Steam Deck OLED APU vs Core i3-7101E
Steam Deck OLED APU
Core i3-7101E
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 Steam Deck OLED APU is positioned at rank 827 and the Core i3-7101E is on rank 520, so the Core i3-7101E offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Steam Deck OLED APU
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-7101E
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Steam Deck OLED APU | Core i3-7101E |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Van Gogh (Custom) (2023) / 6 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Steam Deck OLED APU | Core i3-7101E |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
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 Steam Deck OLED APU and Core i3-7101E
Steam Deck OLED APU
The Steam Deck OLED APU is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 9 November 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Van Gogh (Custom) (2023) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 6 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB + 4 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,457 points. Launch price was $69.
Core i3-7101E
The Core i3-7101E 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 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 54 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1600, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 4,430 points. Launch price was $117.
Processing Power
The Steam Deck OLED APU packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i3-7101E offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Steam Deck OLED APU has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Steam Deck OLED APU versus 3.9 GHz on the Core i3-7101E — a 10.8% clock advantage for the Core i3-7101E (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Steam Deck OLED APU uses the Van Gogh (Custom) (2023) architecture (6 nm), while the Core i3-7101E uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Steam Deck OLED APU scores 4,457 against the Core i3-7101E's 4,430 — a 0.6% lead for the Steam Deck OLED APU. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Steam Deck OLED APU vs 3 MB on the Core i3-7101E.
| Feature | Steam Deck OLED APU | Core i3-7101E |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 3.9 GHz+11% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.9 GHz+63% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB+33% | 3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+300% | 512 kB |
| Process | 6 nm-57% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Van Gogh (Custom) (2023) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 4,457 | 4,430 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,250 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Steam Deck OLED APU) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-7101E). The Core i3-7101E includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 630), while the Steam Deck OLED APU requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-7101E targets Embedded. Direct competitor: Core i3-7101E rivals Embedded Ryzen V1000.
| Feature | Steam Deck OLED APU | Core i3-7101E |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Embedded |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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