Raster Graphics Processing

In this mix of low and multi-threading tasks AMD's Trinity looks really good. Of course, the Pentium is faster, but it yields in RAW converting to Athlon/Phenom X4, which perform worse in single and dual-threading tasks. The new dual-module AMD processors can handle both types of tasks.

Vector Graphics Processing

This group of benchmarks doesn't favor AMD's new microarchitecture, but due to having higher clock rates and common cache the new Athlons do not yield to their predecessors and beat the first-generation FX processors.

Video Encoding

This group of tests requires multiple threads or, even better, multiple cores. That's why AMD's old quad-cores are a bit faster than the new quad-thread counterparts. Pentium G870 is an outsider, but it managed to catch up with Athlon II X4 620 in other tests. Yet today's Athlon X4 CPUs can offer more bang for the buck.

Office Suites

Pentium G870 is the first, followed by our today's heroes. The older AMD processors fall behind, just as expected. As you can see, both AMD Athlon X4 740 and 750K are a success.

Java

This test group favors physical cores more than threads. The new AMD CPUs yield to AMD's older inexpensive multicore processors but outperform the Pentium at the same time.

Games

Though all the results are quite similar here, we can see that the dual-core Pentium noticeably yields, and there is a certain difference between quad-thread and quad-core processors.

Multitasking Environment

This group of tests favors multiple cores and multiple threads alike. The new processors beat Pentium G870, and it's really enough.

Overall Score and Final Thoughts

The most interesting fact is that Athlon X4 740 stands on a par with FX-4100, having lower TDP at the same time. However, as we have already mentioned in our FX-8350 review, FX-4100 is considered a bad start for AMD's Piledriver series.

Phenom II X4 950 slightly outperforms Athlon X4 750K except thread and cache-hungry tasks. However, bear in mind that this Phenom was a top CPU once and you won't argue that FM2 is a prospective budget platform.

Today, in the low price segment Intel can only offer Pentium models. Not bad those, especially the Ivy Bridge ones, but considering that more and more applications are becoming thread-hungry, the future of Pentium looks obscure. On the contrary, AMD's budget models are ready to rise and shine.

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