Core i7-3517UE vs Phenom II X4 840T

Core i7-3517UE vs Phenom II X4 840T Performance Spectrum

Core i7-3517UE

2 / 4

2,384

+0.7%

2,367

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

Core i7-3517UE vs Phenom II X4 840T FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i7-3517UE vs Phenom II X4 840T: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i7-3517UE

2012

Why buy it

✅+0.7% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 17W instead of 95W, a 78W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 6 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $330 MSRP, while Phenom II X4 840T mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Phenom II X4 840T

2010

Why buy it

✅+50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,367 vs 2,384).
❌458.8% higher power demand at 95W vs 17W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-3517UE better than Phenom II X4 840T?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Phenom II X4 840T is ahead with a 0.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-3517UE pulls ahead with 0.7% better PassMark. Phenom II X4 840T also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-3517UE is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-3517UE is the better buy right now. Core i7-3517UE comes in at an unclear MSRP at $330 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.7% better PassMark. The compromise is that Phenom II X4 840T is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 0.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (7.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i7-3517UE makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i7-3517UE vs Phenom II X4 840T Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i7-3517UE

The Core i7-3517UE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 June 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: unknown Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 2,384 points. Launch price was $69.

Phenom II X4 840T

The Phenom II X4 840T is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Zosma (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). 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: 2,367 points. Launch price was $80.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-3517UE packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X4 840T offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 840T has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Core i7-3517UE versus 3.2 GHz on the Phenom II X4 840T — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 840T (base: 1.7 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i7-3517UE uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Phenom II X4 840T uses Zosma (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-3517UE scores 2,384 against the Phenom II X4 840T's 2,367 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i7-3517UE. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-3517UE vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 840T.

Feature	Core i7-3517UE	Phenom II X4 840T
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	2.8 GHz	3.2 GHz+14%
Base Clock	1.7 GHz	2.9 GHz+71%
L3 Cache	4 MB (total)	6 MB (total)+50%
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	512 kB (per core)+100%
Process	22 nm-51%	45 nm
Architecture	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)	Zosma (2010−2011)
PassMark	2,384	2,367

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-3517UE uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Phenom II X4 840T uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.