AMD Ryzen 3 2200G vs Intel Core i3-4170 Comparison

The benchmark data positions the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G as the clear multi-core victor, while the Intel Core i3-4170 secures a narrow but decisive win in single-core performance. With two wins against one in the head-to-head tests, the Ryzen 3 2200G emerges as the overall performance leader, though the i3-4170's single-core advantage and lower power draw make it a compelling option for specific workloads. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical—1202 for the Ryzen 3 2200G versus 1193 for the Core i3-4170—placing both CPUs at the 33rd and 34th percentiles respectively, which suggests they occupy a similar performance tier despite their architectural differences.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive outcome in the data is the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, where the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G scores 577 against the Intel Core i3-4170's 306. This represents an 88.6% advantage for AMD, a massive gap that reflects the fundamental difference in core counts—the Ryzen 3 2200G has four physical cores, while the Core i3-4170 has only two. In practical terms, this means the Ryzen 3 2200G can handle heavily threaded workloads like video rendering or 3D scene compilation nearly twice as fast as its Intel counterpart.

The Geekbench multi-core test reinforces this pattern, though with a smaller margin. Here the Ryzen 3 2200G scores 3086 versus 2033 for the Core i3-4170, a 51.8% advantage for AMD. This test confirms that the Ryzen 3 2200G's multi-core dominance is not limited to a single benchmark but is a consistent trend across different testing methodologies. The delta is smaller than in Cinebench, which suggests that Geekbench's multi-core workload may not scale perfectly with core count, but the direction is unmistakable.

The single-core picture flips, however. In Geekbench single-core, the Intel Core i3-4170 scores 1090, edging out the Ryzen 3 2200G's 1001. This is an 8.2% advantage for Intel, a meaningful margin for applications that rely heavily on single-threaded performance, such as older games or legacy software. The Ryzen 3 2200G's base clock of 3.50 GHz and boost clock of 3.70 GHz cannot overcome the architectural efficiency of the Haswell core, which runs at a fixed 3.70 GHz with no boost. Interestingly, the Cinebench R15 single-core test is not present in the head-to-head data, but the Geekbench result alone demonstrates that Intel retains a clear edge in this domain.

Notably, the Intel Core i3-4170 has additional benchmark data that is not directly compared—Cinebench R20 and R23 scores of 1275 and 3038 multi-core, and 180 and 429 single-core respectively. These figures are not matched by the Ryzen 3 2200G in the head-to-head set, which limits direct comparison, but they do indicate that the i3-4170's performance profile is consistent across newer Cinebench versions. The absence of corresponding Ryzen 3 2200G scores means these numbers cannot be used for a direct delta calculation, but they provide context for the Intel part's sustained performance.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G for users prioritizing multi-core throughput. A 88.6% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and a 51.8% lead in Geekbench multi-core are decisive margins that make the Ryzen 3 2200G the obvious choice for content creation, compilation, or any workload that can utilize four cores. The Ryzen 3 2200G also offers a more modern platform with DDR4 memory support and a 46.9 GB/s memory bandwidth, compared to the i3-4170's DDR3 and 25.6 GB/s, which further reinforces its suitability for current-generation software.

The Intel Core i3-4170, however, is not without its merits. Its 8.2% single-core advantage in Geekbench, combined with a lower 54W TDP (versus 65W for the Ryzen 3 2200G), makes it a more power-efficient choice for office productivity, web browsing, or legacy applications that are poorly threaded. The i3-4170 also has the higher base clock at 3.70 GHz, which contributes to its single-core performance, and its end-of-life status may appeal to users seeking a stable, mature platform on Socket 1150.

For the average user, the Ryzen 3 2200G is the safer recommendation. Its multi-core wins are far larger than its single-core loss, and the average benchmark scores are virtually tied (1202 vs 1193). The Ryzen 3 2200G also has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, whereas the i3-4170 is locked. The production status of "Active" for AMD versus "End-of-life" for Intel further suggests that the Ryzen 3 2200G is the more future-proof option. Only users with a strict need for single-threaded performance and minimal power consumption should consider the i3-4170.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 3 2200G is built on the Zen architecture with the Raven Ridge codename, fabricated on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries with 4,950 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. In contrast, the Intel Core i3-4170 uses the Haswell architecture, also with the Haswell codename, produced on a 22 nm process at Intel with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. This process difference is significant—the 14 nm node allows AMD to pack more than three times as many transistors into a slightly larger die, enabling the Ryzen 3 2200G to include four cores, a more robust cache hierarchy, and a significantly more capable integrated GPU.

The core and cache configurations differ substantially. The Ryzen 3 2200G has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i3-4170 has 2 cores and 4 threads, using Hyper-Threading to reach the same thread count. The Ryzen 3 2200G features 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The i3-4170 has smaller caches: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache. This larger cache allocation on the Ryzen 3 2200G correlates with its multi-core performance advantage, though it does not translate to single-core superiority.

Memory support is another major divider. The Ryzen 3 2200G supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a theoretical bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s, while the i3-4170 supports DDR3 with dual-channel and only 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. This nearly 83% advantage in memory bandwidth for AMD is a direct consequence of the platform generation gap—Raven Ridge is designed for the modern AM4 socket, whereas Haswell uses the older Socket 1150. The integrated graphics also differ: the Ryzen 3 2200G ships with Radeon Vega 8, while the i3-4170 has Intel HD 4400, though no benchmark data is provided for either.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 2200G has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i3-4170 has 2 cores and 4 threads. This gives the Ryzen 3 2200G a fundamental advantage in multi-core workloads.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference?

A: In the Geekbench single-core test, the Intel Core i3-4170 scores 1090 versus 1001 for the Ryzen 3 2200G, giving Intel an 8.2% lead. This is the only head-to-head test that Intel wins.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Ryzen 3 2200G has an average benchmark score of 1202, while the i3-4170 scores 1193. The delta is roughly 0.8% in favor of AMD, placing them in nearly the same performance tier.

Q: Which CPU supports faster memory?

A: The Ryzen 3 2200G supports DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s, whereas the i3-4170 supports DDR3 with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. Both use dual-channel configurations.

Q: What are the power consumption figures?

A: The Ryzen 3 2200G has a TDP of 65W, while the i3-4170 has a TDP of 54W. The Intel part consumes less power, making it more efficient in terms of raw wattage.

Q: Is the Ryzen 3 2200G overclockable?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 3 2200G has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking. The Intel Core i3-4170 has a locked multiplier and does not support overclocking.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 2200G wins decisively in all multi-core scenarios tested. Its 88.6% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core makes it the clear choice for video encoding, 3D rendering, and batch photo processing—workloads that scale with core count. The 51.8% Geekbench multi-core advantage reinforces this, suggesting that the Ryzen 3 2200G is better suited for modern productivity suites that are increasingly multithreaded. The larger L3 cache (4 MB vs 3 MB) and higher memory bandwidth (46.9 GB/s vs 25.6 GB/s) further support this use case, as data-intensive tasks will benefit from faster memory access. Additionally, the 4,950 million transistors versus 1,400 million indicates a more complex and capable silicon, which aligns with its broader feature set including a stronger integrated GPU.

The Intel Core i3-4170 wins in single-core performance, as evidenced by its 8.2% Geekbench single-core advantage. This makes it the better option for older software, single-threaded games, or applications that do not utilize multiple cores effectively. Its lower TDP of 54W versus 65W also makes it preferable for compact, low-power builds where heat dissipation is a concern. The i3-4170’s higher base clock of 3.70 GHz (compared to 3.50 GHz for the Ryzen 3 2200G) contributes to its single-core edge, and its 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (versus 8 for AMD) provides more direct connectivity for discrete GPUs or expansion cards. However, these wins are narrower and more specialized than AMD’s multi-core dominance.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ across nearly every specification category. The Ryzen 3 2200G has 4 cores versus 2 for the i3-4170, though both have 4 threads. The base clock is 3.50 GHz for AMD and 3.70 GHz for Intel, with the Ryzen 3 2200G adding a boost clock of 3.70 GHz that the i3-4170 lacks entirely. TDP differs at 65W for AMD and 54W for Intel. The sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket AM4 versus Intel Socket 1150. The process node is 14 nm for AMD and 22 nm for Intel, and the transistor counts are 4,950 million versus 1,400 million, with die sizes of 210 mm² versus 177 mm².

Cache configurations vary in size at every level: L1 is 96 KB per core for AMD versus 64 KB per core for Intel; L2 is 512 KB per core versus 256 KB per core; L3 is 4 MB shared versus 3 MB shared. Memory support is DDR4 for AMD and DDR3 for Intel, with bandwidths of 46.9 GB/s and 25.6 GB/s respectively. PCIe lanes differ as well, with AMD providing 8 lanes and Intel providing 16 lanes, both Gen 3. The integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 8 for AMD and Intel HD 4400 for Intel. The Ryzen 3 2200G has an unlocked multiplier, while the i3-4170 is locked. The release dates are 2018-02-11 for AMD and 2014-04-30 for Intel, with the Ryzen 3 2200G still active in production and the i3-4170 end-of-life. The part numbers are YD2200C5M4MFBYD2200C5FBBOXYD2200C5FBMPK for AMD and SR1PL for Intel.