AMD Athlon 240GE vs Intel Core i3-10110U Comparison

The Intel Core i3-10110U and AMD Athlon 240GE are both dual-core, four-thread processors aimed at entry-level computing, but they target different market segments and deliver distinct performance profiles. The recorded benchmark data shows a clear overall winner in the AMD Athlon 240GE, which takes five of the six head-to-head tests, while the Intel chip claims a single, dramatic victory in one legacy single-core test. Both processors sit at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs in the database, with average benchmark scores of 1131 for the Intel and 1121 for the AMD, indicating they occupy a similar tier of overall capability despite their divergent strengths.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are dominated by the AMD Athlon 240GE, which wins every multi-core test and two of the three single-core tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD scores 390 against the Intel's 326, a delta of -16.4% (meaning the Intel trails by 16.4%). The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the AMD posts 1627 versus 1359, a -16.5% gap, and in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the AMD reaches 3876 against 3236, again a -16.5% difference. These consistent margins suggest the AMD's higher base clock of 3.50 GHz, compared to the Intel's 2.10 GHz, provides a sustained advantage in multi-threaded workloads, even though both chips have identical core and thread counts.

The single-core results are more nuanced. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Intel Core i3-10110U wins decisively with a score of 162 against the AMD's 54, a delta of 200% (the Intel is three times higher). This is the largest margin in the entire comparison and reflects the Intel's boost clock of 4.10 GHz, which the AMD lacks entirely. However, this Intel advantage does not carry over to newer Cinebench versions. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the AMD scores 229 versus the Intel's 191, a -16.6% delta, and in Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD scores 547 against 456, also a -16.6% delta. The shift suggests that the AMD's architecture scales better with the more demanding instruction sets and longer test durations of R20 and R23, while the Intel's high boost clock is only sufficient to win the shorter, older R15 test.

The overall win tally is 5 for the AMD and 1 for the Intel. The AMD's victories are consistent in magnitude, hovering around -16.5% across all five wins, which indicates a stable performance advantage rather than a test-specific anomaly. The Intel's single win, while spectacular in percentage terms, is isolated to one benchmark and does not reflect its performance in any other recorded test. The average benchmark scores reinforce this: the Intel's 1131 is only 10 points higher than the AMD's 1121, a negligible difference that masks the AMD's broader superiority in the head-to-head suite.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on the same 14 nm process node, but they come from different foundries and use fundamentally different architectures. The Intel Core i3-10110U is based on the Comet Lake architecture, specifically Comet Lake-U, and is manufactured by Intel. The AMD Athlon 240GE uses the Zen architecture, codenamed Raven Ridge, and is produced by GlobalFoundries. The AMD chip has a transistor count of 4,950 million and a die size of 209.8 mm², while the Intel chip has no recorded transistor or die size data in the database.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. The Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, while the AMD chip has 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core. Both share 4 MB of L3 cache. The AMD's larger per-core L1 and L2 caches likely contribute to its superior performance in the newer Cinebench tests, as more data can be held closer to the cores. The Intel chip compensates with a higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz, but the AMD's base clock of 3.50 GHz is substantially higher than the Intel's 2.10 GHz, and the AMD has no boost clock at all.

Memory support also diverges. The Intel chip supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the AMD chip supports only DDR4. The AMD chip has a dual-channel memory bus with a recorded bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, whereas the Intel chip has no memory bus or bandwidth data listed. The AMD chip also includes PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip has no PCIe information recorded. Integrated graphics differ as well: the Intel uses UHD Graphics, while the AMD uses Radeon Vega 3.

The market positioning is starkly different. The Intel Core i3-10110U is a mobile processor with a TDP of 25 W, designed for laptops and ultrabooks, and it is marked as end-of-life. The AMD Athlon 240GE is a desktop processor with a TDP of 35 W, still active in production. The Intel chip was released on 2019-08-20, while the AMD chip was released earlier on 2018-12-20. The AMD chip has a launch MSRP of $75, while the Intel chip has no recorded launch MSRP. The AMD chip also has a part number, YD240GC6M2OFB, while the Intel chip does not.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Athlon 240GE is the clear winner in the majority of recorded benchmarks, taking all three multi-core tests and two of the three single-core tests. Its consistent -16.5% advantage over the Intel in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core, as well as in R20 and R23 single-core, makes it the better choice for any workload that relies on sustained processing across both cores. The AMD's higher base clock and larger per-core caches appear to drive this advantage, and its desktop form factor with a 35 W TDP suggests it is designed for systems where power draw is less constrained than in mobile devices.

The Intel Core i3-10110U wins only in Cinebench R15 single-core, where its 200% margin over the AMD is the single largest delta in the comparison. This result is likely attributable to the Intel's boost clock of 4.10 GHz, which provides a short-duration burst of high frequency that the AMD cannot match. For legacy applications that rely on single-threaded performance and do not scale well with newer instruction sets, the Intel chip may offer a temporary advantage. However, this win does not extend to any other benchmark, and the Intel's mobile segment with a 25 W TDP makes it more suitable for power-sensitive environments, such as thin-and-light laptops, where the AMD's 35 W desktop design would be impractical.

In practical terms, the data indicates that the AMD Athlon 240GE is the stronger processor for general-purpose computing, including multi-threaded tasks like content creation, compilation, and rendering, as well as for modern single-threaded workloads. The Intel Core i3-10110U is only preferable in scenarios that specifically benefit from its high boost clock in a short, legacy single-threaded test, and even then, the advantage is confined to that one metric. The AMD's active production status and desktop socket (AM4) also suggest a longer availability and upgrade path, while the Intel's end-of-life status and mobile socket (BGA 1440) limit its future utility.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors, based on the recorded data:

| Specification | Intel Core i3-10110U | AMD Athlon 240GE |

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

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | None |

| TDP | 25 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1440 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Comet Lake | Zen |

| Codename | Comet Lake-U | Zen (Raven Ridge) |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 4,950 million |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 209.8 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| Memory Support | DDR3, DDR4 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Not recorded | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 42.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Not recorded | Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics | Radeon Vega 3 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2019-08-20 | 2018-12-20 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $75 |

| Part Number | Not recorded | YD240GC6M2OFB |

Both processors share 2 cores, 4 threads, a 14 nm process node, 4 MB of shared L3 cache, no ECC memory support, and are not multiplier unlocked.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The AMD Athlon 240GE wins 5 of the 6 head-to-head tests, including all multi-core tests and two of the three single-core tests. The Intel Core i3-10110U wins only Cinebench R15 single-core.

Q: What is the largest performance margin in the comparison?

A: The Intel Core i3-10110U's win in Cinebench R15 single-core, with a score of 162 versus the AMD's 54, represents a 200% delta, meaning the Intel is three times higher. This is the largest margin recorded.

Q: How do the base clocks compare?

A: The AMD Athlon 240GE has a base clock of 3.50 GHz, while the Intel Core i3-10110U has a base clock of 2.10 GHz. The Intel chip also has a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, which the AMD lacks.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i3-10110U has a TDP of 25 W, while the AMD Athlon 240GE has a TDP of 35 W. The Intel chip is designed for mobile devices, while the AMD is a desktop processor.

Q: Which processor has more L2 cache per core?

A: The AMD Athlon 240GE has 512 KB of L2 cache per core, while the Intel Core i3-10110U has 256 KB per core. The AMD also has 96 KB of L1 cache per core versus the Intel's 64 KB.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The AMD Athlon 240GE is marked as Active, while the Intel Core i3-10110U is marked as End-of-life. The AMD chip also has a launch MSRP of $75, while the Intel chip has no recorded launch MSRP.