Intel Core i7-840QM

The Intel Core i7-840QM is a 45 nm Clarksfield-based mobile processor that today sits in the 14th percentile of all CPUs, indicating it is a legacy part best suited for retro computing or basic, low-demand tasks. Its average benchmark score of 616 places it statistically tied with the Intel Core i5-2435M, which scores 616, and the Intel Core i7-640M, which scores 614. With four cores and eight threads, this end-of-life chip offers a baseline level of parallelism, but its age shows in modern single-threaded workloads, where it scores 236 in Cinebench R23 single-core, a figure that limits its relevance for contemporary software.

Who Should Consider It

The i7-840QM is appropriate for users maintaining legacy laptops or those performing light office productivity, such as document editing and spreadsheet work, where its multi-threaded capabilities are sufficient. The data shows a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 1674, which is adequate for basic multitasking across several browser tabs or email clients, but not for demanding creation workloads. For content creation, this processor falls short; its Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 703 indicates it would struggle with video encoding or large photo batch processing, making modern quad-core chips a far better investment. Gaming is not a practical use case, as the lack of integrated graphics and the low Geekbench single-core score of 387 mean that even entry-level discrete GPUs will be bottlenecked in CPU-bound titles. Conversely, for users running legacy 32-bit software or operating systems from the early 2010s, this chip's compatibility with DDR3 memory and its eight threads offer a serviceable, if slow, experience. The 14th percentile ranking versus all CPUs confirms this is not a processor for primary daily use in 2025, but rather a stopgap for hardware enthusiasts testing older platforms.

Power and Thermals

With a TDP of 45 watts, the i7-840QM sits in the mainstream mobile power class, requiring a cooling solution beyond a basic passive heatsink. This TDP level implies a laptop with a dedicated cooling fan and a heatpipe arrangement, typical of larger 15- to 17-inch chassis from 2010, rather than ultraportables. The 45 nm process node contributes to heat generation; the processor's die size of 296 mm² and 774 million transistors mean that sustained multi-threaded loads will push temperatures up, necessitating a capable air cooler with adequate airflow. For a modern user, this means that any system still running this chip will likely be noisy under load, and the aging thermal paste in a decade-old laptop may require replacement to maintain stability. The power draw is modest by today's standards, but the lack of efficiency optimizations found in newer architectures means battery life will be poor, especially when the boost clock of 3.20 GHz is engaged. The 45 W TDP is not a constraint for most workloads, but it precludes this chip from ever being passively cooled in a fanless design.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The i7-840QM exhibits a pronounced split between its single-thread and multi-thread performance, with the former being notably weak and the latter being relatively stronger. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 236 is a fraction of the multi-core score of 1674, representing a ratio of roughly 14 to 1 when accounting for the eight threads, which indicates that scaling across cores is efficient for this architecture. In real-world terms, this means that tasks like web browsing with JavaScript-heavy sites or spreadsheet recalculation will feel sluggish, as these rely on single-thread performance. Conversely, the Geekbench multi-core score of 1048 versus a single-core score of 387 shows a 2.7x improvement, suggesting that the chip can effectively parallelize workloads like file compression or running virtual machines. The boost clock of 3.20 GHz versus a base of 1867 MHz shows a significant turbo range, but this boost is only available for one or two cores, so sustained all-core workloads revert closer to the base clock, reducing the effective multi-thread advantage. The data indicates that users should offload any single-threaded heavy lifting to a newer device, and reserve this processor for queue-based batch jobs or background processing.

FAQ

Q: What is the average benchmark score of the Intel Core i7-840QM?

A: The average benchmark score is 616, placing it in the 14th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Does the i7-840QM have integrated graphics?

A: No, it has no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is mandatory for any display output.

Q: What type of memory does it support?

A: It supports dual-channel DDR3 memory with a maximum bandwidth of 21.3 GB/s, and it does not support ECC memory.

Q: How many cores and threads does it have?

A: It has 4 physical cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 1867 MHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, the multiplier is locked, preventing user overclocking.

Q: What is the production status and release date?

A: It is end-of-life, released on June 19, 2010, with a launch MSRP of $568.

Benchmark Performance

Benchmark results show a processor that is competitive with its immediate mobile rivals but utterly outdated by modern standards. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the score of 1674 is the most relevant figure for productivity, and it aligns with the average score of 616 across all tests. The Geekbench multi-core score of 1048 is lower than the Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 703 might suggest due to different workload scaling, but both point to a chip that is roughly 40-50% slower than a modern low-end laptop CPU. The single-core scores are the weakest point: a Geekbench score of 387 and a Cinebench R23 score of 236 indicate that this chip is outperformed by even entry-level smartphone processors. Compared to its nearest rivals, the i7-840QM is effectively identical to the Intel Core i5-2435M, with a delta of 0%, meaning no meaningful performance difference exists between the two in aggregate. Against the Intel Core i7-640M, it holds a marginal 0.3% advantage, which is within run-to-run variance, and it trails the AMD Phenom II X4 910e by 0.4% while leading the AMD Phenom II X4 820 by 0.6%. These sub-1% deltas confirm that the i7-840QM is not a performance outlier in its peer group; it is a middle-of-the-pack mobile quad-core from 2010.

Platform and Compatibility

The i7-840QM uses the Intel Socket G1, which is proprietary to specific laptop motherboards from the Clarksfield generation, meaning there is no modern upgrade path. It is built on the Nehalem architecture with a 45 nm process, and it pairs with the Intel 5-series chipset, which limits memory to dual-channel DDR3. The PCIe support is Gen 2 with 16 lanes from the CPU only, which is sufficient for a single discrete GPU but will bottleneck modern high-end graphics cards. The lack of integrated graphics and the absence of ECC memory support narrow its application to consumer laptops, not workstations. The memory bandwidth of 21.3 GB/s is a hard ceiling for multi-threaded data movement, and modern DDR4/DDR5 systems offer several times this throughput. The CPU is end-of-life, so no BIOS updates or driver optimizations are forthcoming, and the socket itself has no future processors, as it was replaced by Socket G2 with Sandy Bridge. For users considering this platform, the only compatibility benefit is access to the 8 MB shared L3 cache, which helps in cache-sensitive workloads, but the overall platform limitations outweigh this advantage.

How It Compares

Against the Intel Core i5-2435M, the i7-840QM is a statistical dead heat with a 0% delta in average score. Both chips sit at 616, and the i5-2435M, being a dual-core with Hyper-Threading, matches the quad-core i7-840QM in aggregate benchmarks, indicating that the newer architecture of the i5 compensates for fewer physical cores. The i7-840QM's single-thread performance is lower, but its extra threads help in heavily parallel tasks, resulting in a wash for mixed workloads.

Versus the Intel Core i7-640M, the i7-840QM edges ahead by 0.3%, with scores of 616 versus 614. This margin is negligible, and the i7-640M, as a dual-core part, has a higher base clock, which gives it better responsiveness in lightly threaded applications. The i7-840QM wins in multi-threaded scenarios due to its 4 physical cores, but the i7-640M is a better choice for older games that rely on fast single-core speed.

The AMD Phenom II X4 910e outperforms the i7-840QM by 0.4%, scoring 619 versus 616. This AMD chip, also a quad-core, offers similar multi-threaded capability, but the i7-840QM's turbo boost up to 3.20 GHz provides a slight edge in burst workloads. The delta is so small that platform preference, such as DDR3 support or motherboard features, would be the deciding factor.

The AMD Phenom II X4 820 is the only rival where the i7-840QM leads, by 0.6%, with scores of 616 versus 612. This AMD chip lacks the turbo boost feature, so the i7-840QM’s ability to ramp from 1867 MHz to 3.20 GHz gives it a measurable advantage in single-threaded tasks. For multi-threaded loads, both are equivalent, but the Intel part’s higher peak clock makes it the better performer overall.