AMD Athlon PRO 200GE vs Intel Core i3-4170 Comparison

The AMD Athlon PRO 200GE and the Intel Core i3-4170 are both end-of-life, dual-core, four-thread processors, but benchmark results show they win in different arenas. The AMD part takes five of the seven head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel part wins the remaining two by a larger margin. The data suggests the Athlon PRO 200GE is the stronger choice for multi-threaded rendering workloads like Cinebench, whereas the Core i3-4170 holds an advantage in Geekbench tests, which often reflect different workload characteristics. The Athlon PRO 200GE also has a significantly lower TDP of 35 watts against Intel’s 54 watts, which is a substantial efficiency gap. Neither processor is unlocked, and both lack ECC memory support, making them straightforward, locked-down options in their respective sockets.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the AMD Athlon PRO 200GE is the recommended pick for users prioritizing Cinebench rendering performance. It wins all four Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23, both multi-core and single-core) with deltas ranging from 6.1% to 6.8% over the Intel Core i3-4170. For example, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD scores 3243 against Intel’s 3038, a 6.7% advantage. The Intel part, however, is the better choice for Geekbench workloads, where it leads by 7.2% in multi-core (2033 vs 1887) and by a substantial 14.5% in single-core (1090 vs 932). The overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 1200 for AMD and 1193 for Intel — placing them in the same performance tier, but the distribution of wins is split cleanly along test-type lines. The AMD’s lower 35-watt TDP also makes it the more power-efficient option for systems where thermal output matters, even if it comes with a smaller PCIe lane allocation (4 lanes vs 16 on Intel). Ultimately, the choice hinges on whether the workload resembles Cinebench (pick AMD) or Geekbench (pick Intel).

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head results show a clear test-based split. The AMD Athlon PRO 200GE wins in every Cinebench variant, which are CPU-rendering benchmarks that stress sustained multi-threaded and single-threaded compute. Its wins are consistent: 6.5% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 6.8% in R20 multi-core, 6.1% in R20 single-core, 6.7% in R23 multi-core, and 6.5% in R23 single-core. This pattern suggests a slight but reliable advantage in rendering tasks across both single- and multi-threaded execution. Conversely, the Intel Core i3-4170 dominates Geekbench, with a 7.2% multi-core lead and a much larger 14.5% single-core lead. Geekbench is a diverse synthetic suite covering encryption, image processing, and machine learning, so its results indicate the Intel part handles those mixed workloads more effectively, especially in single-threaded scenarios. The data does not support the notion that one CPU is universally faster; instead, the winner depends entirely on the benchmark family. For Cinebench-style productivity, AMD wins; for Geekbench-style general compute, Intel wins.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras and foundries. The AMD Athlon PRO 200GE is built on the Zen architecture, specifically the Raven Ridge generation, using a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It integrates 4,800 million transistors on a 192 mm² die. The Intel Core i3-4170 uses the older Haswell architecture on Intel’s 22 nm process, with just 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. This means the AMD part packs over three times as many transistors into a slightly larger die, reflecting the denser modern process. Cache configurations also differ: the AMD has 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, plus 4 MB of shared L3; the Intel has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, with only 3 MB of shared L3. Memory support is generationally split — the AMD uses dual-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the Intel uses dual-channel DDR3 at 25.6 GB/s. The AMD offers a higher theoretical memory ceiling, but the Intel’s 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only) quadruple the AMD’s 4 lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: the AMD ships with Radeon Vega 3, while the Intel has Intel HD 4400. Both are locked (multiplier unlocked: false), both lack ECC support, and both have no boost clock, relying solely on their base clocks of 3.20 GHz (AMD) and 3.70 GHz (Intel). The Intel’s higher base clock likely explains its Geekbench single-core advantage, despite the AMD’s newer architecture.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Athlon PRO 200GE has an average benchmark score of 1200, while the Intel Core i3-4170 scores 1193, a difference of 7 points (0.6%) in AMD’s favor.

Q: How large is the AMD’s lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD scores 3243 versus Intel’s 3038, a delta of 6.7%. This is consistent with its other Cinebench wins, which range from 6.1% to 6.8%.

Q: What is the Intel’s biggest single win over the AMD?

A: The Intel Core i3-4170 wins Geekbench single-core by 14.5%, scoring 1090 against the AMD’s 932. This is its largest delta in any benchmark.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the AMD Athlon PRO 200GE and the Intel Core i3-4170 have ECC memory support listed as false.

Q: What are the TDP differences between the two?

A: The AMD Athlon PRO 200GE has a TDP of 35 watts, while the Intel Core i3-4170 has a TDP of 54 watts. The AMD uses 19 fewer watts under its rated thermal envelope.

Q: Which CPU has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Intel Core i3-4170 provides 16 Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD Athlon PRO 200GE provides only 4 Gen 3 lanes (CPU only).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a stark divergence in performance profiles. Across all five Cinebench tests, the AMD Athlon PRO 200GE is the winner, with margins that are tightly clustered between 6.1% and 6.8%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD scores 326 versus Intel’s 306, a 6.5% lead. The R20 multi-core test shows a similar gap: 1362 for AMD against 1275 for Intel, a 6.8% delta. Single-core results follow the same trend — in R20 single-core, AMD’s 191 beats Intel’s 180 by 6.1%, and in R23 single-core, AMD’s 457 beats Intel’s 429 by 6.5%. The largest absolute delta in AMD’s favor is the R20 multi-core score, where it outpaces Intel by 87 points. These consistent margins suggest a fundamental per-clock efficiency advantage in the Zen architecture for rendering workloads, despite Intel’s higher 3.70 GHz base clock versus AMD’s 3.20 GHz. The Intel part does not win a single Cinebench test.

The Intel Core i3-4170, however, claims both Geekbench victories decisively. In Geekbench multi-core, Intel scores 2033 against AMD’s 1887, a 146-point lead that translates to a 7.2% delta. The single-core Geekbench result is even more lopsided: Intel’s 1090 versus AMD’s 932, a 158-point gap and a 14.5% delta. This is the largest performance difference in the entire head-to-head set, nearly double the AMD’s largest winning margin. The pattern is clear: the AMD wins rendering-heavy Cinebench workloads by a narrow but consistent margin, while the Intel wins the heterogeneous Geekbench suite by a wider margin, especially in single-threaded tests. The overall win count is 5 to 2 in favor of AMD, but the magnitude of Intel’s wins (especially the 14.5% single-core) suggests that for single-threaded, general-purpose compute, the Intel part is the stronger performer.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ across nearly every major specification category. The AMD Athlon PRO 200GE has a base clock of 3.20 GHz, while the Intel Core i3-4170 runs at 3.70 GHz; neither has a boost clock. TDP is a significant differentiator: AMD’s 35-watt rating is nearly 35% lower than Intel’s 54 watts. The process nodes are generations apart — AMD uses 14 nm at GlobalFoundries, Intel uses 22 nm at Intel. Transistor counts diverge sharply: 4,800 million for AMD versus 1,400 million for Intel. Die sizes are relatively close (192 mm² for AMD, 177 mm² for Intel), but the AMD packs far more transistors into that space. Cache hierarchies differ at every level: AMD has 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, plus 4 MB shared L3; Intel has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, with only 3 MB shared L3. Memory support is split by generation: AMD uses DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, Intel uses DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s. PCIe connectivity favors Intel heavily: 16 Gen 3 lanes versus AMD’s 4 Gen 3 lanes. Integrated graphics are also different: AMD’s Radeon Vega 3 versus Intel’s HD 4400. Market segments differ — AMD lists as Server/Workstation, Intel as Desktop. The release dates are four years apart: AMD on 2018-09-17, Intel on 2014-04-30. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $117, while the AMD has no launch MSRP listed. Both are end-of-life, both lack ECC support, both have locked multipliers, and both are dual-core with four threads. The AMD’s part number is YD200BC6M20FB; Intel’s is SR1PL.