Athlon X4 740 vs Core i5-680
Athlon X4 740
Core i5-680
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 Core i5-680 is on rank 1014, 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 Core i5-680
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 740 | Core i5-680 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($71) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Trinity (2012−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 740 | Core i5-680 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+603%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($71) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
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 Core i5-680
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.
Core i5-680
The Core i5-680 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 April 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.86 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,620 points. Launch price was $272.
Processing Power
The Athlon X4 740 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-680 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon X4 740 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Athlon X4 740 versus 3.86 GHz on the Core i5-680 — a 4.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-680 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Athlon X4 740 uses the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i5-680 uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 740 scores 2,646 against the Core i5-680's 2,620 — a 1% lead for the Athlon X4 740.
| Feature | Athlon X4 740 | Core i5-680 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | 3.86 GHz+4% |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.6 GHz+12% |
| L3 Cache | — | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB (total)+1500% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Trinity (2012−2013) | Clarkdale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,646 | 2,620 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X4 740 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-680 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1866 memory speed. 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. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.
| Feature | Athlon X4 740 | Core i5-680 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB+300% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon X4 740) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-680). The Core i5-680 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics), while the Athlon X4 740 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon X4 740 targets Desktop, Core i5-680 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Athlon X4 740 | Core i5-680 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Desktop | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon X4 740 launched at $71 MSRP, while the Core i5-680 debuted at $294. At current prices ($71 vs $10), the Core i5-680 is $61 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X4 740 delivers 37.3 pts/$ vs 262.0 pts/$ for the Core i5-680 — making the Core i5-680 the 150.2% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon X4 740 | Core i5-680 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $71-76% | $294 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $71 | $10-86% |
| Performance per Dollar | 37.3 | 262.0+602% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2010 |
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