Athlon II X4 615e vs Core i3-2102
Athlon II X4 615e
Core i3-2102
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 II X4 615e is positioned at rank 983 and the Core i3-2102 is on rank 857, so the Core i3-2102 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 615e
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2102
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 615e | Core i3-2102 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 615e | Core i3-2102 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+101%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
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 II X4 615e and Core i3-2102
Athlon II X4 615e
The Athlon II X4 615e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,018 points. Launch price was $59.
Core i3-2102
The Core i3-2102 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,029 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X4 615e packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-2102 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 615e has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Athlon II X4 615e versus 3.1 GHz on the Core i3-2102 — a 21.4% clock advantage for the Core i3-2102 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Athlon II X4 615e uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-2102 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 615e scores 2,018 against the Core i3-2102's 2,029 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i3-2102. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 331 vs 515, a 43.5% lead for the Core i3-2102 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,161 vs 1,082 (7% advantage for the Athlon II X4 615e). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 615e vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2102.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 615e | Core i3-2102 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.1 GHz+24% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.1 GHz+24% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Propus (2009−2011) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,018 | 2,029 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,161 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 331 | 515+56% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,161+7% | 1,082 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X4 615e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-2102 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Core i3-2102 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD 870,AMD 880G,AMD 890FX,AMD 990FX (Athlon II X4 615e) and H61,H67,P67,Z68 (Core i3-2102).
| Feature | Athlon II X4 615e | Core i3-2102 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 32 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the Athlon II X4 615e has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X4 615e) vs VT-x (Core i3-2102). The Core i3-2102 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 2000), while the Athlon II X4 615e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X4 615e targets Gaming, Core i3-2102 targets Office Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X4 615e rivals Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 615e | Core i3-2102 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 2000 |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x |
| Target Use | Gaming | Office Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X4 615e launched at $186 MSRP, while the Core i3-2102 debuted at $117. At current prices ($30 vs $15), the Core i3-2102 is $15 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 615e delivers 67.3 pts/$ vs 135.3 pts/$ for the Core i3-2102 — making the Core i3-2102 the 67.1% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 615e | Core i3-2102 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $186 | $117-37% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $30 | $15-50% |
| Performance per Dollar | 67.3 | 135.3+101% |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2011 |
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