Athlon II X4 615e vs Core i7-840QM

Athlon II X4 615e vs Core i7-840QM Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 615e

4 / 4

2,018

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i7-840QM

4 / 8

2,025

+0.3%

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 X4 615e vs Core i7-840QM 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 X4 615e vs Core i7-840QM: 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 X4 615e

2010

Why buy it

✅+10.6% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-840QM.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-840QM across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $186 MSRP, while Core i7-840QM mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Core i7-840QM

2010

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (1,050 vs 1,161).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X4 615e.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-840QM better than Athlon II X4 615e?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i7-840QM is ahead with a 3.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X4 615e pulls ahead with 10.6% better Geekbench multi-core.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X4 615e is the stronger fit. You are getting 10.6% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i7-840QM is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i7-840QM comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $186 MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X4 615e only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (10.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?

Core i7-840QM is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more room to grow and a better platform outlook.

Athlon II X4 615e vs Core i7-840QM Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X4 615e

The Athlon II X4 615e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,018 points. Launch price was $59.

Core i7-840QM

The Core i7-840QM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarksfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.86 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,025 points. Launch price was $568.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 615e packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-840QM's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Athlon II X4 615e versus 3.2 GHz on the Core i7-840QM — a 24.6% clock advantage for the Core i7-840QM (base: 2.5 GHz vs 1.86 GHz). The Athlon II X4 615e uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i7-840QM uses Clarksfield (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 615e scores 2,018 against the Core i7-840QM's 2,025 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i7-840QM. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 331 vs 390, a 16.4% lead for the Core i7-840QM that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,161 vs 1,050 (10% advantage for the Athlon II X4 615e). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 615e vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-840QM.

Feature	Athlon II X4 615e	Core i7-840QM
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 8
Boost Clock	2.5 GHz	3.2 GHz+28%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+34%	1.86 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)+100%	256 kB (per core)
Process	45 nm	45 nm
Architecture	Propus (2009−2011)	Clarksfield (2009−2010)
PassMark	2,018	2,025
Cinebench R23 Multi	1,161	—
Geekbench 6 Single	331	390+18%
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,161+11%	1,050

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 615e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-840QM uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Athlon II X4 615e supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD 870,AMD 880G,AMD 890FX,AMD 990FX (Athlon II X4 615e) and PM55,HM55,QM57,HM57 (Core i7-840QM).

Feature	Athlon II X4 615e	Core i7-840QM
Socket	AM3	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB+100%	8 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Athlon II X4 615e has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X4 615e) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-840QM). Primary use case: Athlon II X4 615e targets Gaming, Core i7-840QM targets Laptop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X4 615e rivals Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300.