AMD Ryzen 3 210 vs AMD Ryzen 5 3501U Comparison

AMD Ryzen 3 210 vs AMD Ryzen 5 3501U: the newer 4 nm Hawk Point silicon dominates the older 12 nm Picasso part across every recorded workload. The Ryzen 3 210 wins all 11 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with deltas ranging from 44.1% to 250.2%. Despite having the same core count, the Ryzen 3 210 delivers roughly 1.2 times the average benchmark score of the Ryzen 5 3501U, making the architectural gap decisive.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 210 wins every workload category in the database. There is no benchmark where the Ryzen 5 3501U takes a lead. The largest margin comes in extended instruction testing, where the Ryzen 3 210 scores 11464 against 3274, a 250.2% advantage. This points to the newer Zen 4 core handling advanced instruction sets far more efficiently than the older Zen+ design.

The Ryzen 3 210 also wins heavily in multi-threaded workloads, scoring 13585 in PassMark multithread versus 7071 for the Ryzen 5 3501U, a 92.1% gain. Single-thread performance shows a similar pattern, 3724 versus 2136, a 74.3% lead. Data compression favors the Ryzen 3 210 at 152017 versus 87380, a 74% gap, while data encryption shows a 54.2% advantage. Integer math, floating point math, prime number finding, physics simulation, and random string sorting all go to the Ryzen 3 210 with margins between 44.1% and 133.3%.

The Ryzen 5 3501U does not claim a single win in any recorded metric. Its only distinction is the lower 15 W TDP, which makes it the more power-efficient part on paper, but that advantage does not translate into any performance lead in these measurements.

Architecture Differences

The Ryzen 3 210 uses the Zen 4 architecture on the Hawk Point codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Ryzen 5 3501U uses the Zen+ architecture on the Picasso codename, built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The transistor counts reflect this gap: the Ryzen 3 210 packs 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die, while the Ryzen 5 3501U has 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The newer node allows more than four times the transistor density in a smaller physical area.

Core configuration differs despite matching core counts. The Ryzen 3 210 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Ryzen 3 210 benefits from simultaneous multithreading, effectively doubling its thread count. Cache hierarchies also differ. The Ryzen 3 210 uses 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. The Ryzen 5 3501U uses 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. The Ryzen 3 210 has more total cache despite a smaller per-core L1 allocation.

Memory support diverges sharply. The Ryzen 3 210 supports DDR5 with dual-channel operation and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 with dual-channel operation and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. That is more than a twofold memory bandwidth advantage for the Ryzen 3 210. PCIe connectivity also differs, with the Ryzen 3 210 offering Gen 4 with 14 CPU lanes versus Gen 3 on the Ryzen 5 3501U.

Clock speeds favor the Ryzen 3 210 substantially. Its base clock is 3.00 GHz with a 4.70 GHz boost, while the Ryzen 5 3501U runs at 2.10 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost. The integrated graphics differ as well, with the Radeon 740M on the Ryzen 3 210 versus Radeon Vega 8 on the Ryzen 5 3501U. Sockets are not interchangeable, with the Ryzen 3 210 on AMD Socket FP7 and the Ryzen 5 3501U on AMD Socket FP5. The TDP ratings also differ, 28 W for the Ryzen 3 210 versus 15 W for the Ryzen 5 3501U.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The extended instructions test shows the most dramatic separation. The Ryzen 3 210 scores 11464, the Ryzen 5 3501U scores 3274, and the delta reaches 250.2%. This indicates the Zen 4 core executes modern instruction extensions with far greater throughput than the Zen+ core.

Prime number finding shows a 133.3% lead for the Ryzen 3 210, scoring 49 versus 21. This workload relies heavily on integer arithmetic and branch prediction, areas where the newer architecture is measurably stronger. Multithread performance shows a 92.1% gap, 13585 versus 7071, which reflects both the thread count advantage and the per-core efficiency gain.

Floating point math scores 23649 for the Ryzen 3 210 against 12707 for the Ryzen 5 3501U, a 86.1% margin. Random string sorting shows a 86.8% lead, 19454 versus 10414. Data compression follows at 74%, 152017 versus 87380, while single-thread performance shows a 74.3% lead at 3724 versus 2136. Physics simulation scores 821 versus 483, a 70% gap. Data encryption shows a 54.2% advantage, 8607 versus 5580. Integer math has the smallest relative gap at 44.1%, 37933 versus 26321.

The data compression result is notable because the Ryzen 3 210's score of 152017 exceeds the entire average benchmark score of many competing processors. The Ryzen 5 3501U's best showing relative to the Ryzen 3 210 comes in integer math, where the older part reaches 69.4% of the newer chip's score. Every other workload shows a larger deficit.

The average benchmark scores confirm the hierarchy. The Ryzen 3 210 averages 17321 across all recorded benchmarks, placing it in the 71st percentile among all CPUs. The Ryzen 5 3501U averages 14320, placing it in the 69th percentile. The Ryzen 3 210 sits near rivals like the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 (17333, 0.1% behind) and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G (17278, 0.2% ahead). The Ryzen 5 3501U sits near the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 (14336, 0.1% behind) and the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C (14277, 0.3% ahead).

FAQ

Q: Does the Ryzen 5 3501U win any benchmark against the Ryzen 3 210?

A: No. The database records 11 head-to-head comparisons, and the Ryzen 3 210 wins all 11. The Ryzen 5 3501U does not claim a single victory in any recorded workload.

Q: Which CPU has higher single-thread performance?

A: The Ryzen 3 210 scores 3724 in PassMark single-thread testing versus 2136 for the Ryzen 5 3501U, a 74.3% advantage. The newer Zen 4 core at a 4.70 GHz boost clock delivers substantially higher per-core throughput.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two CPUs?

A: The extended instructions workload shows the biggest difference. The Ryzen 3 210 scores 11464 against 3274 for the Ryzen 5 3501U, a 250.2% lead. This workload tests advanced instruction set execution where Zen 4 has a major architectural edge.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Both have 4 cores, but the thread counts differ. The Ryzen 3 210 has 8 threads while the Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 threads. The Ryzen 3 210 uses simultaneous multithreading to double its thread count.

Q: Which CPU supports faster memory?

A: The Ryzen 3 210 supports DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Ryzen 3 210 has more than twice the memory bandwidth of the older part.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Ryzen 3 210 averages 17321 across all recorded benchmarks, placing it in the 71st percentile of all CPUs. The Ryzen 5 3501U averages 14320, placing it in the 69th percentile. The Ryzen 3 210 is approximately 21% ahead in average score.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the AMD Ryzen 3 210 across every measured dimension. Its 11-0 head-to-head record, combined with the 250.2% peak margin and the 92.1% multithread lead, leaves no ambiguity about which processor delivers superior performance. The Ryzen 3 210 achieves this while using a newer 4 nm process, DDR5 memory, and PCIe Gen 4, making it the more future-ready platform.

The Ryzen 5 3501U retains one practical advantage: its 15 W TDP versus 28 W for the Ryzen 3 210. Systems designed for minimal power draw and longer battery life would find the Ryzen 5 3501U more suitable. However, that power efficiency comes at a steep performance cost. The Ryzen 5 3501U scores below 14320 on average, while the Ryzen 3 210 scores above 17321.

The benchmark percentile rankings place the Ryzen 3 210 at the 71st percentile and the Ryzen 5 3501U at the 69th percentile among all CPUs. The actual score gap is larger than the percentile gap suggests, since the Ryzen 3 210 sits near processors like the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 and Intel Core i5-12450H, while the Ryzen 5 3501U sits near the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C and Intel Core i5-10400F. These are different performance tiers.

The Ryzen 3 210 is the correct choice for any workload where processing speed matters, including data compression, encryption, math-heavy tasks, and multithreaded applications. The Ryzen 5 3501U only makes sense in power-constrained designs where the 15 W envelope is a hard requirement and the 28 W draw of the Ryzen 3 210 is not acceptable. For all other use cases, the recorded benchmark data points directly to the Ryzen 3 210.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 3 210 | AMD Ryzen 5 3501U |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 4 | 4 |

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 15 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP7 | AMD Socket FP5 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Zen+ |

| Codename | Hawk Point | Picasso |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 12 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 20,900 million | 4,940 million |

| Die Size | 137 mm² | 210 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB per core | 96 KB per core |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB per core | 512 KB per core |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB shared | 4 MB shared |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 38.4 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 14 Lanes | Gen 3 |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 740M | Radeon Vega 8 |

| Release Date | 2025-01-05 | 2026-05-31 |

| Part Number | 100-000001612 | YM3501C4T4MFG |