Athlon 240GE vs Ryzen 9 7950X3D
Athlon 240GE
Popular choices:
Ryzen 9 7950X3D
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 9 7950X3D
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 240GE | Ryzen 9 7950X3D |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($110) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($486) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Zen (2017−2020) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) / 5 nm, 6 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 240GE | Ryzen 9 7950X3D |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+209%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($110) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($486) |
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 9 7950X3D
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 9 7950X3D
The Ryzen 9 7950X3D is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 4.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.7 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200. Passmark benchmark score: 62,323 points. Launch price was $699.
Processing Power
The Athlon 240GE packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Ryzen 9 7950X3D offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Ryzen 9 7950X3D has 14 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Athlon 240GE versus 5.7 GHz on the Ryzen 9 7950X3D — a 47.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D (base: 3.5 GHz vs 4.2 GHz). The Athlon 240GE uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 9 7950X3D uses Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) (5 nm, 6 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 240GE scores 4,561 against the Ryzen 9 7950X3D's 62,323 — a 172.7% lead for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 930 vs 2,926, a 103.5% lead for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 2,200 vs 19,643 (159.7% advantage for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D). L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon 240GE vs 128 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 7950X3D.
| Feature | Athlon 240GE | Ryzen 9 7950X3D |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 16 / 32+700% |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 5.7 GHz+63% |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz | 4.2 GHz+20% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 128 MB (total)+3100% |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 1 MB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 14 nm | 5 nm, 6 nm-64% |
| Architecture | Zen (2017−2020) | Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) |
| PassMark | 4,561 | 62,323+1266% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 38,581 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 930 | 2,926+215% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,200 | 19,643+793% |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 240GE uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 9 7950X3D uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Athlon 240GE versus DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 9 7950X3D — the Ryzen 9 7950X3D supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 9 7950X3D 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 28 (Ryzen 9 7950X3D) — the Ryzen 9 7950X3D offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A320,B450 (Athlon 240GE) and AMD X670E,AMD X670,AMD B650E,AMD B650 (Ryzen 9 7950X3D).
| Feature | Athlon 240GE | Ryzen 9 7950X3D |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | AM5 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | DDR5-5200+25% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 128 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 28+250% |
Advanced Features
Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen 9 7950X3D supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon 240GE) vs true (Ryzen 9 7950X3D). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon Vega 3 (Athlon 240GE) and Radeon Graphics (Ryzen 9 7950X3D) — 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; Ryzen 9 7950X3D rivals Core i9-13900K.
| Feature | Athlon 240GE | Ryzen 9 7950X3D |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon Vega 3 | Radeon Graphics |
| Unlocked | Yes | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | true |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon 240GE launched at $75 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 7950X3D debuted at $699. At current prices ($110 vs $486), the Athlon 240GE is $376 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 240GE delivers 41.5 pts/$ vs 128.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D — making the Ryzen 9 7950X3D the 102.3% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon 240GE | Ryzen 9 7950X3D |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $75-89% | $699 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $110-77% | $486 |
| Performance per Dollar | 41.5 | 128.2+209% |
| Release Date | 2018 | 2023 |
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