AMD Athlon 200GE vs Intel Core i3-1005G1 Comparison

The Intel Core i3-1005G1 and AMD Athlon 200GE are both 2-core, 4-thread processors, but they target fundamentally different market segments: the former is a mobile chip built for Ice Lake-U laptops, while the latter is a desktop part on the AM4 platform. Benchmark data shows the Intel part leads in every recorded test, though the margin varies significantly depending on the workload, with the average benchmark score nearly identical at 1265 for Intel versus 1261 for AMD.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-1005G1 has an average benchmark score of 1265, which is just 0.4% higher than the AMD Athlon 200GE's 1261. This places both processors in the same performance tier, with Intel at the 35th percentile of all CPUs and AMD at the 34th.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multi-core rendering workloads?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core i3-1005G1 scores 4070 versus 3479 for the AMD Athlon 200GE, a 17% advantage. The gap is similar in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where Intel leads 1709 to 1461, also a 17% delta.

Q: Does the AMD processor win any benchmark comparisons?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the Intel Core i3-1005G1 wins all 7 recorded benchmarks, with the AMD Athlon 200GE recording 0 wins. The smallest margin is in Geekbench multi-core, where Intel leads by only 3.5% (1978 vs 1912).

Q: What is the difference in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-1005G1 leads in Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 574 versus 491 for the Athlon 200GE, a 16.9% advantage. In Geekbench single-core, Intel scores 1083 against 925, a 17.1% lead.

Q: How do the two compare in terms of power consumption?

A: The Intel Core i3-1005G1 has a TDP of 15 watts, while the AMD Athlon 200GE has a TDP of 35 watts. This makes the Intel part substantially more power-efficient, which is consistent with its mobile market segment.

Q: What are the process node and foundry differences?

A: The Intel Core i3-1005G1 is built on Intel's 10 nm process at their own foundry, while the AMD Athlon 200GE uses GlobalFoundries' 14 nm process. The AMD chip has a larger die size of 209.8 mm² compared to 123 mm² for Intel.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from completely different architectural lineages. The Intel Core i3-1005G1 uses the Ice Lake architecture, specifically the Ice Lake-U codename, with a generation listed as "Core i3 (Sunny Cove-U)". It is manufactured on a 10 nm process by Intel's own foundry, with a die size of 123 mm². In contrast, the AMD Athlon 200GE uses the Zen architecture with the Raven Ridge codename, built on a 14 nm process by GlobalFoundries, and has a substantially larger die at 209.8 mm² with 4,950 million transistors.

Cache layouts also differ. The Intel part has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, while the AMD chip offers 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core. Both share 4 MB of L3 cache. The AMD processor's larger per-core cache allocation suggests a different design philosophy, but the Intel part compensates with a more advanced process node and higher boost clock capability.

Memory bandwidth is another differentiator. The Intel Core i3-1005G1 supports dual-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the AMD Athlon 200GE also supports dual-channel DDR4 but tops out at 42.7 GB/s. Both support PCIe Gen 3, though the AMD chip has 8 lanes (CPU only) while Intel's PCIe configuration is listed simply as "Gen 3". Integrated graphics differ as well: Intel uses UHD Graphics, while AMD pairs the Zen cores with Radeon Vega 3.

The sockets are incompatible, with Intel using BGA 1526 (a soldered mobile package) and AMD using Socket AM4 (a desktop socket). The market segments reflect this: Intel is mobile, AMD is desktop. Release dates are close, with Intel launching on 2019-07-31 and AMD on 2018-09-05. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is one-sided, but the magnitude of Intel's wins varies meaningfully by workload type. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel Core i3-1005G1 scores 410 against 350 for the AMD Athlon 200GE, a 17.1% advantage. This pattern repeats across the Cinebench suite: R20 multi-core shows 1709 versus 1461 (17%), R20 single-core shows 241 versus 206 (17%), and R23 multi-core shows 4070 versus 3479 (17%). The consistency of these deltas across different Cinebench versions suggests a stable architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Single-core Cinebench results follow the same trend. In R23 single-core, Intel scores 574 versus 491, a 16.9% lead, while R20 single-core shows 241 versus 206, a 17% delta. These figures indicate that the Intel core design has a clear per-thread performance advantage, which is likely driven by its higher boost clock of 3.40 GHz compared to the AMD's fixed 3.20 GHz base clock (the Athlon 200GE has no boost clock listed).

The Geekbench results tell a slightly different story. In Geekbench multi-core, the Intel part scores 1978 versus 1912, a much narrower 3.5% margin. This is the closest result in the entire comparison, suggesting that the Geekbench multi-core workload is less sensitive to the architectural differences that show up so prominently in Cinebench. However, Geekbench single-core reverts to the familiar pattern, with Intel scoring 1083 versus 925, a 17.1% lead.

The aggregate picture is clear: Intel wins all 7 head-to-head tests, with 6 of the 7 margins falling between 16.9% and 17.1%. The exception is Geekbench multi-core, where the AMD chip is nearly competitive, trailing by only 3.5%. This suggests that highly parallel, memory-light workloads can narrow the gap, but the Intel core's superior single-thread performance dominates most other scenarios.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The base clock is a major differentiator: the Intel Core i3-1005G1 runs at 1200.00 MHz base with a 3.40 GHz boost, while the AMD Athlon 200GE has a 3.20 GHz base clock and no boost clock listed. This means the AMD chip runs at a constant frequency, while Intel's processor scales from a very low base to a high boost.

TDP is another significant difference, with Intel at 15 watts and AMD at 35 watts. This 20-watt gap reflects the mobile versus desktop design targets. The process nodes differ (10 nm Intel versus 14 nm GlobalFoundries), as do the die sizes (123 mm² versus 209.8 mm²) and transistor counts (AMD lists 4,950 million, Intel does not list a figure).

Cache specifications differ in L1 and L2 but match in L3. The Intel part has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, while the AMD has 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core. Both have 4 MB shared L3. Memory bandwidth favors Intel at 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s for AMD. The sockets are different (BGA 1526 versus AM4), as are the market segments (mobile versus desktop) and integrated graphics solutions (UHD Graphics versus Radeon Vega 3). The AMD part has a launch MSRP of $55, while the Intel part has no launch MSRP listed. Release dates differ by roughly 11 months, with AMD launching in September 2018 and Intel in July 2019.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-1005G1 outperforms the AMD Athlon 200GE in every recorded benchmark. With a 17% lead in most Cinebench tests and a 17.1% lead in Geekbench single-core, the Intel part offers a substantial performance advantage across the board. The only close result is Geekbench multi-core, where Intel's lead shrinks to 3.5%, but this does not change the overall picture.

However, the selection between these two parts depends entirely on the use case, as they serve different market segments. The Intel Core i3-1005G1 is a mobile processor with a 15-watt TDP, designed for laptops and ultrabooks. The AMD Athlon 200GE is a desktop processor with a 35-watt TDP and a $55 launch MSRP, designed for budget desktop builds on the AM4 platform.

For users building a desktop system, the AMD Athlon 200GE offers a clear socket advantage: AM4 is a widely supported desktop platform, and the chip's fixed 3.20 GHz clock provides predictable performance. For users needing a mobile solution, the Intel Core i3-1005G1 is the only option in this comparison, and its superior benchmark scores make it the stronger performer in that context. The 17% performance lead in most tests, combined with a 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth versus 42.7 GB/s, gives Intel a clear edge in raw compute capability.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-1005G1 wins in every measured category, but the degree of advantage varies. Its largest wins come in single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests, where it leads by 17% consistently. This makes it the better choice for rendering workloads, CPU-intensive applications, and any task that benefits from higher per-thread performance. The boost clock of 3.40 GHz provides headroom for bursty workloads, and the lower TDP of 15 watts makes it suitable for thermally constrained environments.

The AMD Athlon 200GE's closest result is Geekbench multi-core, where it trails by only 3.5%. This suggests that in certain mixed workloads, the AMD chip can approach Intel's performance. Its higher base clock of 3.20 GHz means it maintains consistent performance without relying on boost behavior, which could be advantageous for sustained, predictable workloads. The larger L1 and L2 caches (96 KB and 512 KB per core versus 64 KB and 256 KB) may help in cache-sensitive applications, though the benchmark data does not show this translating into wins.

For desktop users on a strict platform requirement, the AMD Athlon 200GE's AM4 socket and $55 launch MSRP make it a viable entry point, but the performance data shows it trailing Intel in every test. For mobile users, the Intel Core i3-1005G1 is the clear choice, offering higher scores across the board with a much lower TDP. The verdict from the data is simple: Intel wins on performance, AMD wins on desktop platform compatibility, and the 3.5% Geekbench multi-core margin is the only data point that hints at AMD competitiveness.