Athlon X4 840 vs Core i3-6100E

Athlon X4 840 vs Core i3-6100E Performance Spectrum

Athlon X4 840

4 / 4

3,331

+0.5%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-6100E

2 / 4

3,315

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 X4 840 vs Core i3-6100E 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 840 vs Core i3-6100E: 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 840

2014

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $123 less on MSRP ($102 MSRP vs $225 MSRP).
✅Delivers 121.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 32.7 vs 14.7 PassMark/$ ($102 MSRP vs $225 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-6100E can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i3-6100E

2015

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 530, while Athlon X4 840 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon X4 840 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (3,315 vs 3,331).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.7 vs 32.7 PassMark/$ ($225 MSRP vs $102 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon X4 840 better than Core i3-6100E?

Yes. Athlon X4 840 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 8.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.5% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon X4 840 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 8.9% 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, Athlon X4 840 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Athlon X4 840 is the better buy right now. Athlon X4 840 comes in $123 cheaper on MSRP at $102 MSRP versus $225 MSRP, and it still gives you a 8.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 121.7% better value on MSRP (32.7 vs 14.7 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Core i3-6100E makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2014). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon X4 840 vs Core i3-6100E Technical Specifications

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

Athlon X4 840

The Athlon X4 840 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 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,331 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i3-6100E

The Core i3-6100E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 12 October 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: LPDDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 3,315 points. Launch price was $225.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon X4 840 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-6100E offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon X4 840 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Athlon X4 840 versus 2.7 GHz on the Core i3-6100E — a 33.8% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 840. The Athlon X4 840 uses the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i3-6100E uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 840 scores 3,331 against the Core i3-6100E's 3,315 — a 0.5% lead for the Athlon X4 840.

Feature	Athlon X4 840	Core i3-6100E
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.8 GHz+41%	2.7 GHz
Base Clock	3.1 GHz	—
L3 Cache	—	3 MB
L2 Cache	4 MB+700%	512 kB
Process	28 nm	14 nm-50%
Architecture	Kaveri (2014−2015)	Skylake (2015−2016)
PassMark	3,331	3,315

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both support up to DDR3-2133 memory speed. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD FM2+ (Athlon X4 840) and Intel 100 Series,Intel C230 Series (Core i3-6100E).

Feature	Athlon X4 840	Core i3-6100E
Socket	FM2+	—
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-2133	2133
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon X4 840) / true (Core i3-6100E). The Core i3-6100E includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 530), while the Athlon X4 840 requires a dedicated GPU.

Feature	Athlon X4 840	Core i3-6100E
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel HD Graphics 530
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	true

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon X4 840 was priced at $102, while the Core i3-6100E came in at $225. On launch pricing ($102 vs $225), Athlon X4 840 was $123 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X4 840 delivers 32.7 pts/$ vs 14.7 pts/$ for the Core i3-6100E — making the Athlon X4 840 the 75.6% better value option.

Feature	Athlon X4 840	Core i3-6100E
MSRP	$102-55%	$225
Performance per Dollar	32.7+122%	14.7
Release Date	2014	2015

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