Athlon PRO 300GE vs Core i3-7100
Athlon PRO 300GE
Core i3-7100
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 PRO 300GE
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-7100
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon PRO 300GE | Core i3-7100 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($40) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Zen+ (2018−2019) / 12 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon PRO 300GE | Core i3-7100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+24%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($40) |
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 PRO 300GE and Core i3-7100
Athlon PRO 300GE
The Athlon PRO 300GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 4,342 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i3-7100
The Core i3-7100 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 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 51 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,306 points. Launch price was $117.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon PRO 300GE and Core i3-7100 share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Athlon PRO 300GE versus 3.9 GHz on the Core i3-7100 — a 13.7% clock advantage for the Core i3-7100. The Athlon PRO 300GE uses the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture (12 nm), while the Core i3-7100 uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon PRO 300GE scores 4,342 against the Core i3-7100's 4,306 — a 0.8% lead for the Athlon PRO 300GE. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Athlon PRO 300GE vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-7100.
| Feature | Athlon PRO 300GE | Core i3-7100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz | 3.9 GHz+15% |
| Base Clock | — | 3.9 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB+33% | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 12 nm-14% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Zen+ (2018−2019) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 4,342 | 4,306 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon PRO 300GE uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-7100 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (Athlon PRO 300GE) vs 16 (Core i3-7100) — the Core i3-7100 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Athlon PRO 300GE | Core i3-7100 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 16+100% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon PRO 300GE) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-7100). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon Vega 3 (Athlon PRO 300GE) and HD Graphics 630 (Core i3-7100) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon PRO 300GE targets Desktop, Core i3-7100 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Athlon PRO 300GE | Core i3-7100 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon Vega 3 | HD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Desktop | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon PRO 300GE launched at $50 MSRP, while the Core i3-7100 debuted at $117. At current prices ($50 vs $40), the Core i3-7100 is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon PRO 300GE delivers 86.8 pts/$ vs 107.7 pts/$ for the Core i3-7100 — making the Core i3-7100 the 21.4% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon PRO 300GE | Core i3-7100 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $50-57% | $117 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50 | $40-20% |
| Performance per Dollar | 86.8 | 107.7+24% |
| Release Date | 2019 | 2017 |
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