Core i3-7100U vs Athlon X4 850
Core i3-7100U
Athlon X4 850
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 850 is on rank 539, so the Athlon X4 850 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 850
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-7100U | Athlon X4 850 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Godaveri (2014−2016) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-7100U | Athlon X4 850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
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 850
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 850
The Athlon X4 850 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 2,756 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-7100U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon X4 850 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon X4 850 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Core i3-7100U versus 3.9 GHz on the Athlon X4 850 — a 47.6% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 850 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i3-7100U uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Athlon X4 850 uses Godaveri (2014−2016) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-7100U scores 2,721 against the Athlon X4 850's 2,756 — a 1.3% lead for the Athlon X4 850.
| Feature | Core i3-7100U | Athlon X4 850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.9 GHz+63% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.2 GHz+33% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | — |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 4 MB+700% |
| Process | 14 nm-50% | 28 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Godaveri (2014−2016) |
| PassMark | 2,721 | 2,756+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 841 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-7100U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon X4 850 uses FM2+ (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2133 on the Core i3-7100U versus DDR3-2133 on the Athlon X4 850 — the Core i3-7100U supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon X4 850 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 850) — the Athlon X4 850 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i3-7100U | Athlon X4 850 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | FM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133+33% | DDR3-2133 |
| 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 850 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 850). The Core i3-7100U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 620), while the Athlon X4 850 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-7100U targets Mainstream Laptop, Athlon X4 850 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i3-7100U rivals Ryzen 3 3200U.
| Feature | Core i3-7100U | Athlon X4 850 |
|---|---|---|
| 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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