Athlon 64 3700+ vs Pentium D 830

Athlon 64 3700+ vs Pentium D 830 Performance Spectrum

Athlon 64 3700+

1 / 1

622

+0.6%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Pentium D 830

2 / 2

618

0.0%

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.

Athlon 64 3700+ vs Pentium D 830 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Athlon 64 3700+ vs Pentium D 830: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Athlon 64 3700+

2001

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $44 less on MSRP ($272 MSRP vs $316 MSRP).
✅Delivers 16.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 2.3 vs 2.0 PassMark/$ ($272 MSRP vs $316 MSRP).
✅Draws 89W instead of 130W, a 41W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Pentium D 830.

Pentium D 830

2005

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Athlon 64 3700+.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon 64 3700+ across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (618 vs 622).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 2.0 vs 2.3 PassMark/$ ($316 MSRP vs $272 MSRP).
❌46.1% higher power demand at 130W vs 89W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon 64 3700+ better than Pentium D 830?

Yes. Athlon 64 3700+ is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 6.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.6% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon 64 3700+ is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 6.4% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon 64 3700+ is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 1 cores and 1 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Athlon 64 3700+ is the better buy right now. Athlon 64 3700+ comes in $44 cheaper on MSRP at $272 MSRP versus $316 MSRP, and it still gives you a 6.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 16.9% better value on MSRP (2.3 vs 2.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Pentium D 830 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2005 vs 2001). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon 64 3700+ vs Pentium D 830 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Athlon 64 3700+

The Athlon 64 3700+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2001 (24 years ago). It is based on the San Diego (2001−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 939. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 622 points. Launch price was $69.

Pentium D 830

The Pentium D 830 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 618 points. Launch price was $69.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon 64 3700+ packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the Pentium D 830 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Pentium D 830 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Athlon 64 3700+ versus 3 GHz on the Pentium D 830 — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Pentium D 830. The Athlon 64 3700+ uses the San Diego (2001−2005) architecture (130 nm), while the Pentium D 830 uses NetBurst (2000−2006) (90 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 3700+ scores 622 against the Pentium D 830's 618 — a 0.6% lead for the Athlon 64 3700+. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Athlon 64 3700+	Pentium D 830
Cores / Threads	1 / 1	2 / 2+100%
Boost Clock	2.4 GHz	3 GHz+25%
Base Clock	—	3 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	1 MB	2 MB+100%
Process	130 nm	90 nm-31%
Architecture	San Diego (2001−2005)	NetBurst (2000−2006)
PassMark	622	618
Geekbench 6 Single	—	151
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	341

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon 64 3700+ uses the 939 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium D 830 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR-400 on the Athlon 64 3700+ versus DDR2-667 on the Pentium D 830 — the Pentium D 830 supports -266.8% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 4 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon 64 3700+) vs 16 (Pentium D 830) — the Pentium D 830 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 939 (Athlon 64 3700+) and 945,955,975 (Pentium D 830).

Feature	Athlon 64 3700+	Pentium D 830
Socket	939	LGA775
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	DDR-400	DDR2-667
Max RAM Capacity	4 GB	4 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon 64 3700+) / None (Pentium D 830). Primary use case: Pentium D 830 targets Legacy Desktop.

Feature	Athlon 64 3700+	Pentium D 830
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	None
Target Use	—	Legacy Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon 64 3700+ was priced at $272, while the Pentium D 830 came in at $316. On launch pricing ($272 vs $316), Athlon 64 3700+ was $44 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 64 3700+ delivers 2.3 pts/$ vs 2.0 pts/$ for the Pentium D 830 — making the Athlon 64 3700+ the 15.6% better value option.

Feature	Athlon 64 3700+	Pentium D 830
MSRP	$272-14%	$316
Performance per Dollar	2.3+15%	2.0
Release Date	2001	2005

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