AMD Phenom II X4 840

The AMD Phenom II X4 840 is listed as a 45 nm, 4-core/4-thread desktop processor in the K10 architecture family, with the Propus codename. It has a 3.20 GHz base clock, no boost clock, and a 95 W TDP, and it uses AMD Socket AM3. The database reports an average benchmark score of 713 and a percentileVsAllCpus of 18, meaning it sits in the lower portion of the CPU distribution. Its nearest rivals cluster tightly around it, with four processors spanning average scores of 709 to 715.

Benchmark Performance

The Cinebench results give a consistent picture of the Phenom II X4 840. It scores 208 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 870 in Cinebench R20 multi-core, and 2073 in Cinebench R23 multi-core. Single-core results are 122 in Cinebench R20 and 292 in Cinebench R23. The average benchmark score of 713 anchors the processor between four closely packed rivals: the AMD Phenom II X4 850 scores 714 with a deltaPct of -0.1, the Intel Core i3-5015U scores 715 with a deltaPct of -0.3, the AMD Phenom II X4 B95 scores 710 with a deltaPct of 0.5, and the Intel Core i5-4350U scores 709 with a deltaPct of 0.5.

These numbers show a processor that is effectively indistinguishable from its immediate competitors in aggregate performance. The 840 trails the X4 850 and the i3-5015U by the smallest measurable margins, while leading the B95 and i5-4350U by equally small margins. The 18th percentile ranking against all CPUs indicates that the broader database contains many faster parts, but within the nearest rival set the 840 is not an outlier. It is one member of a tight performance band where no rival moves more than a fraction of a point away from the 713 average.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The single-thread and multi-thread split is clear from the Cinebench data. In Cinebench R20, the single-core score is 122 and the multi-core score is 870. In Cinebench R23, the single-core score is 292 and the multi-core score is 2073. The multi-core results are substantially higher in both versions, which is the expected shape for a 4-core part with 4 threads. There are no extra threads beyond the physical cores, since the thread count equals the core count.

Because no boost clock is listed, the 3.20 GHz base clock is the highest frequency disclosed. That makes single-core performance dependent on the base clock and the K10 architecture. Lightly threaded workloads, such as older games or single-threaded office tools, will be capped by the single-core scores of 122 in R20 and 292 in R23. Multi-threaded workloads, by contrast, draw on all four cores and produce the higher multi-core scores. The gap between single-core and multi-core results suggests that software able to use two or more threads will get noticeably more out of this processor, while software limited to one thread will see only modest output.

Platform and Compatibility

The Phenom II X4 840 uses AMD Socket AM3. Memory support is listed as DDR2 and DDR3, with a dual-channel interface and 21.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth. ECC memory is supported. The processor has no L3 cache in the database listing; L1 cache is 128 KB per core, and L2 cache is 512 KB per core. PCIe support is Gen 2, and integrated graphics are listed as "On certain motherboards (Chipset feature)", meaning the chipset rather than the processor provides that graphics path on certain platforms.

The 45 nm process comes from GlobalFoundries, with 300 million transistors on a 169 mm² die. Production status is end-of-life, so the 840 is an installed-base product rather than an active new-platform option. The combination of DDR2 and DDR3 support means the memory type is decided by the motherboard: an AM3 board with DDR2 slots will use DDR2, while a board with DDR3 slots will use DDR3. The dual-channel configuration and 21.3 GB/s bandwidth apply to the memory bus, and ECC support gives the platform an option for data-correction memory in supported setups.

Who Should Consider It

The data suggests the Phenom II X4 840 is suited to users who already have an AM3 motherboard and need a straightforward quad-thread desktop processor. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 2073 shows it can complete basic multi-threaded work, but the 18th percentile placement indicates that it will lag behind much of the rest of the database in demanding tasks.

For gaming, the Cinebench R23 single-core score of 292 is the more relevant number, because games that rely on one or two threads will be bounded by that single-core result. For creation workloads, the multi-core score of 2073 offers more capacity, yet the 4-thread design and the absence of a listed boost clock limit how far that capacity reaches. Office workloads that are not heavily CPU-dependent should run on the four cores, but the 713 average benchmark score signals that this is not a processor for high-end rendering or heavily threaded production. The end-of-life status reinforces that this part belongs in existing builds, not in a forward-looking upgrade plan.

Power and Thermals

The Phenom II X4 840 carries a 95 W TDP. That TDP class, combined with the 45 nm process, 300 million transistors, and 169 mm² die size, defines a processor that a capable air cooler should be able to handle. No boost clock is listed, so sustained operation is tied to the 3.20 GHz base frequency across four cores.

The absence of extreme power-delivery data in the fact pack means the 95 W TDP is the main thermal reference. ECC memory support and dual-channel DDR2/DDR3 memory support belong to the platform, but the processor’s own thermal envelope is what determines cooler requirements. A 95 W TDP class usually points toward mainstream cooling rather than an exotic setup, and nothing in the supplied data contradicts that.

FAQ

Q: What socket does the AMD Phenom II X4 840 use?

A: It uses AMD Socket AM3.

Q: Does the Phenom II X4 840 have integrated graphics?

A: Integrated graphics are listed as "On certain motherboards (Chipset feature)", meaning the motherboard chipset provides that feature on some boards rather than the processor including a dedicated GPU.

Q: What memory types and ECC support are available?

A: It supports DDR2 and DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration with 21.3 GB/s bandwidth, and ECC memory is supported.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked?

A: No, the multiplierUnlocked field is false.

Q: How does it compare to the Phenom II X4 850?

A: The X4 850 has an average benchmark score of 714 with a deltaPct of -0.1, while the 840 has 713, so the 840 trails by a very narrow margin.

Q: Is the Phenom II X4 840 still in production?

A: No, production status is end-of-life, and the release date is 2011-01-03.

How It Compares

AMD Phenom II X4 850: This is the closest rival in the nearest-rival set. The 850 averages 714 with a deltaPct of -0.1, meaning the 840 sits just behind it. In practical terms, the two processors are almost identical in average benchmark performance.

Intel Core i3-5015U: The i3-5015U averages 715 with a deltaPct of -0.3. The 840 trails by that same deltaPct value, which is the largest gap among the four listed rivals, yet still a very small overall difference in aggregate score.

AMD Phenom II X4 B95: The B95 averages 710 with a deltaPct of 0.5. The 840 leads by 0.5, placing the Phenom II X4 B95 just behind the 840 in the database’s nearest-rival comparison.

Intel Core i5-4350U: The i5-4350U averages 709 with a deltaPct of 0.5. The 840 leads by 0.5, matching the B95 comparison exactly and showing a consistent, narrow advantage over both of these rivals.