Athlon II X4 740 vs Core i3-4110M

AMD

Athlon II X4 740

4 Cores4 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2012
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Core i3-4110M

2 Cores4 Thrd512 WWMax: 2.6 GHz2014
Similar parts
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Athlon II X4 740 vs Core i3-4110M Performance Spectrum

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 i3-4110M 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 i3-4110M: 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: +5.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Draws 65W instead of 512W, a 447W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (2,677 vs 2,678).
  • Launch MSRP is still $71 MSRP, while Core i3-4110M mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • No integrated graphics, while Core i3-4110M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i3-4110M

2014

Why buy it

  • +0% higher PassMark.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 4600, 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.
  • 687.7% higher power demand at 512W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X4 740 better than Core i3-4110M?
It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon II X4 740 is ahead with a 5.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-4110M pulls ahead with 0% better PassMark.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-4110M is the stronger fit. You are getting 0% better PassMark, backed by 2 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 at an unclear MSRP at $71 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 5.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Core i3-4110M is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0% better PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (37.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i3-4110M makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2014 vs 2012) and more multi-core headroom with 2 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 740 vs Core i3-4110M Technical Specifications

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

AMD

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.

Intel

Core i3-4110M

The Core i3-4110M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 April 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA946. Thermal design power (TDP): 37 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,678 points. Launch price was $225.

Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 740 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-4110M 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 2.6 GHz on the Core i3-4110M — a 34.9% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 740 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Athlon II X4 740 uses the Piledriver architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-4110M uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 740 scores 2,677 against the Core i3-4110M's 2,678 — a 0% lead for the Core i3-4110M.

FeatureAthlon II X4 740Core i3-4110M
Cores / Threads
4 / 4+100%
2 / 4
Boost Clock
3.7 GHz+42%
2.6 GHz
Base Clock
3.2 GHz+23%
2.6 GHz
L3 Cache
3 MB
L2 Cache
4 MB+700%
512 kB
Process
32 nm
22 nm-31%
Architecture
Piledriver
Haswell (2013−2015)
PassMark
2,677
2,678
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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 740 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-4110M uses PGA946 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1866 on the Athlon II X4 740 versus DDR3L-1600 on the Core i3-4110M — 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.

FeatureAthlon II X4 740Core i3-4110M
Socket
FM2
PGA946
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1866+17%
DDR3L-1600
Max RAM Capacity
64 GB+100%
32 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
16
16
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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X4 740) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-4110M). The Core i3-4110M includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4600), while the Athlon II X4 740 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-4110M targets Mobile.

FeatureAthlon II X4 740Core i3-4110M
Integrated GPU
No
Yes
IGPU Model
HD Graphics 4600
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
Target Use
Mobile