Athlon II X4 740 vs Core i5-3340M

Athlon II X4 740 vs Core i5-3340M Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 740

4 / 4

2,677

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i5-3340M

2 / 4

2,692

+0.6%

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 i5-3340M 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 i5-3340M: 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

✅Draws 65W instead of 512W, a 447W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,677 vs 2,692).
❌Launch MSRP is still $71 MSRP, while Core i5-3340M mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-3340M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-3340M

2013

Why buy it

✅+0.6% higher PassMark.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 4000, while Athlon II X4 740 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌687.7% higher power demand at 512W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X4 740 better than Core i5-3340M?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon II X4 740 is ahead with a 2.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-3340M pulls ahead with 0.6% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-3340M is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% 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 $71 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Core i5-3340M is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.6% better PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (37.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i5-3340M makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 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 i5-3340M 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 i5-3340M

The Core i5-3340M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,692 points. Launch price was $225.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 740 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-3340M 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 3.4 GHz on the Core i5-3340M — a 8.5% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 740 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Athlon II X4 740 uses the Piledriver architecture (32 nm), while the Core i5-3340M uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 740 scores 2,677 against the Core i5-3340M's 2,692 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i5-3340M.

Feature	Athlon II X4 740	Core i5-3340M
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.7 GHz+9%	3.4 GHz
Base Clock	3.2 GHz+19%	2.7 GHz
L3 Cache	—	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	4 MB	256K (per core)+6300%
Process	32 nm	22 nm-31%
Architecture	Piledriver	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
PassMark	2,677	2,692

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 740 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-3340M uses PGA988 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1866 on the Athlon II X4 740 versus DDR3/L/-RS 1333/1600 on the Core i5-3340M — the Athlon II X4 740 supports 40% 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 HM77,QM77,QS77 (Core i5-3340M).

Feature	Athlon II X4 740	Core i5-3340M
Socket	FM2	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1866+40%	DDR3/L/-RS 1333/1600
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 / EPT (Core i5-3340M). The Core i5-3340M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4000), while the Athlon II X4 740 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-3340M targets Professional Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-3340M rivals AMD A10-4600M.