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).

 

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: 1211 vs 1142
  • Around 9% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2245 vs 2068
  • 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 1211 vs 1142
PassMark - CPU mark 2245 vs 2068
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
1211
1142
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
2245
2068
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 1211 1142
PassMark - CPU mark 2245 2068
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 3023 3008
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)