Athlon X4 830 vs Core i7-940

Athlon X4 830 vs Core i7-940 Performance Spectrum

Athlon X4 830

4 / 4

3,018

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 1950

Ryzen AI Max 390

Ryzen 9 9955HX3D

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i7-940

4 / 8

3,029

+0.4%

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 X4 830 vs Core i7-940 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 X4 830 vs Core i7-940: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon X4 830

2015

Why buy it

✅Costs $492 less on MSRP ($70 MSRP vs $562 MSRP).
✅Delivers 699.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 43.1 vs 5.4 PassMark/$ ($70 MSRP vs $562 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-940 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (3,018 vs 3,029).
❌6400% higher power demand at 65W vs 1W.

Core i7-940

2008

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 1W instead of 65W, a 64W reduction.
✅125% more PCIe lanes (36 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 5.4 vs 43.1 PassMark/$ ($562 MSRP vs $70 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-940 better than Athlon X4 830?

Yes. Core i7-940 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 3.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.4% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-940 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 3.2% 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 i7-940 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core i7-940 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i7-940 comes in 702.9% more expensive on MSRP at $562 MSRP versus $70 MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon X4 830 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2015 platform. Even with 699.9% better value on paper (43.1 vs 5.4 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on FM2+.

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

Athlon X4 830 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2008). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon X4 830 vs Core i7-940 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon X4 830

The Athlon X4 830 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 3,018 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i7-940

The Core i7-940 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Novembro 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.93 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: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,029 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon X4 830 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-940's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Athlon X4 830 versus 3.2 GHz on the Core i7-940 — a 6.1% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 830 (base: 3 GHz vs 2.93 GHz). The Athlon X4 830 uses the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i7-940 uses Bloomfield (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 830 scores 3,018 against the Core i7-940's 3,029 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i7-940.

Feature	Athlon X4 830	Core i7-940
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz+6%	3.2 GHz
Base Clock	3 GHz+2%	2.93 GHz
L3 Cache	—	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	4 MB+1500%	256 kB (per core)
Process	28 nm-38%	45 nm
Architecture	Kaveri (2014−2015)	Bloomfield (2008−2010)
PassMark	3,018	3,029

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon X4 830 uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-940 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-2133 on the Athlon X4 830 versus DDR3-1066 on the Core i7-940 — the Athlon X4 830 supports 100.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon X4 830 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 24 GB — 166.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Athlon X4 830) vs 3 (Core i7-940). PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon X4 830) vs 36 (Core i7-940) — the Core i7-940 offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Athlon X4 830	Core i7-940
Socket	FM2+	LGA1366
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-2133+100%	DDR3-1066
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB+167%	24 GB
RAM Channels	2	3+50%
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	36+125%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon X4 830) / VT-x (Core i7-940). Primary use case: Core i7-940 targets Desktop.

Feature	Athlon X4 830	Core i7-940
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	VT-x
Target Use	—	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon X4 830 was priced at $70, while the Core i7-940 came in at $562. On launch pricing ($70 vs $562), Athlon X4 830 was $492 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X4 830 delivers 43.1 pts/$ vs 5.4 pts/$ for the Core i7-940 — making the Athlon X4 830 the 155.6% better value option.

Feature	Athlon X4 830	Core i7-940
MSRP	$70-88%	$562
Performance per Dollar	43.1+698%	5.4
Release Date	2015	2008

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