Athlon X4 730 vs Core m5-6Y54
Athlon X4 730
Core m5-6Y54
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 m5-6Y54 is on rank 1132, 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 m5-6Y54
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 730 | Core m5-6Y54 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($52) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($281) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Trinity (2012−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake-Y (2015) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 730 | Core m5-6Y54 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+437%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($52) | ⚠️ 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 X4 730 and Core m5-6Y54
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 m5-6Y54
The Core m5-6Y54 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake-Y (2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1515. Thermal design power (TDP): 4.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,294 points. Launch price was $281.
Processing Power
The Athlon X4 730 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core m5-6Y54 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 2.7 GHz on the Core m5-6Y54 — a 16.9% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 730 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The Athlon X4 730 uses the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core m5-6Y54 uses Skylake-Y (2015) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 730 scores 2,278 against the Core m5-6Y54's 2,294 — a 0.7% lead for the Core m5-6Y54.
| Feature | Athlon X4 730 | Core m5-6Y54 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+19% | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+155% | 1.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB (total)+1500% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Trinity (2012−2013) | Skylake-Y (2015) |
| PassMark | 2,278 | 2,294 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 875 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,648 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X4 730 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core m5-6Y54 uses FCBGA1515 (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 16 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon X4 730) vs 10 (Core m5-6Y54) — the Athlon X4 730 offers 6 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD FM2 (Athlon X4 730) and Skylake-Y (Core m5-6Y54).
| Feature | Athlon X4 730 | Core m5-6Y54 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2 | FCBGA1515 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | LPDDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB+300% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+60% | 10 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon X4 730) / VT-x, VT-d (Core m5-6Y54). The Core m5-6Y54 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 515), while the Athlon X4 730 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core m5-6Y54 targets Enthusiast. Direct competitor: Core m5-6Y54 rivals Pentium Gold 4415Y.
| Feature | Athlon X4 730 | Core m5-6Y54 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 515 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Enthusiast |
Value Analysis
The Athlon X4 730 launched at $60 MSRP, while the Core m5-6Y54 debuted at $281. At current prices ($52 vs $281), the Athlon X4 730 is $229 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X4 730 delivers 43.8 pts/$ vs 8.2 pts/$ for the Core m5-6Y54 — making the Athlon X4 730 the 137.2% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon X4 730 | Core m5-6Y54 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $60-79% | $281 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $52-81% | $281 |
| Performance per Dollar | 43.8+434% | 8.2 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2015 |
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