CPU Comparison

The Intel Core 7 150U and AMD Ryzen 3 210 are two mobile processors that land in the same performance tier, with average benchmark scores of 17395 and 17321 respectively. That difference of just 0.4% places them as direct rivals, yet their underlying architectures and benchmark profiles reveal distinct strengths. The Intel chip leans on a hybrid design with more cores and a higher boost clock, while the AMD part uses a modern 4nm process and a newer Zen 4 core architecture. The data shows a split decision: Intel wins the majority of head-to-head tests, but AMD counters with significant wins in extended instruction throughput and raw single-thread PassMark scores.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 7 150U holds a marginal edge with an average benchmark score of 17395, compared to the AMD Ryzen 3 210's 17321. The delta between the two is just 0.4%, placing them in the same overall performance bracket.

Q: How do the two compare in single-core Cinebench R23 performance?

A: The Intel Core 7 150U is significantly ahead, scoring 1875.5 versus 1581 for the AMD Ryzen 3 210. This represents an 18.6% lead for Intel in this test.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 3 210 win any multi-core benchmarks?

A: Yes, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 3 210 scores 11198, which is 20.7% higher than the Intel chip's 8883. This is a substantial reversal of the trend seen in older Cinebench versions.

Q: What is the difference in process node between these chips?

A: The Intel Core 7 150U is built on Intel's 10 nm process, while the AMD Ryzen 3 210 uses TSMC's 4 nm process. The AMD chip also integrates 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 7 150U has 10 cores and 12 threads. The AMD Ryzen 3 210 has only 4 cores and 8 threads, making Intel's offering significantly more parallel on paper.

Q: In which benchmark does the AMD chip show its largest margin of victory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 210 wins the PassMark extended instructions test by 23.7%, scoring 11464 against Intel's 8748. This is its biggest win across all head-to-head benchmarks.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core 7 150U is based on Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-U codename, and is fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process node. This is a hybrid design, though the fact pack does not specify performance and efficiency core types. It features 10 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz.

The AMD Ryzen 3 210, in contrast, uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, built on TSMC's 4 nm process. This more advanced node allows for a denser transistor layout, with the chip containing 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die. It has a higher base clock of 3.00 GHz but a lower boost clock of 4.70 GHz, and it packs only 4 cores and 8 threads.

Cache hierarchies differ too. Intel allocates 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with a shared 12 MB L3 pool. AMD provides 64 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with a smaller shared 8 MB L3 cache. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD chip supports only DDR5. Memory bandwidth is specified for AMD at 89.6 GB/s, but no figure is given for Intel. Both have dual-channel memory buses and neither supports ECC memory. PCIe lanes favor AMD, with 14 Gen 4 lanes versus Intel's 8 Gen 4 lanes. Integrated graphics also differ, with Intel featuring Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units and AMD featuring a Radeon 740M.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 7 150U is the clear winner in legacy multi-core workloads. It takes the Cinebench R15 multicore test by 33.5%, and the R20 multicore test by 11.6%. The data shows it dominates in integer and floating-point math, with leads of 34.6% and 45.5% respectively in PassMark's tests. It also wins in data encryption by 16.5% and in the physics simulation test by 23.3%. For users running older rendering software or heavily threaded productivity tasks that rely on these specific instruction patterns, the Intel chip is the stronger choice.

The AMD Ryzen 3 210 wins in a different set of scenarios. Its most notable victory is in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it leads by 20.7%, suggesting that its Zen 4 cores are more efficient per thread in this modern rendering workload. It also wins the PassMark extended instructions test by 23.7%, which indicates a significant advantage in workloads that use advanced SIMD or specialized instruction sets. In PassMark single-thread, the AMD chip scores 3724 versus 3508 for Intel, a 5.8% lead, and it also wins in random string sorting by 6.1%. These results point to a processor that excels in modern, single-threaded applications and certain specialized compute tasks.

Specification Differences

The specifications diverge sharply in core count and clock speeds. Intel offers 10 cores and 12 threads, while AMD offers only 4 cores and 8 threads. The base clocks are 1.80 GHz for Intel and 3.00 GHz for AMD, but the boost clocks see Intel take the lead at 5.40 GHz versus 4.70 GHz for AMD. Thermal design power also differs, with Intel rated at 15W and AMD at 28W.

The process nodes tell a story of generational difference. Intel uses 10 nm, while AMD uses 4 nm. The AMD chip has a specified transistor count of 20,900 million and a die size of 137 mm², while no such data is provided for Intel. Cache configurations differ, with Intel providing a larger L3 cache of 12 MB shared, versus 8 MB shared for AMD. L1 cache per core is 80 KB for Intel and 64 KB for AMD, and L2 per core is 1.25 MB versus 1 MB. Memory support sees Intel accepting both DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD is limited to DDR5. AMD has a specified memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while Intel's is not listed. The PCIe configuration gives AMD more lanes, 14 versus 8, both at Gen 4. The sockets are different: Intel uses BGA 1744, while AMD uses Socket FP7. Both chips have integrated graphics, but Intel's is Iris Xe Graphics 96EU and AMD's is Radeon 740M.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results show a clear overall winner in terms of volume, with Intel taking 12 of the 17 head-to-head tests. However, the margin of victory varies considerably across the two chips. The largest single win for Intel is in the Cinebench R15 multicore test, where it scores 1505.5 against AMD's 1128, a delta of 33.5%. Intel also shows a commanding lead in PassMark floating-point math, scoring 34405 against 23649, a 45.5% advantage. In integer math, Intel scores 51057 to AMD's 37933, a 34.6% lead.

The single-core Cinebench R15 test shows Intel ahead by 59.7%, scoring 254 versus 159. This pattern continues in Cinebench R23 single-core, where Intel leads by 18.6% with a score of 1875.5 against 1581. Intel also wins the PassMark physics test by 23.3%, and the data encryption test by 16.5%. Smaller Intel wins include PassMark multithread at 8.2%, data compression at 4.3%, and find prime numbers at 18.4%.

The AMD Ryzen 3 210's wins are fewer but significant. Its biggest victory is in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it scores 11198 versus Intel's 8883, a 20.7% margin. This is a stark contrast to the R15 and R20 multicore results, where Intel wins by 33.5% and 11.6% respectively. The AMD chip also takes the PassMark extended instructions test by 23.7%, scoring 11464 against 8748. In PassMark single-thread, AMD wins by 5.8%, scoring 3724 to 3508, and it also wins random string sorting by 6.1%, with a score of 19454 versus 18269.

Despite these AMD wins, the overall average benchmark score remains nearly identical. The AMD chip's higher scores in certain tests are offset by Intel's dominance in others, resulting in a 0.4% difference in average score. The data suggests that for most users, the choice between these two processors depends on the specific workload, with Intel having a broader advantage across legacy and math-heavy tasks, and AMD showing clear superiority in modern rendering and specialized instruction execution.