Athlon II X4 640 vs Athlon X4 730

Athlon II X4 640 vs Athlon X4 730 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 640

4 / 4

2,266

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Athlon X4 730

4 / 4

2,278

+0.5%

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 640 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 640 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 640

2010

Why buy it

✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Athlon X4 730.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,266 vs 2,278).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 28.3 vs 38.0 PassMark/$ ($80 MSRP vs $60 MSRP).
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

Athlon X4 730

2012

Why buy it

✅Costs $20 less on MSRP ($60 MSRP vs $80 MSRP).
✅Delivers 34.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 38.0 vs 28.3 PassMark/$ ($60 MSRP vs $80 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X4 640.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon X4 730 better than Athlon II X4 640?

Yes. Athlon X4 730 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you 0.5% 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 has the edge because it leads the single-thread side of this matchup with 6.7% higher max boost clock.

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 0.5% 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 $20 cheaper on MSRP at $60 MSRP versus $80 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.5% higher PassMark. It is also 34.0% better value on MSRP (38.0 vs 28.3 PassMark/$), 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 a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2010) and 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 640 vs Athlon X4 730 Technical Specifications

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

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. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X4 640 versus DDR3-1866 on the Athlon X4 730 — the Athlon X4 730 supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon X4 730 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 300% 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+40%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	64 GB+300%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
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

At launch, the Athlon II X4 640 was priced at $80, while the Athlon X4 730 came in at $60. On launch pricing ($80 vs $60), Athlon X4 730 was $20 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 640 delivers 28.3 pts/$ vs 38.0 pts/$ for the Athlon X4 730 — making the Athlon X4 730 the 29.1% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X4 640	Athlon X4 730
MSRP	$80	$60-25%
Performance per Dollar	28.3	38.0+34%
Release Date	2010	2012

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