Athlon II X4 740 vs Core m3-7Y32
Athlon II X4 740
Core m3-7Y32
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 m3-7Y32 is on rank 1090, 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 m3-7Y32
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 740 | Core m3-7Y32 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($281) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Piledriver / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 740 | Core m3-7Y32 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1295%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($281) |
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 m3-7Y32
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 | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X4 740 launched at $71 MSRP, while the Core m3-7Y32 debuted at $281. At current prices ($20 vs $281), the Athlon II X4 740 is $261 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 740 delivers 133.8 pts/$ vs 9.6 pts/$ for the Core m3-7Y32 — making the Athlon II X4 740 the 173.2% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 740 | Core m3-7Y32 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $71-75% | $281 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20-93% | $281 |
| Performance per Dollar | 133.8+1294% | 9.6 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2017 |
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