CPU
GPU
Celeron B730
Athlon 64 X2 TK-42
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 Celeron B730 is positioned at rank 1075 and the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 is on rank 1019, so the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron B730
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 X2 TK-42
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron B730 | Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Tyler (2007−2009) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron B730 | Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+8%) |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Celeron B730 and Athlon 64 X2 TK-42
Celeron B730
The Celeron B730 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 July 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 1 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 1.5 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: G2. Thermal design power (TDP): 256 kB + 1.5 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 715 points. Launch price was $70.
Athlon 64 X2 TK-42
The Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Tyler (2007−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.6 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 775 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Celeron B730 packs 1 cores / 2 threads, while the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Celeron B730 versus 1.6 GHz on the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 — a 11.8% clock advantage for the Celeron B730. The Celeron B730 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 uses Tyler (2007−2009) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron B730 scores 715 against the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42's 775 — a 8.1% lead for the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42.
| Feature | Celeron B730 | Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 2 | 2 / 2+100% |
| Boost Clock | 1.8 GHz+12% | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 1.5 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 32 nm-51% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Tyler (2007−2009) |
| PassMark | 715 | 775+8% |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron B730 uses the G2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Celeron B730 versus DDR2-667 on the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 — the Celeron B730 supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron B730 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Celeron B730) vs 0 (Athlon 64 X2 TK-42) — the Celeron B730 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM65,HM67,QM67,QM77 (Celeron B730) and AMD S1 (Athlon 64 X2 TK-42).
| Feature | Celeron B730 | Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | G2 | S1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333+50% | DDR2-667 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+100% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Celeron B730) / not specified (Athlon 64 X2 TK-42). The Celeron B730 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)), while the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron B730 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron B730 rivals Pentium 967.
| Feature | Celeron B730 | Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
Value Analysis
The Celeron B730 launched at $70 MSRP, while the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 debuted at $60. At current prices ($10 vs $10), the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron B730 delivers 71.5 pts/$ vs 77.5 pts/$ for the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 — making the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 the 8.1% better value option.
| Feature | Celeron B730 | Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $70 | $60-14% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10 | $10 |
| Performance per Dollar | 71.5 | 77.5+8% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2009 |
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