2700K
MSRP: $332|Avg: $45
97%
#865
Core i5-4670K
MSRP: $328|Avg: $200
96%
#866
Core i5-3330S
MSRP: $231|Avg: $30
96%
#867
Celeron G465
MSRP: $70|Avg: $37
96%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Celeron B840

#1016
Atom x5-Z8300
MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A
2370%
#1017
Atom Z3735G
MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A
2335%
#1018
Core i5-480M
MSRP: $81|Avg: $77
2144%
#1019
Core i5-460M
MSRP: $80|Avg: $129
2134%
#1020
Core i5-2540M
MSRP: $266|Avg: $10
2115%
#1022
Core i5-450M
MSRP: $32|Avg: $31
2042%
#1023
Core i3-380M
MSRP: $49|Avg: $25
1958%
#1024
Core i5-430M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33
1955%
#1025
Core 2 Duo T6600
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4
1902%
#1028
Celeron B840
MSRP: $86|Avg: $15
100%
#1029
Celeron M 743
MSRP: $107|Avg: $15
100%
#1030
Core i7-3612QM
MSRP: $378|Avg: N/A
100%
#1031
Pentium 967
MSRP: $134|Avg: $10
99%
#1032
Core i5-4400E
MSRP: $266|Avg: $50
99%
#1034
Pentium Dual Core T4400
MSRP: $107|Avg: $5
97%
#1037
Core i7-8665UE
MSRP: $409|Avg: $409
96%
#1038
Celeron T3300
MSRP: $86|Avg: $15
94%
#1039
Celeron Dual-Core T3300
MSRP: $86|Avg: $30
94%
#1042
Core i7-3612QE
MSRP: $426|Avg: $50
93%
#1043
A10-7300
MSRP: $150|Avg: $50
93%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Leadership: The Celeron B840 delivers superior performance across the board. It outperforms the Athlon II X2 240 in both compute-intensive tasks (0.5% faster) and gaming workloads.
InsightAthlon II X2 240Celeron 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

Value Proposition: While both processors are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Athlon II X2 240 holds the technical lead in efficiency. Priced at $10 (vs $15), it costs 33% less. While offering basic entry-level performance, it results in a 49% higher cost efficiency score compared to the Celeron B840.
InsightAthlon II X2 240Celeron B840
Cost Efficiency
Better overall value (+49%)
Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost
More affordable ($10)
⚠️ Higher cost ($15)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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

AMD

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.

Intel

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.

FeatureAthlon II X2 240Celeron 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).

FeatureAthlon II X2 240Celeron 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.

FeatureAthlon II X2 240Celeron 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.

FeatureAthlon II X2 240Celeron B840
MSRP
$60-30%
$86
Avg Price (30d)
$10-33%
$15
Performance per Dollar
106.0+49%
71.0
Release Date
2009
2011