Intel Core i3-3240 vs AMD Athlon II X4 651

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-3240 and AMD Athlon II X4 651 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 X4 651

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-3240

CPU is newer: launch date 10 month(s) later
Around 13% higher clock speed: 3.4 GHz vs 3 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 32 nm
Around 82% lower typical power consumption: 55 Watt vs 100 Watt
Around 38% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1786 vs 1294
Around 52% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 603 vs 396
Around 1% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1343 vs 1335

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	September 2012 vs November 2011
Maximum frequency	3.4 GHz vs 3 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 32 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	55 Watt vs 100 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1786 vs 1294
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	603 vs 396
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1343 vs 1335

Reasons to consider the AMD Athlon II X4 651

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
4x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
8x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 9% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2530 vs 2317
Around 36% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 3.042 vs 2.244
Around 38% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 3.69 vs 2.68

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	4 vs 2
L1 cache	128 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	1024 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	2530 vs 2317
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.042 vs 2.244
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	3.69 vs 2.68

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-3240
CPU 2: AMD Athlon II X4 651

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1786

1294

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2317

2530

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

603

396

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1343

1335

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.244

3.042

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.68

3.69

Name	Intel Core i3-3240	AMD Athlon II X4 651
PassMark - Single thread mark	1786	1294
PassMark - CPU mark	2317	2530
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	603	396
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1343	1335
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.244	3.042
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	37.104
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.26
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.087
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.68	3.69
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	1356
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	1356

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i3-3240	AMD Athlon II X4 651
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge	Llano
Launch date	September 2012	November 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$75
Place in performance rating	2602	2613
Price now	$67.99	$178.04
Processor Number	i3-3240
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched
Value for money (0-100)	18.67	5.93
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.40 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI
Die size	94 mm	228 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	128 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	1024 KB (per core)
L3 cache	3072 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	32 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	65 °C
Maximum core temperature	65.3°C
Maximum frequency	3.4 GHz	3 GHz
Number of cores	2	4
Number of threads	4
Transistor count		1178 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	FM1
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	55 Watt	100 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)
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)