AMD Ryzen 3 1200 vs Intel Core i3-4150 Comparison

The Intel Core i3-4150 and AMD Ryzen 3 1200 represent two very different eras of desktop computing, yet their average benchmark scores land them within a fraction of a point of each other. The Ryzen 3 1200 posts an average benchmark score of 1116, while the Core i3-4150 sits at 1119. That 0.3% difference places both chips at the 31st and 32nd percentile of all CPUs respectively, making them statistical equals in overall performance. However, this tie in aggregate scores masks a stark divergence in workload-specific behavior. The Ryzen 3 1200 wins all three head-to-head benchmark comparisons decisively, with its largest margin being a 51.2% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core. The verdict is clear: the newer AMD part is the superior processor in every measured test, while the older Intel chip remains competitive only through its lower power draw and integrated graphics.

The Verdict

From the benchmark data, the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 is the outright winner across all tested workloads. It claims victory in every head-to-head benchmark, with the smallest margin being a 4.1% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core (3013 vs 2888) and the largest being a 51.2% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core (834 vs 407). For users building a new system or upgrading from an older platform, the Ryzen 3 1200 offers four physical cores, a boost clock of 3.40 GHz, and support for DDR4 memory with ECC capability. It also has an unlocked multiplier, allowing for overclocking, and remains in active production. The Intel Core i3-4150, by contrast, is end-of-life, features only two cores with four threads, and lacks a boost clock entirely, running at a fixed 3.50 GHz. Its only advantages are a lower TDP of 54 watts versus 65 watts, and the inclusion of Intel HD 4400 integrated graphics, which the Ryzen part lacks entirely. The data suggests that anyone prioritizing raw performance, modern platform longevity, or overclocking headroom should choose the Ryzen 3 1200. The Core i3-4150 makes sense only for legacy builds where the integrated GPU and lower power draw are essential, or where the existing Socket 1150 platform is already in place.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 1200 wins in every category where performance is measured. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 480 against the Intel’s 290, a 39.6% advantage. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 3013 against 2888, a 4.1% edge. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 834 against 407, a 51.2% lead. These results indicate that the Ryzen 3 1200 is faster in both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads, with the single-core advantage being particularly pronounced. The only area where the Intel Core i3-4150 does not lose is in power consumption, where its 54-watt TDP is lower than the AMD’s 65 watts. Additionally, the Intel chip includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 4400), meaning it can run a display without a discrete GPU, whereas the Ryzen 3 1200 has no integrated graphics and requires a separate graphics card. For a user with a dedicated GPU, the Ryzen 3 1200 is the clear choice. For a minimal, low-power system with no discrete graphics, the Core i3-4150 retains functional relevance, though its performance ceiling is demonstrably lower.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and manufacturing processes. The Intel Core i3-4150 is built on the Haswell architecture using Intel’s 22 nm process node, with a die size of 177 mm² and 1,400 million transistors. The AMD Ryzen 3 1200 uses the Zen architecture on GlobalFoundries’ 14 nm process, with a larger die size of 213 mm² and 4,800 million transistors. The core configurations differ significantly: the Intel part has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD part has 4 cores and 4 threads. Cache hierarchies also diverge. Per core, the Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2, while the AMD chip has 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2. The shared L3 cache is 3 MB on the Intel versus 8 MB on the AMD, a substantial difference favoring the Ryzen. Memory support is another generational split: the Core i3-4150 uses DDR3 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the Ryzen 3 1200 uses DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The AMD part also supports ECC memory, which the Intel does not. Both CPUs offer PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, but the Ryzen 3 1200 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, whereas the Intel part is locked. The Intel chip features integrated graphics (Intel HD 4400), while the AMD part has no integrated GPU. The Ryzen 3 1200 also has a boost clock of 3.40 GHz in addition to its 3.10 GHz base clock, while the Intel chip operates at a fixed 3.50 GHz.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 1200 is significantly faster. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 834 versus the Intel Core i3-4150’s 407, a 51.2% lead.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-4150 have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes Intel HD 4400 graphics. The AMD Ryzen 3 1200 has no integrated graphics and requires a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: Can the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 be overclocked?

A: Yes, its multiplier is unlocked. The Intel Core i3-4150 has a locked multiplier and cannot be overclocked.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 1200 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i3-4150 does not.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The Intel Core i3-4150 has a TDP of 54 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 has a TDP of 65 watts. The Intel part draws less power.

Q: Which chip has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 1200 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i3-4150 has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data shows a clean sweep for the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 across all three recorded comparisons. The largest margin of victory comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the AMD part scores 834 against the Intel part’s 407, representing a delta of -51.2% from the AMD perspective (meaning the Intel is 51.2% slower). This single-core dominance is striking, as the Intel chip runs at a higher base clock of 3.50 GHz with no boost, while the AMD chip has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost of 3.40 GHz. Despite the Intel’s higher fixed clock, the newer Zen architecture delivers substantially higher instructions per clock. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 scores 480 versus the Intel’s 290, a 39.6% advantage. This test benefits the AMD part’s four physical cores, which provide better multi-threading scaling than the Intel’s two cores with Hyper-Threading. The closest result is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the AMD scores 3013 and the Intel scores 2888, a 4.1% difference. This narrower margin suggests that the Cinebench R23 multi-core workload is less sensitive to core count and more dependent on sustained frequency, where the Intel’s 3.50 GHz fixed clock narrows the gap. However, the AMD still wins. Overall, the benchmark data demonstrates that the Ryzen 3 1200 is faster in both single-threaded and multi-threaded scenarios, with the single-core advantage being the most pronounced. The Intel Core i3-4150’s only measured victories are in lower power consumption and the presence of integrated graphics, neither of which appears in the benchmark scores. For pure computational performance, the Ryzen 3 1200 is the definitive winner.