Core i3-7300 vs Athlon 240GE
Core i3-7300
Athlon 240GE
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 i3-7300 is positioned at rank #695 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 i3-7300
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 240GE
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-7300 | Athlon 240GE |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($46) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Zen (2017−2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-7300 | Athlon 240GE |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+137%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($46) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) |
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.
Path of Exile 2
League of Legends
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-7300 and Athlon 240GE
Core i3-7300
The Core i3-7300 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 4 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 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: 4,519 points. Launch price was $147.
Athlon 240GE
The Athlon 240GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 December 2018 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 4,561 points. Launch price was $75.
Processing Power
Both the Core i3-7300 and Athlon 240GE share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i3-7300 versus 3.5 GHz on the Athlon 240GE — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Core i3-7300 (base: 4 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i3-7300 uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Athlon 240GE uses Zen (2017−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-7300 scores 4,519 against the Athlon 240GE's 4,561 — a 0.9% lead for the Athlon 240GE. Both processors carry 4 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i3-7300 | Athlon 240GE |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz+14% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 4 GHz+14% | 3.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512K (per core)+100% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Zen (2017−2020) |
| PassMark | 4,519 | 4,561 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 930 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 2,200 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-7300 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon 240GE 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 i3-7300) vs 8 (Athlon 240GE) — the Core i3-7300 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i3-7300 | Athlon 240GE |
|---|---|---|
| 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
Only the Athlon 240GE has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-7300) vs AMD-V (Athlon 240GE). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 630 (Core i3-7300) and Radeon Vega 3 (Athlon 240GE) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-7300 targets Desktop, Athlon 240GE targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon 240GE rivals Pentium Gold G5400.
| Feature | Core i3-7300 | Athlon 240GE |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 630 | Radeon Vega 3 |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Desktop | Budget Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-7300 launched at $184 MSRP, while the Athlon 240GE debuted at $75. At current prices ($46 vs $110), the Core i3-7300 is $64 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-7300 delivers 98.2 pts/$ vs 41.5 pts/$ for the Athlon 240GE — making the Core i3-7300 the 81.3% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-7300 | Athlon 240GE |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $184 | $75-59% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $46-58% | $110 |
| Performance per Dollar | 98.2+137% | 41.5 |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2018 |
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