AMD Athlon X4 845 vs Intel Core i3-7300 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded Cinebench results show a consistent pattern across every workload tested, with the Intel Core i3-7300 taking all five head-to-head comparisons. The margins are remarkably uniform, hovering near 20 percent in each test. This consistency suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-specific.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-7300 scores 388 against 324 for the Athlon X4 845, a 19.8 percent advantage. Moving to Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i3-7300 posts 1619 versus 1350, a 19.9 percent lead. The single-core tests tell the same story: in R20 single-core, the Intel part scores 228 against 190, exactly 20 percent ahead, and in R23 single-core, it manages 544 versus 453, a 20.1 percent gap. The R23 multi-core result shows 3856 for Intel and 3215 for AMD, another 19.9 percent difference.

What stands out here is the narrow spread between the deltas. A 19.8, 19.9, 20, and 20.1 percent pattern across both single-threaded and multi-threaded tests implies the advantage is not tied to core count or thread scheduling. The i3-7300 has only 2 physical cores with 4 threads, while the Athlon X4 845 has 4 physical cores with 4 threads. Yet the Intel chip wins multi-core tests by the same margin it wins single-core tests. This suggests the per-core efficiency of the Kaby Lake design more than compensates for having half the physical cores.

Looking at the broader database averages, the two processors sit nearly side by side. The i3-7300 has an average benchmark score of 1115, while the Athlon X4 845 averages 1106. Both occupy the 31st percentile among all CPUs in the database. The nearest rivals for the i3-7300 include the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 at 1116 (0 percent delta), the Intel Core i5-3550S at 1118 (-0.3 percent), and the Intel Core i3-4150 at 1119 (-0.3 percent). For the Athlon, the nearest neighbors are the AMD Opteron 3280 at 1106 (0 percent), the AMD Opteron 4280 at 1107 (-0.1 percent), and the AMD PRO A12-8870 at 1107 (-0.1 percent). The aggregate scores place both chips in the same performance tier, but the head-to-head Cinebench data shows a clear and consistent winner.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras and philosophies. The Intel Core i3-7300 is built on the Kaby Lake architecture, using a 14 nm process node from Intel's own foundry. The AMD Athlon X4 845 uses the Excavator architecture, branded under the Carrizo codename, manufactured on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. That process gap alone explains a significant portion of the efficiency difference, though not necessarily the raw performance gap.

The transistor counts and die sizes tell a revealing story. The Athlon X4 845 packs 3,100 million transistors onto a 250 mm² die. The i3-7300 does not have recorded transistor or die size data in the database, but the architectural approach differs sharply. The AMD chip uses four physical cores at a base clock of 3.50 GHz with a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The Intel chip runs two physical cores with four threads at a fixed 4.00 GHz base clock and no boost capability. The Intel part compensates for fewer cores with a higher clock speed and simultaneous multithreading.

Cache configurations also diverge. The i3-7300 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 4 MB L3 cache. The Athlon X4 845 has 320 KB of total L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache at all. The absence of L3 cache on the AMD side is notable, as it means all cache traffic must be handled by the smaller L2 pool. The Intel part's larger total cache hierarchy likely contributes to its consistent lead in both single and multi-threaded workloads.

Memory support differs as well. The i3-7300 uses DDR4 memory with dual-channel support and a theoretical bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Athlon X4 845 uses DDR3, also dual-channel, with a peak bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. That is a 12.6 percent bandwidth advantage for Intel, which aligns loosely with the performance margins seen in the benchmarks. Neither chip supports ECC memory.

The platforms are entirely separate. The i3-7300 fits Intel Socket 1151 with PCIe Gen 3 at 16 lanes from the CPU. The Athlon X4 845 uses AMD Socket FM2+ with PCIe Gen 3 but only 8 lanes from the CPU. The Intel chip includes integrated graphics in the form of Intel HD 630, while the Athlon has no integrated graphics at all. The Intel part is locked, with no unlocked multiplier, while the Athlon has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. The Athlon is marked end-of-life in production status, while the i3-7300 remains active. The i3-7300 released on 2017-01-02, and the Athlon X4 845 released on 2016-02-01, roughly eleven months earlier.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data gives the Intel Core i3-7300 a win in every recorded scenario. There is no test in the database where the Athlon X4 845 comes out ahead. That said, the use-case picture is more nuanced than a simple sweep might suggest.

For single-threaded workloads, the i3-7300 is clearly the stronger choice. The 20 percent lead in R20 single-core and 20.1 percent lead in R23 single-core reflect the combination of a higher base clock, newer architecture, and better memory bandwidth. Applications that rely on one or two heavily loaded threads, such as older games or lightly threaded productivity tools, will favor the Intel part.

For multi-threaded workloads, the result is less obvious from a hardware perspective but equally clear in the data. The Athlon has four physical cores against Intel's two, yet it still loses multi-core Cinebench tests by roughly 20 percent. The R15 multi-core result of 388 versus 324 and the R23 multi-core result of 3856 versus 3215 both show the Intel chip winning by nearly the same margin as in single-core tests. This indicates that the Athlon's extra cores do not translate into a practical advantage in these workloads, likely due to the Excavator architecture's lower per-core throughput and the lack of L3 cache.

For integrated graphics use cases, the i3-7300 has a clear functional advantage: it includes Intel HD 630 graphics, while the Athlon X4 845 has no integrated graphics whatsoever. A system built around the Athlon requires a discrete graphics card for any display output, whereas the i3-7300 can run a basic system without one.

For overclocking enthusiasts, the Athlon X4 845 offers an unlocked multiplier, which the i3-7300 does not. The recorded data does not include overclocked benchmark results, so the potential gains are not quantified here, but the capability exists on the AMD side only.

For platform longevity, the i3-7300 benefits from being on the Intel Socket 1151 platform with DDR4 memory, a generation newer in memory technology. The Athlon is on the older FM2+ socket with DDR3. The Intel part is still marked active in production, while the Athlon is end-of-life.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The AMD Athlon X4 845 has 4 physical cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i3-7300 has 2 physical cores but 4 threads through simultaneous multithreading.

Q: How much faster is the Intel Core i3-7300 in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The i3-7300 scores 3856 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Athlon X4 845 scores 3215, giving Intel a 19.9 percent lead.

Q: Does either processor include integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i3-7300 includes Intel HD 630 integrated graphics. The AMD Athlon X4 845 has no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is required for display output.

Q: What memory types do the two processors support?

A: The Intel Core i3-7300 supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel operation and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD Athlon X4 845 supports DDR3 memory with dual-channel operation and 34.1 GB/s bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory.

Q: Can the AMD Athlon X4 845 be overclocked?

A: Yes, the Athlon X4 845 has an unlocked multiplier, which permits overclocking. The Intel Core i3-7300 has a locked multiplier and does not support overclocking.

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall database standing?

A: The Intel Core i3-7300 has an average benchmark score of 1115, and the AMD Athlon X4 845 has an average of 1106. Both rank in the 31st percentile among all CPUs in the database.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Core i3-7300 is the stronger processor in every benchmark recorded. The consistent 20 percent lead across single-core and multi-core tests, combined with integrated graphics, DDR4 support, and a newer 14 nm process, makes it the better choice for most desktop builds.

The AMD Athlon X4 845 does have merits that the data supports. Its four physical cores and unlocked multiplier offer flexibility for users who want to tweak settings, and its average benchmark score of 1106 is only 9 points behind the i3-7300's 1115 in aggregate terms. For workloads that do not stress single-thread performance heavily, the Athlon may be adequate, particularly in systems where a discrete GPU is already planned.

However, the head-to-head results leave little room for interpretation. The i3-7300 wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 19.8 percent, R20 multi-core by 19.9 percent, R20 single-core by 20 percent, R23 multi-core by 19.9 percent, and R23 single-core by 20.1 percent. No recorded test favors the AMD chip.

For a user building a new system today, the i3-7300's active production status, DDR4 memory support, and integrated graphics make it the more future-proof option. For a user working with an existing FM2+ platform or seeking overclocking freedom, the Athlon X4 845 remains a functional option, but the benchmark record shows it will trail the Intel part in nearly every measurable workload.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-7300 | AMD Athlon X4 845 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base clock | 4.00 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | None | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 51 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | AMD Socket FM2+ |

| Architecture | Kaby Lake | Excavator |

| Codename | Kaby Lake | Carrizo |

| Process node | 14 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 3,100 million |

| Die size | Not recorded | 250 mm² |

| L1 cache | 64 KB per core | 320 KB total |

| L2 cache | 256 KB per core | 2 MB |

| L3 cache | 4 MB shared | None |

| Memory support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 34.1 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 lanes | Gen 3, 8 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Intel HD 630 | None |

| Production status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release date | 2017-01-02 | 2016-02-01 |

| Multiplier unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part number | SR359 | ADX845ACI43KA |