Athlon II X4 740 vs Xeon E5-2403 v2

Athlon II X4 740 vs Xeon E5-2403 v2 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 740

4 / 4

2,677

+0.2%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Xeon E5-2403 v2

4 / 4

2,672

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 Xeon E5-2403 v2 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 Xeon E5-2403 v2: 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

✅Costs $121 less on MSRP ($71 MSRP vs $192 MSRP).
✅Delivers 170.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.7 vs 13.9 PassMark/$ ($71 MSRP vs $192 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 80W, a 15W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-2403 v2, which brings 4 cores / 4 threads and 24 PCIe lanes.

Xeon E5-2403 v2

2013

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 4 cores / 4 threads, plus 24 PCIe lanes vs 16.
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,672 vs 2,677).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.9 vs 37.7 PassMark/$ ($192 MSRP vs $71 MSRP).
❌23.1% higher power demand at 80W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X4 740 better than Xeon E5-2403 v2?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-2403 v2 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 gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon II X4 740 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.4% 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 0.2% 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 $121 cheaper on MSRP at $71 MSRP versus $192 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 170.9% better value on MSRP (37.7 vs 13.9 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Xeon E5-2403 v2 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2012). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X4 740 vs Xeon E5-2403 v2 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.

Xeon E5-2403 v2

The Xeon E5-2403 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,672 points. Launch price was $223.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Athlon II X4 740 and Xeon E5-2403 v2 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Athlon II X4 740 versus 1.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2403 v2 — a 69.1% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 740 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Athlon II X4 740 uses the Piledriver architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E5-2403 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 740 scores 2,677 against the Xeon E5-2403 v2's 2,672 — a 0.2% lead for the Athlon II X4 740.

Feature	Athlon II X4 740	Xeon E5-2403 v2
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	3.7 GHz+106%	1.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.2 GHz+78%	1.8 GHz
L3 Cache	—	10 MB (total)
L2 Cache	4 MB+1500%	256 kB (per core)
Process	32 nm	22 nm-31%
Architecture	Piledriver	Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014)
PassMark	2,677	2,672

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 740 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5-2403 v2 uses LGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1866 on the Athlon II X4 740 versus DDR3-1333 on the Xeon E5-2403 v2 — the Athlon II X4 740 supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5-2403 v2 supports up to 384 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 500% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Athlon II X4 740) vs 3 (Xeon E5-2403 v2). PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon II X4 740) vs 24 (Xeon E5-2403 v2) — the Xeon E5-2403 v2 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Athlon II X4 740	Xeon E5-2403 v2
Socket	FM2	LGA1356
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1866+40%	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	384 GB+500%
RAM Channels	2	3+50%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	24+50%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X4 740) / VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E5-2403 v2). Primary use case: Xeon E5-2403 v2 targets Server.

Feature	Athlon II X4 740	Xeon E5-2403 v2
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	Server

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X4 740 was priced at $71, while the Xeon E5-2403 v2 came in at $192. On launch pricing ($71 vs $192), Athlon II X4 740 was $121 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 740 delivers 37.7 pts/$ vs 13.9 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2403 v2 — making the Athlon II X4 740 the 92.2% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X4 740	Xeon E5-2403 v2
MSRP	$71-63%	$192
Performance per Dollar	37.7+171%	13.9
Release Date	2012	2013

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