Athlon II X4 740 vs Core i5-4288U
Athlon II X4 740
Core i5-4288U
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. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon II X4 740 is positioned at rank 522 and the Core i5-4288U is on rank 1135, so the Athlon II X4 740 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 740
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4288U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 740 | Core i5-4288U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($342) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Piledriver / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 740 | Core i5-4288U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1622%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($342) |
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 Core i5-4288U
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 i5-4288U
The Core i5-4288U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 June 2013 (12 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 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,659 points. Launch price was $342.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X4 740 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-4288U 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 3.1 GHz on the Core i5-4288U — a 17.6% 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 i5-4288U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 740 scores 2,677 against the Core i5-4288U's 2,659 — a 0.7% lead for the Athlon II X4 740.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 740 | Core i5-4288U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+19% | 3.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+23% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+1500% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Piledriver | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 2,677 | 2,659 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 880 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,800 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X4 740 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-4288U uses FCBGA1168 (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 MHz on the Core i5-4288U — the Core i5-4288U supports 200% 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 16 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon II X4 740) vs 12 (Core i5-4288U) — the Athlon II X4 740 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD FM2 (Athlon II X4 740) and Intel HM86,Intel HM87,Intel QM87 (Core i5-4288U).
| Feature | Athlon II X4 740 | Core i5-4288U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2 | FCBGA1168 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | DDR3L 1600 MHz |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB+300% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+33% | 12 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X4 740) / true (Core i5-4288U). The Core i5-4288U includes integrated graphics (Intel Iris Graphics 5100), while the Athlon II X4 740 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-4288U targets Mobile.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 740 | Core i5-4288U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel Iris Graphics 5100 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
| Target Use | — | Mobile |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X4 740 launched at $71 MSRP, while the Core i5-4288U debuted at $342.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 740 | Core i5-4288U |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $71-79% | $342 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20 | — |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2013 |
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