Athlon II X4 620 vs Core i7-840QM

Athlon II X4 620 vs Core i7-840QM Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 620

4 / 4

2,026

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i7-840QM

4 / 8

2,025

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 X4 620 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 620 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 620

2009

Why buy it

✅+0% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $99 MSRP, while Core i7-840QM mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌111.1% higher power demand at 95W vs 45W.

Core i7-840QM

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 45W instead of 95W, a 50W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,025 vs 2,026).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-840QM better than Athlon II X4 620?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i7-840QM is ahead with a 1.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X4 620 pulls ahead with 0% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X4 620 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0% better PassMark, 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 $99 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X4 620 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (20.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2009). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X4 620 vs Core i7-840QM Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X4 620

The Athlon II X4 620 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 16 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,026 points. Launch price was $65.

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.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 620 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-840QM's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X4 620 versus 3.2 GHz on the Core i7-840QM — a 20.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-840QM (base: 2.6 GHz vs 1.86 GHz). The Athlon II X4 620 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 620 scores 2,026 against the Core i7-840QM's 2,025 — a 0% lead for the Athlon II X4 620. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 620 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-840QM.

Feature	Athlon II X4 620	Core i7-840QM
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 8
Boost Clock	2.6 GHz	3.2 GHz+23%
Base Clock	2.6 GHz+40%	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	2,026	2,025
Geekbench 6 Single	—	390
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	1,050

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 620 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 620 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X4 620) vs 16 (Core i7-840QM) — the Core i7-840QM offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM3 (Athlon II X4 620) and PM55,HM55,QM57,HM57 (Core i7-840QM).