AMD Ryzen 3 1300X vs Intel Core i7-1060G7 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-1060G7 and AMD Ryzen 3 1300X are both quad-core processors that land in the same 39th percentile of all CPUs, yet they serve fundamentally different purposes. The Intel chip is a 9W mobile part with hyperthreading, while the AMD chip is a 65W desktop part with an unlocked multiplier. Benchmark results show a split personality: AMD wins three of four head-to-head tests, but Intel's win in Cinebench R23 multi-core is a massive 57.8% advantage that cannot be ignored. The data suggests the Ryzen 3 1300X is the better choice for classic single-threaded workloads and legacy software, while the i7-1060G7 dominates modern heavily-threaded rendering tasks despite its lower clock speeds.

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X takes the overall performance crown based on benchmark wins, but the picture is more nuanced than the 3-1 win count suggests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD edges ahead by just 0.7% (558 vs 554), making that win essentially a tie. The real separation happens in single-core tests, where the Ryzen 3 1300X delivers a 48.7% advantage in R15 (152 vs 78) and an 18.1% lead in R23 (947 vs 776). If your primary workloads are older applications that rely on single-thread performance, the Ryzen 3 1300X is clearly the processor to pick.

However, the Intel Core i7-1060G7 fights back hard in Cinebench R23 multi-core with a score of 5500 versus 3486, a 57.8% margin. This is a stunning reversal that likely comes from the hyperthreading advantage (8 threads vs 4) combined with the newer Ice Lake architecture. For modern rendering engines that scale well with threads, the i7-1060G7 is the stronger performer despite its much lower base clock of 1.0 GHz. The verdict depends entirely on your software: pick the Ryzen 3 1300X for legacy single-core performance, or the i7-1060G7 for current multi-threaded workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X wins decisively in single-threaded scenarios. Its R15 single-core score of 152 crushes the Intel's 78, and its R23 single-core score of 947 beats the Intel's 776. This makes the Ryzen 3 1300X the better option for applications that are poorly optimized for multi-core scaling, such as older games, legacy productivity tools, or any software with a heavy reliance on one primary thread. The Ryzen's higher base clock of 3.4 GHz versus the Intel's 1.0 GHz is a significant factor here, and its boost clock of 3.7 GHz also exceeds the Intel's 3.8 GHz only slightly.

The Intel Core i7-1060G7 wins in multi-threaded rendering tasks. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result of 5500 versus 3486 shows a massive advantage of 57.8%. This is the single biggest delta in the head-to-head data, and it indicates that the Intel's 8 threads (from hyperthreading) provide a substantial scaling benefit over the Ryzen's 4 threads. For video encoding, 3D rendering, or any modern workload that can utilize 8 threads effectively, the i7-1060G7 is the clear winner. The Intel also offers integrated Iris Plus graphics, which the Ryzen 3 1300X lacks entirely, making the Intel a more complete package for systems without a discrete GPU.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-1060G7 uses Ice Lake architecture on Intel's 10 nm process node, fabricated by Intel with a die size of 123 mm². It is a mobile-focused part with a TDP of just 9W, designed for thin-and-light laptops. The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X uses the original Zen architecture on GlobalFoundries' 14 nm process, with a much larger die size of 213 mm² and 4,800 million transistors. It is a desktop processor with a 65W TDP, built for traditional tower systems on the AM4 socket.

Cache configurations differ notably. Both share 8 MB of L3 cache, but the per-core L1 and L2 caches are larger on the AMD: 96 KB L1 per core versus 80 KB on Intel, and 512 KB L2 per core versus 256 KB on Intel. The Intel compensates with hyperthreading, offering 8 threads versus the AMD's 4 threads. Memory support also differs: the Intel claims quad-channel DDR4, while the AMD uses dual-channel DDR4 with a listed memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The AMD supports ECC memory, which the Intel does not. The Ryzen 3 1300X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, while the i7-1060G7 is locked. Socket compatibility is completely different: Intel BGA 1440 versus AMD Socket AM4. The Intel uses PCIe Gen 3, and the AMD also uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X wins in every single-core benchmark. It scores 152 in Cinebench R15 single-core versus Intel's 78 (a 48.7% lead), and 947 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus Intel's 776 (an 18.1% lead).

Q: Which processor is better for multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-1060G7 dominates in modern multi-threaded tests. It scores 5500 in Cinebench R23 multi-core compared to the AMD's 3486, representing a 57.8% advantage. However, in the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the AMD wins narrowly at 558 versus 554.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-1060G7 includes Iris Plus integrated graphics, while the AMD Ryzen 3 1300X has no integrated graphics listed. The AMD requires a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: Can the AMD Ryzen 3 1300X be overclocked?

A: Yes. The multiplier is unlocked on the AMD Ryzen 3 1300X, allowing for manual overclocking. The Intel Core i7-1060G7 has a locked multiplier and cannot be overclocked.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-1060G7 does not. This makes the AMD a potential choice for budget workstation builds where error-correcting memory is required.

Q: How do these processors compare in overall benchmark average?

A: The Intel Core i7-1060G7 has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 1591, compared to the AMD's 1562. Both sit at the 39th percentile of all CPUs, and their nearest rivals are very close in score, indicating similar overall performance levels.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, where the Intel Core i7-1060G7 scores 5500 against the AMD's 3486. This 57.8% delta is the largest margin in any test and completely flips the expected outcome based on clock speeds. The Intel's 8 threads clearly scale much better in this modern rendering workload, suggesting that hyperthreading is a major advantage for contemporary multi-threaded software.

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test tells a different story. Here, the AMD Ryzen 3 1300X wins with 558 against the Intel's 554, a mere 0.7% difference. This is effectively a statistical tie, but it shows that in older rendering workloads, the AMD's higher clock speeds can make up for the thread count disadvantage. The 4-thread Ryzen matches the 8-thread Intel in this legacy test.

Single-core results heavily favor AMD. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Ryzen 3 1300X scores 152 versus the Intel's 78, a 48.7% blowout. This is the second-largest delta in the comparison and reflects the massive difference in base clocks (3.4 GHz vs 1.0 GHz). In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD wins again with 947 versus 776, an 18.1% lead. Even though the Intel's boost clock of 3.8 GHz is higher than the AMD's 3.7 GHz, the AMD still wins, likely due to architectural efficiency and sustained clock behavior.

The overall picture from these four tests is a processor that wins three of four but loses the most important modern test by a huge margin. The average benchmark scores reflect this tension: Intel's 1591 average is slightly higher than AMD's 1562, driven by the massive R23 multi-core win. The nearest rivals for the Intel are the Core i3-8300T (0.3% lower) and Core i3-9100E (0.8% higher), while the AMD sits close to the Core i5-6600T and Core i3-8300 (both within 0.1%).

Specification Differences

The specifications reveal two processors designed for completely different environments. The Intel Core i7-1060G7 has a TDP of 9W, making it suitable for fanless or ultra-thin mobile designs, while the AMD Ryzen 3 1300X draws 65W and requires active desktop cooling. The Intel uses a 10 nm process with a 123 mm² die, while the AMD uses a 14 nm process with a 213 mm² die and 4,800 million transistors.

Thread counts differ: Intel provides 8 threads from 4 cores via hyperthreading, while AMD provides only 4 threads from 4 cores. Cache layout differs with Intel offering 80 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, versus AMD's 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core. Both have 8 MB shared L3 cache.

Memory support shows the Intel listing quad-channel DDR4, while the AMD is dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory support is exclusive to the AMD. The Intel has integrated Iris Plus graphics, while the AMD has none. The AMD has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, the Intel does not. Socket types are incompatible: Intel BGA 1440 versus AMD Socket AM4. The AMD lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Intel lists PCIe Gen 3 without lane count. Release dates differ by roughly two years: the Intel launched on 2019-07-31, the AMD on 2017-07-26. The AMD has a launch MSRP of $129; the Intel has no listed launch MSRP.