Athlon PRO 200GE vs Core i7-2840QM

AMD

Athlon PRO 200GE

2 Cores2 Thrd35 WWMax: 3.2 GHz2018
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VS
Intel

Core i7-2840QM

4 Cores8 Thrd45 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2011
Similar parts
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Athlon PRO 200GE vs Core i7-2840QM Performance Spectrum

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 PRO 200GE vs Core i7-2840QM 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 PRO 200GE vs Core i7-2840QM: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon PRO 200GE

2018

Why buy it

  • Draws 35W instead of 45W, a 10W reduction.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon Vega 3, while Core i7-2840QM needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-2840QM across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (3,816 vs 3,842).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 8 MB).
  • Launch MSRP is still $55 MSRP, while Core i7-2840QM mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Core i7-2840QM

2011

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +6.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • +100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).

Trade-offs

  • 28.6% higher power demand at 45W vs 35W.
  • No integrated graphics, while Athlon PRO 200GE can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-2840QM better than Athlon PRO 200GE?
Yes. Core i7-2840QM is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 6.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.7% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Core i7-2840QM is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 6.9% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-2840QM is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Core i7-2840QM is still the better call for a fresh build. Core i7-2840QM comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $55 MSRP, and it still gives you a 6.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon PRO 200GE only looks stronger on raw value math because it is so cheap, but its absolute performance tier is too low to be the better recommendation now. At roughly 3,816 PassMark with 2 cores and 2 threads, it only really makes sense as a bare-minimum stopgap or a very constrained existing-platform upgrade.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Athlon PRO 200GE makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2011). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon PRO 200GE vs Core i7-2840QM Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon PRO 200GE

The Athlon PRO 200GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 3,816 points. Launch price was $149.

Intel

Core i7-2840QM

The Core i7-2840QM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: G2. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 3,842 points. Launch price was $69.

Processing Power

The Athlon PRO 200GE packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Core i7-2840QM offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-2840QM has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Athlon PRO 200GE versus 2.4 GHz on the Core i7-2840QM — a 28.6% clock advantage for the Athlon PRO 200GE. The Athlon PRO 200GE uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-2840QM uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon PRO 200GE scores 3,816 against the Core i7-2840QM's 3,842 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i7-2840QM. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon PRO 200GE vs 8 MB on the Core i7-2840QM.

FeatureAthlon PRO 200GECore i7-2840QM
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
4 / 8+100%
Boost Clock
3.2 GHz+33%
2.4 GHz
Base Clock
3.2 GHz
L3 Cache
4 MB (total)
8 MB+100%
L2 Cache
512K (per core)+51100%
1 MB
Process
14 nm-56%
32 nm
Architecture
Zen (2017−2020)
Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark
3,816
3,842
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Memory & Platform

The Athlon PRO 200GE uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-2840QM uses G2 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureAthlon PRO 200GECore i7-2840QM
Socket
AM4
G2
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0+50%
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity
64 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
Yes
PCIe Lanes
8
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Advanced Features

The Athlon PRO 200GE includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon Vega 3), while the Core i7-2840QM requires a dedicated GPU.

FeatureAthlon PRO 200GECore i7-2840QM
Integrated GPU
Yes
IGPU Model
AMD Radeon Vega 3