Core i3-3250T vs Athlon II X4 740
Core i3-3250T
Athlon II X4 740
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 i3-3250T is positioned at rank 811 and the Athlon II X4 740 is on rank 522, so the Athlon II X4 740 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3250T
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 740
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-3250T | Athlon II X4 740 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Piledriver / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-3250T | Athlon II X4 740 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+32%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
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 i3-3250T and Athlon II X4 740
Core i3-3250T
The Core i3-3250T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 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): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 2,650 points. Launch price was $69.
Athlon II X4 740
The Athlon II X4 740 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 October 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Piledriver 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. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,677 points. Launch price was $71.
Processing Power
The Core i3-3250T packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X4 740 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 740 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Core i3-3250T versus 3.7 GHz on the Athlon II X4 740 — a 20.9% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 740 (base: 3 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i3-3250T uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Athlon II X4 740 uses Piledriver (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-3250T scores 2,650 against the Athlon II X4 740's 2,677 — a 1% lead for the Athlon II X4 740.
| Feature | Core i3-3250T | Athlon II X4 740 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 3.7 GHz+23% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3.2 GHz+7% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 4 MB+1500% |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Piledriver |
| PassMark | 2,650 | 2,677+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-3250T uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II X4 740 uses FM2 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1600 memory speed. The Athlon II X4 740 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: H61,B75,H77,Z77 (Core i3-3250T) and AMD FM2 (Athlon II X4 740).
| Feature | Core i3-3250T | Athlon II X4 740 |
|---|---|---|
| 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
The Core i3-3250T includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 2500), while the Athlon II X4 740 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i3-3250T | Athlon II X4 740 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 2500 | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-3250T launched at $138 MSRP, while the Athlon II X4 740 debuted at $71. At current prices ($15 vs $20), the Core i3-3250T is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-3250T delivers 176.7 pts/$ vs 133.8 pts/$ for the Athlon II X4 740 — making the Core i3-3250T the 27.6% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-3250T | Athlon II X4 740 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $138 | $71-49% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-25% | $20 |
| Performance per Dollar | 176.7+32% | 133.8 |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2012 |
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