Performance comparison: which is faster?
AMD Athlon II X4 640 (AMD, 2010) and AMD A6-7470K (AMD, 2015) are compared here. Compare not only scores, but also whether the motherboard can be reused and which GPU class is balanced with each CPU.
Overall performance: Athlon II X4 640 is about 3.1% faster
The sockets differ (AM3 / FM2+), so switching requires a motherboard replacement. For games, performance balance with the GPU (guideline CPU:GPU = 0.9:1) matters more than CPU speed alone.
Relative performance score (higher is faster). Actual speed varies by workload, cooling, and memory configuration.
| Item | Athlon II X4 640 | A6-7470K |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Score | 3,300 | 3,200 |
| Generation | Athlon II | A-Series |
| Socket | AM3 | FM2+ |
| Release Year | 2010 | 2015 |
| Type | Desktop | Desktop |
| Compatible GPU Example | Radeon HD 7850 | Radeon HD 7850 |
| If You Want To... | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Prioritize maximum speed for heavy work or a high-end GPU | Athlon II X4 640 |
| Upgrade while reusing the current motherboard | Choose the CPU matching your motherboard socket |
| Prioritize value and adequate performance | A6-7470K (the lower model is often sufficient) |
Athlon II X4 640 is about 3.1% higher by score (Athlon II X4 640: 3300 points / A6-7470K: 3200 points). For gaming, the GPU tier usually matters more than a few percent of CPU difference. For CPU-heavy work such as video editing and streaming, choose the faster CPU.
Athlon II X4 640 is Athlon II, while A6-7470K is A-Series.The sockets differ (AM3 / FM2+), so switching requires a motherboard replacement.
Using our CPU:GPU = 0.9:1 guideline, Radeon HD 7850 pairs well with Athlon II X4 640 and Radeon HD 7850 pairs well with A6-7470K. If either GPU is too strong or too weak, one part holds the other back.
