CPU
GPU
Pentium G4520
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 Pentium G4520 is positioned at rank 584 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 Pentium G4520
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 740
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G4520 | Athlon II X4 740 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($45) | ✅ More affordable ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Piledriver / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G4520 | Athlon II X4 740 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+126%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($45) | ✅ More affordable ($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 Pentium G4520 and Athlon II X4 740
Pentium G4520
The Pentium G4520 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 51 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,670 points. Launch price was $93.
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 Pentium G4520 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Athlon II X4 740 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 740 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Pentium G4520 versus 3.7 GHz on the Athlon II X4 740 — a 2.7% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 740 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Pentium G4520 uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Athlon II X4 740 uses Piledriver (32 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium G4520 scores 2,670 against the Athlon II X4 740's 2,677 — a 0.3% lead for the Athlon II X4 740.
| Feature | Pentium G4520 | Athlon II X4 740 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 3.7 GHz+3% |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+12% | 3.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 4 MB+1500% |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Piledriver |
| PassMark | 2,670 | 2,677 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium G4520 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II X4 740 uses FM2 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium G4520 | Athlon II X4 740 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | FM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Value Analysis
The Pentium G4520 launched at $86 MSRP, while the Athlon II X4 740 debuted at $71. At current prices ($45 vs $20), the Athlon II X4 740 is $25 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium G4520 delivers 59.3 pts/$ vs 133.8 pts/$ for the Athlon II X4 740 — making the Athlon II X4 740 the 77.1% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium G4520 | Athlon II X4 740 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $86 | $71-17% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $45 | $20-56% |
| Performance per Dollar | 59.3 | 133.8+126% |
| Release Date | 2015 | 2012 |
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