AMD Athlon Silver 3050U vs Intel Celeron G6900TE Comparison

The Intel Celeron G6900TE and AMD Athlon Silver 3050U are both entry-level, dual-core processors, but they target fundamentally different platforms: a desktop socket versus a mobile chip. The benchmark data reveals a consistent, though modest, performance advantage for the Intel part across every test in the head-to-head comparison. The Celeron G6900TE wins all five shared Cinebench benchmarks, with its largest edge coming in single-core tests, where it leads by 7.4% in both Cinebench R20 and R23. In multi-core workloads, the Intel chip maintains a slightly smaller but still consistent lead, finishing 7.1% ahead in Cinebench R15 and 7.2% ahead in R20. This pattern suggests that the Intel architecture’s per-core strength is its primary asset, while the AMD chip’s extra threads (4 vs. 2) are not enough to overcome that deficit in these particular rendering workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is unambiguous: the Intel Celeron G6900TE outperforms the AMD Athlon Silver 3050U in every single benchmark recorded. The most lopsided victories for Intel come in the single-core tests, where it scores 159 vs. 148 in Cinebench R20 (a 7.4% delta) and 379 vs. 353 in Cinebench R23 (also a 7.4% delta). This consistency in single-core performance is notable, as it indicates the G6900TE’s Alder Lake architecture delivers a stronger fundamental instruction throughput per clock, even without a boost clock feature.

In multi-core workloads, the gap narrows slightly but remains firmly in Intel’s favor. The Celeron G6900TE posts 270 vs. 252 in Cinebench R15 (7.1% ahead), 1128 vs. 1052 in Cinebench R20 (7.2% ahead), and 2687 vs. 2505 in Cinebench R23 (7.3% ahead). The AMD Athlon Silver 3050U’s two extra threads (4 threads vs. 2) do help it stay competitive, but they cannot close the gap. The data implies that the Intel chip’s superior single-core performance carries over to multi-threaded tasks, where its two physical cores are simply more efficient than the AMD chip’s two cores with simultaneous multithreading. The overall benchmark scores reinforce this narrative: the Intel part has an average benchmark score of 925, while the AMD part sits at 917, a difference of less than 1%.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectural foundations, which explains their performance characteristics. The Intel Celeron G6900TE is based on Alder Lake-S architecture and manufactured on Intel’s 10 nm process node. It features a dual-core, dual-thread configuration with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and no boost clock. The AMD Athlon Silver 3050U, in contrast, uses the Zen architecture (codenamed Dali) and is built on GlobalFoundries’ 14 nm process. It has a lower base clock of 2.20 GHz but compensates with a boost clock of 3.20 GHz, allowing it to reach higher frequencies under load.

Cache configurations also differ significantly. The Intel chip offers 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, while the AMD chip provides 96 KB of L1 cache per core but only 512 KB of L2 cache per core. Both share 4 MB of L3 cache, but the Intel part’s larger L2 cache likely contributes to its better single-core performance. The process node disparity is a key factor: Intel’s 10 nm process is denser and more power-efficient than AMD’s 14 nm process, which helps explain the Intel chip’s higher performance despite a much higher TDP of 35W versus 15W for the AMD part.

Memory support is another distinguishing factor. The Intel Celeron G6900TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD Athlon Silver 3050U is limited to DDR4. The Intel chip also features PCIe Gen 5 connectivity, whereas the AMD part only offers PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: Intel uses UHD Graphics 710, while AMD integrates Radeon Vega 3. The AMD chip has a published memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the Intel part’s bandwidth is not specified. These architectural choices reflect their intended markets: the Intel chip targets desktop systems with more power headroom, while the AMD chip is designed for mobile efficiency.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the Intel Celeron G6900TE in raw computational performance. Across all five head-to-head Cinebench tests, it wins by margins ranging from 7.1% to 7.4%. Its average benchmark score of 925 is also slightly higher than the AMD Athlon Silver 3050U’s 917. However, the margin is not overwhelming, and the context of each chip’s platform is crucial. The Intel part is a desktop processor with a 35W TDP, while the AMD part is a mobile processor with a 15W TDP. This means the AMD chip achieves nearly 90% of the Intel chip’s performance while consuming less than half the power.

For a desktop user who needs maximum performance from a low-end chip, the Intel Celeron G6900TE is the clear choice based on benchmark data. Its higher single-core scores suggest better responsiveness in everyday tasks and lightly-threaded applications. For a mobile user prioritizing battery life and thermal efficiency, the AMD Athlon Silver 3050U is the more sensible option, as it delivers competitive multi-core performance in a much lower power envelope. The AMD chip’s 4 threads also provide a theoretical advantage in heavily multi-threaded workloads, even if the Cinebench results do not reflect it. The verdict depends entirely on whether the user values the Intel chip’s raw speed or the AMD chip’s efficiency.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Celeron G6900TE scores 379, which is 7.4% higher than the AMD Athlon Silver 3050U’s 353.

Q: Does the AMD Athlon Silver 3050U have more threads than the Intel Celeron G6900TE?

A: Yes, the AMD chip has 4 threads, while the Intel chip has only 2 threads. Despite this, the Intel chip wins all multi-core benchmarks.

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores between the two processors?

A: The Intel Celeron G6900TE has an average benchmark score of 925, while the AMD Athlon Silver 3050U has a score of 917, a difference of just 0.9%.

Q: Which processor has a lower TDP?

A: The AMD Athlon Silver 3050U has a TDP of 15W, which is significantly lower than the Intel Celeron G6900TE’s 35W.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, neither the Intel Celeron G6900TE nor the AMD Athlon Silver 3050U supports ECC memory.

Q: What is the release date difference between the two chips?

A: The Intel Celeron G6900TE was released on 2022-01-03, while the AMD Athlon Silver 3050U was released on 2020-01-05, making the AMD chip about two years older.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Celeron G6900TE wins in every head-to-head benchmark, so its victory is across the board. Its strongest advantage is in single-core performance, where it leads by 7.4% in both Cinebench R20 and R23. This makes it the better choice for tasks that rely on a single thread, such as basic office productivity, web browsing, or light coding. Its multi-core wins, though slightly smaller at around 7.1-7.3%, still make it the faster option for rendering or compilation workloads in this comparison. The Intel chip also benefits from a newer release date (January 2022 vs. January 2020), which aligns with its more modern Alder Lake architecture and DDR5 support.

The AMD Athlon Silver 3050U, despite losing all benchmarks, wins in efficiency. Its 15W TDP is less than half of the Intel chip’s 35W, making it suitable for fanless or passively-cooled designs and longer battery life in laptops. It also has a larger L1 cache per core (96 KB vs. 80 KB) and a higher boost clock (3.20 GHz vs. none), which could help in bursty workloads. The AMD chip’s 4 threads provide a conceptual advantage in highly parallel tasks, even if the Cinebench suite does not show it. For users who prioritize power efficiency over raw speed, the AMD chip is the winner.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Intel Celeron G6900TE has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and no boost clock, while the AMD Athlon Silver 3050U has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The Intel chip is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1700, whereas the AMD chip is a mobile processor on AMD Socket FP5. The process nodes differ: Intel uses 10 nm, while AMD uses 14 nm. The AMD chip has a transistor count of 3,500 million and a die size of 148 mm², while the Intel chip’s transistor count and die size are not specified.

Cache configurations vary: the Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, while the AMD chip has 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core. Both have 4 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support differs, with Intel supporting both DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD supports only DDR4. The PCIe versions differ: Intel has Gen 5, while AMD has Gen 3 with 8 lanes. Integrated graphics are different: Intel uses UHD Graphics 710, while AMD uses Radeon Vega 3. The TDP also differs significantly, with Intel at 35W and AMD at 15W. The Intel chip was released on 2022-01-03, while the AMD chip was released on 2020-01-05.