Athlon Gold 7220U vs Core i5-7442EQ
Athlon Gold 7220U
Core i5-7442EQ
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. The Athlon Gold 7220U is positioned at rank 655 and the Core i5-7442EQ is on rank 807, so the Athlon Gold 7220U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon Gold 7220U
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-7442EQ
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon Gold 7220U | Core i5-7442EQ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) / 6 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon Gold 7220U | Core i5-7442EQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
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 Gold 7220U and Core i5-7442EQ
Athlon Gold 7220U
The Athlon Gold 7220U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FT6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 4,904 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i5-7442EQ
The Core i5-7442EQ 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 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 4,834 points. Launch price was $250.
Processing Power
The Athlon Gold 7220U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-7442EQ offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-7442EQ has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Athlon Gold 7220U versus 2.1 GHz on the Core i5-7442EQ — a 55.2% clock advantage for the Athlon Gold 7220U. The Athlon Gold 7220U uses the Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) architecture (6 nm), while the Core i5-7442EQ uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon Gold 7220U scores 4,904 against the Core i5-7442EQ's 4,834 — a 1.4% lead for the Athlon Gold 7220U. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon Gold 7220U vs 6 MB on the Core i5-7442EQ.
| Feature | Athlon Gold 7220U | Core i5-7442EQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+76% | 2.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 6 MB+50% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 1 MB+100% |
| Process | 6 nm-57% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 4,904+1% | 4,834 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 728 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 2,387 |
Memory & Platform
Maximum memory speed reaches 5500 on the Athlon Gold 7220U versus DDR4-2400 on the Core i5-7442EQ — the Athlon Gold 7220U supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-7442EQ supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 16 — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 4 (Athlon Gold 7220U) vs 16 (Core i5-7442EQ) — the Core i5-7442EQ offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: FT6 (Athlon Gold 7220U) and QM175,HM175,CM238 (Core i5-7442EQ).
| Feature | Athlon Gold 7220U | Core i5-7442EQ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FT6 | — |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 5500+137400% | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | 64 GB+419430300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 4 | 16+300% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Athlon Gold 7220U) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-7442EQ). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon 610M (Athlon Gold 7220U) and HD Graphics 630 (Core i5-7442EQ) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-7442EQ targets Embedded. Direct competitor: Athlon Gold 7220U rivals Core i3-1115G4.
| Feature | Athlon Gold 7220U | Core i5-7442EQ |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon 610M | HD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Embedded |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Athlon Gold 7220U and Core i5-7442EQ
