Athlon X4 740 vs FX-4100
Athlon X4 740
FX-4100
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 FX-4100 is on rank 728, 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 FX-4100
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 740 | FX-4100 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($71) | ✅ More affordable ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Trinity (2012−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Zambezi (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 740 | FX-4100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+253%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($71) | ✅ More affordable ($20) |
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 FX-4100
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.
FX-4100
The FX-4100 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 October 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Zambezi (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB. L2 cache: 4096 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,630 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon X4 740 and FX-4100 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Athlon X4 740 versus 3.8 GHz on the FX-4100 — a 2.7% clock advantage for the FX-4100 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Athlon X4 740 uses the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the FX-4100 uses Zambezi (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 740 scores 2,646 against the FX-4100's 2,630 — a 0.6% lead for the Athlon X4 740.
| Feature | Athlon X4 740 | FX-4100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | 3.8 GHz+3% |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.6 GHz+12% |
| L3 Cache | — | 8192 kB |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 4096 kB |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Trinity (2012−2013) | Zambezi (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 2,646 | 2,630 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X4 740 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the FX-4100 uses AM3+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon X4 740 | FX-4100 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2 | AM3+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon X4 740) / not specified (FX-4100). Primary use case: Athlon X4 740 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Athlon X4 740 | FX-4100 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon X4 740 launched at $71 MSRP, while the FX-4100 debuted at $115. At current prices ($71 vs $20), the FX-4100 is $51 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X4 740 delivers 37.3 pts/$ vs 131.5 pts/$ for the FX-4100 — making the FX-4100 the 111.7% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon X4 740 | FX-4100 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $71-38% | $115 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $71 | $20-72% |
| Performance per Dollar | 37.3 | 131.5+253% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2011 |
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