Core i7-2640M vs Phenom II X4 850
Core i7-2640M
Phenom II X4 850
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 i7-2640M is positioned at rank 1159 and the Phenom II X4 850 is on rank 251, so the Phenom II X4 850 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2640M
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X4 850
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-2640M | Phenom II X4 850 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($346) | ✅ More affordable ($28) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-2640M | Phenom II X4 850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1134%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($346) | ✅ More affordable ($28) |
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 i7-2640M and Phenom II X4 850
Core i7-2640M
The Core i7-2640M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,445 points. Launch price was $346.
Phenom II X4 850
The Phenom II X4 850 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,441 points. Launch price was $111.
Processing Power
The Core i7-2640M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X4 850 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 850 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i7-2640M versus 3.3 GHz on the Phenom II X4 850 — a 5.9% clock advantage for the Core i7-2640M (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i7-2640M uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Phenom II X4 850 uses Propus (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-2640M scores 2,445 against the Phenom II X4 850's 2,441 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i7-2640M. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Core i7-2640M vs 0 kB on the Phenom II X4 850.
| Feature | Core i7-2640M | Phenom II X4 850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz+6% | 3.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.3 GHz+18% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Propus (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,445 | 2,441 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 563 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,184 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-2640M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X4 850 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-2640M | Phenom II X4 850 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core i7-2640M) / not specified (Phenom II X4 850). The Core i7-2640M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Phenom II X4 850 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-2640M rivals Phenom II Black Edition N660.
| Feature | Core i7-2640M | Phenom II X4 850 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 3000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
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