Athlon II X4 638 vs Athlon X4 730

Athlon II X4 638 vs Athlon X4 730 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 638

4 / 4

2,260

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Athlon X4 730

4 / 4

2,278

+0.8%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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 II X4 638 vs Athlon X4 730 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 II X4 638 vs Athlon X4 730: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon II X4 638

2012

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon X4 730 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (2,260 vs 2,278).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 7.5 vs 38.0 PassMark/$ ($300 MSRP vs $60 MSRP).

Athlon X4 730

2012

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $240 less on MSRP ($60 MSRP vs $300 MSRP).
✅Delivers 404.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 38.0 vs 7.5 PassMark/$ ($60 MSRP vs $300 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon X4 730 better than Athlon II X4 638?

Yes. Athlon X4 730 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 3.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.8% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon X4 730 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 3.2% 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 X4 730 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Athlon X4 730 is the better buy right now. Athlon X4 730 comes in $240 cheaper on MSRP at $60 MSRP versus $300 MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 404.0% better value on MSRP (38.0 vs 7.5 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Athlon X4 730 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X4 638 vs Athlon X4 730 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X4 638

The Athlon II X4 638 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,260 points. Launch price was $149.

Athlon X4 730

The Athlon X4 730 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 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 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: 2,278 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

Both the Athlon II X4 638 and Athlon X4 730 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X4 638 versus 3.2 GHz on the Athlon X4 730 — a 16.9% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 730 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Athlon II X4 638 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon X4 730 uses Trinity (2012−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 638 scores 2,260 against the Athlon X4 730's 2,278 — a 0.8% lead for the Athlon X4 730.

Feature	Athlon II X4 638	Athlon X4 730
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	2.7 GHz	3.2 GHz+19%
Base Clock	2.7 GHz	2.8 GHz+4%
L3 Cache	0 kB	—
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	4 MB (total)+300%
Process	32 nm	32 nm
Architecture	Llano (2011−2012)	Trinity (2012−2013)
PassMark	2,260	2,278

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 638 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon X4 730 uses FM2 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1866 memory speed. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD FM1 (Athlon II X4 638) and AMD FM2 (Athlon X4 730).

Feature	Athlon II X4 638	Athlon X4 730
Socket	FM1	FM2
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1866	DDR3-1866
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	16

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X4 638 was priced at $300, while the Athlon X4 730 came in at $60. On launch pricing ($300 vs $60), Athlon X4 730 was $240 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 638 delivers 7.5 pts/$ vs 38.0 pts/$ for the Athlon X4 730 — making the Athlon X4 730 the 133.8% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X4 638	Athlon X4 730
MSRP	$300	$60-80%
Performance per Dollar	7.5	38.0+407%
Release Date	2012	2012

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