AMD Ryzen 3 1200 vs Intel Core i3-1115GRE Comparison

The Intel Core i3-1115GRE and AMD Ryzen 3 1200 represent two very different approaches to the low-end CPU market: one is a 2-core, 4-thread mobile part built on Intel's 10 nm Tiger Lake architecture, while the other is a 4-core, 4-thread desktop chip based on AMD's 14 nm Zen design. The recorded benchmark data shows a clear split: the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 wins three of the four head-to-head comparisons, but the Intel part takes a decisive victory in the most modern multi-threaded workload, Cinebench R23 multi-core. This makes the choice between them heavily dependent on the specific application and whether the system is a mobile or desktop platform.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 1200 is the dominant performer in the majority of recorded tests. It wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core, Cinebench R15 single-core, and Cinebench R23 single-core. The single-core results are particularly lopsided: the Ryzen 3 1200 scores 135 in Cinebench R15 single-core versus 55 for the Intel part, a 59.3% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD chip scores 834 versus 550, a 34.1% lead. These results indicate that for legacy single-threaded workloads, or any application that relies heavily on one core, the Ryzen 3 1200 is the clear choice.

The Intel Core i3-1115GRE wins only one test, but it is a significant one: Cinebench R23 multi-core. Here, the Intel part scores 3899 against the AMD's 3013, a 29.4% advantage. This is a notable outlier, as the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows the AMD part ahead by 18.3% (480 versus 392). The data suggests that the Intel chip's architecture scales much better in the newer, more demanding Cinebench R23 workload, likely due to its newer instruction set and memory architecture. For users running modern multi-threaded rendering or simulation tasks, the Intel part is the stronger option.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 1200 has 4 cores, while the Intel Core i3-1115GRE has 2 cores. Both have 4 threads.

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 1200 is significantly faster. It leads by 59.3% in Cinebench R15 single-core and by 34.1% in Cinebench R23 single-core.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: It depends on the test. The AMD Ryzen 3 1200 wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 18.3%, but the Intel Core i3-1115GRE wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 29.4%.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i3-1115GRE and the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i3-1115GRE includes UHD Graphics G4 48EU, while the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The Intel Core i3-1115GRE has a TDP of 15 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 has a TDP of 65 watts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data reveals a complex performance picture. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 scores 480 against the Intel's 392, a delta of -18.3% for the Intel part. This is a straightforward win for the AMD chip, which leverages its two additional physical cores to pull ahead in this older rendering test.

The Cinebench R15 single-core test shows an even larger gap. The AMD Ryzen 3 1200 scores 135, while the Intel Core i3-1115GRE scores just 55. This 59.3% difference is the largest margin in any recorded benchmark. The Intel part's low single-core score in this legacy test is striking, especially given its higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz compared to the AMD's 3.40 GHz. The data suggests that the Intel chip's architecture does not perform well in this specific workload.

The Cinebench R23 multi-core test flips the script. Here, the Intel Core i3-1115GRE scores 3899, beating the AMD Ryzen 3 1200's 3013 by 29.4%. This is a remarkable turnaround from the R15 result. The Intel part, despite having only 2 cores, outperforms the 4-core AMD chip by a wide margin in this modern benchmark. This indicates that the Intel architecture is far more efficient in the newer Cinebench version, likely due to better instruction-level parallelism and memory handling.

Finally, the Cinebench R23 single-core test returns to the AMD's favor. The Ryzen 3 1200 scores 834, while the Intel part scores 550, a 34.1% lead for AMD. While the margin is smaller than in R15 single-core, it is still substantial. The overall pattern shows that the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 is the stronger performer in single-threaded tasks, while the Intel Core i3-1115GRE has a specific strength in the modern multi-threaded Cinebench R23 workload.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. The Intel Core i3-1115GRE has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel part has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, whereas the AMD chip has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. The TDP is a major differentiator: the Intel part is rated at 15 watts, while the AMD part is rated at 65 watts.

The sockets are incompatible: the Intel part uses Intel BGA 1449, while the AMD part uses AMD Socket AM4. The memory support also differs, with the Intel part supporting DDR4 and LPDDR4X, while the AMD part supports only DDR4. Both use a dual-channel memory bus, but the AMD part has a recorded memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the Intel part's bandwidth is not listed. The PCIe support differs as well: the Intel part offers Gen 4 with 4 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD part offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

The integrated graphics situation is a key difference. The Intel Core i3-1115GRE includes UHD Graphics G4 48EU, while the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 has no integrated graphics. The market segment also differs: the Intel part is a mobile processor, while the AMD part is a desktop processor. The release dates are far apart, with the Intel part launching on 2020-09-01 and the AMD part on 2017-07-26. The launch MSRP for the Intel part is $338, while the AMD part launched at $109. The AMD Ryzen 3 1200 has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part does not.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two chips is substantial. The Intel Core i3-1115GRE is built on Intel's 10 nm process node and uses the Tiger Lake architecture, specifically the Willow Cove core design. The AMD Ryzen 3 1200, on the other hand, is built on GlobalFoundries' 14 nm process and uses the original Zen architecture, codenamed Summit Ridge. The Intel part has a die size of 144 mm², while the AMD part has a die size of 213 mm². The AMD chip contains 4,800 million transistors, a figure not listed for the Intel part.

The cache hierarchies are also different. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, with 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, with 8 MB of shared L3 cache. This means the AMD chip has more total L3 cache, but the Intel chip has more L2 cache per core.

The memory architecture differs as well. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4X, which is typical for a mobile processor, while the AMD part supports only DDR4. The Intel part's PCIe implementation is Gen 4 with 4 lanes, while the AMD part uses Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The Intel part's integrated graphics, UHD Graphics G4 48EU, is a significant feature for systems without a discrete GPU, while the AMD part requires a separate graphics card. The production status for both is listed as Active, but the Intel part is a mobile-focused design with a much lower TDP, while the AMD part is a desktop-focused design with a higher TDP and an unlocked multiplier for overclocking.