Athlon II X4 740 vs Core m3-7Y32

Athlon II X4 740 vs Core m3-7Y32 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 740

4 / 4

2,677

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core m3-7Y32

2 / 4

2,697

+0.7%

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 m3-7Y32 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 m3-7Y32: 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: +5.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $210 less on MSRP ($71 MSRP vs $281 MSRP).
✅Delivers 292.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.7 vs 9.6 PassMark/$ ($71 MSRP vs $281 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,677 vs 2,697).
❌1344.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 4.5W.

Core m3-7Y32

2017

Why buy it

✅+0.7% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 5W instead of 65W, a 61W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon II X4 740 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 9.6 vs 37.7 PassMark/$ ($281 MSRP vs $71 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core m3-7Y32 better than Athlon II X4 740?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon II X4 740 is ahead with a 5.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core m3-7Y32 pulls ahead with 0.7% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core m3-7Y32 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core m3-7Y32 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core m3-7Y32 comes in 295.8% more expensive on MSRP at $281 MSRP versus $71 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.7% better PassMark. Athlon II X4 740 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2012 platform. Even with 292.8% better value on paper (37.7 vs 9.6 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on FM2.

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

Core m3-7Y32 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 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 m3-7Y32 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 m3-7Y32

The Core m3-7Y32 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 21 April 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1515. Thermal design power (TDP): 4.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,697 points. Launch price was $281.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 740 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core m3-7Y32 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 m3-7Y32 — a 20.9% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 740 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The Athlon II X4 740 uses the Piledriver architecture (32 nm), while the Core m3-7Y32 uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 740 scores 2,677 against the Core m3-7Y32's 2,697 — a 0.7% lead for the Core m3-7Y32.

Feature	Athlon II X4 740	Core m3-7Y32
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.7 GHz+23%	3 GHz
Base Clock	3.2 GHz+191%	1.1 GHz
L3 Cache	—	4 MB
L2 Cache	4 MB+700%	512 kB
Process	32 nm	14 nm-56%
Architecture	Piledriver	Kaby Lake (2016−2019)
PassMark	2,677	2,697

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 740 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core m3-7Y32 uses FCBGA1515 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Athlon II X4 740	Core m3-7Y32
Socket	FM2	FCBGA1515
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1866	—
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X4 740 was priced at $71, while the Core m3-7Y32 came in at $281. On launch pricing ($71 vs $281), Athlon II X4 740 was $210 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 740 delivers 37.7 pts/$ vs 9.6 pts/$ for the Core m3-7Y32 — making the Athlon II X4 740 the 118.8% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X4 740	Core m3-7Y32
MSRP	$71-75%	$281
Performance per Dollar	37.7+293%	9.6
Release Date	2012	2017

Search Athlon II X4 740 on Amazon

Search Core m3-7Y32 on Amazon

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.