Athlon X4 750K vs Phenom II X2 X640 BE

AMD

Athlon X4 750K

4 Cores4 Thrd100 WWMax: 4 GHz2012
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

Phenom II X2 X640 BE

2 Cores2 Thrd2 WWMax: 3.2 GHz2011
Similar parts
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Athlon X4 750K vs Phenom II X2 X640 BE 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 750K vs Phenom II X2 X640 BE 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 750K vs Phenom II X2 X640 BE: 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 750K

2012

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +6.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $91 MSRP, while Phenom II X2 X640 BE mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 4900% higher power demand at 100W vs 2W.

Phenom II X2 X640 BE

2011

Why buy it

  • Draws 2W instead of 100W, a 98W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon X4 750K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (2,839 vs 2,879).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon X4 750K better than Phenom II X2 X640 BE?
Yes. Athlon X4 750K is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 6.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.4% 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, Athlon X4 750K is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 6.3% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon X4 750K is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.4% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Athlon X4 750K is the better buy right now. Athlon X4 750K comes in at an unclear MSRP at $91 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 6.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (31.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Athlon X4 750K makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2011) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon X4 750K vs Phenom II X2 X640 BE Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon X4 750K

The Athlon X4 750K 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 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 2,879 points. Launch price was $149.

AMD

Phenom II X2 X640 BE

The Phenom II X2 X640 BE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 3.2 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,839 points. Launch price was $149.

Processing Power

The Athlon X4 750K packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X2 X640 BE offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Athlon X4 750K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Athlon X4 750K versus 3.2 GHz on the Phenom II X2 X640 BE — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 750K. The Athlon X4 750K uses the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Phenom II X2 X640 BE uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 750K scores 2,879 against the Phenom II X2 X640 BE's 2,839 — a 1.4% lead for the Athlon X4 750K.

FeatureAthlon X4 750KPhenom II X2 X640 BE
Cores / Threads
4 / 4+100%
2 / 2
Boost Clock
4 GHz+25%
3.2 GHz
Base Clock
3.4 GHz
L2 Cache
4 MB (total)+100%
2 MB
Process
32 nm-29%
45 nm
Architecture
Trinity (2012−2013)
Champlain (2010−2011)
PassMark
2,879+1%
2,839
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Memory & Platform

The Athlon X4 750K uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X2 X640 BE uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureAthlon X4 750KPhenom II X2 X640 BE
Socket
FM2
S1
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