Athlon Neo MV-40 vs Core i7-660UM

CPU

GPU

Athlon Neo MV-40

1 Cores1 Thrd512 WWMax: 1.6 GHz2009

Similar parts

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Core i7-660UM

2 Cores4 Thrd18 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2010

Similar parts

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Athlon Neo MV-40 vs Core i7-660UM Performance Spectrum

Athlon Neo MV-40

1 / 1

1,274

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i7-660UM

2 / 4

1,279

+0.4%

Atom D2550

Pentium T3400

Pentium Dual-Core E2200

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 Neo MV-40 vs Core i7-660UM 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 Neo MV-40 vs Core i7-660UM: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Athlon Neo MV-40

2009

Why buy it

✅Costs $217 less on MSRP ($100 MSRP vs $317 MSRP).
✅Delivers 215.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 12.7 vs 4.0 PassMark/$ ($100 MSRP vs $317 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,274 vs 1,279).
❌2744.4% higher power demand at 512W vs 18W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-660UM can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-660UM

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 18W instead of 512W, a 494W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics, while Athlon Neo MV-40 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 4.0 vs 12.7 PassMark/$ ($317 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-660UM better than Athlon Neo MV-40?

Yes. Core i7-660UM is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.8% average FPS lead across 46 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.4% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-660UM is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.8% more average FPS across 46 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-660UM is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i7-660UM is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i7-660UM comes in 217.0% more expensive on MSRP at $317 MSRP versus $100 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.8% average FPS lead across 46 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon Neo MV-40 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 215.8% better value on paper (12.7 vs 4.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on ASB1.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i7-660UM makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 1/1. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon Neo MV-40 vs Core i7-660UM Technical Specifications

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

Athlon Neo MV-40

The Athlon Neo MV-40 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Huron (2009) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.6 GHz. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: ASB1. Thermal design power (TDP): 512 kB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,274 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i7-660UM

The Core i7-660UM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.33 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1288. Thermal design power (TDP): 18 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800. Passmark benchmark score: 1,279 points. Launch price was $317.

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Processing Power

The Athlon Neo MV-40 packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the Core i7-660UM offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core i7-660UM has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Athlon Neo MV-40 versus 2.4 GHz on the Core i7-660UM — a 40% clock advantage for the Core i7-660UM. The Athlon Neo MV-40 uses the Huron (2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Core i7-660UM uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon Neo MV-40 scores 1,274 against the Core i7-660UM's 1,279 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i7-660UM.

Feature	Athlon Neo MV-40	Core i7-660UM
Cores / Threads	1 / 1	2 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	1.6 GHz	2.4 GHz+50%
Base Clock	—	1.33 GHz
L3 Cache	—	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB+100%	256 kB (per core)
Process	65 nm	32 nm-51%
Architecture	Huron (2009)	Arrandale (2010−2011)
PassMark	1,274	1,279
Geekbench 6 Single	—	250
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	600

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon Neo MV-40 uses the ASB1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-660UM uses BGA1288 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-667 on the Athlon Neo MV-40 versus DDR3-1066 on the Core i7-660UM — the Core i7-660UM supports 59.8% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i7-660UM supports up to 8 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon Neo MV-40) vs 16 (Core i7-660UM) — the Core i7-660UM offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD ASB1 (Athlon Neo MV-40) and PM55,HM55,QM57,HM57 (Core i7-660UM).

Feature	Athlon Neo MV-40	Core i7-660UM
Socket	ASB1	BGA1288
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-667	DDR3-1066+60%
Max RAM Capacity	4 GB	8 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon Neo MV-40) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-660UM). The Core i7-660UM includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics), while the Athlon Neo MV-40 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-660UM targets Budget.

Feature	Athlon Neo MV-40	Core i7-660UM
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	HD Graphics
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	Budget

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon Neo MV-40 was priced at $100, while the Core i7-660UM came in at $317. On launch pricing ($100 vs $317), Athlon Neo MV-40 was $217 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon Neo MV-40 delivers 12.7 pts/$ vs 4.0 pts/$ for the Core i7-660UM — making the Athlon Neo MV-40 the 103.8% better value option.

Feature	Athlon Neo MV-40	Core i7-660UM
MSRP	$100-68%	$317
Performance per Dollar	12.7+217%	4.0
Release Date	2009	2010

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