Core i3-7101E vs Phenom II X3 P840
Core i3-7101E
Phenom II X3 P840
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 Core i3-7101E is positioned at rank 520 and the Phenom II X3 P840 is on rank 45, so the Phenom II X3 P840 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-7101E
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X3 P840
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-7101E | Phenom II X3 P840 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-7101E | Phenom II X3 P840 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ 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 Core i3-7101E and Phenom II X3 P840
Core i3-7101E
The Core i3-7101E 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 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 54 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1600, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 4,430 points. Launch price was $117.
Phenom II X3 P840
The Phenom II X3 P840 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Max frequency: 1.9 GHz. L2 cache: 1.5 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1.5 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,425 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-7101E packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X3 P840 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Phenom II X3 P840 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core i3-7101E versus 1.9 GHz on the Phenom II X3 P840 — a 69% clock advantage for the Core i3-7101E. The Core i3-7101E uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Phenom II X3 P840 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-7101E scores 4,430 against the Phenom II X3 P840's 4,425 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i3-7101E.
| Feature | Core i3-7101E | Phenom II X3 P840 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz+105% | 1.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.9 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | — |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 1.5 MB+200% |
| Process | 14 nm-69% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Champlain (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 4,430 | 4,425 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,250 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-7101E uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Phenom II X3 P840 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-7101E | Phenom II X3 P840 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | S1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-7101E) / not specified (Phenom II X3 P840). The Core i3-7101E includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 630), while the Phenom II X3 P840 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-7101E targets Embedded. Direct competitor: Core i3-7101E rivals Embedded Ryzen V1000.
| Feature | Core i3-7101E | Phenom II X3 P840 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 630 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Embedded | — |
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