AMD Athlon Gold 3150G

The AMD Athlon Gold 3150G is a 4-core, 4-thread desktop processor built on the Zen+ architecture (codenamed Picasso) and fabricated on GlobalFoundries' 12 nm process. It operates at a base clock of 3.50 GHz with a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, and includes Radeon Vega 3 integrated graphics. The data shows this part sitting near the 42nd percentile of all CPUs tested, with an average benchmark score of 1701.

Benchmark Performance

Benchmark results place the Athlon Gold 3150G in a tightly contested performance band. In Cinebench R23, the processor scores 5883 points in multi-core and 830 points in single-core. The multi-core figure indicates a modest throughput capability, aligning with its 4-core/4-thread configuration — a design that lacks simultaneous multithreading, which explains why its multi-threaded scores do not punch above their core count. The single-core score of 830 suggests adequate responsiveness for lightly threaded tasks, but it does not represent a strength relative to modern architectures.

Cinebench R20 results show a multi-core score of 2470 and a single-core score of 348. The ratio between these two figures (roughly 7.1:1) is consistent with a processor that scales almost linearly with core count in heavily parallel workloads, given the absence of SMT overhead. In Cinebench R15, the multi-core score is 592, and the single-core score is 83. These legacy benchmark numbers follow the same pattern: the processor delivers predictable, unspectacular performance that tracks its physical core count.

The average benchmark score across all tested workloads is 1701. This places the Athlon Gold 3150G within 0.2% of the Intel Xeon E-2124 (average score 1698), meaning the two processors are statistically indistinguishable in aggregate performance. Against the Intel Core i7-990X, the Athlon Gold 3150G trails by 0.4% (rival average score 1708). Similarly, it sits 0.5% behind the Intel Xeon E3-1265L v4 (1709) and 0.5% behind the AMD Ryzen 7 3780U (1710). These delta values are all within a narrow 0.7 percentage-point band, indicating that the Athlon Gold 3150G occupies a performance tier where single-digit percentage differences separate competitors.

The consistency across Cinebench versions reinforces that this is a predictable part. The R23 multi-core score of 5883 is roughly 2.38 times the R20 multi-core score of 2470, which is a typical scaling factor between those benchmark versions. Single-core scaling from R20 (348) to R23 (830) is also proportionate. No workload in the data shows an anomalous spike or collapse, which suggests stable clock delivery under sustained load.

How It Compares

vs. Intel Xeon E-2124: The Athlon Gold 3150G holds a razor-thin 0.2% advantage in average score (1701 vs. 1698). This is effectively a tie. Both processors are 4-core parts, but the Xeon targets a different market segment (entry servers/workstations). Benchmark deltas this small are within run-to-run variance, so no meaningful performance hierarchy exists between them.

vs. Intel Core i7-990X: The Athlon Gold 3150G trails by 0.4% (1701 vs. 1708). The i7-990X is a much older high-end desktop part from Intel's Gulftown generation, which had six cores and twelve threads. Despite that core-count disadvantage for the Athlon, the newer Zen+ architecture and higher clock speeds close the gap to sub-1%. This indicates that architectural efficiency compensates for the Athlon's lower core count.

vs. Intel Xeon E3-1265L v4: The Athlon Gold 3150G is 0.5% behind (1701 vs. 1709). The Xeon E3-1265L v4 is a low-power server processor from Intel's Broadwell generation. The near-identical scores suggest that the Athlon's higher boost clock (3.90 GHz) offsets the Xeon's architectural advantages. For users comparing these two, the data shows no practical performance difference.

vs. AMD Ryzen 7 3780U: The Athlon Gold 3150G trails by 0.5% (1701 vs. 1710). The Ryzen 7 3780U is a mobile APU with 4 cores and 8 threads, also based on Zen+ but designed for low-power laptops. Despite the Ryzen having SMT, the Athlon's higher sustained desktop clocks and 65W TDP envelope allow it to match the mobile part's aggregate output. This comparison highlights that power limits matter as much as core topology.

Power and Thermals

The Athlon Gold 3150G carries a 65W TDP classification. This places it in the standard mainstream desktop power envelope, not an ultra-efficient or high-performance tier. For cooling, this TDP class implies that a capable air cooler — such as a stock AMD Wraith-style cooler or a basic tower cooler — is sufficient to maintain rated clocks. The 12 nm process node and 4,940 million transistor count (on a 210 mm² die) contribute to this moderate thermal profile.

Given the 65W TDP and the lack of extreme boost behavior (max boost is 3.90 GHz), the data suggests that thermal throttling should be minimal in a well-ventilated chassis. The processor does not demand the high-end cooling solutions required by higher-TDP parts. Users should expect that the cooling tier needed is modest, and that the integrated Radeon Vega 3 graphics will share the same thermal budget without creating excessive heat output.

The 65W figure also informs upgrade considerations: any AM4 motherboard with adequate VRM cooling for a 65W-class chip will be sufficient. There is no indication in the data of power-hungry operation that would require premium cooling hardware. The processor's position in the benchmark percentile (42nd) is consistent with a part that prioritizes efficiency over raw throughput.

FAQ

Q: What is the average benchmark score of the AMD Athlon Gold 3150G?

A: The average benchmark score is 1701, placing it in the 42nd percentile of all CPUs tested.

Q: How does the Athlon Gold 3150G compare to the Intel Xeon E-2124?

A: The Athlon Gold 3150G is 0.2% faster, with an average score of 1701 versus the Xeon's 1698.

Q: Does the Athlon Gold 3150G support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory is not supported. The processor supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration.

Q: What is the boost clock behavior?

A: The base clock is 3.50 GHz, and the maximum boost clock is 3.90 GHz. The multiplier is unlocked, allowing manual overclocking.

Q: What integrated graphics does this processor include?

A: It includes Radeon Vega 3 integrated graphics, which is part of the Picasso APU design.

Q: Which socket does the Athlon Gold 3150G use?

A: It uses AMD Socket AM4, and the processor supports PCIe Gen 4 connectivity.

Who Should Consider It

The benchmark data indicates that the Athlon Gold 3150G is best suited for entry-level desktop workloads where 4 cores and 4 threads are acceptable. For office productivity — document editing, spreadsheets, web browsing, and email — the single-core Cinebench R23 score of 830 is adequate. The multi-core R23 score of 5883 shows that it can handle light multitasking without significant slowdowns, though users should not expect smooth performance in heavily threaded productivity suites.

For gaming, the integrated Radeon Vega 3 graphics limits the experience to esports titles and older games at low settings. The CPU's single-core performance is sufficient for many game engines, but the lack of SMT and the modest graphics solution will bottleneck modern AAA titles. The data does not show any gaming-specific benchmarks, but the overall compute scores suggest that a discrete graphics card would be required for any serious gaming use.

For content creation, the Athlon Gold 3150G is not recommended. The multi-core Cinebench R23 score of 5883 is roughly 40% lower than what a typical 6-core part achieves, and video rendering or 3D modeling workloads will take substantially longer. The processor could handle basic photo editing or light audio production, but the 4-thread limitation is a clear constraint.

The processor fits a niche for budget home servers or basic desktops where the 65W TDP and AM4 platform provide a stable foundation. The 42nd percentile ranking means it outperforms roughly 58% of all CPUs tested, but that includes many older or lower-power mobile parts. Users who need a simple, reliable desktop CPU for everyday tasks will find the performance adequate; users who need multi-threaded muscle should look elsewhere.

Platform and Compatibility

The Athlon Gold 3150G is built for AMD Socket AM4, a platform with broad compatibility across many motherboard chipsets. It supports dual-channel DDR4 memory with a theoretical memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported, which is a consideration for users building a small home server who may want error-correcting memory.

PCIe connectivity is Gen 4, which is noteworthy for an entry-level processor. This allows for fast NVMe SSDs and modern graphics cards that can use Gen 4 bandwidth. The processor architecture is Zen+ (codename Picasso), fabricated on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with a die size of 210 mm² and 4,940 million transistors. It was released on 2020-07-20 and remains in active production.

The unlocked multiplier (indicated by multiplierUnlocked: true) permits overclocking, which can extract additional performance beyond the stock 3.90 GHz boost clock. The part number is YD3150C5M4MFH. Cache configuration includes 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The L3 cache is modest by modern standards, but adequate for the 4-core design.

Upgrade path considerations: because the socket is AM4, users can potentially move to higher-end Ryzen processors on the same platform, provided their motherboard BIOS supports newer generations. However, the data does not specify which specific AM4 chipsets are compatible beyond the socket itself. The 65W TDP means that most AM4 boards will handle the power delivery requirements without issue. The PCIe Gen 4 support ensures that storage and graphics upgrades will not be bottlenecked by the platform interface.