
Athlon X4 840 vs Core i3-7167U

Athlon X4 840

Core i3-7167U
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 840 is positioned at rank 563 and the Core i3-7167U is on rank 531, so the Core i3-7167U 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 840
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-7167U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 840 | Core i3-7167U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Kaveri (2014−2015) / 28 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 840 | Core i3-7167U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 840 and Core i3-7167U

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 i3-7167U
The Core i3-7167U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,368 points. Launch price was $304.
Processing Power
The Athlon X4 840 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-7167U 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 2.8 GHz on the Core i3-7167U — a 30.3% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 840 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Athlon X4 840 uses the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i3-7167U uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 840 scores 3,331 against the Core i3-7167U's 3,368 — a 1.1% lead for the Core i3-7167U.
| Feature | Athlon X4 840 | Core i3-7167U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+36% | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz+11% | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+700% | 512 kB |
| Process | 28 nm | 14 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Kaveri (2014−2015) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 3,331 | 3,368+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X4 840 uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-7167U uses BGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-2133 on the Athlon X4 840 versus DDR4-2133 on the Core i3-7167U — the Core i3-7167U supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon X4 840 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon X4 840) vs 12 (Core i3-7167U) — the Athlon X4 840 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Athlon X4 840 | Core i3-7167U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2+ | BGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-2133 | DDR4-2133+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB+100% | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+33% | 12 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon X4 840) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-7167U). The Core i3-7167U includes integrated graphics (Iris Plus Graphics 650), while the Athlon X4 840 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-7167U targets Mobile.
| Feature | Athlon X4 840 | Core i3-7167U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Iris Plus Graphics 650 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Mobile |
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