Pentium M 735 vs Phenom II X3 700e

CPU

GPU

Pentium M 735

1 Cores1 Thrd21 WWMax: 1.7 GHz2004

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Phenom II X3 700e

3 Cores3 Thrd65 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2009

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Pentium M 735 vs Phenom II X3 700e Performance Spectrum

Pentium M 735

1 / 1

1,459

+0.6%

1,451

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

Pentium M 735 vs Phenom II X3 700e 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.

Pentium M 735 vs Phenom II X3 700e: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Pentium M 735

2004

Why buy it

✅+0.6% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 21W instead of 65W, a 44W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 5.0 vs 11.6 PassMark/$ ($294 MSRP vs $125 MSRP).

Phenom II X3 700e

2009

Why buy it

✅Costs $169 less on MSRP ($125 MSRP vs $294 MSRP).
✅Delivers 133.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 11.6 vs 5.0 PassMark/$ ($125 MSRP vs $294 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,451 vs 1,459).
❌209.5% higher power demand at 65W vs 21W.

Quick Answers

So, is Phenom II X3 700e better than Pentium M 735?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Phenom II X3 700e is ahead with a 1.9% average FPS lead across 47 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Pentium M 735 pulls ahead with 0.6% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium M 735 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 1 cores and 1 threads.

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

Phenom II X3 700e is the better buy right now. Phenom II X3 700e comes in $169 cheaper on MSRP at $125 MSRP versus $294 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.9% average FPS lead across 47 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Pentium M 735 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.6% better PassMark. It is also 133.9% better value on MSRP (11.6 vs 5.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Phenom II X3 700e makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2009 vs 2004). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Pentium M 735 vs Phenom II X3 700e Technical Specifications

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

Pentium M 735

The Pentium M 735 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Dothan (2004−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 1.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 7.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 1,459 points. Launch price was $69.

Phenom II X3 700e

The Phenom II X3 700e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Heka (2009−2010) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,451 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Pentium M 735 packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the Phenom II X3 700e offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Phenom II X3 700e has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.7 GHz on the Pentium M 735 versus 2.4 GHz on the Phenom II X3 700e — a 34.1% clock advantage for the Phenom II X3 700e (base: 1.7 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Pentium M 735 uses the Dothan (2004−2005) architecture (90 nm), while the Phenom II X3 700e uses Heka (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium M 735 scores 1,459 against the Phenom II X3 700e's 1,451 — a 0.5% lead for the Pentium M 735. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Pentium M 735 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X3 700e.

Feature	Pentium M 735	Phenom II X3 700e
Cores / Threads	1 / 1	3 / 3+200%
Boost Clock	1.7 GHz	2.4 GHz+41%
Base Clock	1.7 GHz	2.4 GHz+41%
L3 Cache	0 kB	6 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB+300%	512 kB (per core)
Process	90 nm	45 nm-50%
Architecture	Dothan (2004−2005)	Heka (2009−2010)
PassMark	1,459	1,451
Geekbench 6 Single	—	250
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	650

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Memory & Platform

The Pentium M 735 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom II X3 700e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR-333 on the Pentium M 735 versus DDR3-1333 on the Phenom II X3 700e — the Phenom II X3 700e supports -500.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Phenom II X3 700e supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 2 GB — 700% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (Pentium M 735) vs 2 (Phenom II X3 700e). PCIe lanes: 0 (Pentium M 735) vs 16 (Phenom II X3 700e) — the Phenom II X3 700e offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Pentium M 735	Phenom II X3 700e
Socket	PGA478	AM3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 2.0+82%
Max RAM Speed	DDR-333	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	2 GB	16 GB+700%
RAM Channels	1	2+100%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	0	16

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Advanced Features

Only the Phenom II X3 700e has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: None (Pentium M 735) vs AMD-V (Phenom II X3 700e). Primary use case: Pentium M 735 targets Mobile Legacy, Phenom II X3 700e targets Legacy Desktop.

Feature	Pentium M 735	Phenom II X3 700e
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	None	AMD-V
Target Use	Mobile Legacy	Legacy Desktop

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Pentium M 735 was priced at $294, while the Phenom II X3 700e came in at $125. On launch pricing ($294 vs $125), Phenom II X3 700e was $169 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium M 735 delivers 5.0 pts/$ vs 11.6 pts/$ for the Phenom II X3 700e — making the Phenom II X3 700e the 80.2% better value option.

Feature	Pentium M 735	Phenom II X3 700e
MSRP	$294	$125-57%
Performance per Dollar	5.0	11.6+132%
Release Date	2004	2009

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