AMD Athlon II X4 640 vs Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400

Comparative analysis of AMD Athlon II X4 640 and Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s).

AMD Athlon II X4 640

Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Athlon II X4 640

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 0 month(s) later
Around 12% higher clock speed: 3 GHz vs 2.67 GHz
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 6% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1212 vs 1142
Around 9% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2245 vs 2064
Around 5% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1191 vs 1139
4.6x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 2.776 vs 0.609

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	May 2010 vs April 2009
Maximum frequency	3 GHz vs 2.67 GHz
L1 cache	128 KB (per core) vs 256 KB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1212 vs 1142
PassMark - CPU mark	2245 vs 2064
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1191 vs 1139
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.776 vs 0.609

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400

2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 1% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 362 vs 358
2.7x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 20.494 vs 7.618
Around 1% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.171 vs 0.17
Around 22% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 4.93 vs 4.052

Specifications (specs)
L2 cache	4096 KB vs 512 KB (per core)
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	362 vs 358
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	20.494 vs 7.618
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.171 vs 0.17
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.93 vs 4.052

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Athlon II X4 640
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1212

1142

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2245

2064

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

358

362

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1191

1139

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.776

0.609

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

7.618

20.494

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.17

0.171

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

4.052

4.93

Name	AMD Athlon II X4 640	Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400
PassMark - Single thread mark	1212	1142
PassMark - CPU mark	2245	2064
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	358	362
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1191	1139
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.776	0.609
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	7.618	20.494
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.17	0.171
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.052	4.93
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		1.4

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD Athlon II X4 640	Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400
Essentials
Architecture codename	Propus	Yorkfield
Launch date	May 2010	April 2009
Launch price (MSRP)	$80
Place in performance rating	3022	3007
Price now	$239.95	$99.50
Value for money (0-100)	4.07	9.38
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Processor Number		Q8400
Series		Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status		Discontinued
Performance
64 bit support
Die size	169 mm	164 mm2
L1 cache	128 KB (per core)	256 KB
L2 cache	512 KB (per core)	4096 KB
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm	45 nm
Maximum frequency	3 GHz	2.67 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Transistor count	300 million	456 million
Base frequency		2.66 GHz
Bus Speed		1333 MHz FSB
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		71 °C
Maximum core temperature		71.4°C
VID voltage range		0.8500V-1.3625V
Memory
Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR1, DDR2, DDR3
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	AM3	LGA775
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	95 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size		37.5mm x 37.5mm
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
FSB parity
Idle States
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)