AMD Athlon 240GE vs Intel Core i7-2720QM Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two processors along clear lines. The AMD Athlon 240GE wins every recorded head-to-head benchmark, taking all five comparisons in the database. The Intel Core i7-2720QM, despite having twice the core count and eight threads against the Athlon’s four, does not secure a single victory in any of the shared tests. This is a decisive sweep for the AMD part.

The Athlon 240GE’s advantage appears across both multi-core and single-core workloads. In multi-threaded tests, its lead is consistent and repeatable. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 390 against the i7-2720QM’s 344. That gap holds in newer Cinebench versions too. The R20 multi-core test shows 1627 versus 1435, and R23 multi-core shows 3876 versus 3417. The pattern is uniform: the Athlon 240GE leads by roughly 11.8% in every Cinebench multi-core test recorded.

Single-core performance also favors the AMD chip. The Cinebench R20 single-core score is 229 for the Athlon 240GE and 202 for the Intel part, a similar margin. In R23 single-core, the Athlon posts 547 against the i7’s 482, a 11.9% gap. This means the Athlon 240GE is not just a multi-threaded specialist; it also has the better per-thread performance in these workloads.

The use-case split is straightforward. For any task that leans on Cinebench-style rendering or CPU throughput, the AMD Athlon 240GE is the stronger choice. The Intel Core i7-2720QM, despite its four cores and eight threads, trails in every measured category. The data indicates that raw core count alone does not guarantee a win, as the Athlon’s higher base clock and newer Zen architecture overcome the i7’s thread advantage.

Desktop users will find the Athlon 240GE more competitive in daily tasks that benefit from faster single-core execution. Mobile users of the i7-2720QM, which is an older Sandy Bridge part, will see lower scores across the board. The benchmarks show no scenario where the Intel processor takes the lead, making the Athlon 240GE the default pick for performance in this comparison.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test?

A: The AMD Athlon 240GE wins with a score of 3876, while the Intel Core i7-2720QM scores 3417. The Athlon leads by 11.8%.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-2720QM have any single-core advantage?

A: No. The Intel chip loses every single-core test. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Athlon 240GE scores 547 versus the i7-2720QM’s 482, a 11.9% deficit for Intel.

Q: How does the Intel Core i7-2720QM’s core count compare to the AMD’s, and does it matter?

A: The Intel has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD has 2 cores and 4 threads. Despite having double the cores, the Intel still loses all multi-core benchmarks. For example, in Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Athlon scores 390 against the Intel’s 344.

Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R20 multi-core?

A: The AMD Athlon 240GE scores 1627, and the Intel Core i7-2720QM scores 1435. The AMD is 11.8% faster.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The AMD Athlon 240GE has a base clock of 3.50 GHz. The Intel Core i7-2720QM has a base clock of 2.20 GHz, though it can boost to 3.30 GHz.

Q: Are there any benchmark tests where the Intel Core i7-2720QM comes out ahead?

A: No. In the recorded head-to-head data, the Intel wins zero tests. The AMD Athlon 240GE wins all five, including all Cinebench multi-core and single-core variants.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep. The AMD Athlon 240GE wins every head-to-head benchmark, with the same 11.8% margin in almost every test. The only difference is the single-core R23 test, where the lead expands slightly to 11.9%.

Starting with the multi-core tests, the Cinebench R15 multi-core score is 390 for the AMD and 344 for the Intel. That is a 46-point lead for the Athlon. The Cinebench R20 multi-core test shows a similar pattern: the Athlon hits 1627, while the i7-2720QM manages 1435, a 192-point gap. In the newer Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Athlon 240GE scores 3876, and the Intel scores 3417, a 459-point lead.

The single-core results are not close either. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Athlon scores 229 against the Intel’s 202. The graph shows the same margin: the Athlon is 11.8% faster. The Cinebench R23 single-core test is the only one with a slightly larger margin, with the Athlon at 547 and the Intel at 482, a 11.9% difference.

The Intel’s best result is its Geekbench scores, which are recorded only for the Intel part. In Geekbench multi-core, the i7-2720QM scores 1535, and in single-core, it scores 484. These numbers are not compared to the Athlon, because the Athlon lacks Geekbench results in the database. However, all the Cinebench data points to the Athlon being faster.

The overall average benchmark score reinforces this. The Intel Core i7-2720QM has an average score of 1128, while the AMD Athlon 240GE has an average of 1121. That is a tiny 0.6% difference in averages, but the head-to-head tests show a consistent 11.8% lead for AMD. This discrepancy is likely due to the different sets of benchmarks each CPU has been run through, with the Intel bearing only Geekbench and the AMD only Cinebench in the average.

The percentile ranks are identical: both sit at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs. The nearest rivals for the Intel are the Intel Core i5-3330S with a score of 1128, and the Intel Core i3-1115GRE with a 1127. The nearest rival for the AMD is the Intel Xeon D-1518 with a score of 1121 and a 0.1% delta. So while the head-to-head is lopsided, the overall positioning is close.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several fundamental specifications. The Intel Core i7-2720QM is a mobile part with a TDP of 45 watts, while the AMD Athlon 240GE is a desktop part with a 35-watt TDP. The AMD is more power-efficient per the recorded TDP numbers.

The core and thread counts are different. The Intel has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD has 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks also differ: the Intel runs at 2.20 GHz with a boost to 3.30 GHz, while the AMD runs at a higher base of 3.50 GHz with no boost clock listed.

The memory support differs. The AMD supports DDR4 memory and has a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The Intel’s memory support is not listed, but it uses a dual-channel memory bus, same as the AMD. The AMD also has PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel’s PCIe configuration is not listed.

The integrated graphics are different. The Intel has Intel HD 3000, while the AMD has Radeon Vega 3. The AMD’s integrated graphics is a newer design.

The sockets are incompatible. The Intel uses Intel BGA 1224, a mobile socket, while the AMD uses AMD Socket AM4, a desktop socket. The market segments confirm this: the Intel is a mobile part, and the AMD is a desktop part.

The production statuses differ. The Intel is end-of-life, while the AMD is active. The release date also differs, with the Intel launching earlier and the AMD launching later.

The launch MSRP for the AMD is $75, which is the only price information in the database. The Intel has no launch MSRP listed. The AMD is also not unlocked for overclocking, nor is the Intel.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras. The Intel Core i7-2720QM uses the Sandy Bridge architecture, built on a 32nm process by Intel. The AMD Athlon 240GE uses the Zen architecture (codename Raven Ridge), built on a 14nm process by GlobalFoundries.

The transistor counts differ dramatically. The Intel has 1.160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The AMD has 4,950 million transistors on a 209.8 mm² die. The AMD packs nearly four times more transistors into a similar die size, reflecting the evolution of process technology.

The cache layouts are different. The Intel has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, with a 6 MB shared L3. The AMD has 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, with a 4 MB shared L3. The Intel has a larger L3 pool, but a smaller per-core L1 and L2.

The AMD’s memory bandwidth is explicitly stated at 42.7 GB/s, and its memory support is DDR4. The Intel’s memory support is not listed, but its architecture is older. The AMD also has a higher base clock (3.50 GHz) compared to the Intel (2.20 GHz base, 3.30 GHz boost).

The integrated graphics differ. The Intel has Intel HD 3000, a Sandy Bridge era iGPU. The AMD has Radeon Vega 3, a modern Vega-based iGPU. The AMD’s process node is 14nm, while the Intel is 32nm.

The AMD’s architecture is newer and more efficient per clock. The data shows the AMD wins all benchmarks, which aligns with its newer Zen architecture. The Intel’s Sandy Bridge architecture is over a decade old, and the AMD’s Zen is a more modern design. The AMD’s higher base clock and better IPC from the newer architecture overcome the Intel’s core count advantage.

The AMD has a higher base clock, a more advanced process, and a better iGPU. The Intel has more cores and threads but loses all tests. The architectural differences clearly favor the AMD in this benchmark set.