Athlon X4 740 vs Ryzen 9 5900X

CPU

GPU

Athlon X4 740

4 Cores4 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2012

Similar parts

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Ryzen 9 5900X

12 Cores24 Thrd105 WWMax: 4.8 GHz2020

Ryzen family

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Athlon X4 740 vs Ryzen 9 5900X Performance Spectrum

Athlon X4 740

4 / 4

2,646

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Ryzen 9 5900X

12 / 24

38,955

+1372.2%

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9975WX

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 740 vs Ryzen 9 5900X 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 740 vs Ryzen 9 5900X: 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 740

2012

Why buy it

✅Costs $478 less on MSRP ($71 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 105W, a 40W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5900X across 48 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (2,646 vs 38,955).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.3 vs 71.0 PassMark/$ ($71 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).

Ryzen 9 5900X

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +344.6% higher average FPS across 48 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 90.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 71.0 vs 37.3 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $71 MSRP).
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
673.2% HIGHER MSRP
$549 MSRPvs$71 MSRP
❌61.5% higher power demand at 105W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 5900X better than Athlon X4 740?

Yes. Ryzen 9 5900X is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 344.6% average FPS lead across 48 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1372.2% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 9 5900X is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 344.6% more average FPS across 48 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 9 5900X is the stronger fit. You are getting 1372.2% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Ryzen 9 5900X is the better buy right now. Ryzen 9 5900X comes in 673.2% more expensive on MSRP at $549 MSRP versus $71 MSRP, and it still gives you a 344.6% average FPS lead across 48 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 90.4% better value on MSRP (71.0 vs 37.3 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen 9 5900X makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2012) and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 24 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon X4 740 vs Ryzen 9 5900X Technical Specifications

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

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.

Ryzen 9 5900X

The Ryzen 9 5900X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 38,955 points. Launch price was $549.

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Processing Power

The Athlon X4 740 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Ryzen 9 5900X offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen 9 5900X has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Athlon X4 740 versus 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900X — a 25.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900X (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Athlon X4 740 uses the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Ryzen 9 5900X uses Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 740 scores 2,646 against the Ryzen 9 5900X's 38,955 — a 174.6% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900X.

Feature	Athlon X4 740	Ryzen 9 5900X
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	12 / 24+200%
Boost Clock	3.7 GHz	4.8 GHz+30%
Base Clock	3.2 GHz	3.7 GHz+16%
L3 Cache	—	64 MB
L2 Cache	4 MB (total)	512K (per core)+12700%
Process	32 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-78%
Architecture	Trinity (2012−2013)	Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022)
PassMark	2,646	38,955+1372%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	21,000
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,174
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	11,888

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon X4 740 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 9 5900X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1866 on the Athlon X4 740 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 9 5900X — the Ryzen 9 5900X supports 71.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 9 5900X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon X4 740) vs 24 (Ryzen 9 5900X) — the Ryzen 9 5900X offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD FM2 (Athlon X4 740) and A320,B350,X370,B450,X470,B550,X570 (Ryzen 9 5900X).

Feature	Athlon X4 740	Ryzen 9 5900X
Socket	FM2	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 4.0+100%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1866	DDR4-3200+71%
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	128 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	24+50%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 5900X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support AMD-V virtualization. Primary use case: Athlon X4 740 targets Desktop, Ryzen 9 5900X targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 5900X rivals Core i9-12900K.

Feature	Athlon X4 740	Ryzen 9 5900X
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	AMD-V
Target Use	Desktop	Workstation

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon X4 740 was priced at $71, while the Ryzen 9 5900X came in at $549. On launch pricing ($71 vs $549), Athlon X4 740 was $478 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X4 740 delivers 37.3 pts/$ vs 71.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 5900X — making the Ryzen 9 5900X the 62.3% better value option.

Feature	Athlon X4 740	Ryzen 9 5900X
MSRP	$71-87%	$549
Performance per Dollar	37.3	71.0+90%
Release Date	2012	2020

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