Athlon II X4 740 vs Core i5-760

Athlon II X4 740 vs Core i5-760 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 740

4 / 4

2,677

+0.4%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i5-760

4 / 4

2,667

0.0%

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 i5-760 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 i5-760: 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: +4.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $159 less on MSRP ($71 MSRP vs $230 MSRP).
✅Delivers 225.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.7 vs 11.6 PassMark/$ ($71 MSRP vs $230 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-760.

Core i5-760

2010

Why buy it

✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Athlon II X4 740.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon II X4 740 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (2,667 vs 2,677).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 11.6 vs 37.7 PassMark/$ ($230 MSRP vs $71 MSRP).
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X4 740 better than Core i5-760?

Yes. Athlon II X4 740 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 4.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.4% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, 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 4.8% 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 0.4% 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 $159 cheaper on MSRP at $71 MSRP versus $230 MSRP, and it still gives you a 4.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 225.2% better value on MSRP (37.7 vs 11.6 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Athlon II X4 740 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 4 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 i5-760 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 i5-760

The Core i5-760 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 18 July 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.33 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,667 points. Launch price was $230.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Athlon II X4 740 and Core i5-760 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Athlon II X4 740 versus 3.33 GHz on the Core i5-760 — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 740 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Athlon II X4 740 uses the Piledriver architecture (32 nm), while the Core i5-760 uses Lynnfield (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 740 scores 2,677 against the Core i5-760's 2,667 — a 0.4% lead for the Athlon II X4 740.

Feature	Athlon II X4 740	Core i5-760
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	3.7 GHz+11%	3.33 GHz
Base Clock	3.2 GHz+14%	2.8 GHz
L3 Cache	—	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	4 MB+1500%	256 kB (per core)
Process	32 nm-29%	45 nm
Architecture	Piledriver	Lynnfield (2009−2010)
PassMark	2,677	2,667
Geekbench 6 Single	—	470

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 740 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-760 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1866 on the Athlon II X4 740 versus DDR3-1333 on the Core i5-760 — 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 16 GB — 300% 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 P55,H55,H57,Q57 (Core i5-760).

Feature	Athlon II X4 740	Core i5-760
Socket	FM2	LGA1156
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1866+40%	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB+300%	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X4 740) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-760). Primary use case: Core i5-760 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-760 rivals Phenom II X4 970.

Feature	Athlon II X4 740	Core i5-760
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	—	Legacy Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X4 740 was priced at $71, while the Core i5-760 came in at $230. On launch pricing ($71 vs $230), Athlon II X4 740 was $159 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 740 delivers 37.7 pts/$ vs 11.6 pts/$ for the Core i5-760 — making the Athlon II X4 740 the 105.9% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X4 740	Core i5-760
MSRP	$71-69%	$230
Performance per Dollar	37.7+225%	11.6
Release Date	2012	2010

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