Athlon PRO 300GE vs Core i7-2820QM

CPU

GPU

Athlon PRO 300GE

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2019

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Core i7-2820QM

4 Cores8 Thrd45 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2011

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Athlon PRO 300GE vs Core i7-2820QM Performance Spectrum

Athlon PRO 300GE

2 / 4

4,342

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Core i7-2820QM

4 / 8

4,379

+0.9%

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.

Athlon PRO 300GE vs Core i7-2820QM FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Athlon PRO 300GE vs Core i7-2820QM: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Athlon PRO 300GE

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $518 less on MSRP ($50 MSRP vs $568 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1026.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 86.8 vs 7.7 PassMark/$ ($50 MSRP vs $568 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 45W, a 10W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-2820QM across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (4,342 vs 4,379).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 8 MB).

Core i7-2820QM

2011

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +12.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).
✅100% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 7.7 vs 86.8 PassMark/$ ($568 MSRP vs $50 MSRP).
❌28.6% higher power demand at 45W vs 35W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-2820QM better than Athlon PRO 300GE?

Yes. Core i7-2820QM is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 12.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.9% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-2820QM is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 12.3% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-2820QM is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-2820QM is still the better call for a fresh build. Core i7-2820QM comes in 1036.0% more expensive on MSRP at $568 MSRP versus $50 MSRP, and it still gives you a 12.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon PRO 300GE only looks stronger on raw value math because it is so cheap, but its absolute performance tier is too low to be the better recommendation now. At roughly 4,342 PassMark with 2 cores and 4 threads, it only really makes sense as a bare-minimum stopgap or a very constrained existing-platform upgrade.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Athlon PRO 300GE makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2011). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon PRO 300GE vs Core i7-2820QM Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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 i7-2820QM

The Core i7-2820QM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 4,379 points. Launch price was $568.

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Processing Power

The Athlon PRO 300GE packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-2820QM offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-2820QM has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Athlon PRO 300GE versus 3.4 GHz on the Core i7-2820QM — identical boost frequencies. The Athlon PRO 300GE uses the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture (12 nm), while the Core i7-2820QM uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon PRO 300GE scores 4,342 against the Core i7-2820QM's 4,379 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i7-2820QM. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Athlon PRO 300GE vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-2820QM.

Feature	Athlon PRO 300GE	Core i7-2820QM
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	4 / 8+100%
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz	3.4 GHz
Base Clock	—	2.3 GHz
L3 Cache	4 MB	8 MB (total)+100%
L2 Cache	1 MB	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	12 nm-63%	32 nm
Architecture	Zen+ (2018−2019)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	4,342	4,379
Geekbench 6 Single	—	554
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	1,763

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon PRO 300GE uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-2820QM uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Athlon PRO 300GE versus 1600 on the Core i7-2820QM — the Athlon PRO 300GE supports 66.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon PRO 300GE supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (Athlon PRO 300GE) vs 16 (Core i7-2820QM) — the Core i7-2820QM offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM4 (Athlon PRO 300GE) and HM65,HM67,QM67,QS67 (Core i7-2820QM).

Feature	Athlon PRO 300GE	Core i7-2820QM
Socket	AM4	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666+67%	1600
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB+100%	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	8	16+100%

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon PRO 300GE) vs true (Core i7-2820QM). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon Vega 3 (Athlon PRO 300GE) and Intel HD Graphics 3000 (Core i7-2820QM) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon PRO 300GE targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-2820QM rivals AMD A8-3510MX.

Feature	Athlon PRO 300GE	Core i7-2820QM
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Radeon Vega 3	Intel HD Graphics 3000
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	true
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon PRO 300GE was priced at $50, while the Core i7-2820QM came in at $568. On launch pricing ($50 vs $568), Athlon PRO 300GE was $518 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon PRO 300GE delivers 86.8 pts/$ vs 7.7 pts/$ for the Core i7-2820QM — making the Athlon PRO 300GE the 167.4% better value option.

Feature	Athlon PRO 300GE	Core i7-2820QM
MSRP	$50-91%	$568
Performance per Dollar	86.8+1027%	7.7
Release Date	2019	2011

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