Core i7-840QM vs Celeron G3900E
Core i7-840QM
Celeron G3900E
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 Celeron G3900E is on rank 816, so the Core i7-840QM 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 Celeron G3900E
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-840QM | Celeron G3900E |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clarksfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-840QM | Celeron G3900E |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) |
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 Celeron G3900E
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.
Celeron G3900E
The Celeron G3900E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 January 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: LPDDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 2,034 points. Launch price was $107.
Processing Power
The Core i7-840QM packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Celeron G3900E offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Core i7-840QM has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i7-840QM versus 2.4 GHz on the Celeron G3900E — a 28.6% clock advantage for the Core i7-840QM. The Core i7-840QM uses the Clarksfield (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron G3900E uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-840QM scores 2,025 against the Celeron G3900E's 2,034 — a 0.4% lead for the Celeron G3900E. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 390 vs 699, a 56.7% lead for the Celeron G3900E that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,050 vs 948 (10.2% advantage for the Core i7-840QM). L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-840QM vs 2 MB on the Celeron G3900E.
| Feature | Core i7-840QM | Celeron G3900E |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+33% | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.86 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+300% | 2 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Clarksfield (2009−2010) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 2,025 | 2,034 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 390 | 699+79% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,050+11% | 948 |
Memory & Platform
Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Core i7-840QM versus DDR4-2133 on the Celeron G3900E — the Celeron G3900E supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron G3900E supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: PM55,HM55,QM57,HM57 (Core i7-840QM) and H110,B150,H170,Z170 (Celeron G3900E).
| Feature | Core i7-840QM | Celeron G3900E |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | — |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR4-2133+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 64 GB+700% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-840QM) vs VT-x (Celeron G3900E). The Celeron G3900E includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 510), while the Core i7-840QM requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-840QM targets Laptop, Celeron G3900E targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron G3900E rivals Pentium G4400.
| Feature | Core i7-840QM | Celeron G3900E |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 510 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x |
| Target Use | Laptop | Budget |
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