Athlon II X4 640 vs Athlon X4 730
Athlon II X4 640
Athlon X4 730
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 Athlon II X4 640 is positioned at rank 621 and the Athlon X4 730 is on rank 519, so the Athlon X4 730 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 640
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X4 730
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 640 | Athlon X4 730 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($52) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Trinity (2012−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 640 | Athlon X4 730 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+245%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($52) |
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 Athlon II X4 640 and Athlon X4 730
Athlon II X4 640
The Athlon II X4 640 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,266 points. Launch price was $80.
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.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon II X4 640 and Athlon X4 730 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Athlon II X4 640 versus 3.2 GHz on the Athlon X4 730 — a 6.5% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 730 (base: 3 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Athlon II X4 640 uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon X4 730 uses Trinity (2012−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 640 scores 2,266 against the Athlon X4 730's 2,278 — a 0.5% lead for the Athlon X4 730.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 640 | Athlon X4 730 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 3.2 GHz+7% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+7% | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 4 MB (total)+700% |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Propus (2009−2011) | Trinity (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,266 | 2,278 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,471 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 386 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,332 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X4 640 uses the AM3 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 DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Athlon X4 730 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X4 640) and AMD FM2 (Athlon X4 730).
| Feature | Athlon II X4 640 | Athlon X4 730 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | FM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 64 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon II X4 640) / not specified (Athlon X4 730). Primary use case: Athlon II X4 640 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Athlon II X4 640 rivals Core 2 Quad Q8300.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 640 | Athlon X4 730 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X4 640 launched at $80 MSRP, while the Athlon X4 730 debuted at $60. At current prices ($15 vs $52), the Athlon II X4 640 is $37 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 640 delivers 151.1 pts/$ vs 43.8 pts/$ for the Athlon X4 730 — making the Athlon II X4 640 the 110.1% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 640 | Athlon X4 730 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $80 | $60-25% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-71% | $52 |
| Performance per Dollar | 151.1+245% | 43.8 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2012 |
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