Core i7-2840QM
VS
Core i5-2400

Core i7-2840QM vs Core i5-2400

Intel

Core i7-2840QM

4 Cores8 Thrd45 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2011
VS
Intel

Core i5-2400

4 Cores4 Thrd95 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2011

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 i7-2840QM is positioned at rank 311 and the Core i5-2400 is on rank 772, so the Core i7-2840QM offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2840QM

#299
Atom x5-Z8300
MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A
458%
#300
Atom Z3735G
MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A
452%
#301
Core i5-480M
MSRP: $81|Avg: $77
414%
#302
Core i5-460M
MSRP: $80|Avg: $129
413%
#303
Core i5-2540M
MSRP: $266|Avg: $10
409%
#305
Core i5-450M
MSRP: $32|Avg: $31
395%
#306
Core i3-380M
MSRP: $49|Avg: $25
379%
#307
Core i5-430M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33
378%
#308
Core 2 Duo T6600
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4
368%
#311
Core i7-2840QM
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2400

#1
Ryzen 9 7950X
MSRP: $194|Avg: $20
14822%
#2
Core i9-10900T
MSRP: $120|Avg: $5
14006%
#3
Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE
MSRP: $423|Avg: $5
10169%
#4
Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
MSRP: $1399|Avg: $85
3064%
#5
Ryzen 9 9950X
MSRP: $649|Avg: $129
2427%
#6
Ryzen 5 8400F
MSRP: $303|Avg: $55
2123%
#7
Ryzen 7 PRO 2700
MSRP: $299|Avg: $60
1216%
#8
Ryzen 5 2600X
MSRP: $229|Avg: $55
1200%
#9
Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G
MSRP: $150|Avg: $60
1093%
#10
Core Ultra 5 245KF
MSRP: $294|Avg: $189
1093%
#11
Ryzen 5 5500
MSRP: $159|Avg: $85
1080%
#12
Ryzen 5 3600
MSRP: $199|Avg: $80
1051%
#13
Core i3-9100E
MSRP: $202|Avg: $30
1036%
#14
Core Ultra 5 245K
MSRP: $319|Avg: $200
1032%
#15
Core i3-8300T
MSRP: $138|Avg: $25
1023%
#291
Core i9-7900X
MSRP: $999|Avg: $188
100%
#772
Core i5-2400
MSRP: $184|Avg: $25
100%
#773
Core i7-5775C
MSRP: $366|Avg: $150
100%
#775
Pentium G2140
MSRP: $100|Avg: $95
99%
#776
Core i7-4790T
MSRP: $303|Avg: $102
99%
#777
Core i5-2320
MSRP: $177|Avg: $22
99%
#778
Celeron E3500
MSRP: $62|Avg: $10
99%
#779
Pentium G2030
MSRP: $85|Avg: $85
99%
#780
Athlon II X2 260
MSRP: $60|Avg: $12
99%
#781
Athlon II X3 445
MSRP: $87|Avg: $15
99%
#783
Core i5-2310
MSRP: $177|Avg: $12
98%
#784
Core i5-5675C
MSRP: $276|Avg: $66
98%
#785
Core i5-2380P
MSRP: $177|Avg: $25
98%
#786
Core i5-4690
MSRP: $272|Avg: $120
98%
#787
FX-6120
MSRP: $188|Avg: $54
97%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Leadership: The Core i5-2400 delivers superior performance across the board. It outperforms the Core i7-2840QM in both compute-intensive tasks (0.7% faster) and gaming workloads.
InsightCore i7-2840QMCore i5-2400
Gaming
Lower gaming performance
Superior gaming performance
Workstation
Weaker in multi-core tasks
Better multi-core power
Price
More affordable ($0)
⚠️ Higher cost ($25)
Longevity
🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm)
🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

InsightCore i7-2840QMCore i5-2400
Cost Efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost
More affordable ($0)
⚠️ Higher cost ($25)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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 i7-2840QM and Core i5-2400

Intel

Core i7-2840QM

The Core i7-2840QM 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 4 cores and 8 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: G2. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 3,842 points. Launch price was $69.

Intel

Core i5-2400

The Core i5-2400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,870 points. Launch price was $60.

Processing Power

The Core i7-2840QM packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Core i5-2400's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Core i7-2840QM versus 3.4 GHz on the Core i5-2400 — a 34.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-2400. Both are built on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture using a 32 nm process. In PassMark, the Core i7-2840QM scores 3,842 against the Core i5-2400's 3,870 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i5-2400. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Core i7-2840QM vs 6144 kB (total) on the Core i5-2400.

FeatureCore i7-2840QMCore i5-2400
Cores / Threads
4 / 8
4 / 4
Boost Clock
2.4 GHz
3.4 GHz+42%
Base Clock
3.1 GHz
L3 Cache
8 MB+33%
6144 kB (total)
L2 Cache
1 MB+300%
256 kB (per core)
Process
32 nm
32 nm
Architecture
Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark
3,842
3,870
Geekbench 6 Single
595
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-2840QM uses the G2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-2400 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureCore i7-2840QMCore i5-2400
Socket
G2
LGA1155
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity
32 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
PCIe Lanes
16
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-2840QM) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-2400). The Core i5-2400 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2000), while the Core i7-2840QM requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-2400 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-2400 rivals Phenom II X4 975.

FeatureCore i7-2840QMCore i5-2400
Integrated GPU
Yes
IGPU Model
HD Graphics 2000
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use
Legacy Desktop