A8-5500 vs Athlon X4 740
A8-5500
Athlon X4 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 A8-5500 is positioned at rank 472 and the Athlon X4 740 is on rank 528, so the A8-5500 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A8-5500
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X4 740
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A8-5500 | Athlon X4 740 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($71) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Trinity (2012−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Trinity (2012−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A8-5500 | Athlon X4 740 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($71) |
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 A8-5500 and Athlon X4 740
A8-5500
The A8-5500 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,615 points. Launch price was $90.
Athlon X4 740
The Athlon X4 740 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 2,646 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the A8-5500 and Athlon X4 740 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the A8-5500 versus 3.7 GHz on the Athlon X4 740 — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). Both are built on the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture using a 32 nm process. In PassMark, the A8-5500 scores 2,615 against the Athlon X4 740's 2,646 — a 1.2% lead for the Athlon X4 740.
| Feature | A8-5500 | Athlon X4 740 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | 3.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 4 MB (total)+300% |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Trinity (2012−2013) | Trinity (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,615 | 2,646+1% |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the FM2 socket with PCIe 2.0. Maximum memory speed reaches 1866 on the A8-5500 versus DDR3-1866 on the Athlon X4 740 — the A8-5500 supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 64 of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: FM2 (A8-5500) and AMD FM2 (Athlon X4 740).
| Feature | A8-5500 | Athlon X4 740 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2 | FM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1866+62100% | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 | 64 GB+104857500% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (A8-5500) vs AMD-V (Athlon X4 740). The A8-5500 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 7560D), while the Athlon X4 740 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon X4 740 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: A8-5500 rivals Pentium G2120.
| Feature | A8-5500 | Athlon X4 740 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon HD 7560D | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
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