Intel Core i7-7740X vs AMD Athlon II X2 280

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-7740X and AMD Athlon II X2 280 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score.

Intel Core i7-7740X

AMD Athlon II X2 280

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-7740X

CPU is newer: launch date 4 year(s) 3 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
Around 25% higher clock speed: 4.50 GHz vs 3.6 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 14 nm vs 45 nm
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 84% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2689 vs 1462
7.1x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 9607 vs 1355
Around 50% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 4898 vs 3272

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	30 May 2017 vs February 2013
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	4 vs 2
Maximum frequency	4.50 GHz vs 3.6 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm vs 45 nm
L1 cache	256 KB vs 128 KB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2689 vs 1462
PassMark - CPU mark	9607 vs 1355
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	4898 vs 3272

Reasons to consider the AMD Athlon II X2 280

Around 72% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 112 Watt
Around 55% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1941 vs 1251

Specifications (specs)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 112 Watt
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1941 vs 1251

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-7740X
CPU 2: AMD Athlon II X2 280

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2689

1462

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

9607

1355

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1251

1941

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

4898

3272

Name	Intel Core i7-7740X	AMD Athlon II X2 280
PassMark - Single thread mark	2689	1462
PassMark - CPU mark	9607	1355
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1251	1941
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	4898	3272
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-7740X	AMD Athlon II X2 280
Essentials
Architecture codename	Kaby Lake	Regor
Launch date	30 May 2017	February 2013
Launch price (MSRP)	$350	$100
Place in performance rating	1445	1477
Price now	$348.99	$99.99
Processor Number	i7-7740X
Series	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	10.34	6.28
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	4.30 GHz
Bus Speed	8 GT/s DMI3
L1 cache	256 KB	128 KB
L2 cache	1 MB	1024 KB
L3 cache	8 MB
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	45 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C
Maximum core temperature	100°C
Maximum frequency	4.50 GHz	3.6 GHz
Number of cores	4	2
Number of QPI Links	0
Number of threads	8
Unlocked
Die size		117 mm
Transistor count		410 million
Memory
Max memory channels	2
Maximum memory size	64 GB
Supported memory types	DDR4-2666	DDR2, DDR3
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	FCLGA2066	AM3
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	112 Watt	65 Watt
Thermal Solution	PCG 2017X
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16
PCI Express revision	3.0
PCIe configurations	Up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4
Scalability	1S Only
Security & Reliability
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Optane™ Memory Supported
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Virtualization
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)