Athlon II X4 615e vs Core i7-840QM
Athlon II X4 615e
Core i7-840QM
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 X4 615e is positioned at rank 983 and the Core i7-840QM is on rank 812, so the Core i7-840QM 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 X4 615e
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-840QM
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 615e | Core i7-840QM |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarksfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 615e | Core i7-840QM |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 X4 615e and Core i7-840QM
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 — 66.7% 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 | ❌ | ❌ |
| 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.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 615e | Core i7-840QM |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Gaming | Laptop |
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