Pentium G3420 vs Core i7-840QM
Pentium G3420
Core i7-840QM
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 G3420 is positioned at rank 714 and the Core i7-840QM is on rank 812, so the Pentium G3420 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G3420
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-840QM
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G3420 | Core i7-840QM |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarksfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G3420 | Core i7-840QM |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 G3420 and Core i7-840QM
Pentium G3420
The Pentium G3420 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 53 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,022 points. Launch price was $252.
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.
Processing Power
The Pentium G3420 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Core i7-840QM offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-840QM has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Pentium G3420 versus 3.2 GHz on the Core i7-840QM — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.2 GHz vs 1.86 GHz). The Pentium G3420 uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i7-840QM uses Clarksfield (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium G3420 scores 2,022 against the Core i7-840QM's 2,025 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i7-840QM. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G3420 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-840QM.
| Feature | Pentium G3420 | Core i7-840QM |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+72% | 1.86 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 8 MB (total)+167% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Clarksfield (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 2,022 | 2,025 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 390 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,050 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium G3420 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-840QM uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium G3420 | Core i7-840QM |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium G3420) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-840QM). Primary use case: Core i7-840QM targets Laptop.
| Feature | Pentium G3420 | Core i7-840QM |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Laptop |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Pentium G3420 and Core i7-840QM
