AMD Ryzen 3 210 vs Intel Core i5-1240U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data splits this comparison into two distinct halves. The AMD Ryzen 3 210 wins 8 of 17 recorded tests, while the Intel Core i5-1240U wins 9. But the margins tell a more interesting story than the raw count.

The single largest victory belongs to AMD. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen 3 210 scores 11,198 against Intel's 7,902, a 41.7% advantage. This is not a small gap. The Ryzen chip sustains its multi-core lead through the entire Cinebench R23 workload, which stresses all cores simultaneously over an extended period. The Intel part's 12 threads (10 cores) cannot compensate for what appears to be a power or thermal constraint in this specific test.

AMD also dominates in PassMark extended instructions, scoring 11,464 versus 7,932, a 44.5% lead. This test measures performance on advanced instruction sets, and the Ryzen 3 210's Zen 4 architecture pulls far ahead. Random string sorting also favors AMD: 19,454 versus 15,996, a 21.6% gap. Data compression follows the same pattern, with AMD at 152,017 against Intel's 143,102, a 6.2% edge. The Ryzen 3 210 also takes PassMark single-thread with 3,724 versus 3,239, a 15% margin, and Cinebench R23 single-core by a slim 1.4% (1,581 versus 1,559). PassMark multithread goes to AMD by just 1.3% (13,585 versus 13,406).

Intel's wins are concentrated in older Cinebench versions and several PassMark math workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, Intel leads 1,242 versus 1,128, a 9.2% gap. Cinebench R15 single-core shows Intel at 226 versus 159, a 29.6% lead, which is the second-largest delta in the entire comparison. Cinebench R20 also favors Intel: multi-core at 5,013 versus 4,703 (6.2% lead), single-core at 707 versus 664 (6.1% lead).

PassMark integer math goes to Intel: 44,968 versus 37,933, a 15.6% advantage. Floating-point math also favors Intel, 29,726 versus 23,649, a 20.4% lead. Physics testing shows Intel ahead at 981 versus 821, a 16.3% margin. Find prime numbers goes to Intel, 63 versus 49, a 22.2% lead. Data encryption is close, with Intel at 8,964 versus 8,607, a 4% edge.

The pattern is clear. AMD wins the modern heavy multi-threaded workloads and the newest Cinebench R23 test by a massive margin. Intel wins the older Cinebench releases and the raw math throughput tests. The overall average benchmark score is close: AMD's average is 17,321, Intel's is 16,957, a difference of roughly 2%. AMD sits at the 71st percentile of all CPUs, Intel at the 70th.

The Verdict

The data supports two different conclusions depending on the workload. For sustained multi-core rendering, compilation, or any task that runs past a few seconds, the AMD Ryzen 3 210 is the clear choice. Its 41.7% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is the defining metric of this comparison. That test is widely used as a proxy for real-world content creation performance, and the margin here is decisive.

For users whose work involves heavy integer or floating-point math, or who rely on older Cinebench R15/R20 versions for validation, the Intel Core i5-1240U has the edge. Its 20.4% lead in floating-point math and 15.6% lead in integer math suggest a chip that handles number-crunching workloads with more headroom. The physics test result, 981 versus 821, also favors Intel and indicates stronger performance in simulation-style tasks.

The overall percentile ranking is nearly identical, 71st versus 70th. The average benchmark scores are within 2% of each other. This is not a generational gap. It is a workload-specific split. The Ryzen 3 210 wins the tests that matter most for modern creative workloads. The Intel part wins the tests that reflect older benchmark suites and specific math operations.

For a user prioritizing Cinebench R23 performance, the choice is AMD without hesitation. For a user running a mix of PassMark math tests and older Cinebench versions, Intel is the safer pick. The Ryzen chip's extended instructions lead of 44.5% is a strong signal for future software that leverages newer instruction sets. The Intel chip's 9 wins out of 17 tests show broad competence, but its signature victories are in less demanding or older workloads.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 3 210 uses the Zen 4 architecture on the Hawk Point codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core i5-1240U uses Alder Lake architecture, specifically Alder Lake-U, on Intel's 10 nm process. The process node difference is substantial: 4 nm versus 10 nm. This explains why AMD achieves competitive or superior performance with far fewer physical resources.

The Ryzen 3 210 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Intel part has 10 cores and 12 threads. This is a hybrid architecture from Intel, mixing performance and efficiency cores, which is why the core count is higher but the thread count is only 12 rather than 20. AMD's chip is a uniform 4-core design with simultaneous multithreading.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Ryzen 3 210 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. Intel has more L3 cache in total, 12 MB versus 8 MB, but AMD's per-core L1 and L2 are smaller. The transistor count is listed for AMD only: 20,900 million on a 137 mm² die. Intel's transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database.

The integrated graphics differ as well. AMD uses the Radeon 740M, while Intel uses Iris Xe 80EU. Both are integrated solutions suitable for mobile systems. The memory support differs: AMD supports DDR5 only, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses. AMD's memory bandwidth is recorded at 89.6 GB/s, while Intel's is not listed in the database.

PCIe support shows AMD with Gen 4 and 14 lanes from the CPU, while Intel lists Gen 4 without a specific lane count. Socket types are different: AMD uses Socket FP7, Intel uses BGA 1781. Both are mobile sockets, not desktop platforms. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier. Both are listed as Active production status.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are the most visible difference. AMD offers 4 cores and 8 threads. Intel offers 10 cores and 12 threads. The base clock rates are recorded differently: AMD's base clock is 3.00 GHz, Intel's is listed as 1100.00, which reflects a low-power mobile base frequency. The boost clocks are closer: AMD at 4.70 GHz, Intel at 4.40 GHz.

Thermal design power shows a major gap. AMD's TDP is 28 watts, Intel's is 9 watts. This places the Intel part in a much lower power envelope, which is typical for a U-series ultrabook processor. The AMD chip draws more power and delivers higher sustained performance in demanding tests, which aligns with its Cinebench R23 multi-core victory.

Process node: AMD on 4 nm, Intel on 10 nm. Foundry: TSMC for AMD, Intel for Intel. Memory support: DDR5 only for AMD, DDR4 and DDR5 for Intel. Memory bandwidth: 89.6 GB/s for AMD, not listed for Intel. ECC memory is not supported on either chip.

Release dates differ by almost three years. The Intel Core i5-1240U was released on February 22, 2022. The AMD Ryzen 3 210 was released on January 5, 2025. Both are mobile market segments. Neither has a launch MSRP recorded in the database.

Part numbers: AMD lists 100-000001612, Intel has none recorded. The generation field shows AMD as Ryzen 3 (Zen 4 Hawk Point) and Intel as Core i5 (Alder Lake-U). Codename and architecture are recorded for both.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core i5-1240U wins 9 of the 17 head-to-head tests. The AMD Ryzen 3 210 wins 8. The overall average benchmark score, however, is slightly higher for AMD at 17,321 versus Intel's 16,957.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark extended instructions, where the AMD Ryzen 3 210 scores 11,464 against Intel's 7,932, a 44.5% lead. The second-largest is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where AMD leads by 41.7% (11,198 versus 7,902).

Q: Which chip is better for single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 210 leads in PassMark single-thread with 3,724 versus 3,239, a 15% margin, and in Cinebench R23 single-core with 1,581 versus 1,559. However, the Intel part wins Cinebench R15 single-core (226 versus 159) and Cinebench R20 single-core (707 versus 664).

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-1240U has 10 cores and 12 threads. The AMD Ryzen 3 210 has 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite fewer cores, AMD wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test by 41.7%.

Q: What are the power requirements?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 210 has a TDP of 28 watts. The Intel Core i5-1240U has a TDP of 9 watts. This makes the Intel part substantially more power-efficient on paper, though the AMD chip delivers higher scores in modern multi-core tests.

Q: Which processor has more cache?

A: The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. Intel has more cache at every level.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 210 wins in workloads that benefit from modern architecture and sustained multi-core execution. Cinebench R23 multi-core is its strongest territory, with a 41.7% lead. This indicates rendering, video encoding, and 3D workloads will favor the AMD chip. Extended instructions performance, a 44.5% lead, suggests the AMD chip handles newer software that uses advanced SIMD or vector instructions. Random string sorting, a 21.6% lead, points to data processing and text-heavy tasks. Data compression, a 6.2% lead, covers file archiving and compression utilities. Single-thread performance in PassMark, a 15% lead, benefits everyday responsiveness and lightly threaded applications.

The Intel Core i5-1240U wins in older benchmark suites and raw math throughput. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 9.2% lead, and R15 single-core shows a 29.6% lead. These older tests may not reflect current software optimizations. Floating-point math, a 20.4% lead, favors scientific computing and certain simulation workloads. Integer math, a 15.6% lead, benefits database operations and cryptography. Physics testing, a 16.3% lead, supports game physics and engineering simulations. Find prime numbers, a 22.2% lead, is a pure computational stress test. Data encryption, a 4% lead, is a narrow but consistent advantage.

For a laptop user who runs Cinebench R23, compiles code, or processes large datasets, the AMD Ryzen 3 210 is the stronger choice. Its 41.7% multi-core lead is the largest sustained performance gap in this comparison. For a user who relies on older Cinebench R15/R20 benchmarks, performs heavy floating-point math, or needs a 9-watt TDP for fanless or ultra-thin designs, the Intel Core i5-1240U has the edge. The Intel part's 10-core configuration also provides more physical cores, which may help in specific parallel workloads that do not appear in the recorded tests.

The overall scores are close, within 2% on average. But the distribution of wins is not random: AMD dominates the modern multi-core and instruction-set tests, while Intel dominates the legacy and math-heavy tests. Users should match the chip to their actual software. If the software is recent and multi-threaded, choose AMD. If the software is older or math-bound, choose Intel.