Athlon 240GE vs Core i3-7300
Athlon 240GE
Core i3-7300
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 240GE
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-7300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 240GE | Core i3-7300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($46) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Zen (2017−2020) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 240GE | Core i3-7300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+137%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($46) |
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 Athlon 240GE and Core i3-7300
Athlon 240GE
The Athlon 240GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 December 2018 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 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: 4,561 points. Launch price was $75.
Core i3-7300
The Core i3-7300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 51 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,519 points. Launch price was $147.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon 240GE and Core i3-7300 share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Athlon 240GE versus 4 GHz on the Core i3-7300 — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Core i3-7300 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Athlon 240GE uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i3-7300 uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 240GE scores 4,561 against the Core i3-7300's 4,519 — a 0.9% lead for the Athlon 240GE. Both processors carry 4 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon 240GE | Core i3-7300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 4 GHz+14% |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz | 4 GHz+14% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Zen (2017−2020) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 4,561 | 4,519 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 930 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,200 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 240GE uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-7300 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (Athlon 240GE) vs 16 (Core i3-7300) — the Core i3-7300 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Athlon 240GE | Core i3-7300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 16+100% |
Advanced Features
Only the Athlon 240GE has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon 240GE) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-7300). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon Vega 3 (Athlon 240GE) and HD Graphics 630 (Core i3-7300) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon 240GE targets Budget Desktop, Core i3-7300 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon 240GE rivals Pentium Gold G5400.
| Feature | Athlon 240GE | Core i3-7300 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon Vega 3 | HD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon 240GE launched at $75 MSRP, while the Core i3-7300 debuted at $184. At current prices ($110 vs $46), the Core i3-7300 is $64 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 240GE delivers 41.5 pts/$ vs 98.2 pts/$ for the Core i3-7300 — making the Core i3-7300 the 81.3% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon 240GE | Core i3-7300 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $75-59% | $184 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $110 | $46-58% |
| Performance per Dollar | 41.5 | 98.2+137% |
| Release Date | 2018 | 2017 |
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