Intel Pentium D 840
Intel processor specifications and benchmark scores
Integrated GPUAt a Glance
IntelIntel Pentium D 840 Specifications
Pentium D 840 Core Configuration
Processing cores and threading
The Intel Pentium D 840 features 2 physical cores and 2 threads, which directly impacts multi-threaded performance in CPU benchmarks. More cores allow the processor to handle parallel workloads efficiently, improving performance in video editing, 3D rendering, and multitasking scenarios. Thread count determines how many simultaneous tasks the CPU can process, with higher thread counts benefiting productivity applications and content creation workflows.
Pentium D 840 Clock Speeds
Base and boost frequencies
Clock speed is a critical factor in Pentium D 840 benchmark performance, measured in GHz. The base clock represents the guaranteed operating frequency, while the boost clock indicates maximum single-core performance under optimal conditions. Higher clock speeds translate to faster single-threaded performance, which is essential for gaming and applications that don't fully utilize multiple cores. The Pentium D 840 by Intel can dynamically adjust its frequency based on workload and thermal headroom.
Intel's Pentium D 840 Cache Hierarchy
L1, L2, L3 cache sizes
Cache memory is ultra-fast storage built directly into the Pentium D 840 processor die. L1 cache provides the fastest access for frequently used data, while L2 and L3 caches offer progressively larger storage with slightly higher latency. Larger cache sizes significantly improve CPU benchmark scores by reducing memory access times. The Pentium D 840's cache configuration is optimized for both gaming performance and productivity workloads, minimizing data fetch delays during intensive computations.
NetBurst Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The Intel Pentium D 840 is built on Intel's 90 nm manufacturing process, which determines power efficiency and thermal characteristics. Smaller process nodes allow for more transistors in the same space, enabling higher performance per watt. The architecture defines how the processor handles instructions and manages data flow, directly impacting benchmark results across different workload types. Modern CPU architectures like the one in Pentium D 840 incorporate advanced branch prediction and out-of-order execution for optimal performance.
NetBurst Instruction Set Features
Supported CPU instructions and extensions
The Pentium D 840 by Intel supports various instruction set extensions that enable optimized performance for specific workloads. SIMD instructions like SSE and AVX accelerate multimedia, scientific computing, and AI workloads by processing multiple data points simultaneously. Features like AES-NI provide hardware-accelerated encryption, while AVX-512 (if supported) enables advanced vector processing for data centers and high-performance computing. These instruction sets are critical for software compatibility and performance in modern applications.
Power & Thermal
TDP and power specifications
The Intel Pentium D 840 has a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 130W, indicating the cooling solution required for sustained operation. TDP affects both system power consumption and the type of cooler needed. Lower TDP processors are ideal for compact builds and laptops, while higher TDP chips typically offer better sustained performance in demanding CPU benchmarks. Understanding power requirements helps ensure your system can deliver consistent performance without thermal throttling.
Intel Socket 775 Platform & Socket
Compatibility information
The Pentium D 840 uses the Intel Socket 775 socket, which determines motherboard compatibility. Choosing the right platform is essential for building a system around this processor. The socket type also influences available features like PCIe lanes, memory support, and upgrade paths. When comparing CPU benchmarks, ensure you're looking at processors compatible with your existing or planned motherboard to make informed purchasing decisions.
Intel Socket 775 Memory Support
RAM compatibility and speeds
Memory support specifications for the Pentium D 840 define which RAM types and speeds are compatible. Faster memory can significantly improve CPU benchmark performance, especially in memory-intensive applications and gaming. The memory controller integrated into the Pentium D 840 determines maximum supported speeds and channels. Dual-channel or quad-channel memory configurations can double or quadruple memory bandwidth, providing noticeable performance gains in content creation and scientific workloads.
Intel's Pentium D 840 Integrated Graphics
Built-in GPU specifications
The Intel Pentium D 840 includes integrated graphics, eliminating the need for a dedicated GPU in basic computing scenarios. Integrated graphics are ideal for office productivity, video playback, and light gaming. While not designed for demanding GPU benchmarks, the iGPU in the Pentium D 840 provides hardware video encoding and decoding capabilities. This makes the processor suitable for compact builds, HTPCs, and systems where power efficiency is prioritized over gaming performance.
Product Information
Release and pricing details
The Intel Pentium D 840 is manufactured by Intel and represents their commitment to delivering competitive CPU performance. Understanding the release date and pricing helps contextualize benchmark comparisons with other processors from the same generation. Launch pricing provides a baseline for evaluating value, though street prices often differ. Whether you're building a new system or upgrading, the Pentium D 840 by Intel offers a specific balance of performance, features, and cost within Intel's product lineup.
About Intel Pentium D 840
The Intel Pentium D 840 is a dual-core desktop processor from Intel, built on the NetBurst architecture with the Smithfield codename, released on May 25, 2005. It operates at a base clock of 3.20 GHz, features 2 cores and 2 threads, and is manufactured on a 90 nm process node with 169 million transistors on a 206 mm² die. The processor is end-of-life, carries a 50th percentile ranking versus all CPUs, and has a 130 W TDP, positioning it as a historically significant but currently dated part for legacy systems.
Who Should Consider It
The Intel Pentium D 840 is aimed squarely at users running legacy desktop applications that were designed for early dual-core platforms. With only 2 cores and 2 threads at a 3.20 GHz base clock, the data indicates this processor is suitable for basic office productivity, light web browsing, and single-threaded legacy software that does not demand modern multi-core scaling. The 50th percentile ranking versus all CPUs places it in the middle of the pack historically, but that is a relative measure against everything ever released, not a suggestion of contemporary capability.
For gaming, the Pentium D 840 is a poor match by modern standards, as the 2-core/2-thread configuration lacks the parallelism required by current titles. The lack of a boost clock means performance is fixed at 3.20 GHz, and the dual-channel memory bus with DDR1, DDR2, and DDR3 support does not compensate for the architectural age. Creation workloads, such as video editing or 3D rendering, would struggle due to the absence of extra threads, though the 2 MB L2 cache provides some buffer for basic tasks.
Office environments running legacy software, point-of-sale systems, or embedded industrial applications on Socket 775 motherboards are the most plausible adopters. The integrated graphics, available on certain motherboards as a chipset feature, reduces the need for a discrete GPU in simple setups. However, the 130 W TDP demands robust cooling, making this a niche choice for hobbyists preserving vintage hardware rather than a practical daily driver.
Platform and Compatibility
The Pentium D 840 fits the Intel Socket 775, a platform that supported a wide range of Intel processors during its lifespan. The architecture is NetBurst with the Smithfield codename, representing Intel's first dual-core desktop effort. Memory support spans DDR1, DDR2, and DDR3, all operating in dual-channel mode, which offers flexibility for builders repurposing older RAM modules, though the memory bus speed is not specified in the available data.
PCIe Gen 2 is supported, which is a notable feature for expansion cards and storage devices, but it predates modern Gen 4 and Gen 5 standards. The processor does not include integrated graphics as a core feature; instead, graphics rely on chipset features on certain motherboards, meaning users must verify their board's capabilities. The socket and memory compatibility suggest an upgrade path within the same platform, but the processor is end-of-life, and the 90 nm process node limits any meaningful future-proofing.
The part number SL88RSL8CM identifies this specific SKU, and the multiplier is locked, preventing overclocking. The 169 million transistor count on a 206 mm² die highlights the manufacturing era, and the 2 MB L2 cache (with 28 KB L1) is modest by today's standards. No L3 cache or 3D V-Cache is present, and ECC memory is not supported, so error-correcting memory configurations are unavailable.
How It Compares
The FACT PACK provides no nearest rival data for the Pentium D 840, so direct comparison scores and deltaPct values are absent. In the absence of specific rival names, scores, or percentage deltas, the analysis must rely on the processor's own specifications and percentile rank. The 50th percentile versus all CPUs indicates it sits exactly at the median of the benchmark database, meaning half of all processors scored higher and half scored lower, but without rival entries, no individual competitor can be cited.
This lack of rival data is itself informative: the Pentium D 840 occupies a lonely historical niche, likely overshadowed by both earlier single-core NetBurst parts and later dual-core designs like Core 2 Duo. The 2-core/2-thread layout at 3.20 GHz was competitive in 2005, but the absence of a boost clock and the high 130 W TDP for a modest cache size suggest it was a transitional product. Future comparisons would need to reference the nearestRivals field, but as it stands, the database does not include those entries for this processor.
Qualitatively, the data implies the Pentium D 840 would lag behind any modern dual-core processor with higher clock speeds, more efficient architectures, and lower power draw. The 90 nm process node and NetBurst architecture are known for high heat output relative to performance, but without rival scores, no exact deltas can be stated. Users should treat the 50th percentile as a rough historical marker, not a competitive positioning tool.
FAQ
Q: Does the Intel Pentium D 840 have a boost clock?
A: No, the FACT PACK lists the base clock at 3.20 GHz, and the boost clock field is null, meaning the processor runs at a fixed frequency.
Q: What memory types does the Pentium D 840 support?
A: It supports DDR1, DDR2, and DDR3 memory, all in dual-channel mode, but ECC memory is not supported.
Q: Is the integrated graphics built into the processor?
A: No, integrated graphics are available on certain motherboards as a chipset feature, not as a core component of the processor itself.
Q: What is the process node and transistor count for this chip?
A: The Pentium D 840 is manufactured on a 90 nm process with 169 million transistors on a 206 mm² die.
Q: Can the multiplier be unlocked for overclocking?
A: No, the multiplier is locked, so overclocking is not supported.
Q: What is the production status of the Pentium D 840?
A: It is end-of-life, and it was released on May 25, 2005, with the part number SL88RSL8CM.
Power and Thermals
The Pentium D 840 has a TDP of 130 W, which is a high thermal envelope by modern standards and indicates a need for a robust cooling solution. The 90 nm process node and NetBurst architecture are known for significant heat generation, so a capable air cooler with a large heatsink or a low-end liquid cooler would be appropriate for sustained operation. The data does not specify exact cooling requirements, but the 130 W TDP class implies that stock Intel coolers from that era were often insufficient, and aftermarket options were commonly recommended.
The high power draw also affects system design: a motherboard with a stable VRM section and adequate case airflow is necessary to prevent thermal throttling. The die size of 206 mm² and 169 million transistors contribute to the thermal density, and the lack of a boost clock means the processor always operates at peak power, unlike modern chips that idle at lower power states. For users building a retro system, the 130 W TDP should be a primary consideration for power supply selection, though specific wattage figures are not provided in the FACT PACK.
Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior
With 2 cores and 2 threads, the Pentium D 840 has no hyper-threading, so each core handles exactly one thread. The base clock of 3.20 GHz is decent for single-threaded tasks, but the NetBurst architecture's long pipeline can lead to inefficiencies in branch prediction and instruction execution. Single-threaded performance would be adequate for older applications, but the 50th percentile ranking suggests it is unremarkable against all CPUs.
Multi-threaded behavior is limited by the 2-thread ceiling, meaning workloads that scale beyond two threads will not benefit. The 2 MB L2 cache is shared between cores, which can cause contention in multi-threaded scenarios, but dual-channel memory support helps mitigate bandwidth bottlenecks. The data implies that this processor favors single-threaded legacy software over parallel workloads, and the absence of a boost clock means multi-threaded performance is strictly tied to the 3.20 GHz frequency, with no dynamic headroom.
Benchmark Performance
The benchmark data for the Pentium D 840 is sparse: the avgBenchmarkScore is 0, and the benchmarks array is empty, meaning no standardized scores are available in the FACT PACK. The percentileVsAllCpus is 50, which places this processor exactly at the median of the database, but without raw scores or rival deltas, precise performance comparisons are impossible. The nearestRivals field is empty, so there are no named competitors with deltaPct values to analyze.
Given the specifications, the 3.20 GHz clock speed and 2 MB L2 cache would have provided competitive performance in 2005, but the 2-core/2-thread layout and 90 nm process place it well behind any modern dual-core part. The 130 W TDP for this level of performance is a poor efficiency ratio, but no exact benchmark deltas can be cited. The data shows a processor that was mid-pack historically, but the lack of benchmark entries means quantitative analysis is limited to the percentile rank and clock speed.
The dual-channel memory bus and DDR3 support suggest memory bandwidth was a design priority, but without measured bandwidth figures, this remains qualitative. The 50th percentile is the only concrete performance signal, and it indicates the Pentium D 840 was neither a high-end nor low-end part at the time, but rather a mainstream offering that has since been surpassed.
Detailed benchmark scores and charts for the Intel Pentium D 840 are below.
Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this CPU.
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