Athlon X4 840 vs FX-9830P

Athlon X4 840 vs FX-9830P Performance Spectrum

Athlon X4 840

4 / 4

3,331

+1.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

FX-9830P

4 / 4

3,298

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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 FX-9830P 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 FX-9830P: 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: +3.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $48 less on MSRP ($102 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
✅Delivers 48.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 32.7 vs 22.0 PassMark/$ ($102 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.

FX-9830P

2016

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon X4 840 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (3,298 vs 3,331).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 22.0 vs 32.7 PassMark/$ ($150 MSRP vs $102 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon X4 840 better than FX-9830P?

Yes. Athlon X4 840 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 3.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1% 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 3.9% 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 1% 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 $48 cheaper on MSRP at $102 MSRP versus $150 MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 48.5% better value on MSRP (32.7 vs 22.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

FX-9830P makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2016 vs 2014). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon X4 840 vs FX-9830P 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.

FX-9830P

The FX-9830P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 31 May 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB (per module). Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FP4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,298 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

Both the Athlon X4 840 and FX-9830P share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Athlon X4 840 versus 3.7 GHz on the FX-9830P — a 2.7% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 840 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Athlon X4 840 uses the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture (28 nm), while the FX-9830P uses Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 840 scores 3,331 against the FX-9830P's 3,298 — a 1% lead for the Athlon X4 840.

Feature	Athlon X4 840	FX-9830P
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	3.8 GHz+3%	3.7 GHz
Base Clock	3.1 GHz+3%	3 GHz
L2 Cache	4 MB+300%	1 MB (per module)
Process	28 nm	28 nm
Architecture	Kaveri (2014−2015)	Bristol Ridge (2016−2019)
PassMark	3,331+1%	3,298

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon X4 840 uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the FX-9830P uses FP4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Athlon X4 840	FX-9830P
Socket	FM2+	FP4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-2133	—
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon X4 840 was priced at $102, while the FX-9830P came in at $150. On launch pricing ($102 vs $150), Athlon X4 840 was $48 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X4 840 delivers 32.7 pts/$ vs 22.0 pts/$ for the FX-9830P — making the Athlon X4 840 the 39.1% better value option.

Feature	Athlon X4 840	FX-9830P
MSRP	$102-32%	$150
Performance per Dollar	32.7+49%	22.0
Release Date	2014	2016

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