AMD Athlon 240GE vs Intel Core i3-1115GRE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a strikingly consistent picture: the Intel Core i3-1115GRE wins every single one of the six Cinebench comparisons, though by margins that are almost uniformly narrow. The largest gap appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Intel part scores 55 against the AMD Athlon 240GE's 54, a delta of 1.9%. That is the only test where the margin exceeds 1%; the remaining five comparisons all fall between 0.5% and 0.9%. For context, the Intel chip's 392 in R15 multi-core versus 390 for the AMD represents a 0.5% edge, while the R20 multi-core run shows 1637 against 1627, a 0.6% difference.

Looking at the newer Cinebench R23 suite, the pattern holds. The Intel i3-1115GRE posts 3899 in multi-core, edging out the Athlon's 3876 by 0.6%. In single-core R23, the scores are 550 and 547 respectively, a 0.5% lead for Intel. The consistency is notable: across all three Cinebench versions, the Intel processor's advantage in single-core is slightly larger than its multi-core lead in two of three cases (R15 and R20), while in R23 the two margins are nearly identical. This suggests the i3-1115GRE's architectural efficiency carries through both lightly-threaded and fully-threaded workloads, but the overall performance envelope is extremely close.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this near-parity. The Intel chip averages 1127 across all benchmarks, while the AMD averages 1121. That six-point gap translates to roughly 0.5%. Both processors sit in the 32nd percentile of all CPUs tracked in the database, meaning they land in the same performance tier. The nearest rivals for the Intel part include the Intel Core i5-3330S and Core i7-2720QM, each with an average score of 1128 and a deltaPct of -0.1% relative to the i3-1115GRE. The AMD Athlon 240GE's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon D-1518 at 1121 (0% delta) and the Intel Core i3-4150 at 1119 (0.2% delta). In effect, both chips occupy a performance band where a handful of points separates them from several older quad-core and dual-core parts.

Where Each One Wins

Given that the Intel Core i3-1115GRE wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, the use-case split is heavily skewed toward the Intel part. The data shows no benchmark category where the AMD Athlon 240GE takes the lead. That said, the magnitude of Intel's wins matters for practical interpretation. In multi-threaded workloads like Cinebench R20 and R23, the Intel chip's 0.6% advantage is within run-to-run variance for most real-world applications. A user running heavily parallel tasks would likely see no perceptible difference between 1637 and 1627 in R20, or between 3899 and 3876 in R23.

Single-threaded performance tells a similar story. The Intel i3-1115GRE's 1.9% lead in R15 single-core is its best result, but the R20 and R23 single-core margins shrink to 0.9% and 0.5% respectively. For everyday responsiveness — web browsing, office documents, light productivity — these differences are negligible. The Intel part does edge ahead in every scenario, so it is the safer pick for users who want the nominal best performance in each test. However, the AMD chip is never more than 2% behind in any metric, and in multi-core tests it trails by less than 1%. The Athlon 240GE's wins are not in raw performance but in the fact that it matches the Intel part so closely across the board despite being a different architecture generation and process node.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design lineages. The Intel Core i3-1115GRE uses the Tiger Lake architecture, specifically the Tiger Lake-U codename, built on Intel's 10 nm process node. It is a Willow Cove-U generation part, manufactured by Intel with a die size of 144 mm². The AMD Athlon 240GE, by contrast, uses the original Zen architecture under the codename "Zen" (Raven Ridge), fabricated on GlobalFoundries' 14 nm node. Its die is larger at 209.8 mm², and it packs 4,950 million transistors. That transistor count is notable given the performance parity: the AMD chip uses roughly 14% more die area and a process node that is two generations behind Intel's, yet it nearly matches the i3-1115GRE in every benchmark.

Cache hierarchies differ as well. The Intel part allocates 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip has 96 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 4 MB of shared L3. Intel's larger L2 and L3 allocations likely contribute to its slight single-core advantages, while AMD's larger L1 may help in certain access patterns. Both processors are unlocked? No — neither has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not a differentiating factor.

Integrated graphics also differ. The Intel i3-1115GRE carries UHD Graphics G4 with 48 execution units, while the AMD Athlon 240GE includes Radeon Vega 3. The database does not provide graphics benchmark scores, so any comparison must remain qualitative. The Intel part supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X memory, while the AMD chip supports only DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The Intel chip's memory bandwidth is not listed, but the AMD part has a specified bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The Intel processor supports ECC memory; the AMD does not. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Intel chip uses Gen 4 with 4 CPU lanes, while the AMD uses Gen 3 with 8 CPU lanes.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs diverge on several key specifications. Clock speeds are a primary differentiator: the AMD Athlon 240GE has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and no boost clock listed, while the Intel i3-1115GRE has a base of 2.20 GHz and a boost of 3.90 GHz. The Intel part's boost clock is therefore 0.40 GHz higher than the AMD's base, but the AMD runs 1.30 GHz higher at base. Thermal design power differs substantially: the Intel chip is rated at 15 W, while the AMD is rated at 35 W. That more than doubles the AMD's power envelope, yet it still cannot outperform the Intel part in any benchmark.

Sockets are completely different: the Intel processor uses Intel BGA 1449 (a mobile socket), while the AMD uses AMD Socket AM4 (a desktop socket). This reflects their market segments — the Intel is a Mobile part, the AMD is Desktop. The Intel chip's release date is 2020-09-01, while the AMD launched on 2018-12-20. The Intel part's launch MSRP is $338; the AMD's launch MSRP is $75. Both are listed as Active in production status. The Intel part's part number is SRK13; the AMD's is YD240GC6M2OFB. Neither has a series designation.

Memory support differs: the Intel chip supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X, while the AMD supports only DDR4. ECC is supported on the Intel but not the AMD. PCIe generation and lane counts differ (Gen 4 x4 for Intel, Gen 3 x8 for AMD). The AMD chip has a listed memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s; no such figure is provided for the Intel. Both are dual-channel. The Intel chip has a smaller die (144 mm² versus 209.8 mm²) and uses a smaller process node (10 nm versus 14 nm), but the AMD has more transistors (4,950 million versus an unlisted count for Intel).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-1115GRE wins all three single-core Cinebench tests. It scores 55 in R15, 231 in R20, and 550 in R23, versus 54, 229, and 547 for the AMD Athlon 240GE. The largest margin is 1.9% in R15 single-core.

Q: Is the AMD Athlon 240GE competitive in multi-threaded workloads?

A: It is very close but not ahead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD scores 3876 against the Intel's 3899, a 0.6% deficit. In R20 multi-core, the gap is 1627 versus 1637 (0.6%), and in R15 multi-core it is 390 versus 392 (0.5%).

Q: How do these processors compare in average benchmark score?

A: The Intel i3-1115GRE has an average benchmark score of 1127, while the AMD Athlon 240GE averages 1121. That is a difference of 6 points, or roughly 0.5%. Both sit at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs.

Q: What are the key architectural differences between the two?

A: The Intel uses Tiger Lake-U on a 10 nm node with a 144 mm² die, while the AMD uses Zen (Raven Ridge) on a 14 nm node with a 209.8 mm² die and 4,950 million transistors. Intel has 6 MB shared L3 and 1.25 MB L2 per core; AMD has 4 MB shared L3 and 512 KB L2 per core.

Q: Do these processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Intel supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X, while the AMD supports only DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The AMD has a listed memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s; the Intel's is not listed. The Intel supports ECC memory; the AMD does not.

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock?

A: The AMD Athlon 240GE has a base clock of 3.50 GHz, which is 1.30 GHz higher than the Intel's 2.20 GHz base. However, the Intel's boost clock reaches 3.90 GHz, which is 0.40 GHz higher than the AMD's base clock. The AMD has no listed boost clock.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Core i3-1115GRE is the faster processor in every benchmark recorded. It wins all six Cinebench tests, holds a higher average benchmark score (1127 versus 1121), and achieves this while consuming less than half the TDP (15 W versus 35 W). For users who prioritize raw performance as measured by Cinebench, the Intel part is the clear choice, even if the margins are small.

However, the AMD Athlon 240GE deserves consideration for different reasons. It matches the Intel chip almost exactly in multi-threaded performance, trailing by less than 1% in all three multi-core tests. Its higher base clock of 3.50 GHz means it delivers consistent performance without relying on boost behavior, and its 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth is explicitly documented. The AMD part also uses a desktop socket (AM4), which may offer more platform flexibility than Intel's mobile BGA 1449. Its launch MSRP of $75 is substantially lower than the Intel's $338, though pricing is not a factor in performance analysis.

The choice depends on the use case. For a mobile or low-power embedded system where the 15 W TDP and integrated UHD Graphics G4 48EU are assets, the Intel i3-1115GRE is the better fit. For a desktop build where the 35 W TDP is acceptable and the Radeon Vega 3 graphics plus AM4 socket are preferable, the AMD part is competitive — just not faster. The benchmark results indicate that both processors deliver virtually identical Cinebench performance, so the decision rests on platform and efficiency priorities rather than raw speed.