AMD Athlon 240GE vs Intel Core i7-3612QM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a remarkably consistent picture across all six head-to-head benchmark runs. The Intel Core i7-3612QM wins every single test, but the margins are uniformly narrow. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel scores 397 against the AMD's 390, a delta of 1.8%. The single-core run in the same suite shows 55 versus 54, a 1.9% edge for Intel. Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern repeats: Intel leads 1656 to 1627 in multi-core (1.8%) and 233 to 229 in single-core (1.7%). The newest rendering test, Cinebench R23, shows Intel ahead 3944 to 3876 in multi-core (1.8%) and 556 to 547 in single-core (1.6%). The Geekbench suite is the only area where the AMD Athlon 240GE lacks a recorded result; the Intel i7-3612QM posts 1691 multi-core and 501 single-core there, but no direct comparison is possible from the available data.

What makes this interesting is the consistency. Six tests, six Intel victories, with deltas ranging from 1.6% to 1.9%. That is a narrow band of performance separation. These are not blowout wins; they are marginal advantages repeated across every rendering workload. The data suggests that in pure compute tasks, the two processors are effectively trading punches, with Intel landing slightly harder each time. The average benchmark score reinforces this: the Intel sits at 1129 while the AMD is at 1121, a gap of less than 1%. Both processors share the same 32nd percentile ranking against all CPUs in the database, which places them in the same competitive tier overall.

Architecture Differences

The underlying designs could hardly be more different despite the similar benchmark outcomes. The Intel Core i7-3612QM is a 22 nm part from the Ivy Bridge architecture, fabricated by Intel. It packs 1,400 million transistors into a 160 mm² die. The AMD Athlon 240GE uses the Zen architecture (Raven Ridge) built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with 4,950 million transistors spread across a 209.8 mm² die. That means the AMD has over three times the transistor count and a larger physical die, yet it only matches the Intel in these tests.

Core configuration tells a similar story of divergence. The Intel offers 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD provides 2 cores and 4 threads. The Intel compensates for its older architecture with double the core and thread count. Clock speeds flip the narrative: the AMD runs at a fixed 3.50 GHz base clock with no boost clock listed, while the Intel starts at 2.10 GHz and boosts to 3.10 GHz. Despite the AMD's higher base frequency, the Intel's boost capability and additional threads keep it ahead in the benchmarks.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The Intel uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD uses 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The AMD has larger per-core caches, but the Intel has more L3 overall. Memory support is another split: the AMD specifies DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 42.7 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Intel's memory support is not recorded in the database, only its dual-channel memory bus. The AMD also lists PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only), whereas the Intel has no PCIe data recorded.

Integrated graphics differentiate the pair as well. The Intel carries Intel HD 4000, while the AMD features Radeon Vega 3. Market positioning diverges sharply: the Intel is a mobile part on Socket G2 (988B), released in April 2012, while the AMD is a desktop chip on Socket AM4, released in December 2018 and still marked as active production. The AMD also has a recorded launch MSRP of $75. The Intel's production status is not listed.

Where Each One Wins

The data points to a clear, if narrow, advantage for the Intel Core i7-3612QM across all measured rendering workloads. Every Cinebench iteration, from R15 through R23, in both single-core and multi-core modes, goes to Intel. The largest margin is the 1.9% edge in Cinebench R15 single-core, and the smallest is the 1.6% gap in Cinebench R23 single-core. If a user's workload mirrors these tests, which emphasize sustained multi-threaded and single-threaded rendering, the Intel is the safer pick by a slim margin.

However, the AMD Athlon 240GE is not without its own territory. It matches the Intel's 35 W TDP, making both equally power-efficient on paper. The AMD's desktop platform, active production status, and DDR4 support with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth suggest a more modern foundation. The integrated Radeon Vega 3 graphics may offer a different feature set than the Intel HD 4000, though the database does not provide comparative graphics benchmarks. The AMD also carries a launch MSRP of $75, a data point that exists for it but not for the Intel. For workloads that benefit from the newer Zen architecture's per-core cache allocations, the AMD's larger L1 and L2 caches could theoretically help, but the recorded benchmarks do not show any such advantage.

The win count is decisive on paper: 6 wins for Intel, 0 for AMD. But the context matters. The deltas are all under 2%, which means real-world differences would be difficult to perceive outside of controlled benchmarking. The AMD's higher base clock of 3.50 GHz versus the Intel's 2.10 GHz base does not translate into a single-core win in the data, a notable finding given the frequency advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core rendering?

A: The Intel Core i7-3612QM wins every multi-core test in the database. In Cinebench R15 it scores 397 versus 390, in R20 it scores 1656 versus 1627, and in R23 it scores 3944 versus 3876. The margins are 1.8% in each case.

Q: Does the AMD Athlon 240GE win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The recorded head-to-head results show 6 wins for the Intel Core i7-3612QM and 0 wins for the AMD Athlon 240GE.

Q: How do the core and thread counts differ?

A: The Intel Core i7-3612QM has 4 cores and 8 threads. The AMD Athlon 240GE has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the clock speed situation for each chip?

A: The Intel has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.10 GHz. The AMD has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and no boost clock listed in the database.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are recorded at the 32nd percentile against all CPUs in the database, with average benchmark scores of 1129 for the Intel and 1121 for the AMD.

Q: What memory support does each processor offer?

A: The AMD Athlon 240GE specifies DDR4 memory support with a dual-channel bus and 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core i7-3612QM lists a dual-channel memory bus, but its memory support type is not recorded in the database.

The Verdict

The benchmark data tells a story of two very different processors arriving at nearly the same destination. The Intel Core i7-3612QM, a 2012 mobile chip with 4 cores and 8 threads, edges out the AMD Athlon 240GE, a 2018 desktop chip with 2 cores and 4 threads, in every recorded test. The margins are small but consistent, ranging from 1.6% to 1.9%. Anyone choosing strictly on measured performance should favor the Intel, since it holds the advantage in all six head-to-head runs.

But the data also invites a second look. The AMD matches the Intel's 35 W TDP, uses a modern DDR4 platform with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, and remains in active production. Its transistor count of 4,950 million dwarfs the Intel's 1,400 million, and its die is larger at 209.8 mm² versus 160 mm². The AMD's base clock of 3.50 GHz is substantially higher than the Intel's 2.10 GHz, yet the Intel's boost to 3.10 GHz and its thread advantage keep it ahead. The AMD is the only one of the two with a recorded launch MSRP of $75, and it is the only one still in active production.

For users prioritizing the measured rendering scores in this database, the Intel Core i7-3612QM is the choice, if only by a whisker. For users who value a current desktop platform, DDR4 memory support, and a larger transistor budget, the AMD Athlon 240GE presents a compelling alternative that trades a marginal benchmark deficit for architectural modernity. The data does not declare a clear winner for all scenarios; it declares a winner for these specific tests, and that winner is Intel.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on nearly every specification field recorded. The Intel uses 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD uses 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.10 GHz for Intel and 3.50 GHz for AMD; the Intel adds a 3.10 GHz boost clock while the AMD lists none. Both share a 35 W TDP. Sockets differ entirely: Intel Socket G2 (988B) for the Intel, Socket AM4 for the AMD. The architecture is Ivy Bridge for Intel versus Zen for AMD. Process nodes are 22 nm for Intel and 14 nm for AMD. The Intel die measures 160 mm² with 1,400 million transistors; the AMD die measures 209.8 mm² with 4,950 million transistors. Cache layouts differ: Intel has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core with 6 MB shared L3; AMD has 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core with 4 MB shared L3. Memory support is unlisted for Intel but is DDR4 for AMD, with AMD also listing 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD lists PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes, while Intel has no PCIe data. Integrated graphics are Intel HD 4000 versus Radeon Vega 3. The Intel is a mobile part from April 2012; the AMD is a desktop part from December 2018 with active production status and a launch MSRP of $75.