CPU
GPU
Core i7-840QM
Athlon II X4 620
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 i7-840QM is positioned at rank 812 and the Athlon II X4 620 is on rank 789, so the Athlon II X4 620 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-840QM
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 620
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-840QM | Athlon II X4 620 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clarksfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-840QM | Athlon II X4 620 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 i7-840QM and Athlon II X4 620
Core i7-840QM
The Core i7-840QM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarksfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.86 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,025 points. Launch price was $568.
Athlon II X4 620
The Athlon II X4 620 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 16 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 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: 2,026 points. Launch price was $65.
Processing Power
The Core i7-840QM packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Athlon II X4 620's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i7-840QM versus 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X4 620 — a 20.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-840QM (base: 1.86 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i7-840QM uses the Clarksfield (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II X4 620 uses Propus (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-840QM scores 2,025 against the Athlon II X4 620's 2,026 — a 0% lead for the Athlon II X4 620. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-840QM vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 620.
| Feature | Core i7-840QM | Athlon II X4 620 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+23% | 2.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.86 GHz | 2.6 GHz+40% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Clarksfield (2009−2010) | Propus (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,025 | 2,026 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 390 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,050 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-840QM uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X4 620 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Athlon II X4 620 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-840QM) vs 0 (Athlon II X4 620) — the Core i7-840QM offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: PM55,HM55,QM57,HM57 (Core i7-840QM) and AMD AM3 (Athlon II X4 620).
| Feature | Core i7-840QM | Athlon II X4 620 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 32 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-840QM) / not specified (Athlon II X4 620). Primary use case: Core i7-840QM targets Laptop.
| Feature | Core i7-840QM | Athlon II X4 620 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Laptop | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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