Core i3-3220 vs Athlon X4 730
Core i3-3220
Athlon X4 730
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 Core i3-3220 is positioned at rank 804 and the Athlon X4 730 is on rank 519, so the Athlon X4 730 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3220
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X4 730
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-3220 | Athlon X4 730 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($88) | ✅ More affordable ($52) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Trinity (2012−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-3220 | Athlon X4 730 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+69%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($88) | ✅ More affordable ($52) |
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 Core i3-3220 and Athlon X4 730
Core i3-3220
The Core i3-3220 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,276 points. Launch price was $117.
Athlon X4 730
The Athlon X4 730 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 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 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: 2,278 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-3220 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon X4 730 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon X4 730 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i3-3220 versus 3.2 GHz on the Athlon X4 730 — a 3.1% clock advantage for the Core i3-3220 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i3-3220 uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Athlon X4 730 uses Trinity (2012−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-3220 scores 2,276 against the Athlon X4 730's 2,278 — a 0.1% lead for the Athlon X4 730.
| Feature | Core i3-3220 | Athlon X4 730 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz+3% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+18% | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 4 MB (total)+1500% |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Trinity (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,276 | 2,278 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 503 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-3220 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon X4 730 uses FM2 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1600 memory speed. The Athlon X4 730 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: B75,Z75,Z77,H77,Q75,Q77,H61,H67,P67,Z68 (Core i3-3220) and AMD FM2 (Athlon X4 730).
| Feature | Core i3-3220 | Athlon X4 730 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | FM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 64 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, EPT (Core i3-3220) / not specified (Athlon X4 730). The Core i3-3220 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2500), while the Athlon X4 730 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-3220 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i3-3220 rivals FX-4300.
| Feature | Core i3-3220 | Athlon X4 730 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 2500 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-3220 launched at $117 MSRP, while the Athlon X4 730 debuted at $60. At current prices ($88 vs $52), the Athlon X4 730 is $36 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-3220 delivers 25.9 pts/$ vs 43.8 pts/$ for the Athlon X4 730 — making the Athlon X4 730 the 51.5% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-3220 | Athlon X4 730 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $117 | $60-49% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $88 | $52-41% |
| Performance per Dollar | 25.9 | 43.8+69% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2012 |
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