CPU
GPU
Core i7-2617M
A8-4500M
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 i7-2617M is positioned at rank 287 and the A8-4500M is on rank 728, so the Core i7-2617M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2617M
Performance Per Dollar A8-4500M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-2617M | A8-4500M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Trinity (2012−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-2617M | A8-4500M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 i7-2617M and A8-4500M
Core i7-2617M
The Core i7-2617M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,687 points. Launch price was $100.
A8-4500M
The A8-4500M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FS1r2. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: unknown. Passmark benchmark score: 1,693 points. Launch price was $90.
Processing Power
The Core i7-2617M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the A8-4500M offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A8-4500M has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Core i7-2617M versus 2.8 GHz on the A8-4500M — a 7.4% clock advantage for the A8-4500M (base: 1.5 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). The Core i7-2617M uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the A8-4500M uses Trinity (2012−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-2617M scores 1,687 against the A8-4500M's 1,693 — a 0.4% lead for the A8-4500M. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 448 vs 283, a 45.1% lead for the Core i7-2617M that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Core i7-2617M vs 0 kB on the A8-4500M.
| Feature | Core i7-2617M | A8-4500M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz | 2.8 GHz+8% |
| Base Clock | 1.5 GHz | 1.9 GHz+27% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 4 MB (total)+700% |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Trinity (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,687 | 1,693 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 448+58% | 283 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-2617M uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A8-4500M uses FS1r2 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The A8-4500M supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.
| Feature | Core i7-2617M | A8-4500M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | FS1r2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-2617M) vs AMD-V (A8-4500M). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 3000 (Core i7-2617M) and Radeon HD 7640G (A8-4500M) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-2617M targets Ultrabook, A8-4500M targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i7-2617M rivals A6-3400M; A8-4500M rivals Core i3-3110M.
| Feature | Core i7-2617M | A8-4500M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 3000 | Radeon HD 7640G |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Ultrabook | Mainstream Laptop |
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