Athlon X4 740 vs Xeon E5-2407

AMD

Athlon X4 740

4 Cores4 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2012
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Xeon E5-2407

4 Cores4 Thrd80 WWMax: 2.2 GHz2012
Similar parts
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Athlon X4 740 vs Xeon E5-2407 Performance Spectrum

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 Xeon E5-2407 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 Xeon E5-2407: 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

  • Better for gaming: +4.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Costs $179 less on MSRP ($71 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
  • Delivers 250.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.3 vs 10.6 PassMark/$ ($71 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
  • Draws 65W instead of 80W, a 15W reduction.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (2,646 vs 2,659).

Xeon E5-2407

2012

Why buy it

  • +0.5% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon X4 740 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.6 vs 37.3 PassMark/$ ($250 MSRP vs $71 MSRP).
  • 23.1% higher power demand at 80W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon X4 740 better than Xeon E5-2407?
Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-2407 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Athlon X4 740 is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-2407 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Athlon X4 740 is the better buy right now. Athlon X4 740 comes in $179 cheaper on MSRP at $71 MSRP versus $250 MSRP, and it still gives you a 4.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Xeon E5-2407 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.5% better PassMark. It is also 250.4% better value on MSRP (37.3 vs 10.6 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Xeon E5-2407 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 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 Xeon E5-2407 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

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.

Intel

Xeon E5-2407

The Xeon E5-2407 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,659 points. Launch price was $335.

Processing Power

Both the Athlon X4 740 and Xeon E5-2407 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Athlon X4 740 versus 2.2 GHz on the Xeon E5-2407 — a 50.8% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 740 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Athlon X4 740 uses the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E5-2407 uses Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 740 scores 2,646 against the Xeon E5-2407's 2,659 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon E5-2407.

FeatureAthlon X4 740Xeon E5-2407
Cores / Threads
4 / 4
4 / 4
Boost Clock
3.7 GHz+68%
2.2 GHz
Base Clock
3.2 GHz+45%
2.2 GHz
L3 Cache
10240 kB (total)
L2 Cache
4 MB (total)+1500%
256 kB (per core)
Process
32 nm
32 nm
Architecture
Trinity (2012−2013)
Sandy Bridge-EN (2012)
PassMark
2,646
2,659
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon X4 740 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5-2407 uses LGA1356 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureAthlon X4 740Xeon E5-2407
Socket
FM2
LGA1356
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1866
Max RAM Capacity
64 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
No
PCIe Lanes
16
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon X4 740) / not specified (Xeon E5-2407). Primary use case: Athlon X4 740 targets Desktop.

FeatureAthlon X4 740Xeon E5-2407
Integrated GPU
No
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
Target Use
Desktop
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon X4 740 was priced at $71, while the Xeon E5-2407 came in at $250. On launch pricing ($71 vs $250), Athlon X4 740 was $179 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X4 740 delivers 37.3 pts/$ vs 10.6 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2407 — making the Athlon X4 740 the 111.2% better value option.

FeatureAthlon X4 740Xeon E5-2407
MSRP
$71-72%
$250
Performance per Dollar
37.3+252%
10.6
Release Date
2012
2012

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