Atom Z3740 vs Core i7-960

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.

Atom Z3740 vs Core i7-960 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.

Atom Z3740 vs Core i7-960: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Atom Z3740

2013

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 130W, a 128W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail), while Core i7-960 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-960 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (3,380 vs 3,400).

Core i7-960

2009

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $309 MSRP, while Atom Z3740 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌6400% higher power demand at 130W vs 2W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Atom Z3740 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-960 better than Atom Z3740?

Yes. Core i7-960 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 6.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.6% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-960 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 6.4% 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, Core i7-960 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core i7-960 is the better buy right now. Core i7-960 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $309 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 6.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (11.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Atom Z3740 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2009). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Atom Z3740 vs Core i7-960 Technical Specifications

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

Atom Z3740

The Atom Z3740 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 27 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Bay Trail-T (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.33 GHz, with boost up to 1.86 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: UTFCBGA1380. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,380 points. Launch price was $32.

Core i7-960

The Core i7-960 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.46 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,400 points. Launch price was $316.

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Processing Power

The Atom Z3740 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-960's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.86 GHz on the Atom Z3740 versus 3.46 GHz on the Core i7-960 — a 60.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-960 (base: 1.33 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Atom Z3740 uses the Bay Trail-T (2013−2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i7-960 uses Bloomfield (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Atom Z3740 scores 3,380 against the Core i7-960's 3,400 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i7-960. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Atom Z3740 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-960.

Feature	Atom Z3740	Core i7-960
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 8
Boost Clock	1.86 GHz	3.46 GHz+86%
Base Clock	1.33 GHz	3.2 GHz+141%
L3 Cache	0 kB	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512K (per core)+100%	256 kB (per core)
Process	22 nm-51%	45 nm
Architecture	Bay Trail-T (2013−2014)	Bloomfield (2008−2010)
PassMark	3,380	3,400

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Memory & Platform

The Atom Z3740 uses the UTFCBGA1380 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-960 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Atom Z3740	Core i7-960
Socket	UTFCBGA1380	LGA1366
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR3-1066	—
Max RAM Capacity	4 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	0	—