Core i3-7320 vs Athlon Gold 7220U
Core i3-7320
Athlon Gold 7220U
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 i3-7320 is positioned at rank 434 and the Athlon Gold 7220U is on rank 655, so the Core i3-7320 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-7320
Performance Per Dollar Athlon Gold 7220U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-7320 | Athlon Gold 7220U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) / 6 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-7320 | Athlon Gold 7220U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i3-7320 and Athlon Gold 7220U
Core i3-7320
The Core i3-7320 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 4.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 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: 4,831 points. Launch price was $157.
Athlon Gold 7220U
The Athlon Gold 7220U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FT6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 4,904 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Core i3-7320 and Athlon Gold 7220U share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Core i3-7320 versus 3.7 GHz on the Athlon Gold 7220U — a 10.3% clock advantage for the Core i3-7320 (base: 4.1 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i3-7320 uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Athlon Gold 7220U uses Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) (6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-7320 scores 4,831 against the Athlon Gold 7220U's 4,904 — a 1.5% lead for the Athlon Gold 7220U. Both processors carry 4 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i3-7320 | Athlon Gold 7220U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4.1 GHz+11% | 3.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 4.1 GHz+71% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 14 nm | 6 nm-57% |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) |
| PassMark | 4,831 | 4,904+2% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,388 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-7320 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon Gold 7220U uses FT6 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the Core i3-7320 versus 5500 on the Athlon Gold 7220U — the Athlon Gold 7220U supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-7320 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 16 — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-7320) vs 4 (Athlon Gold 7220U) — the Core i3-7320 offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: B250,H270,Z270,Q250,Q270 (Core i3-7320) and FT6 (Athlon Gold 7220U).
| Feature | Core i3-7320 | Athlon Gold 7220U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | FT6 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | 5500+137400% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB+419430300% | 16 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+300% | 4 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-7320) vs true (Athlon Gold 7220U). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 630 (Core i3-7320) and Radeon 610M (Athlon Gold 7220U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-7320 targets Mainstream Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i3-7320 rivals Ryzen 3 1300X; Athlon Gold 7220U rivals Core i3-1115G4.
| Feature | Core i3-7320 | Athlon Gold 7220U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 630 | Radeon 610M |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | true |
| Target Use | Mainstream Desktop | — |
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