Phenom II X4 840 vs Core i5-660
Phenom II X4 840
Core i5-660
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 Phenom II X4 840 is positioned at rank 250 and the Core i5-660 is on rank 954, so the Phenom II X4 840 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X4 840
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-660
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X4 840 | Core i5-660 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X4 840 | Core i5-660 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
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 Phenom II X4 840 and Core i5-660
Phenom II X4 840
The Phenom II X4 840 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 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: 2,449 points. Launch price was $90.
Core i5-660
The Core i5-660 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,439 points. Launch price was $70.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X4 840 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-660 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 840 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Phenom II X4 840 versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i5-660 — a 11.8% clock advantage for the Core i5-660 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.33 GHz). The Phenom II X4 840 uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-660 uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X4 840 scores 2,449 against the Core i5-660's 2,439 — a 0.4% lead for the Phenom II X4 840. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Phenom II X4 840 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i5-660.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 840 | Core i5-660 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.6 GHz+12% |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.33 GHz+4% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Propus (2009−2011) | Clarkdale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,449 | 2,439 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X4 840 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-660 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 840 | Core i5-660 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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