AMD Ryzen 3 1200 vs Intel Core i7-5557U Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 3 1200 and Intel Core i7-5557U represent two fundamentally different philosophies in processor design, separated by two years of release and aimed at entirely different market segments. The Ryzen 3 is a desktop part built for throughput, while the i7-5557U is a mobile chip designed for efficiency. The benchmark data reveals a decisive performance gap, but the story is more nuanced than a simple sweep, given the architectural and platform contexts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data presents a clear, unequivocal victory for the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 across every shared benchmark. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the Ryzen 3 1200 scores 480, which is a staggering 77.8% higher than the i7-5557U’s 270. This is the largest performance delta between the two processors, underscoring the massive advantage of having four physical cores versus two in a heavily threaded workload. The Ryzen 3 1200’s lead narrows in the more demanding Cinebench R23 multi-core test, where it scores 3013 against the Intel chip’s 2682, a 12.3% advantage. This suggests that while the Ryzen 3 still wins, the i7-5557U’s Hyper-Threading (4 threads) helps it close the gap somewhat in a more sustained, complex render, though it cannot overcome the core count deficit.

The most surprising result comes from the single-core Cinebench R23 test. Here, the Ryzen 3 1200 scores 834, which is a massive 120.6% higher than the i7-5557U’s 378. This is a counterintuitive outcome, as Intel’s Broadwell architecture is typically known for strong per-core performance, and both chips have identical 3.10 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost clocks. The data suggests that the Ryzen 3 1200’s Zen architecture delivers substantially higher instructions-per-clock (IPC) than the older Broadwell-U core in this specific test, or that the i7-5557U’s mobile power constraints severely hamper its sustained single-core performance. This single-core victory is not just a win; it is a dominant one that redefines the expected performance hierarchy.

The overall benchmark averages reinforce this picture. The Ryzen 3 1200 achieves an average benchmark score of 1116, placing it in the 31st percentile of all CPUs. The i7-5557U’s average is 1110, also in the 31st percentile. This near-identical average is misleading, as it is heavily influenced by the different benchmark suites each chip was tested on. For instance, the i7-5557U has a Geekbench multi-core score of 2099, a test absent for the Ryzen 3. The head-to-head results are the most reliable comparison, and they show the Ryzen 3 winning all three shared tests, with a 3-0 win count in the data.

Architecture Differences

The architectural chasm between these two processors is vast, despite both being built on a 14 nm process node. The AMD Ryzen 3 1200 is a desktop-class chip using the Zen architecture, codenamed Summit Ridge. It features 4 cores and 4 threads, with a 65W TDP. In contrast, the Intel Core i7-5557U is a mobile part based on the Broadwell-U architecture, featuring 2 cores and 4 threads (thanks to Hyper-Threading), with a significantly lower 28W TDP. This TDP difference is fundamental; the Intel chip is engineered for thin-and-light laptops, while the AMD chip is designed for desktop power delivery.

The cache hierarchies tell a story of different design goals. The Ryzen 3 1200 boasts a larger L1 cache (96 KB per core vs. 64 KB per core) and L2 cache (512 KB per core vs. 256 KB per core), and doubles the shared L3 cache (8 MB vs. 4 MB). This larger cache footprint on the AMD side helps feed its four cores and is a key contributor to its higher single-core Cinebench score. The i7-5557U’s smaller caches are typical of a power-optimized mobile chip, where die space is at a premium.

The memory and I/O platforms are also completely different. The Ryzen 3 1200 supports dual-channel DDR4 memory with a theoretical bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s and includes ECC memory support as a feature. It utilizes PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The i7-5557U is limited to dual-channel DDR3 memory, offering a lower 29.9 GB/s of bandwidth, has no ECC support, and only provides PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes. The Ryzen 3’s support for more modern memory and I/O standards gives it a significant platform-level advantage in data throughput and expansion capability. Furthermore, the Ryzen 3 1200 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, a feature completely absent on the locked Intel part.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark results, the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 wins in every single workload category that was tested head-to-head. Its 77.8% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 12.3% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core make it the clear choice for any multi-threaded rendering or content creation task. The 120.6% advantage in Cinebench R23 single-core is even more emphatic, indicating that the Ryzen 3 is also superior in lightly-threaded tasks like general desktop responsiveness and legacy application performance.

The Intel Core i7-5557U does not win any of the head-to-head benchmarks. Its only potential advantage is its integrated graphics, the Intel Iris 6100, which is a feature the Ryzen 3 1200 completely lacks. However, no GPU benchmarks were provided in the data, so its graphical superiority cannot be quantified. For a system builder, the i7-5557U’s primary appeal would be its 28W TDP and mobile socket (BGA 1168), which makes it suitable for compact, low-power laptops. In a direct performance comparison on the shared CPU benchmarks, the Intel chip is simply outclassed. The data shows no scenario where the i7-5557U emerges as the winner.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 1200. It scores 480 vs. 270 in Cinebench R15 multi-core (a 77.8% lead) and 3013 vs. 2682 in Cinebench R23 multi-core (a 12.3% lead).

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-5557U faster in single-core tasks?

A: No. The data shows the opposite. The AMD Ryzen 3 1200 scores 834 vs. the i7-5557U’s 378 in Cinebench R23 single-core, a 120.6% advantage for AMD.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 3 1200 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i7-5557U has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What are the key memory support differences?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 1200 supports DDR4 memory with 42.7 GB/s of bandwidth and ECC support. The Intel Core i7-5557U supports DDR3 memory with 29.9 GB/s of bandwidth and no ECC support.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: They are nearly identical. The AMD Ryzen 3 1200 has an average score of 1116, while the Intel Core i7-5557U has an average of 1110. Both are in the 31st percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Does the Intel processor have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it features Intel Iris 6100 integrated graphics. The AMD Ryzen 3 1200 does not have any integrated graphics, according to the data.

Specification Differences

This section highlights the primary differences between the two processors, focusing on the fields where they diverge.

• Cores: AMD Ryzen 3 1200 has 4 cores; Intel Core i7-5557U has 2 cores.
• Threads: AMD Ryzen 3 1200 has 4 threads; Intel Core i7-5557U has 4 threads.
• TDP: AMD Ryzen 3 1200 is rated at 65W; Intel Core i7-5557U is rated at 28W.
• Socket: AMD Ryzen 3 1200 uses AMD Socket AM4; Intel Core i7-5557U uses Intel BGA 1168.
• Architecture / Codename: AMD uses Zen (Summit Ridge); Intel uses Broadwell (Broadwell-U).
• Foundry: AMD uses GlobalFoundries; Intel uses its own fabs.
• Transistors: AMD has 4,800 million; Intel has 1,900 million.
• Die Size: AMD is 213 mm²; Intel is 133 mm².
• L1 Cache: AMD has 96 KB per core; Intel has 64 KB per core.
• L2 Cache: AMD has 512 KB per core; Intel has 256 KB per core.
• L3 Cache: AMD has 8 MB shared; Intel has 4 MB shared.
• Memory Support: AMD supports DDR4; Intel supports DDR3.
• Memory Bandwidth: AMD is 42.7 GB/s; Intel is 29.9 GB/s.
• ECC Memory: AMD supports it; Intel does not.
• PCIe: AMD is Gen 3 with 16 lanes; Intel is Gen 2 with 12 lanes.
• Integrated Graphics: AMD has none; Intel has Intel Iris 6100.
• Market Segment: AMD is Desktop; Intel is Mobile.
• Production Status: AMD is Active; Intel is End-of-life.
• Release Date: AMD was released 2017-07-26; Intel was released 2015-02-28.
• Launch MSRP: AMD was $109; Intel was $426.
• Multiplier Unlocked: AMD has it unlocked; Intel is locked.

The Verdict

The data is unequivocal in a direct performance comparison: the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 is the superior processor. It wins all three head-to-head benchmarks with deltas ranging from 12.3% to 120.6%, making it the definitive choice for any workload involving CPU computation, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded. Its larger cache, modern DDR4 memory support, and higher PCIe bandwidth make it a more capable foundation for a desktop system. The fact that it achieved this dominance at a lower launch MSRP ($109 vs. $426) only reinforces its performance leadership, though pricing should not be the focus of the analysis.

The Intel Core i7-5557U’s only advantages are its dramatically lower 28W TDP and its integrated Iris 6100 graphics. For a user building a desktop PC, the Ryzen 3 1200 is the only logical choice based on the benchmark data. For a user looking at a mobile platform, the i7-5557U’s low power draw is its primary selling point, but its CPU performance is far behind. The verdict is clear: if raw CPU performance is the goal, the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 is the winner. The Intel chip is a relic of a power-focused mobile era, outclassed in every measured CPU metric.