Core i3-7100 vs Athlon PRO 300GE
Core i3-7100
Athlon PRO 300GE
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. The Core i3-7100 is positioned at rank #532 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. 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 Core i3-7100
Performance Per Dollar Athlon PRO 300GE
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-7100 | Athlon PRO 300GE |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($40) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Zen+ (2018−2019) / 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-7100 | Athlon PRO 300GE |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+24%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($40) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
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 i3-7100 and Athlon PRO 300GE
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.
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.
Processing Power
Both the Core i3-7100 and Athlon PRO 300GE share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core i3-7100 versus 3.4 GHz on the Athlon PRO 300GE — a 13.7% clock advantage for the Core i3-7100. The Core i3-7100 uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Athlon PRO 300GE uses Zen+ (2018−2019) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-7100 scores 4,306 against the Athlon PRO 300GE's 4,342 — a 0.8% lead for the Athlon PRO 300GE. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-7100 vs 4 MB on the Athlon PRO 300GE.
| Feature | Core i3-7100 | Athlon PRO 300GE |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz+15% | 3.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.9 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 4 MB+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 14 nm | 12 nm-14% |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Zen+ (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 4,306 | 4,342 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-7100 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon PRO 300GE uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2400 memory speed. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-7100) vs 8 (Athlon PRO 300GE) — the Core i3-7100 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i3-7100 | Athlon PRO 300GE |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+100% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-7100) vs AMD-V (Athlon PRO 300GE). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 630 (Core i3-7100) and Radeon Vega 3 (Athlon PRO 300GE) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-7100 targets Desktop, Athlon PRO 300GE targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i3-7100 | Athlon PRO 300GE |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 630 | Radeon Vega 3 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Desktop | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-7100 launched at $117 MSRP, while the Athlon PRO 300GE debuted at $50. At current prices ($40 vs $50), the Core i3-7100 is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-7100 delivers 107.7 pts/$ vs 86.8 pts/$ for the Athlon PRO 300GE — making the Core i3-7100 the 21.4% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-7100 | Athlon PRO 300GE |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $117 | $50-57% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40-20% | $50 |
| Performance per Dollar | 107.7+24% | 86.8 |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2019 |
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