Athlon 240GE vs Core i7-12700K
Athlon 240GE
Core i7-12700K
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 i7-12700K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 240GE | Core i7-12700K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($110) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($285) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Zen (2017−2020) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) / 10 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 240GE | Core i7-12700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+191%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($110) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($285) |
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 i7-12700K
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 i7-12700K
The Core i7-12700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 November 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture. It features 12 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 34,347 points. Launch price was $409.
Processing Power
The Athlon 240GE packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-12700K offers 12 cores / 20 threads — the Core i7-12700K has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Athlon 240GE versus 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K — a 35.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Athlon 240GE uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-12700K uses Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 240GE scores 4,561 against the Core i7-12700K's 34,347 — a 153.1% lead for the Core i7-12700K. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon 240GE vs 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K.
| Feature | Athlon 240GE | Core i7-12700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 12 / 20+500% |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 5 GHz+43% |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz | 3.6 GHz+3% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 25 MB (total)+525% |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core)+150% |
| Process | 14 nm | 10 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Zen (2017−2020) | Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) |
| PassMark | 4,561 | 34,347+653% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 930 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,200 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 240GE uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-12700K uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Athlon 240GE versus 4800 on the Core i7-12700K — the Core i7-12700K supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i7-12700K supports up to 128 of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (Athlon 240GE) vs 20 (Core i7-12700K) — the Core i7-12700K offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A320,B450 (Athlon 240GE) and Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700K).
| Feature | Athlon 240GE | Core i7-12700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | 4800+119900% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB+52428700% | 128 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 20+150% |
Advanced Features
Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon 240GE) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon Vega 3 (Athlon 240GE) and Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-12700K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon 240GE targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon 240GE rivals Pentium Gold G5400; Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X.
| Feature | Athlon 240GE | Core i7-12700K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon Vega 3 | Intel UHD Graphics 770 |
| Unlocked | Yes | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon 240GE launched at $75 MSRP, while the Core i7-12700K debuted at $409. At current prices ($110 vs $285), the Athlon 240GE is $175 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 240GE delivers 41.5 pts/$ vs 120.5 pts/$ for the Core i7-12700K — making the Core i7-12700K the 97.6% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon 240GE | Core i7-12700K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $75-82% | $409 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $110-61% | $285 |
| Performance per Dollar | 41.5 | 120.5+190% |
| Release Date | 2018 | 2021 |
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