
Pentium 4417U vs Core i7-940XM

Pentium 4417U

Core i7-940XM
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 Pentium 4417U is positioned at rank 497 and the Core i7-940XM is on rank 1237, so the Pentium 4417U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium 4417U
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-940XM
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium 4417U | Core i7-940XM |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,096) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (NetBurst (2000−2006) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarksfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium 4417U | Core i7-940XM |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,096) |
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 Pentium 4417U and Core i7-940XM

Pentium 4417U
The Pentium 4417U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency: 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB SmartCache. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2133, LPDDR3-1866, DDR3L-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 2,260 points. Launch price was $69.

Core i7-940XM
The Core i7-940XM 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 2.13 GHz, with boost up to 3.33 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 2,269 points. Launch price was $1,096.
Processing Power
The Pentium 4417U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-940XM offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-940XM has 2 more cores. The Pentium 4417U uses the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-940XM uses Clarksfield (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium 4417U scores 2,260 against the Core i7-940XM's 2,269 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i7-940XM. L3 cache: 2 MB SmartCache on the Pentium 4417U vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-940XM.
| Feature | Pentium 4417U | Core i7-940XM |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | — | 3.33 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz+8% | 2.13 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB SmartCache | 8 MB (total)+300% |
| L2 Cache | — | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-69% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | NetBurst (2000−2006) | Clarksfield (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 2,260 | 2,269 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium 4417U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-940XM uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium 4417U | Core i7-940XM |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium 4417U) / true (Core i7-940XM). Direct competitor: Core i7-940XM rivals Core i7-2720QM.
| Feature | Pentium 4417U | Core i7-940XM |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
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