Core i3-2102 vs Athlon II X4 615e
Core i3-2102
Athlon II X4 615e
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 Core i3-2102 is positioned at rank 857 and the Athlon II X4 615e is on rank 983, 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 Core i3-2102
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 615e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-2102 | Athlon II X4 615e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-2102 | Athlon II X4 615e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+101%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) |
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 Core i3-2102 and Athlon II X4 615e
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.
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.
Processing Power
The Core i3-2102 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X4 615e offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 615e has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Core i3-2102 versus 2.5 GHz on the Athlon II X4 615e — a 21.4% clock advantage for the Core i3-2102 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i3-2102 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X4 615e uses Propus (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-2102 scores 2,029 against the Athlon II X4 615e's 2,018 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i3-2102. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 515 vs 331, a 43.5% lead for the Core i3-2102 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,082 vs 1,161 (7% advantage for the Athlon II X4 615e). L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2102 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 615e.
| Feature | Core i3-2102 | Athlon II X4 615e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz+24% | 2.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz+24% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Propus (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,029 | 2,018 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 1,161 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 515+56% | 331 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,082 | 1,161+7% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-2102 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X4 615e uses AM3 (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: H61,H67,P67,Z68 (Core i3-2102) and AMD 870,AMD 880G,AMD 890FX,AMD 990FX (Athlon II X4 615e).
| Feature | Core i3-2102 | Athlon II X4 615e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+100% | 16 GB |
| 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: VT-x (Core i3-2102) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X4 615e). The Core i3-2102 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 2000), while the Athlon II X4 615e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-2102 targets Office Desktop, Athlon II X4 615e targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Athlon II X4 615e rivals Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300.
| Feature | Core i3-2102 | Athlon II X4 615e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 2000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Office Desktop | Gaming |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-2102 launched at $117 MSRP, while the Athlon II X4 615e debuted at $186. At current prices ($15 vs $30), the Core i3-2102 is $15 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-2102 delivers 135.3 pts/$ vs 67.3 pts/$ for the Athlon II X4 615e — making the Core i3-2102 the 67.1% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-2102 | Athlon II X4 615e |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $117-37% | $186 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-50% | $30 |
| Performance per Dollar | 135.3+101% | 67.3 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2010 |
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