AMD Ryzen 3 2200G vs Intel Core i3-8121U Comparison

The Intel Core i3-8121U and AMD Ryzen 3 2200G occupy similar overall performance tiers, yet their benchmark profiles reveal starkly different strengths. The AMD chip wins three of the four head-to-head comparisons, but the Intel processor claims a notable single-core victory. Both CPUs sit at the 34th percentile among all tested processors, with average benchmark scores of 1209 for the Intel and 1202 for the AMD, placing them within 0.6% of each other overall.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive result comes from Cinebench R15 single-core testing, where the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G scores 145.55 against the Intel Core i3-8121U's 51, a 65% advantage. This is a massive gap that suggests the AMD architecture delivers substantially better per-thread performance in this particular workload. The Intel chip's single-core score of 51 appears anomalously low, especially when compared to its Geekbench single-core performance, indicating that Cinebench R15 may not fully utilize the Intel processor's capabilities or that thermal constraints on the mobile chip severely limit this test.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD processor again dominates, scoring 577 versus 366, a 36.6% margin. With four physical cores against the Intel's two, this result aligns with the core-count difference, though the margin exceeds the raw 2:1 core ratio. The Ryzen's higher base clock of 3.50 GHz versus 2.20 GHz contributes meaningfully here, as does its 65W TDP allowing sustained performance that the 15W Intel part cannot maintain.

Geekbench multi-core shows a 28.2% win for AMD, with scores of 3086 versus 2215. This benchmark confirms the multi-threaded pattern established in Cinebench, though the gap narrows compared to the R15 results. The Intel chip's 4 threads help it remain competitive, but the AMD's four physical cores provide a structural advantage that hyper-threading cannot fully overcome.

The single Intel victory comes in Geekbench single-core, where the i3-8121U scores 1149 against the Ryzen's 1001, a 14.8% margin. This result flips the Cinebench R15 single-core narrative, suggesting the Intel architecture has genuine single-thread strength that certain workloads can exploit. The discrepancy between Cinebench R15 single-core and Geekbench single-core for the Intel chip is striking, with the former showing a 65% deficit and the latter a 14.8% advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-8121U edges out the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G with an average benchmark score of 1209 versus 1202, a difference of just 0.6%. Both processors occupy the 34th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Why does the AMD chip win more head-to-head tests despite similar average scores?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 2200G wins three of four comparisons, with margins ranging from 28.2% to 65%. The Intel processor's single Geekbench single-core victory of 14.8% is substantial but insufficient to offset the AMD's larger multi-core advantages in Cinebench R15 and Geekbench multi-core.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R15 multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 2200G scores 577, which is 36.6% higher than the Intel Core i3-8121U's 366. This aligns with the AMD's four physical cores versus the Intel's two, though the margin exceeds the core-count ratio.

Q: What does the Geekbench single-core result indicate about the Intel processor?

A: The Intel Core i3-8121U achieves a 14.8% advantage in Geekbench single-core, scoring 1149 versus 1001. This suggests the Intel architecture retains competitive single-thread performance despite its lower clock speeds, contrasting sharply with its poor Cinebench R15 single-core showing.

Q: Is there a benchmark where the two processors are closest?

A: The Geekbench multi-core test shows the narrowest relative gap at 28.2%, with AMD scoring 3086 and Intel scoring 2215. The single-core Cinebench R15 test shows the widest gap at 65%, favoring AMD.

Q: What does the percentile ranking tell us about these CPUs?

A: Both processors rank at the 34th percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the lower-mid range of overall performance. Their average scores of 1209 and 1202 are nearly identical, confirming they occupy the same performance tier despite their different benchmark profiles.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G for users prioritizing multi-threaded performance. Its 36.6% Cinebench R15 multi-core advantage and 28.2% Geekbench multi-core lead make it the stronger choice for rendering, compilation, and other parallel workloads. The four physical cores provide a structural advantage that the Intel's two cores with four threads cannot match, even with the Intel's competitive single-core Geekbench result.

The Intel Core i3-8121U appeals to users who need specific single-thread performance in Geekbench-style workloads, where its 14.8% advantage could matter for certain applications. However, the Cinebench R15 single-core result showing a 65% deficit raises questions about consistency across different testing methodologies. The Intel chip's 15W TDP suggests mobile applications where power efficiency takes priority over raw performance, but the benchmark data does not quantify that tradeoff.

For desktop users who can accommodate the AMD's 65W TDP, the Ryzen 3 2200G provides more consistent and broadly applicable performance across the tested benchmarks. The Intel part's single Geekbench single-core win does not compensate for losing the other three comparisons by substantial margins. The AMD processor's active production status and unlocked multiplier also suggest longer-term viability, though these factors are not reflected in benchmark scores.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ fundamentally in their core configurations. The Intel Core i3-8121U offers 2 cores with 4 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G provides 4 cores with 4 threads. Clock speeds diverge significantly, with the Intel running at 2.20 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost, compared to the AMD's 3.50 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost. The TDP difference is substantial at 15W for Intel versus 65W for AMD.

Memory bandwidth favors the AMD processor, which supports 46.9 GB/s compared to the Intel's 38.4 GB/s, though both use DDR4 in dual-channel configuration. PCIe lane counts differ, with Intel offering 16 lanes versus AMD's 8 lanes, both Gen 3. The Intel chip uses the BGA 1440 socket, while the AMD uses Socket AM4.

The AMD Ryzen 3 2200G includes Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics, while the Intel Core i3-8121U has no listed integrated graphics. The AMD processor features an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, which the Intel lacks. Production status differs, with Intel marked end-of-life and AMD active. The AMD chip's launch MSRP is $99, while no MSRP is listed for the Intel part.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i3-8121U uses Cannon Lake architecture on a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel, with a die size of 70.52 mm². The AMD Ryzen 3 2200G employs Zen architecture on a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries, with a die size of 210 mm² and 4,950 million transistors. The AMD die is nearly three times larger, accommodating its additional cores and integrated graphics.

Cache hierarchies differ in per-core allocations. The Intel provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, while the AMD offers 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core. Both share 4 MB of L3 cache, making the total cache capacity similar but distributed differently. The AMD's larger per-core L1 and L2 caches may contribute to its multi-core performance advantages.

The Intel processor belongs to the Cannon Lake generation under the Core i3 series, while the AMD is a Ryzen 3 in the 2000 series based on Raven Ridge. The Intel's generation is categorized as Core i3 (Kaby Lake-U Refresh), indicating its lineage despite the Cannon Lake architecture. The AMD's Raven Ridge codename reflects its integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics, a feature entirely absent from the Intel's specifications.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 2200G wins decisively in multi-threaded workloads. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 36.6% advantage, and Geekbench multi-core demonstrates a 28.2% lead. These results make the AMD the clear choice for video encoding, 3D rendering, software compilation, and other tasks that scale with core count. The four physical cores provide consistent performance across diverse parallel workloads, supported by the higher 3.50 GHz base clock and larger per-core caches.

The Intel Core i3-8121U wins specifically in Geekbench single-core performance, with a 14.8% margin. This suggests the Intel architecture handles certain single-threaded applications more efficiently, potentially benefiting legacy software, lightly threaded games, or applications with strict single-thread dependencies. However, this advantage does not extend to Cinebench R15 single-core, where the AMD leads by 65%, creating an ambiguous picture for single-thread performance.

The Intel's 15W TDP positions it for thermally constrained environments like ultraportable laptops, where the AMD's 65W TDP would be impractical. The AMD's Socket AM4 compatibility and unlocked multiplier make it suitable for desktop builders seeking upgrade paths and overclocking flexibility. The AMD's active production status and integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics provide additional utility for budget desktop systems without discrete GPUs, while the Intel's end-of-life status and lack of integrated graphics limit its appeal in new builds.