AMD Athlon PRO 200GE vs Intel Core i3-8109U Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-8109U wins every single recorded head-to-head test against the AMD Athlon PRO 200GE. Out of seven benchmark comparisons, the Intel part takes all seven wins, with the AMD processor recording zero victories. This is not a case of split advantages across different workload types; the Intel chip dominates across both multi-core and single-core tests, and across both Cinebench and Geekbench suites.

The Intel Core i3-8109U shows its largest advantages in the Geekbench tests. In Geekbench multicore, the Intel chip scores 2454 against the AMD part's 1887, a 30% advantage. In Geekbench singlecore, the Intel chip scores 1188 against 932, a 27.5% gap. These are substantial margins that indicate a meaningful difference in real-world responsiveness and general computing performance.

In the Cinebench suite, the Intel lead is smaller but still consistent. The Cinebench R15 multicore test shows the Intel chip at 357 versus 326 for AMD, a 9.5% lead. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 1488 versus 1362, a 9.3% gap. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 3544 versus 3243, again 9.3%. The single-core Cinebench results follow the same pattern: R20 singlecore gives Intel a 9.9% lead (210 versus 191), and R23 singlecore gives Intel a 9.4% lead (500 versus 457).

So where does each one win? In short, the Intel Core i3-8109U wins everywhere according to the recorded data. The AMD Athlon PRO 200GE does not win a single benchmark category. That said, the Cinebench multi-core margins are relatively modest at around 9%, which suggests the two processors are in a similar performance tier for heavily threaded rendering workloads. The Geekbench results, however, reveal a much wider gulf in general-purpose performance, favoring Intel by roughly 28% to 30%.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear conclusion: the Intel Core i3-8109U is the stronger processor in every measured category. For any buyer choosing between these two based purely on benchmark performance, the Intel part is the correct pick. Its average benchmark score across the database is 1235, while the AMD Athlon PRO 200GE averages 1200. Both processors sit at the 34th percentile among all CPUs in the database, so they occupy the same overall performance tier, but within that tier the Intel chip is consistently ahead.

The Intel Core i3-8109U should be chosen by anyone prioritizing raw performance in both single-threaded and multi-threaded applications. Its 30% lead in Geekbench multicore is particularly notable for general desktop use, multitasking, and productivity workloads. The consistent 9% to 10% lead across all Cinebench tests also makes it the better choice for rendering tasks, even though the margin there is less dramatic.

The AMD Athlon PRO 200GE, by contrast, has no benchmark category where it comes out ahead. Its measured strengths lie elsewhere, specifically in its platform characteristics rather than its performance numbers. It offers a dual-channel memory bus with 42.7 GB/s of memory bandwidth, a PCIe Gen 3 interface with 4 CPU lanes, and a 35 W TDP. The Intel part has a lower 28 W TDP, but the AMD chip's socket and platform may appeal to buyers with existing AM4 infrastructure. However, from a pure performance standpoint, the data does not support choosing the AMD part.

For users who need an end-of-life server or workstation processor with the AMD AM4 socket and integrated Radeon Vega 3 graphics, the Athlon PRO 200GE is the only option between these two. But for anyone measuring performance, the Intel Core i3-8109U is the definitive winner in this head-to-head.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the Intel Core i3-8109U comes in Geekbench multicore, where it scores 2454 against the AMD Athlon PRO 200GE's 1887. That is a 30% delta, the biggest gap recorded in any test between these two processors. This benchmark typically reflects general multi-threaded performance across a broad range of real-world tasks, so the margin is significant.

Geekbench singlecore shows the second-largest gap at 27.5%, with Intel scoring 1188 and AMD scoring 932. This indicates a substantial advantage in single-threaded responsiveness, which affects everyday application performance, browser responsiveness, and lightly threaded software.

The Cinebench tests show a tighter but still consistent pattern of Intel wins. Cinebench R23 singlecore gives Intel 500 points against AMD's 457, a 9.4% lead. Cinebench R23 multicore gives Intel 3544 against 3243, a 9.3% lead. Cinebench R20 singlecore shows Intel at 210 and AMD at 191, a 9.9% gap, the largest margin in any Cinebench test. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 1488 versus 1362, a 9.3% gap. Cinebench R15 multicore shows 357 versus 326, a 9.5% gap.

Notably, the AMD Athlon PRO 200GE did not record a Cinebench R15 singlecore score in the database, so no comparison is possible for that specific test. In every other recorded test, the Intel chip wins by margins ranging from 9.3% to 30%. The consistency of these results across different benchmark generations and workload types reinforces the conclusion that the Intel Core i3-8109U is the faster processor, with the widest advantages appearing in Geekbench's broader system-level tests rather than in the more focused Cinebench rendering workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmarks in this comparison?

A: The Intel Core i3-8109U wins all seven head-to-head benchmark comparisons recorded in the database. The AMD Athlon PRO 200GE wins zero.

Q: How large is the Intel chip's advantage in Geekbench multicore?

A: The Intel Core i3-8109U scores 2454 in Geekbench multicore, while the AMD Athlon PRO 200GE scores 1887. That is a 30% advantage for Intel.

Q: Are the Cinebench results closer than the Geekbench results?

A: Yes. The Cinebench deltas range from 9.3% to 9.9%, while the Geekbench deltas are 27.5% and 30%. The Intel lead is consistent but much narrower in Cinebench.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 2 cores and 4 threads. They also both have 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i3-8109U has an average benchmark score of 1235, and the AMD Athlon PRO 200GE has an average benchmark score of 1200.

Q: Which processor has a lower TDP?

A: The Intel Core i3-8109U has a 28 W TDP, while the AMD Athlon PRO 200GE has a 35 W TDP.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural families. The Intel Core i3-8109U is built on Kaby Lake architecture, specifically the Kaby Lake-R codename, using a 14 nm process node from Intel. The AMD Athlon PRO 200GE uses the Zen architecture with the Zen (Raven Ridge) codename, also on a 14 nm process node, but fabricated by GlobalFoundries.

The Intel chip has a die size of 123 mm² and uses an Intel BGA 1356 socket, which is a mobile platform. The AMD chip has a die size of 192 mm² and uses the AMD Socket AM4, which is a desktop and workstation platform. The AMD chip also has a listed transistor count of 4,800 million, while the Intel chip's transistor count is not recorded.

Cache layouts differ notably. The Intel Core i3-8109U has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Athlon PRO 200GE has 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, also with 4 MB of shared L3 cache. So the AMD part has more L1 and L2 cache per core, but both share the same L3 capacity.

The integrated graphics also differ. The Intel chip includes Iris Pro Plus graphics, while the AMD chip includes Radeon Vega 3 graphics. The Intel part is classified as a mobile market segment processor, while the AMD part is classified as a server or workstation segment processor, despite its AM4 socket. The AMD processor is marked end-of-life in the database, while the Intel processor is marked active. The Intel chip has a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, while the AMD chip has no recorded boost clock and runs at a fixed base clock of 3.20 GHz.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several key specification fields. The Intel Core i3-8109U has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, while the AMD Athlon PRO 200GE has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and no recorded boost clock. The Intel chip has a TDP of 28 W, while the AMD chip has a TDP of 35 W.

The socket is a major differentiator: the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 1356, which is soldered to the motherboard, while the AMD chip uses AMD Socket AM4, which is socketed and replaceable. The process node is the same at 14 nm, but the foundry differs: Intel for the Core i3-8109U and GlobalFoundries for the Athlon PRO 200GE.

Memory support is listed as DDR4 for both, but the AMD chip additionally specifies a dual-channel memory bus with 42.7 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the Intel chip has no memory bus or bandwidth figures recorded in the database. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

The AMD chip has a PCIe specification of Gen 3 with 4 CPU lanes, while the Intel chip has no PCIe specification recorded. The die sizes differ substantially: 123 mm² for Intel versus 192 mm² for AMD. The AMD chip has a part number of YD200BC6M20FB, while no part number is recorded for the Intel chip.

The release dates differ by roughly five months. The Intel Core i3-8109U was released on April 4, 2018, while the AMD Athlon PRO 200GE was released on September 17, 2018. Neither processor has a recorded launch MSRP, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel chip is in the mobile market segment and remains in active production, while the AMD chip is in the server or workstation segment and is end-of-life.