Athlon II X4 740 vs Opteron 3350 HE

AMD

Athlon II X4 740

4 Cores4 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2012
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

Opteron 3350 HE

4 Cores4 Thrd45 WWMax: 3.8 GHz2012
Similar parts
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Athlon II X4 740 vs Opteron 3350 HE Performance Spectrum

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 Opteron 3350 HE 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 Opteron 3350 HE: 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: +3.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (2,677 vs 2,699).
  • Launch MSRP is still $71 MSRP, while Opteron 3350 HE mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.

Opteron 3350 HE

2012

Why buy it

  • +0.8% higher PassMark.
  • Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon II X4 740 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Quick Answers

So, is Opteron 3350 HE better than Athlon II X4 740?
Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Opteron 3350 HE makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Athlon II X4 740 is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Opteron 3350 HE is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Opteron 3350 HE is still the much better call for a fresh build. Opteron 3350 HE comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $71 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.8% better PassMark. Athlon II X4 740 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2012 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (37.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?
Opteron 3350 HE makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 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 Opteron 3350 HE Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

AMD

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.

AMD

Opteron 3350 HE

The Opteron 3350 HE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Delhi (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 4096 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,699 points. Launch price was $800.

Processing Power

Both the Athlon II X4 740 and Opteron 3350 HE share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Athlon II X4 740 versus 3.8 GHz on the Opteron 3350 HE — a 2.7% clock advantage for the Opteron 3350 HE (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Athlon II X4 740 uses the Piledriver architecture (32 nm), while the Opteron 3350 HE uses Delhi (2012−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 740 scores 2,677 against the Opteron 3350 HE's 2,699 — a 0.8% lead for the Opteron 3350 HE.

FeatureAthlon II X4 740Opteron 3350 HE
Cores / Threads
4 / 4
4 / 4
Boost Clock
3.7 GHz
3.8 GHz+3%
Base Clock
3.2 GHz+14%
2.8 GHz
L3 Cache
8192 kB (total)
L2 Cache
4 MB
4096 kB
Process
32 nm
32 nm
Architecture
Piledriver
Delhi (2012−2013)
PassMark
2,677
2,699
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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 740 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Opteron 3350 HE uses AM3+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureAthlon II X4 740Opteron 3350 HE
Socket
FM2
AM3+
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1866
Max RAM Capacity
64 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
No
PCIe Lanes
16