Athlon X4 730 vs Pentium 4417U

AMD

Athlon X4 730

4 Cores4 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.2 GHz2012
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Pentium 4417U

2 Cores4 Thrd15 WW2019
Similar parts
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Athlon X4 730 vs Pentium 4417U 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 X4 730 vs Pentium 4417U 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 X4 730 vs Pentium 4417U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Athlon X4 730

2012

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +4.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $60 MSRP, while Pentium 4417U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 333.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 15W.

Pentium 4417U

2019

Why buy it

  • Draws 15W instead of 65W, a 50W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon X4 730 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (2,260 vs 2,278).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon X4 730 better than Pentium 4417U?
Yes. Athlon X4 730 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 4.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.8% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Athlon X4 730 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 4.6% 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 X4 730 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?
Athlon X4 730 is the better buy right now. Athlon X4 730 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $60 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 4.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (38.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Pentium 4417U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2012). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon X4 730 vs Pentium 4417U Technical Specifications

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

AMD

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.

Intel

Pentium 4417U

The Pentium 4417U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency: 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB SmartCache. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2133, LPDDR3-1866, DDR3L-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 2,260 points. Launch price was $69.

Processing Power

The Athlon X4 730 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Pentium 4417U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon X4 730 has 2 more cores. The Athlon X4 730 uses the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium 4417U uses NetBurst (2000−2006) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 730 scores 2,278 against the Pentium 4417U's 2,260 — a 0.8% lead for the Athlon X4 730.

FeatureAthlon X4 730Pentium 4417U
Cores / Threads
4 / 4+100%
2 / 4
Boost Clock
3.2 GHz
Base Clock
2.8 GHz+22%
2.3 GHz
L3 Cache
2 MB SmartCache
L2 Cache
4 MB (total)
Process
32 nm
14 nm-56%
Architecture
Trinity (2012−2013)
NetBurst (2000−2006)
PassMark
2,278
2,260
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Memory & Platform

The Athlon X4 730 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium 4417U uses BGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureAthlon X4 730Pentium 4417U
Socket
FM2
BGA1356
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1866
Max RAM Capacity
64 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
No
PCIe Lanes
16