Intel Core i3-3240 vs AMD Athlon II X2 240e

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-3240 and AMD Athlon II X2 240e processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps).

Intel Core i3-3240

AMD Athlon II X2 240e

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-3240

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 11 month(s) later
Around 21% higher clock speed: 3.4 GHz vs 2.8 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 45 nm
Around 63% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1782 vs 1091
2.4x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2322 vs 987
Around 84% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 603 vs 327
2.2x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1343 vs 615

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	September 2012 vs October 2009
Maximum frequency	3.4 GHz vs 2.8 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 45 nm
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1782 vs 1091
PassMark - CPU mark	2322 vs 987
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	603 vs 327
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1343 vs 615

Reasons to consider the AMD Athlon II X2 240e

2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 22% lower typical power consumption: 45 Watt vs 55 Watt

L2 cache	1024 KB vs 256 KB (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	45 Watt vs 55 Watt

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-3240
CPU 2: AMD Athlon II X2 240e

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1782

1091

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2322

987

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

603

327

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1343

615

Name	Intel Core i3-3240	AMD Athlon II X2 240e
PassMark - Single thread mark	1782	1091
PassMark - CPU mark	2322	987
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	603	327
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1343	615
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.252
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	7.973
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.26
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.088
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.681
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	1356
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	1356

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i3-3240	AMD Athlon II X2 240e
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge	Regor
Launch date	September 2012	October 2009
Launch price (MSRP)	$75	$35
Place in performance rating	2721	2670
Price now	$67.99	$34.95
Processor Number	i3-3240
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched
Value for money (0-100)	18.67	14.30
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.40 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI
Die size	94 mm	117 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	128 KB
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	1024 KB
L3 cache	3072 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	45 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	65 °C
Maximum core temperature	65.3°C
Maximum frequency	3.4 GHz	2.8 GHz
Number of cores	2	2
Number of threads	4
Transistor count		410 million
Memory
Max memory channels	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1333/1600	DDR3
Graphics
Device ID	0x152
Graphics base frequency	650 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.05 GHz
Graphics max frequency	1.05 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics	Intel® HD Graphics 2500
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	3
Wireless Display (WiDi) support
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1155	AM3
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	55 Watt	45 Watt
Thermal Solution	2011C
Peripherals
PCI Express revision	2.0
PCIe configurations	up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8 & 2x4
Security & Reliability
Anti-Theft technology
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® My WiFi technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)