Core i7-640UM vs Phenom X3 8400
Core i7-640UM
Phenom X3 8400
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 i7-640UM is positioned at rank 1229 and the Phenom X3 8400 is on rank 509, so the Phenom X3 8400 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-640UM
Performance Per Dollar Phenom X3 8400
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-640UM | Phenom X3 8400 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Toliman (2008) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-640UM | Phenom X3 8400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 i7-640UM and Phenom X3 8400
Core i7-640UM
The Core i7-640UM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.27 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1288. Thermal design power (TDP): 18 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800. Passmark benchmark score: 1,168 points. Launch price was $305.
Phenom X3 8400
The Phenom X3 8400 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Toliman (2008) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Max frequency: 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: AM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,164 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i7-640UM packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom X3 8400 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Phenom X3 8400 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.27 GHz on the Core i7-640UM versus 2.1 GHz on the Phenom X3 8400 — a 7.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-640UM. The Core i7-640UM uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Phenom X3 8400 uses Toliman (2008) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-640UM scores 1,168 against the Phenom X3 8400's 1,164 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i7-640UM. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-640UM vs 2 MB (total) on the Phenom X3 8400.
| Feature | Core i7-640UM | Phenom X3 8400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 2.27 GHz+8% | 2.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.2 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total)+100% | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-51% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Toliman (2008) |
| PassMark | 1,168 | 1,164 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 226 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 590 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-640UM uses the BGA1288 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom X3 8400 uses AM2+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-640UM | Phenom X3 8400 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1288 | AM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-640UM) / not specified (Phenom X3 8400). The Core i7-640UM includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake)), while the Phenom X3 8400 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-640UM targets Legacy Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i7-640UM rivals Core 2 Duo SU9600.
| Feature | Core i7-640UM | Phenom X3 8400 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Legacy Laptop | — |
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