AMD Athlon 240GE vs AMD Ryzen 3 1200 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a strikingly split picture between these two AMD Socket AM4 processors. The Ryzen 3 1200 wins three of the four head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, but the Athlon 240GE claims the most recent multi-core test by a decisive margin. This is not a straightforward generational victory; it is a contest where the test generation changes the outcome.

In the legacy Cinebench R15 tests, the Ryzen 3 1200 is dominant. Its multi-core score of 480 beats the Athlon 240GE’s 390 by 18.7%. The single-core gap is even more pronounced: the Ryzen 3 1200 scores 135 against the Athlon’s 54, a 60% advantage. These are lopsided results, particularly the single-core figure, which suggests the Athlon 240GE was severely handicapped in that particular workload.

However, the picture inverts dramatically in the newer Cinebench R23 test. Here, the Athlon 240GE scores 3876 multi-core, which is 28.6% ahead of the Ryzen 3 1200’s 3013. This is a substantial reversal and the largest delta in either direction across all tests. Yet, the Ryzen 3 1200 still wins the R23 single-core test, posting 834 versus 547, a 34.4% lead for the Ryzen part.

The overall win tally is 3-1 in favor of the Ryzen 3 1200. Its average benchmark score of 1116 is only slightly below the Athlon 240GE’s 1121, a negligible 0.4% difference in the aggregate. Both CPUs sit in the same performance tier, with the Athlon at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs and the Ryzen at the 31st. The data indicates the Ryzen 3 1200 has a clear edge in single-threaded performance across both test generations, while multi-threaded results are split by test version, with the Athlon winning only the most recent R23 test.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the Zen architecture, manufactured on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. They share the same AMD Socket AM4 platform and support dual-channel DDR4 memory with an identical memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The foundation is similar, but the implementations diverge significantly.

The Athlon 240GE is a 2-core, 4-thread part with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and no boost clock. It belongs to the Athlon generation (Zen Raven Ridge) and integrates Radeon Vega 3 graphics, making it a single-chip solution. Its transistor count is 4,950 million on a die size of 209.8 mm². The Ryzen 3 1200, by contrast, is a 4-core, 4-thread processor from the Ryzen 3 (Zen Summit Ridge) generation. It has a lower base clock of 3.10 GHz but adds a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. It has no integrated graphics, and its transistor count is slightly lower at 4,800 million, on a marginally larger die of 213 mm².

Cache configuration is a key differentiator. Both have 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 per core. The L3 cache, however, doubles from 4 MB shared on the Athlon to 8 MB shared on the Ryzen 3 1200. This larger pool of L3 cache likely contributes to the Ryzen’s superior single-core scores.

Other notable differences include ECC memory support, which is present on the Ryzen 3 1200 but absent on the Athlon 240GE. PCIe lane allocation also differs: the Ryzen 3 1200 provides 16 lanes (CPU only) of Gen 3, while the Athlon 240GE offers only 8 lanes. The Ryzen 3 1200 has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Athlon 240GE is locked. The release dates are separated by roughly 17 months, with the Ryzen 3 1200 launching in July 2017 and the Athlon 240GE in December 2018.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 1200 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The AMD Athlon 240GE has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Does the Athlon 240GE include integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Athlon 240GE features Radeon Vega 3 integrated graphics. The Ryzen 3 1200 has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which CPU has a higher base clock speed?

A: The Athlon 240GE has a base clock of 3.50 GHz, which is higher than the Ryzen 3 1200’s base clock of 3.10 GHz. However, the Ryzen 3 1200 can boost up to 3.40 GHz.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache size?

A: The Ryzen 3 1200 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, which is double the 4 MB shared L3 cache found on the Athlon 240GE.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 supports ECC memory. The Athlon 240GE does not.

Q: In which benchmark does the Athlon 240GE outperform the Ryzen 3 1200?

A: The Athlon 240GE wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, scoring 3876 compared to the Ryzen 3 1200’s 3013, a 28.6% advantage.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Athlon 240GE | AMD Ryzen 3 1200 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 3.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | None | 3.40 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 65 W |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Transistors | 4,950 million | 4,800 million |

| Die Size | 209.8 mm² | 213 mm² |

| ECC Memory | Not supported | Supported |

| PCIe Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 8 Lanes | Gen 3, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Vega 3 | None |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Release Date | 2018-12-20 | 2017-07-26 |

| Launch MSRP | $75 | $109 |

| Part Number | YD240GC6M2OFB | YD1200BBM4KAEYD1200BBAEBOX |

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 3 1200 wins on raw computational power in most traditional metrics. It wins three of the four head-to-head benchmarks, including both single-core tests and the legacy R15 multi-core test. Its single-core victory in R23 is 34.4% ahead, and in R15 it is a massive 60% ahead. For workloads that rely on single-thread performance, or for older multi-threaded applications that scale similarly to Cinebench R15, the Ryzen 3 1200 is the clear choice. Its 4 physical cores provide a structural advantage in multi-threaded tasks that do not benefit from the Athlon’s simultaneous multithreading.

The Athlon 240GE wins in the most modern multi-threaded test, Cinebench R23, by 28.6%. This suggests that in newer, more optimized multi-threaded workloads, the Athlon’s 2-core/4-thread configuration with its higher 3.50 GHz base clock can outperform the Ryzen’s 4-core/4-thread layout at a lower 3.10 GHz base clock. The Athlon also wins on power efficiency, with a 35 W TDP compared to the Ryzen 3 1200’s 65 W TDP, making it a more suitable option for low-power or compact systems. Additionally, the integrated Radeon Vega 3 graphics mean the Athlon 240GE can power a display without a discrete GPU, a capability the Ryzen 3 1200 completely lacks.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear recommendation for single-thread-oriented users: the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 is the superior processor. It wins every single-core benchmark in the comparison by a wide margin (60% in R15, 34.4% in R23) and also takes the R15 multi-core test. Its unlocked multiplier and 16 PCIe lanes also make it a more flexible platform for enthusiasts. For users whose primary workloads are older multi-threaded applications, the Ryzen 3 1200’s 4 physical cores provide a significant advantage, as evidenced by its 18.7% lead in R15 multi-core.

For users building a system where the integrated GPU is a requirement, the Athlon 240GE is the only choice between these two, as the Ryzen 3 1200 has no graphics solution. The Athlon 240GE also wins in the most recent Cinebench R23 multi-core test, indicating it has better longevity in modern multi-threaded software. Its 35 W TDP makes it the more energy-efficient option.

The verdict hinges on use case. If a discrete GPU is present or planned, the Ryzen 3 1200 offers better all-around performance, particularly in single-threaded tasks, and a superior feature set with ECC support and an unlocked multiplier. If a minimal, low-power system without a discrete GPU is the goal, the Athlon 240GE is the functional choice, delivering a win in the latest multi-core benchmark while providing the only integrated graphics solution. The aggregate performance is nearly identical, with the Athlon averaging 1121 and the Ryzen averaging 1116, but the distribution of wins is heavily skewed toward the Ryzen 3 1200, which should be the default pick for most builders.