AMD Athlon 240GE vs Intel Core i5-4690T Comparison

The Intel Core i5-4690T and AMD Athlon 240GE are two desktop processors from different generations and architectures. The recorded benchmark data shows a consistent, though narrow, performance advantage for the Intel part across all Cinebench tests. This analysis examines the head-to-head results, architectural differences, and the implications for each processor's use case.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel i5-4690T scores 393 against the AMD Athlon 240GE's 390, a 0.8% lead. The single-core test shows a larger gap: 55 vs 54, a 1.9% advantage for Intel. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core result is 1640 vs 1627, again a 0.8% lead, while single-core is 231 vs 229, a 0.9% margin. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score is 3905 vs 3876, a 0.7% difference, and single-core is 551 vs 547, also 0.7%. Across all six tests, the Intel processor wins every time, with the largest margin being 1.9% in R15 single-core and the smallest at 0.7% in both R23 tests.

The average benchmark score reinforces this picture: the i5-4690T averages 1129, while the Athlon 240GE averages 1121, a difference of 8 points. Both processors sit at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs, indicating they are in the same performance tier. The Intel part's nearest rival in the database is the Core i7-3612QM with an identical average score of 1129 and a 0% delta, while the AMD part's nearest rival is the Xeon D-1518 at 1121 with a 0% delta. These comparisons show that the two processors are effectively peers in overall performance, but the Intel part holds a slight edge in every recorded benchmark.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The Intel i5-4690T uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process, while the AMD Athlon 240GE uses the Zen architecture on a 14 nm process. Intel's chip integrates 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die, whereas AMD's chip packs 4,950 million transistors on a 209.8 mm² die. The Intel part has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, while the AMD part has 2 physical cores and 4 threads, using simultaneous multithreading to reach the same thread count.

Clock speeds differ: the Intel part has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz, while the AMD part has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and no boost clock. This means the AMD part runs at a higher base frequency, but the Intel part can reach the same 3.50 GHz under boost. The TDP is lower on the AMD side: 35W vs 45W.

Cache hierarchies are also different. The Intel part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD part has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. So AMD has larger per-core caches but a smaller shared L3.

Memory support is a major divergence. The Intel part uses DDR3 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The AMD part uses DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The AMD part also has a different PCIe configuration: 8 lanes of Gen 3, compared to Intel's 16 lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: Intel HD 4600 vs Radeon Vega 3.

The platforms are not interchangeable: Intel uses Socket 1150, AMD uses Socket AM4. The release dates are far apart: the Intel part was released on 2014-04-30, while the AMD part came out on 2018-12-20. The AMD part is still in active production, while the Intel part's production status is not specified.

These architectural differences explain why the AMD part has a higher base clock and more memory bandwidth, but the Intel part's extra physical cores and boost clock likely contribute to its benchmark wins.

The Verdict

The data is clear: the Intel Core i5-4690T outperforms the AMD Athlon 240GE in every recorded Cinebench test. The margins are small, but they are consistent across all six tests. The average benchmark score difference is 8 points, and both processors share the same 32nd percentile ranking. For users who rely on Cinebench scores as a proxy for general CPU performance, the Intel part is the better choice.

However, the AMD Athlon 240GE has its own strengths. It consumes less power (35W vs 45W), supports faster DDR4 memory with higher bandwidth (42.7 GB/s vs 25.6 GB/s), and is built on a newer 14 nm process. It also has a higher base clock (3.50 GHz vs 2.50 GHz) and a more modern socket (AM4). These features may be beneficial in systems where power efficiency, memory bandwidth, or platform longevity are priorities, even though they do not translate into Cinebench wins in this data.

The verdict from the recorded measurements: the Intel i5-4690T wins on raw performance, while the AMD Athlon 240GE offers efficiency and platform advantages. Neither processor is a clear overall winner; the choice depends on which factors matter more to the user.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-4690T | AMD Athlon 240GE |

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

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Base clock | 2.50 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.50 GHz | None |

| TDP | 45W | 35W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Zen |

| Process node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | 4,950 million |

| Die size | 177 mm² | 209.8 mm² |

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

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

| L3 cache (shared) | 6 MB | 4 MB |

| Memory support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| PCIe lanes | 16 | 8 |

| Integrated graphics | Intel HD 4600 | Radeon Vega 3 |

| Release date | 2014-04-30 | 2018-12-20 |

| Production status | Not specified | Active |

| Launch MSRP | None | $75 |

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-4690T has 4 physical cores, while the AMD Athlon 240GE has 2 physical cores.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The Intel i5-4690T has a TDP of 45W, and the AMD Athlon 240GE has a TDP of 35W.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The AMD Athlon 240GE supports DDR4, while the Intel i5-4690T supports DDR3.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores?

A: The Intel i5-4690T has an average benchmark score of 1129, and the AMD Athlon 240GE has an average of 1121.

Q: Does the AMD Athlon 240GE have a boost clock?

A: No, the AMD Athlon 240GE does not have a boost clock; its base clock is 3.50 GHz. The Intel i5-4690T has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Athlon 240GE has a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, compared to 25.6 GB/s for the Intel i5-4690T.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded benchmarks, the Intel Core i5-4690T wins in every Cinebench test, both multi-core and single-core. The largest margin is 1.9% in Cinebench R15 single-core, and the smallest is 0.7% in both R23 tests. Therefore, for users who prioritize Cinebench performance, the Intel part is the clear winner.

The AMD Athlon 240GE, however, has advantages in other areas. It has a lower TDP (35W vs 45W), which can be important for compact or power-constrained systems. It supports DDR4 memory with a higher bandwidth (42.7 GB/s vs 25.6 GB/s), which may benefit memory-intensive workloads, though no such benchmarks are recorded here. It also has a higher base clock (3.50 GHz vs 2.50 GHz) and a newer socket (AM4) with active production status. These features make the AMD part a more modern platform choice, even if it does not win in the Cinebench tests.

In summary, the Intel i5-4690T wins on raw benchmark performance, while the AMD Athlon 240GE wins on power efficiency, memory bandwidth, and platform modernity. The choice depends on which of these factors is more important for the user's specific workload.