Athlon II X4 740 vs Core i3-3250T

Athlon II X4 740 vs Core i3-3250T Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 740

4 / 4

2,677

+1.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-3250T

2 / 4

2,650

0.0%

Celeron N2810

Pentium Dual Core T2390

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 740 vs Core i3-3250T 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 740 vs Core i3-3250T: 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 740

2012

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $67 less on MSRP ($71 MSRP vs $138 MSRP).
✅Delivers 96.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.7 vs 19.2 PassMark/$ ($71 MSRP vs $138 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-3250T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i3-3250T

2013

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 2500, while Athlon II X4 740 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon II X4 740 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (2,650 vs 2,677).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 19.2 vs 37.7 PassMark/$ ($138 MSRP vs $71 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X4 740 better than Core i3-3250T?

Yes. Athlon II X4 740 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 5.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon II X4 740 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 5.0% 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 II X4 740 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Athlon II X4 740 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X4 740 comes in $67 cheaper on MSRP at $71 MSRP versus $138 MSRP, and it still gives you a 5.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 96.3% better value on MSRP (37.7 vs 19.2 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Core i3-3250T makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2012). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X4 740 vs Core i3-3250T Technical Specifications

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

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.

Core i3-3250T

The Core i3-3250T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 2,650 points. Launch price was $69.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 740 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-3250T offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 740 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Athlon II X4 740 versus 3 GHz on the Core i3-3250T — a 20.9% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 740 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Athlon II X4 740 uses the Piledriver architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-3250T uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 740 scores 2,677 against the Core i3-3250T's 2,650 — a 1% lead for the Athlon II X4 740.

Feature	Athlon II X4 740	Core i3-3250T
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.7 GHz+23%	3 GHz
Base Clock	3.2 GHz+7%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	—	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	4 MB+1500%	256 kB (per core)
Process	32 nm	22 nm-31%
Architecture	Piledriver	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
PassMark	2,677+1%	2,650

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 740 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-3250T uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1866 on the Athlon II X4 740 versus DDR3-1600 on the Core i3-3250T — the Athlon II X4 740 supports 16.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X4 740 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 100% 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 H61,B75,H77,Z77 (Core i3-3250T).

Feature	Athlon II X4 740	Core i3-3250T
Socket	FM2	LGA1155
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1866+17%	DDR3-1600
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB+100%	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

The Core i3-3250T includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 2500), while the Athlon II X4 740 requires a dedicated GPU.

Feature	Athlon II X4 740	Core i3-3250T
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel HD Graphics 2500

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X4 740 was priced at $71, while the Core i3-3250T came in at $138. On launch pricing ($71 vs $138), Athlon II X4 740 was $67 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 740 delivers 37.7 pts/$ vs 19.2 pts/$ for the Core i3-3250T — making the Athlon II X4 740 the 65% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X4 740	Core i3-3250T
MSRP	$71-49%	$138
Performance per Dollar	37.7+96%	19.2
Release Date	2012	2013

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