Athlon PRO 300GE vs Core i7-9700K
Athlon PRO 300GE
Core i7-9700K
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 i7-9700K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon PRO 300GE | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($50) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Zen+ (2018−2019) / 12 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon PRO 300GE | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+21%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($50) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
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 i7-9700K
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 i7-9700K
The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.
Processing Power
The Athlon PRO 300GE packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-9700K offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-9700K has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Athlon PRO 300GE versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K — a 36.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K. The Athlon PRO 300GE uses the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture (12 nm), while the Core i7-9700K uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon PRO 300GE scores 4,342 against the Core i7-9700K's 14,397 — a 107.3% lead for the Core i7-9700K. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Athlon PRO 300GE vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K.
| Feature | Athlon PRO 300GE | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 8 / 8+300% |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz | 4.9 GHz+44% |
| Base Clock | — | 3.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB | 12 MB (total)+200% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 12 nm-14% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Zen+ (2018−2019) | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 4,342 | 14,397+232% |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon PRO 300GE uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-9700K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. The Core i7-9700K 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 PRO 300GE) vs 16 (Core i7-9700K) — the Core i7-9700K offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM4 (Athlon PRO 300GE) and Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K).
| Feature | Athlon PRO 300GE | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 128 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 16+100% |
Advanced Features
Only the Core i7-9700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon PRO 300GE) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon Vega 3 (Athlon PRO 300GE) and UHD Graphics 630 (Core i7-9700K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon PRO 300GE targets Desktop, Core i7-9700K targets Desktop.
| Feature | Athlon PRO 300GE | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon Vega 3 | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| 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 i7-9700K debuted at $385. At current prices ($50 vs $200), the Athlon PRO 300GE is $150 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon PRO 300GE delivers 86.8 pts/$ vs 72.0 pts/$ for the Core i7-9700K — making the Athlon PRO 300GE the 18.7% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon PRO 300GE | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $50-87% | $385 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50-75% | $200 |
| Performance per Dollar | 86.8+21% | 72.0 |
| Release Date | 2019 | 2018 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Athlon PRO 300GE and Core i7-9700K
