AMD Athlon 240GE vs Intel Core i7-5557U Comparison

The AMD Athlon 240GE and Intel Core i7-5557U are both dual-core, four-thread processors, but they target different segments. The Athlon is a desktop part built on Zen, while the i7 is a mobile Broadwell chip. Benchmark data from the database shows a clear performance gap, but the Intel part has its own advantages in power and platform. This analysis compares their recorded scores, specifications, and architecture.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head comparison includes five Cinebench tests, and the AMD Athlon 240GE wins all of them. The largest margin is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the AMD scores 229 against 158 for the Intel, a 44.9% lead. The other tests show similar gaps: R15 multi-core 390 vs 270 (44.4%), R20 multi-core 1627 vs 1126 (44.5%), R23 multi-core 3876 vs 2682 (44.5%), and R23 single-core 547 vs 378 (44.7%). These results indicate that the AMD is consistently about 44% faster in both single-threaded and multi-threaded Cinebench workloads. The Intel part has no wins in this set. The average benchmark score also favors the AMD: 1121 versus 1110, and the AMD sits at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel is at the 31st. The Intel does have additional Geekbench scores recorded (multi-core 2099, single-core 1060), but those are not part of the head-to-head set, so they do not affect the win count.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Athlon 240GE leads in all recorded single-core Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 229 against 158 for the Intel, a 44.9% advantage. In R23 single-core, 547 vs 378, a 44.7% lead.

Q: What are the TDPs of the two parts?

A: The AMD has a 35 W TDP, while the Intel has a 28 W TDP. The Intel is a mobile part, so the lower power draw is expected.

Q: Which supports faster memory?

A: The AMD supports DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the Intel supports DDR3 with 29.9 GB/s. Both are dual-channel.

Q: What is the difference in release dates?

A: The AMD was released on 2018-12-20, while the Intel was released on 2015-02-28. The AMD is still active, while the Intel is end-of-life.

Q: Which has more cache?

A: The AMD has 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, while the Intel has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core. Both have 4 MB shared L3.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each?

A: The AMD has an average benchmark score of 1121, while the Intel has 1110. The AMD also has a higher percentile rank at 32 versus 31.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Athlon 240GE wins every head-to-head benchmark, so it is the stronger part for CPU-bound tasks such as rendering, encoding, and other multi-threaded workloads. Its single-core lead also makes it better for lightly threaded applications. The Intel Core i7-5557U, on the other hand, has a lower TDP (28 W vs 35 W) and is a mobile part with a BGA socket, so it is the only one of the two that fits in a laptop. The Intel also has a boost clock of 3.40 GHz, while the AMD has no boost clock, but that does not translate into a benchmark win. The Intel has more PCIe lanes (12 vs 8) but uses PCIe Gen 2, while the AMD uses Gen 3. For desktop builds, the AMD is the clear performance pick. For mobile systems, the Intel is the only option given its socket and market segment.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in the following specifications:

• Base clock: AMD 3.50 GHz, Intel 3.10 GHz
• Boost clock: AMD none, Intel 3.40 GHz
• TDP: AMD 35 W, Intel 28 W
• Socket: AMD Socket AM4, Intel BGA 1168
• Architecture: AMD Zen, Intel Broadwell
• Codename: AMD Zen, Intel Broadwell-U
• Generation: AMD Athlon (Zen (Raven Ridge)), Intel Core i7 (Broadwell-U)
• Foundry: AMD GlobalFoundries, Intel Intel
• Transistors: AMD 4,950 million, Intel 1,900 million
• Die size: AMD 209.8 mm², Intel 133 mm²
• L1 cache per core: AMD 96 KB, Intel 64 KB
• L2 cache per core: AMD 512 KB, Intel 256 KB
• Memory support: AMD DDR4, Intel DDR3
• Memory bandwidth: AMD 42.7 GB/s, Intel 29.9 GB/s
• PCIe: AMD Gen 3, 8 lanes; Intel Gen 2, 12 lanes
• Integrated graphics: AMD Radeon Vega 3, Intel Iris 6100
• Market segment: AMD Desktop, Intel Mobile
• Production status: AMD Active, Intel End-of-life
• Release date: AMD 2018-12-20, Intel 2015-02-28
• Launch MSRP: AMD $75, Intel $426
• Part number: AMD YD240GC6M2OFB, Intel SR26E

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on a 14 nm process, but the AMD uses GlobalFoundries as the foundry, while the Intel uses Intel's own fabs. The AMD is based on the Zen architecture (Raven Ridge), while the Intel is Broadwell-U. Both have 2 cores and 4 threads, and both have 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The per-core L1 and L2 caches differ, with the AMD having 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2, and the Intel having 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2. Memory support differs: the AMD uses DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel uses DDR3 with 29.9 GB/s. The PCIe interface is also different: the AMD provides 8 Gen 3 lanes, the Intel provides 12 Gen 2 lanes. Integrated graphics are different as well: Radeon Vega 3 on the AMD, Intel Iris 6100 on the Intel. The AMD has no boost clock, while the Intel has a 3.40 GHz boost. The AMD is a desktop part, the Intel is mobile. The AMD is active, the Intel is end-of-life.

The Verdict

The recorded data is unambiguous: the AMD Athlon 240GE outperforms the Intel Core i7-5557U in every head-to-head Cinebench test, with a lead of roughly 44% in both single and multi-core workloads. Its average benchmark score is 1121 versus 1110, and it sits at the 32nd percentile compared to the Intel's 31st. For anyone building a desktop and needing raw CPU performance, the AMD is the clear choice. The Intel part, with its 28 W TDP and BGA socket, is designed for laptops where power efficiency and form factor matter more than peak performance. It also has a higher launch MSRP of $426, compared to $75 for the AMD, but that reflects its original mobile positioning. The Intel is end-of-life, while the AMD remains active. So the verdict: pick the AMD for desktop performance, pick the Intel only if you need a mobile part with lower power draw.