
Core i3-7100U vs Athlon X4 750

Core i3-7100U

Athlon X4 750
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 i3-7100U is positioned at rank 752 and the Athlon X4 750 is on rank 611, so the Athlon X4 750 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-7100U
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X4 750
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-7100U | Athlon X4 750 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($95) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Richland (2013−2014) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-7100U | Athlon X4 750 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($95) |
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 i3-7100U and Athlon X4 750

Core i3-7100U
The Core i3-7100U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 August 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,721 points. Launch price was $281.

Athlon X4 750
The Athlon X4 750 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Richland (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 2,751 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-7100U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon X4 750 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon X4 750 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Core i3-7100U versus 4 GHz on the Athlon X4 750 — a 50% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 750 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i3-7100U uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Athlon X4 750 uses Richland (2013−2014) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-7100U scores 2,721 against the Athlon X4 750's 2,751 — a 1.1% lead for the Athlon X4 750.
| Feature | Core i3-7100U | Athlon X4 750 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz | 4 GHz+67% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.4 GHz+42% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | — |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 4 MB+700% |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Richland (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 2,721 | 2,751+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 841 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-7100U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon X4 750 uses FM2 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2133 on the Core i3-7100U versus DDR3-1866 on the Athlon X4 750 — the Core i3-7100U supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon X4 750 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Core i3-7100U) vs 16 (Athlon X4 750) — the Athlon X4 750 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i3-7100U | Athlon X4 750 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | FM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133+33% | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 64 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 16+33% |
Advanced Features
Only the Athlon X4 750 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-7100U) vs AMD-V (Athlon X4 750). The Core i3-7100U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 620), while the Athlon X4 750 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-7100U targets Mainstream Laptop, Athlon X4 750 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i3-7100U rivals Ryzen 3 3200U.
| Feature | Core i3-7100U | Athlon X4 750 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 620 | — |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Mainstream Laptop | Desktop |
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