Core i7-2840QM
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FX-6120
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Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook
This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.
Core i7-2840QM
2011Why buy it
- ✅Draws 45W instead of 95W, a 50W reduction.
Trade-offs
- ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than FX-6120 across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ❌Lower PassMark (3,842 vs 3,853).
FX-6120
2012Why buy it
- ✅Better for gaming: +6.1% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
Trade-offs
- ❌Launch MSRP is still $188 MSRP, while Core i7-2840QM mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
- ❌111.1% higher power demand at 95W vs 45W.
Core i7-2840QM
2011FX-6120
2012Why buy it
- ✅Draws 45W instead of 95W, a 50W reduction.
Why buy it
- ✅Better for gaming: +6.1% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
Trade-offs
- ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than FX-6120 across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ❌Lower PassMark (3,842 vs 3,853).
Trade-offs
- ❌Launch MSRP is still $188 MSRP, while Core i7-2840QM mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
- ❌111.1% higher power demand at 95W vs 45W.
Quick Answers
So, is FX-6120 better than Core i7-2840QM?
Which one is better for gaming?
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Games Benchmarks
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Path of Exile 2
| Preset | Core i7-2840QM | FX-6120 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| medium | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| high | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| ultra | 85 FPS | 96 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| medium | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| high | 87 FPS | 94 FPS |
| ultra | 70 FPS | 78 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 62 FPS | 65 FPS |
| medium | 56 FPS | 57 FPS |
| high | 43 FPS | 45 FPS |
| ultra | 34 FPS | 36 FPS |
Counter-Strike 2
| Preset | Core i7-2840QM | FX-6120 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| medium | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| high | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| ultra | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| medium | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| high | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| ultra | 91 FPS | 96 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| medium | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| high | 75 FPS | 96 FPS |
| ultra | 53 FPS | 96 FPS |
League of Legends
| Preset | Core i7-2840QM | FX-6120 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| medium | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| high | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| ultra | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| medium | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| high | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| ultra | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| medium | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| high | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| ultra | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
Valorant
| Preset | Core i7-2840QM | FX-6120 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| medium | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| high | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| ultra | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| medium | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| high | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| ultra | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| medium | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| high | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
| ultra | 96 FPS | 96 FPS |
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-2840QM and FX-6120
Core i7-2840QM
Core i7-2840QM
The Core i7-2840QM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: G2. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 3,842 points. Launch price was $69.
FX-6120
FX-6120
The FX-6120 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 October 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Zambezi (2011−2012) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,853 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core i7-2840QM packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the FX-6120 offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the FX-6120 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Core i7-2840QM versus 4.2 GHz on the FX-6120 — a 54.5% clock advantage for the FX-6120. The Core i7-2840QM uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the FX-6120 uses Zambezi (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-2840QM scores 3,842 against the FX-6120's 3,853 — a 0.3% lead for the FX-6120. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Core i7-2840QM vs 8 MB (total) on the FX-6120.
| Feature | Core i7-2840QM | FX-6120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 6+50% |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz | 4.2 GHz+75% |
| Base Clock | — | 3.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 6 MB+500% |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Zambezi (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 3,842 | 3,853 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-2840QM uses the G2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the FX-6120 uses AM3+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-2840QM | FX-6120 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | G2 | AM3+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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