AMD Ryzen 3 1300X vs Intel Core i3-1115G4E Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X and Intel Core i3-1115G4E are both 39th-percentile performers, but they achieve that standing through radically different means. The Ryzen 3 1300X, a 2017 desktop chip, wins four of six head-to-head benchmarks, including decisive victories in Cinebench R15 and R23 single-core tests. The Core i3-1115G4E, a 2020 mobile processor, counters with a massive win in Cinebench R23 multi-core and a strong showing in Geekbench single-core. The data does not point to a single universal winner; rather, it reveals two processors optimized for different workloads, with the Ryzen excelling in legacy render tests and the Intel chip dominating newer, more demanding multi-threaded tasks despite having half the physical cores.

The Verdict

The benchmark data splits the two CPUs cleanly by workload generation and thread utilization. The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X is the clear choice for users running Cinebench R15 or R23 single-threaded workloads, where it leads the Intel Core i3-1115G4E by 141.3% and 49.4%, respectively. It also wins Geekbench multi-core by 5.2% and Cinebench R15 multi-core by 23.5%. For legacy software that relies on a few fast cores, the Ryzen 3 1300X is the superior part.

The Intel Core i3-1115G4E is the pick when the workload is modern and multi-threaded. It beats the Ryzen by 22.4% in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is the most significant multi-threaded victory in the comparison. Its Geekbench single-core score of 1702 is 54.6% higher than the Ryzen’s 1101, indicating a major advantage in applications that are sensitive to single-thread latency. The Intel chip is also the only option with integrated graphics, making it the data-backed choice for compact, fanless, or low-power systems where a discrete GPU is not an option.

The average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 1562 for AMD versus 1559 for Intel, a 0.2% delta — which explains why both sit at the 39th percentile. The decision hinges on whether the user prioritizes older render workloads (choose AMD) or newer, thread-hungry tasks and single-thread responsiveness (choose Intel). The Ryzen’s 65W TDP and desktop socket suggest a stationary build; the Intel’s 15W TDP and mobile BGA socket indicate a portable or embedded deployment.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X uses the Zen architecture (Summit Ridge) built on a 14nm process from GlobalFoundries, with a 213 mm² die containing 4,800 million transistors. The Intel Core i3-1115G4E uses the Willow Cove-U architecture (Tiger Lake-U) on Intel’s 10nm node, with a smaller 144 mm² die. The transistor count for the Intel chip is not listed, but the die-size difference is notable: AMD’s larger die houses four physical cores, while Intel’s smaller die houses only two.

Cache layouts differ significantly. The Ryzen 3 1300X allocates 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, plus 8 MB of shared L3. The Intel Core i3-1115G4E provides 80 KB of L1 and a much larger 1.25 MB of L2 per core, but only 6 MB of shared L3. The larger L2 per core on the Intel part likely compensates for its smaller L3, but the total cache hierarchy is clearly different.

Memory support also diverges. The Ryzen supports DDR4 only, with dual-channel memory and a listed bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, plus ECC memory support. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4X, also dual-channel, but its memory bandwidth is not listed and it lacks ECC. The Ryzen offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Intel provides PCIe Gen 4 with only 4 CPU lanes — a direct trade-off between bandwidth and lane count. The Intel chip includes UHD Graphics G4 48EU integrated graphics; the AMD has none.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X dominates in every Cinebench R15 test and in Cinebench R23 single-core. Its Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 558 is 23.5% ahead of the Intel’s 452, and its R15 single-core score of 152 is 141.3% higher than Intel’s 63. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ryzen scores 947 versus 634, a 49.4% lead. It also wins Geekbench multi-core with 3126 versus 2972, a 5.2% margin. These results suggest the Ryzen is well-suited for older rendering engines, single-threaded productivity apps, and any workload where the four physical cores can be fully utilized without relying on newer instruction sets.

The Intel Core i3-1115G4E wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by a wide margin: 4493 versus 3486, a 22.4% lead. This is its only multi-threaded victory, but it is the most modern benchmark in the set. The Intel chip also wins Geekbench single-core with 1702 versus 1101, a 35.3% lead. This combination of wins — the newest render test and the most current single-thread test — strongly indicates that the Intel architecture is better optimized for contemporary software. The Ryzen’s wins are concentrated in legacy benchmarks, while the Intel part excels where performance per instruction and modern IPC matter most.

The wins tally is 4-2 in favor of AMD, but the quality of the Intel wins matters more than the count. Losing by 5.2% in Geekbench multi-core is a close call, but winning by 22.4% in Cinebench R23 multi-core is a decisive blow. The Intel chip’s single-core Geekbench advantage of 54.6% is the largest single-core gap in the entire comparison, suggesting that for lightweight, latency-sensitive tasks, the Intel part is far more responsive.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X has an average score of 1562, while the Intel Core i3-1115G4E scores 1559. The difference is 0.2%, with the AMD part slightly ahead.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-1115G4E have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes UHD Graphics G4 48EU. The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X has no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is required for video output with the AMD chip.

Q: Which CPU is better for multi-threaded rendering in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i3-1115G4E is significantly better, scoring 4493 compared to the Ryzen’s 3486, a 22.4% advantage. This is surprising given the Intel chip has only 2 cores versus the AMD’s 4 cores.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare in Geekbench?

A: The Intel Core i3-1115G4E leads with a score of 1702, which is 54.6% higher than the AMD Ryzen 3 1300X’s 1101. This is the largest single-core performance gap in the head-to-head data.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the AMD processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X has a listed memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The Intel Core i3-1115G4E does not have a memory bandwidth figure listed.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen 3 1300X supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i3-1115G4E does not list ECC support.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the AMD Ryzen 3 1300X comes in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 152 against the Intel’s 63, a delta of 141.3%. This is an extraordinary margin, suggesting the Ryzen’s Zen cores are dramatically faster in this legacy test. The second-largest AMD win is in Cinebench R23 single-core: 947 versus 634, a 49.4% lead. These two results show that the Ryzen 3 1300X has a substantial single-thread performance advantage in Cinebench’s older and newer single-core tests alike.

In multi-core Cinebench R15, the Ryzen leads 558 to 452, a 23.5% advantage, which aligns with its 4-core versus 2-core design. The Geekbench multi-core result is closer: 3126 for AMD versus 2972 for Intel, a 5.2% win for the Ryzen. This indicates that in Geekbench’s multi-core workload, the Intel’s 2 cores with 4 threads nearly match the AMD’s 4 physical cores.

The Intel Core i3-1115G4E’s biggest win is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 4493 versus the Ryzen’s 3486, a 22.4% margin. This is a stunning reversal: in the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the AMD chip wins by 23.5%, but in the newer R23 test, the Intel chip wins by nearly the same percentage. The Intel chip also wins Geekbench single-core by a large margin: 1702 versus 1101, a 35.3% lead. This suggests that the Intel Willow Cove architecture has a far higher IPC for modern single-threaded code, even though its clock speed boost is only 3.90 GHz versus the AMD’s 3.70 GHz.

The data shows a clear pattern: the AMD chip wins legacy tests and any test that favors its 4 physical cores, while the Intel chip wins the newest render test and modern single-thread tests. The 4-2 win count for AMD is misleading because the Intel wins are in the most future-relevant benchmarks.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i3-1115G4E has 2 cores and 4 threads. The AMD base clock is 3.40 GHz with a boost of 3.70 GHz; the Intel base clock is 2.20 GHz with a boost of 3.90 GHz. The TDP is dramatically different: 65W for AMD versus 15W for Intel, reflecting the desktop versus mobile design targets.

The AMD uses an AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel uses Intel BGA 1449. The process nodes differ: 14nm for AMD, 10nm for Intel. The die sizes are 213 mm² for AMD and 144 mm² for Intel. The cache configurations differ: AMD has 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core with an 8 MB shared L3; Intel has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core with a 6 MB shared L3. The AMD supports DDR4 memory only, while the Intel supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X. The AMD has a listed memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s; the Intel has none listed. ECC memory is supported by AMD only. PCIe lanes differ: AMD has Gen 3 with 16 lanes, Intel has Gen 4 with 4 lanes. The AMD has no integrated graphics; the Intel has UHD Graphics G4 48EU. The AMD has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel is locked. The AMD’s launch MSRP was $129, while the Intel’s was $285. The AMD was released in 2017, the Intel in 2020.