CPU
GPU
A8-4500M
Core i7-2617M
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 A8-4500M is positioned at rank 728 and the Core i7-2617M is on rank 287, so the Core i7-2617M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A8-4500M
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2617M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A8-4500M | Core i7-2617M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Trinity (2012−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A8-4500M | Core i7-2617M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 A8-4500M and Core i7-2617M
A8-4500M
The A8-4500M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FS1r2. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: unknown. Passmark benchmark score: 1,693 points. Launch price was $90.
Core i7-2617M
The Core i7-2617M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,687 points. Launch price was $100.
Processing Power
The A8-4500M packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-2617M offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the A8-4500M has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the A8-4500M versus 2.6 GHz on the Core i7-2617M — a 7.4% clock advantage for the A8-4500M (base: 1.9 GHz vs 1.5 GHz). The A8-4500M uses the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-2617M uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the A8-4500M scores 1,693 against the Core i7-2617M's 1,687 — a 0.4% lead for the A8-4500M. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 283 vs 448, a 45.1% lead for the Core i7-2617M that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 0 kB on the A8-4500M vs 4 MB on the Core i7-2617M.
| Feature | A8-4500M | Core i7-2617M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+8% | 2.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.9 GHz+27% | 1.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 4 MB |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB (total)+700% | 512 kB |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Trinity (2012−2013) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,693 | 1,687 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 283 | 448+58% |
Memory & Platform
The A8-4500M uses the FS1r2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-2617M uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1600 memory speed. The A8-4500M supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.
| Feature | A8-4500M | Core i7-2617M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FS1r2 | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+100% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (A8-4500M) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-2617M). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon HD 7640G (A8-4500M) and HD Graphics 3000 (Core i7-2617M) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A8-4500M targets Mainstream Laptop, Core i7-2617M targets Ultrabook. Direct competitor: A8-4500M rivals Core i3-3110M; Core i7-2617M rivals A6-3400M.
| Feature | A8-4500M | Core i7-2617M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon HD 7640G | HD Graphics 3000 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | Mainstream Laptop | Ultrabook |
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