CPU
GPU
Athlon X4 830
Core i7-940
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 X4 830 is positioned at rank 476 and the Core i7-940 is on rank 1071, so the Athlon X4 830 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X4 830
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-940
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 830 | Core i7-940 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($25) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($90) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Kaveri (2014−2015) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 830 | Core i7-940 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+259%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($25) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($90) |
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 X4 830 and Core i7-940
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. Both support up to DDR3-2133 memory speed. The Athlon X4 830 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 24 GB — 90.9% 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 | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB+167% | 24 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 3+50% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| 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
The Athlon X4 830 launched at $70 MSRP, while the Core i7-940 debuted at $562. At current prices ($25 vs $90), the Athlon X4 830 is $65 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X4 830 delivers 120.7 pts/$ vs 33.7 pts/$ for the Core i7-940 — making the Athlon X4 830 the 112.8% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon X4 830 | Core i7-940 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $70-88% | $562 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $25-72% | $90 |
| Performance per Dollar | 120.7+258% | 33.7 |
| Release Date | 2015 | 2008 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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