CPU
GPU
Athlon X4 740
A12-9720P
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 740 is positioned at rank 528 and the A12-9720P is on rank 1016, so the Athlon X4 740 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 740
Performance Per Dollar A12-9720P
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 740 | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($71) | ✅ More affordable ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Trinity (2012−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 740 | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+181%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($71) | ✅ More affordable ($25) |
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 740 and A12-9720P
Athlon X4 740
The Athlon X4 740 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 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 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: 2,646 points. Launch price was $149.
A12-9720P
The A12-9720P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FP4. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,622 points. Launch price was $130.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon X4 740 and A12-9720P share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Athlon X4 740 versus 3.6 GHz on the A12-9720P — a 2.7% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 740 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Athlon X4 740 uses the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the A12-9720P uses Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 740 scores 2,646 against the A12-9720P's 2,622 — a 0.9% lead for the Athlon X4 740.
| Feature | Athlon X4 740 | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+3% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+19% | 2.7 GHz |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB (total)+100% | 2 MB |
| Process | 32 nm | 28 nm-13% |
| Architecture | Trinity (2012−2013) | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 2,646 | 2,622 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 529 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X4 740 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A12-9720P uses FP4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1866 on the Athlon X4 740 versus DDR4-1866 on the A12-9720P — the A12-9720P supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon X4 740 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 740) vs 8 (A12-9720P) — the Athlon X4 740 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Athlon X4 740 | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2 | FP4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | DDR4-1866+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB+300% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+100% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AMD-V virtualization. The A12-9720P includes integrated graphics (Radeon R7), while the Athlon X4 740 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon X4 740 targets Desktop, A12-9720P targets Laptop. Direct competitor: A12-9720P rivals Core i5-7200U.
| Feature | Athlon X4 740 | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon R7 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Desktop | Laptop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon X4 740 launched at $71 MSRP, while the A12-9720P debuted at $200. At current prices ($71 vs $25), the A12-9720P is $46 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X4 740 delivers 37.3 pts/$ vs 104.9 pts/$ for the A12-9720P — making the A12-9720P the 95.1% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon X4 740 | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $71-65% | $200 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $71 | $25-65% |
| Performance per Dollar | 37.3 | 104.9+181% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2016 |
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