Athlon X4 740 vs Xeon E5-2403 v2
Athlon X4 740
Xeon E5-2403 v2
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 Xeon E5-2403 v2 is on rank 747, 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 Xeon E5-2403 v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 740 | Xeon E5-2403 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($71) | ✅ More affordable ($61) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Trinity (2012−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 740 | Xeon E5-2403 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+18%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($71) | ✅ More affordable ($61) |
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 Xeon E5-2403 v2
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.
Xeon E5-2403 v2
The Xeon E5-2403 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,672 points. Launch price was $223.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon X4 740 and Xeon E5-2403 v2 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Athlon X4 740 versus 1.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2403 v2 — a 69.1% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 740 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Athlon X4 740 uses the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E5-2403 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 740 scores 2,646 against the Xeon E5-2403 v2's 2,672 — a 1% lead for the Xeon E5-2403 v2.
| Feature | Athlon X4 740 | Xeon E5-2403 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+106% | 1.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+78% | 1.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 10 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB (total)+1500% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Trinity (2012−2013) | Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 2,646 | 2,672 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X4 740 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5-2403 v2 uses LGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1866 memory speed. The Xeon E5-2403 v2 supports up to 384 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 142.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Athlon X4 740) vs 3 (Xeon E5-2403 v2). PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon X4 740) vs 24 (Xeon E5-2403 v2) — the Xeon E5-2403 v2 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Athlon X4 740 | Xeon E5-2403 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2 | LGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 384 GB+500% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 3+50% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 24+50% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon X4 740) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E5-2403 v2). Primary use case: Athlon X4 740 targets Desktop, Xeon E5-2403 v2 targets Server.
| Feature | Athlon X4 740 | Xeon E5-2403 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Desktop | Server |
Value Analysis
The Athlon X4 740 launched at $71 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2403 v2 debuted at $192. At current prices ($71 vs $61), the Xeon E5-2403 v2 is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X4 740 delivers 37.3 pts/$ vs 43.8 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2403 v2 — making the Xeon E5-2403 v2 the 16.1% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon X4 740 | Xeon E5-2403 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $71-63% | $192 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $71 | $61-14% |
| Performance per Dollar | 37.3 | 43.8+17% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2013 |
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