Athlon 240GE vs Ryzen 5 3600
Athlon 240GE
Ryzen 5 3600
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 Ryzen 5 3600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 240GE | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($80) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Zen (2017−2020) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Matisse (2019−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 240GE | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+433%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($80) |
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 Ryzen 5 3600
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.
Ryzen 5 3600
The Ryzen 5 3600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 17,685 points. Launch price was $199.
Processing Power
The Athlon 240GE packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 3600 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Athlon 240GE versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Athlon 240GE uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 240GE scores 4,561 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 118% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 930 vs 1,295, a 32.8% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 2,200 vs 1,898 (14.7% advantage for the Athlon 240GE). L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon 240GE vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600.
| Feature | Athlon 240GE | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 6 / 12+200% |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 4.2 GHz+20% |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz | 3.6 GHz+3% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 32 MB (total)+700% |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Zen (2017−2020) | Matisse (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 4,561 | 17,685+288% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 9,500 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 930 | 1,295+39% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,200+16% | 1,898 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the AM4 socket with PCIe 3.0. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. The Ryzen 5 3600 supports up to 128 GB 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 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) — the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A320,B450 (Athlon 240GE) and AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600).
| Feature | Athlon 240GE | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 128 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 24+200% |
Advanced Features
Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon 240GE) vs Yes (Ryzen 5 3600). The Athlon 240GE includes integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 3), while the Ryzen 5 3600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon 240GE targets Budget Desktop, Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Athlon 240GE rivals Pentium Gold G5400; Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.
| Feature | Athlon 240GE | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon Vega 3 | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | Yes |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | Gaming/Budget Workstation |
Value Analysis
The Athlon 240GE launched at $75 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 3600 debuted at $199. At current prices ($110 vs $80), the Ryzen 5 3600 is $30 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 240GE delivers 41.5 pts/$ vs 221.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 3600 — making the Ryzen 5 3600 the 136.8% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon 240GE | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $75-62% | $199 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $110 | $80-27% |
| Performance per Dollar | 41.5 | 221.1+433% |
| Release Date | 2018 | 2019 |
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