Athlon II X4 740 vs Celeron G5900
Athlon II X4 740
Celeron G5900
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. The Athlon II X4 740 is positioned at rank #522 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 740
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G5900
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 740 | Celeron G5900 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($42) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Piledriver / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 740 | Celeron G5900 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+110%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($42) |
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 740 and Celeron G5900
Athlon II X4 740
The Athlon II X4 740 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 October 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Piledriver 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. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,677 points. Launch price was $71.
Celeron G5900
The Celeron G5900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 58 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 2,682 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X4 740 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Celeron G5900 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Athlon II X4 740 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Athlon II X4 740 versus 3.4 GHz on the Celeron G5900 — a 8.5% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 740 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Athlon II X4 740 uses the Piledriver architecture (32 nm), while the Celeron G5900 uses Comet Lake (2020−2025) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 740 scores 2,677 against the Celeron G5900's 2,682 — a 0.2% lead for the Celeron G5900.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 740 | Celeron G5900 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+9% | 3.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.4 GHz+6% |
| L3 Cache | — | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+1500% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Piledriver | Comet Lake (2020−2025) |
| PassMark | 2,677 | 2,682 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 850 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,600 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X4 740 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron G5900 uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1866 on the Athlon II X4 740 versus DDR4-2666 on the Celeron G5900 — the Celeron G5900 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron G5900 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD FM2 (Athlon II X4 740) and H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Celeron G5900).
| Feature | Athlon II X4 740 | Celeron G5900 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2 | LGA1200 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | DDR4-2666+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 128 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X4 740) / VT-x (Celeron G5900). The Celeron G5900 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 610), while the Athlon II X4 740 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G5900 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron G5900 rivals Pentium Gold G6400.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 740 | Celeron G5900 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics 610 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X4 740 launched at $71 MSRP, while the Celeron G5900 debuted at $50. At current prices ($20 vs $42), the Athlon II X4 740 is $22 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 740 delivers 133.8 pts/$ vs 63.9 pts/$ for the Celeron G5900 — making the Athlon II X4 740 the 70.8% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 740 | Celeron G5900 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $71 | $50-30% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20-52% | $42 |
| Performance per Dollar | 133.8+109% | 63.9 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2020 |
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