
A8-3520M vs Pentium M 740

A8-3520M

Pentium M 740
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The A8-3520M is positioned at rank 806 and the Pentium M 740 is on rank 719, so the Pentium M 740 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A8-3520M
Performance Per Dollar Pentium M 740
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A8-3520M | Pentium M 740 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Dothan (2004−2005) / 90 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A8-3520M | Pentium M 740 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of A8-3520M and Pentium M 740

A8-3520M
The A8-3520M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FS1. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,441 points. Launch price was $90.

Pentium M 740
The Pentium M 740 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Dothan (2004−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Base frequency is 1.73 GHz, with boost up to 1.73 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 27 Watt. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 1,435 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The A8-3520M packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Pentium M 740 offers 1 cores / 1 threads — the A8-3520M has 3 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the A8-3520M versus 1.73 GHz on the Pentium M 740 — a 36.4% clock advantage for the A8-3520M (base: 1.6 GHz vs 1.73 GHz). The A8-3520M uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium M 740 uses Dothan (2004−2005) (90 nm). In PassMark, the A8-3520M scores 1,441 against the Pentium M 740's 1,435 — a 0.4% lead for the A8-3520M. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | A8-3520M | Pentium M 740 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+300% | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz+45% | 1.73 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 1.73 GHz+8% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2 MB+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-64% | 90 nm |
| Architecture | Llano (2011−2012) | Dothan (2004−2005) |
| PassMark | 1,441 | 1,435 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 255 | — |
Memory & Platform
The A8-3520M uses the FS1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium M 740 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | A8-3520M | Pentium M 740 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FS1 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (A8-3520M) / not specified (Pentium M 740). The A8-3520M includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6620G), while the Pentium M 740 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A8-3520M targets Budget Laptop. Direct competitor: A8-3520M rivals Core i3-2330M.
| Feature | A8-3520M | Pentium M 740 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Radeon HD 6620G | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Budget Laptop | — |
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