Athlon 220GE vs Core i3-8100H

AMD

Athlon 220GE

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2018
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Core i3-8100H

4 Cores4 Thrd1 WWMax: 3 GHz2018
Similar parts
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Athlon 220GE vs Core i3-8100H Performance Spectrum

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.

Athlon 220GE vs Core i3-8100H 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.

Athlon 220GE vs Core i3-8100H: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon 220GE

2018

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +5.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

  • Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 6 MB).
  • Launch MSRP is still $65 MSRP, while Core i3-8100H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 3400% higher power demand at 35W vs 1W.

Core i3-8100H

2018

Why buy it

  • +50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).
  • Draws 1W instead of 35W, a 34W reduction.
  • 100% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon 220GE across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (4,435 vs 4,441).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon 220GE better than Core i3-8100H?
Yes. Athlon 220GE is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 5.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.1% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Athlon 220GE is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 5.2% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon 220GE is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Athlon 220GE is the better buy right now. Athlon 220GE comes in at an unclear MSRP at $65 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 5.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (68.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Athlon 220GE makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon 220GE vs Core i3-8100H Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon 220GE

The Athlon 220GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 June 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 4,441 points. Launch price was $65.

Intel

Core i3-8100H

The Core i3-8100H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 July 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,435 points. Launch price was $225.

Processing Power

The Athlon 220GE packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-8100H offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core i3-8100H has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Athlon 220GE versus 3 GHz on the Core i3-8100H — a 12.5% clock advantage for the Athlon 220GE (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Athlon 220GE uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i3-8100H uses Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 220GE scores 4,441 against the Core i3-8100H's 4,435 — a 0.1% lead for the Athlon 220GE. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon 220GE vs 6 MB on the Core i3-8100H.

FeatureAthlon 220GECore i3-8100H
Cores / Threads
2 / 4
4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock
3.4 GHz+13%
3 GHz
Base Clock
3.4 GHz+13%
3 GHz
L3 Cache
4 MB (total)
6 MB+50%
L2 Cache
512K (per core)+51100%
1 MB
Process
14 nm
14 nm
Architecture
Zen (2017−2020)
Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019)
PassMark
4,441
4,435
Geekbench 6 Single
886
Geekbench 6 Multi
2,023
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon 220GE uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-8100H uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2667 on the Athlon 220GE versus DDR4-2666 on the Core i3-8100H — the Athlon 220GE supports 0% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (Athlon 220GE) vs 16 (Core i3-8100H) — the Core i3-8100H offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

FeatureAthlon 220GECore i3-8100H
Socket
AM4
BGA1440
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-2667
DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity
64 GB
64 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
8
16+100%
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Advanced Features

Only the Athlon 220GE has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon 220GE) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-8100H). Both include integrated graphics Radeon Vega 3 (Athlon 220GE) and UHD Graphics 630 (Core i3-8100H) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon 220GE targets Desktop, Core i3-8100H targets Mobile. Direct competitor: Athlon 220GE rivals Pentium Gold G5400.

FeatureAthlon 220GECore i3-8100H
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
IGPU Model
Radeon Vega 3
UHD Graphics 630
Unlocked
Yes
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
VT-x, VT-d
Target Use
Desktop
Mobile