CPU Comparison
Intel Core i7-920 vs Intel Core i7-940
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i7-920, launched in November 2008, is arguably the most legendary processor of the Nehalem generation. It brought the brand new LGA 1366 platform and Bloomfield architecture to the mainstream enthusiast market at an affordable price point. With four cores and eight threads, a base clock of 2.66GHz, and 8MB of L3 cache, it offered phenomenal performance for its era. More importantly, it featured an unlocked Base Clock (BCLK) overclocking mechanism, allowing users to push frequencies far beyond stock speeds, often reaching 3.8GHz or higher. This overclocking headroom made it a cult classic. Despite its 130W TDP, the i7-920 popularized Hyper-Threading and triple-channel DDR3 memory. It remained a staple in gaming rigs and workstations for years, earning a reputation as the best value CPU of its time and cementing Intel's dominance in the enthusiast segment.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Slow by modern standards, but 8 threads help slightly.
Slow by modern standards.
Gaming
Severely bottlenecks modern GPUs, but fine for retro games.
Similar to the 920, bottlenecks modern games.
Virtualization
Capable of running basic VMs for legacy environments.
Adequate for basic legacy VMs.
Efficiency
130W TDP on a 45nm quad-core is terribly inefficient today.
130W TDP is highly inefficient.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- Incompatible with modern AI workloads
- Incompatible with modern AI workloads
Content Creation
Gaming
- Low IPC
- No AVX2
- High latency due to older architecture
- Low IPC
- No AVX2
- Bottlenecks modern GPUs
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Legendary overclocking headroom
- Affordable entry to Nehalem at launch
- Hyper-Threading for 8 threads
- Triple-channel memory support
- Massive historical impact
Cons
- High 130W TDP
- Locked CPU multiplier
- Obsolete LGA 1366 platform
- Lacks modern instruction sets
- Poor single-core performance today
Pros
- High stock clock speed
- Hyper-Threading for 8 threads
- Triple-channel memory support
- Part of the foundational Nehalem architecture
- Good multi-threaded performance for its era
Cons
- Poor value at launch
- High 130W TDP
- Locked CPU multiplier
- Obsolete platform
- Lacks modern instruction sets
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i7-920
- AMD Phenom II X4 940Rival
Desktop
- Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650Rival
Desktop
- AMD Phenom II X4 955Rival
Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-940Rival
Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-750Rival
Desktop
- Intel Xeon W3520Alt
The server equivalent of the 920, often cheaper on the used market.
A slightly faster refresh of the same architecture.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 3300XAlt
A modern budget quad-core that vastly outperforms it.
A modern budget CPU that destroys it in every way.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 3600Alt
A modern 6-core CPU that is lightyears ahead.
Intel Core i7-940
- AMD Phenom II X4 940Rival
Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-920Rival
Desktop
- Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770Rival
Desktop
- RivalCompare head-to-head
- AMD Phenom II X4 955Rival
Desktop
A better value successor that replaced the 940.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Xeon W3540Alt
Server equivalent often available for less.
- AMD Ryzen 5 3600Alt
A modern budget CPU that vastly outperforms it.
A modern budget CPU that destroys it.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
Historically one of the best value CPUs ever made. Today, it is a nostalgic relic that paved the way for modern multi-core computing.
Best for: Retro enthusiast build or repairing a 2008-era system.
Read the full reviewA capable but poor-value CPU at launch due to the 920's overclocking prowess. Today, it's a rare collector's item.
Best for: Completing a period-accurate 2008 retro build.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i7-920 or Intel Core i7-940?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i7-920 comes out ahead with a score of 9/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i7-920 or Intel Core i7-940?
For gaming, the Intel Core i7-940 leads with a gaming performance score of 31/100 among Intel Core i7-920 and Intel Core i7-940.
Do Intel Core i7-920 and Intel Core i7-940 use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the LGA 1366 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.