Athlon X4 840 vs Xeon W5590
Athlon X4 840
Xeon W5590
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 Xeon W5590 is on rank 678, so the Athlon X4 840 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 Xeon W5590
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 840 | Xeon W5590 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($25) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Kaveri (2014−2015) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 840 | Xeon W5590 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+20%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($25) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) |
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 Xeon W5590
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.
Xeon W5590
The Xeon W5590 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 August 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 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: 3,342 points. Launch price was $270.
Processing Power
The Athlon X4 840 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon W5590's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Athlon X4 840 versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon W5590 — a 5.4% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 840 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 3.33 GHz). The Athlon X4 840 uses the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture (28 nm), while the Xeon W5590 uses Gainestown (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 840 scores 3,331 against the Xeon W5590's 3,342 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon W5590.
| Feature | Athlon X4 840 | Xeon W5590 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+6% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.33 GHz+7% |
| L3 Cache | — | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+1500% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 28 nm-38% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Kaveri (2014−2015) | Gainestown (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 3,331 | 3,342 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X4 840 uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon W5590 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon X4 840 | Xeon W5590 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2+ | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-2133 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon X4 840 launched at $102 MSRP, while the Xeon W5590 debuted at $202. At current prices ($25 vs $30), the Athlon X4 840 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X4 840 delivers 133.2 pts/$ vs 111.4 pts/$ for the Xeon W5590 — making the Athlon X4 840 the 17.9% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon X4 840 | Xeon W5590 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $102-50% | $202 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $25-17% | $30 |
| Performance per Dollar | 133.2+20% | 111.4 |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2009 |
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