Athlon X4 840 vs Xeon X3480
Athlon X4 840
Xeon X3480
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 X3480 is on rank 981, 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 X3480
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 840 | Xeon X3480 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($25) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($48) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Kaveri (2014−2015) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Lynnfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 840 | Xeon X3480 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+92%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($25) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($48) |
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 X3480
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 X3480
The Xeon X3480 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.06 GHz, with boost up to 3.73 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 3,327 points. Launch price was $612.
Processing Power
The Athlon X4 840 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon X3480's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Athlon X4 840 versus 3.73 GHz on the Xeon X3480 — a 1.9% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 840 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 3.06 GHz). The Athlon X4 840 uses the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture (28 nm), while the Xeon X3480 uses Lynnfield (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 840 scores 3,331 against the Xeon X3480's 3,327 — a 0.1% lead for the Athlon X4 840.
| Feature | Athlon X4 840 | Xeon X3480 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+2% | 3.73 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz+1% | 3.06 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) | Lynnfield (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 3,331 | 3,327 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X4 840 uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon X3480 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon X4 840 | Xeon X3480 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2+ | LGA1156 |
| 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 X3480 debuted at $612. At current prices ($25 vs $48), the Athlon X4 840 is $23 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X4 840 delivers 133.2 pts/$ vs 69.3 pts/$ for the Xeon X3480 — making the Athlon X4 840 the 63.1% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon X4 840 | Xeon X3480 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $102-83% | $612 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $25-48% | $48 |
| Performance per Dollar | 133.2+92% | 69.3 |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2010 |
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