Athlon X4 730 vs Core i3-3220
Athlon X4 730
Core i3-3220
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 X4 730 is positioned at rank 519 and the Core i3-3220 is on rank 804, so the Athlon X4 730 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X4 730
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3220
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 730 | Core i3-3220 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($52) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($88) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Trinity (2012−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 730 | Core i3-3220 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+69%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($52) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($88) |
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 X4 730 and Core i3-3220
Athlon X4 730
The Athlon X4 730 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 2,278 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i3-3220
The Core i3-3220 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,276 points. Launch price was $117.
Processing Power
The Athlon X4 730 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-3220 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon X4 730 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Athlon X4 730 versus 3.3 GHz on the Core i3-3220 — a 3.1% clock advantage for the Core i3-3220 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Athlon X4 730 uses the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-3220 uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 730 scores 2,278 against the Core i3-3220's 2,276 — a 0.1% lead for the Athlon X4 730.
| Feature | Athlon X4 730 | Core i3-3220 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.3 GHz+3% |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.3 GHz+18% |
| L3 Cache | — | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB (total)+1500% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Trinity (2012−2013) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,278 | 2,276 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 503 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X4 730 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-3220 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1866 memory speed. The Athlon X4 730 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD FM2 (Athlon X4 730) and B75,Z75,Z77,H77,Q75,Q77,H61,H67,P67,Z68 (Core i3-3220).
| Feature | Athlon X4 730 | Core i3-3220 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB+100% | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon X4 730) / VT-x, EPT (Core i3-3220). The Core i3-3220 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2500), while the Athlon X4 730 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-3220 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i3-3220 rivals FX-4300.
| Feature | Athlon X4 730 | Core i3-3220 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 2500 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Budget Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon X4 730 launched at $60 MSRP, while the Core i3-3220 debuted at $117. At current prices ($52 vs $88), the Athlon X4 730 is $36 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X4 730 delivers 43.8 pts/$ vs 25.9 pts/$ for the Core i3-3220 — making the Athlon X4 730 the 51.5% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon X4 730 | Core i3-3220 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $60-49% | $117 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $52-41% | $88 |
| Performance per Dollar | 43.8+69% | 25.9 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2012 |
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