AMD Ryzen 3 2200U vs Intel Core i5-3320M Comparison

# FAQ

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen 3 2200U's average benchmark score compare to the Intel Core i5-3320M?

A: The Ryzen 3 2200U averages 805 points across all benchmarks, while the Core i5-3320M averages 803 points. That is a 0.3% difference in favor of the AMD part, placing both CPUs at the 22nd percentile among all processors.

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U wins all three head-to-head tests against the Intel Core i5-3320M. It takes the Cinebench R15 multi-core, Geekbench multi-core, and Geekbench single-core tests, with zero wins for the Intel chip.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two in any single benchmark?

A: The largest margin is in Geekbench multi-core, where the Ryzen 3 2200U scores 1880 versus 1146 for the Core i5-3320M. That is a 64% advantage for the AMD processor.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-3320M outperform the Ryzen 3 2200U in any benchmark listed?

A: No. In the head-to-head data, the Intel chip loses all three tests. The Core i5-3320M does have additional Cinebench R20 and R23 scores in its own benchmark list, but no direct comparisons against the Ryzen are available for those tests.

Q: How do the two processors compare in terms of transistor count and die size?

A: The Ryzen 3 2200U packs 4,950 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, while the Core i5-3320M has no listed transistor count and a smaller 118 mm² die. The AMD chip uses a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries, versus Intel's 22 nm process.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-3320M has a slightly higher base clock at 2.60 GHz, compared to the Ryzen 3 2200U's 2.50 GHz. However, the Ryzen has a higher boost clock at 3.40 GHz versus Intel's 3.30 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U and Intel Core i5-3320M represent two very different architectural generations. The Ryzen 3 2200U is built on AMD's Zen architecture, codenamed Raven Ridge, using a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries. It belongs to the Ryzen 3 series from the 2000 series lineup. The Intel Core i5-3320M, in contrast, uses the Ivy Bridge architecture from Intel, built on a 22 nm process. This is a significant generational gap, with the AMD chip launching in January 2018 while the Intel chip arrived in May 2012.

The cache hierarchy differs substantially between the two. The Ryzen 3 2200U has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i5-3320M has less cache at every level: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and only 3 MB of shared L3. This gives the AMD chip a clear cache capacity advantage, which likely contributes to its benchmark superiority.

The integrated graphics solutions also differ. The Ryzen 3 2200U features Radeon Vega 3 graphics, while the Intel chip has Intel HD 4000. Both are integrated into the mobile package, but the Vega architecture is much newer. The memory support shows another difference: the Ryzen lists DDR4 memory support with dual-channel configuration and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel chip's memory support is not specified in the data, though it does list dual-channel memory bus.

The socket and packaging are completely different. The Ryzen 3 2200U uses AMD Socket FP5, while the Core i5-3320M uses Intel BGA 1023. The Ryzen also has PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while no PCIe information is available for the Intel chip. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is one-sided in favor of the AMD Ryzen 3 2200U. In the three head-to-head comparisons available, the AMD chip wins every single test. This suggests that for multi-threaded workloads like Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen's newer architecture and larger cache provide a clear advantage. The Geekbench multi-core result reinforces this, showing a 64% lead for AMD.

For single-threaded performance, the Ryzen 3 2200U also leads, with a 54.7% advantage in Geekbench single-core. This is notable because single-core performance often favors Intel in older generations, but the data here shows the AMD chip is decisively ahead. The Core i5-3320M does have a higher base clock (2.60 GHz versus 2.50 GHz), but that does not translate into a win.

The Intel Core i5-3320M has no benchmark wins in the head-to-head data. However, it does have additional benchmark results in its own list, including Cinebench R20 and R23 scores. These cannot be directly compared to the Ryzen 3 2200U since no corresponding AMD scores are provided. The Intel chip's Cinebench R20 multi-core score is 948, and its R23 multi-core score is 2258, but without AMD equivalents, these serve only as reference points.

For users looking at raw multi-core performance, the Ryzen 3 2200U is the clear choice based on the data. For single-core tasks, the AMD chip also wins. The only area where the Intel chip might have an edge is in its higher base clock, but that does not translate into any benchmark victory.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The Ryzen 3 2200U has a base clock of 2.50 GHz, while the Core i5-3320M has a base clock of 2.60 GHz. The boost clocks are reversed: the AMD chip boosts to 3.40 GHz, while the Intel chip boosts to 3.30 GHz. The Ryzen also has a much lower TDP at 15 watts, versus 35 watts for the Intel chip.

The process node is a major differentiator: 14 nm for AMD versus 22 nm for Intel. The Ryzen has 4,950 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, while the Intel chip has no listed transistor count and a 118 mm² die. The cache configurations differ as detailed earlier, with the AMD chip having more L1, L2, and L3 cache.

Memory support differs as well. The Ryzen 3 2200U supports DDR4 memory with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel chip's memory type and bandwidth are not specified. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The sockets are different: AMD Socket FP5 versus Intel BGA 1023. The Ryzen has PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes, while no PCIe data is listed for the Intel chip. The integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 3 for AMD and Intel HD 4000 for Intel. The Ryzen was released in January 2018, while the Intel chip was released in May 2012. The Ryzen is listed as "Active" in production status, while the Intel chip's status is not specified.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive win for the AMD Ryzen 3 2200U comes in Geekbench multi-core, where it scores 1880 against the Core i5-3320M's 1146. That is a 64% difference, which is a massive margin for two processors with the same core and thread count (2 cores, 4 threads). This result strongly suggests architectural superiority, likely driven by the Zen architecture's higher instruction-per-clock efficiency and the larger L3 cache.

In Geekbench single-core, the Ryzen 3 2200U scores 911 versus 589 for the Intel chip. This 54.7% advantage is even more telling, as single-core performance typically reflects the core design itself rather than multi-threading ability. The fact that the AMD chip wins by such a wide margin despite having a lower base clock (2.50 GHz versus 2.60 GHz) indicates that IPC improvements in Zen far outweigh the clock speed disadvantage.

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a smaller but still significant gap. The Ryzen 3 2200U scores 312, while the Core i5-3320M scores 227. This is a 37.4% difference. Cinebench is a rendering workload that scales well with multi-threading, so this result further confirms the AMD chip's advantage in sustained multi-threaded performance.

The Intel Core i5-3320M has no wins in any head-to-head test. Its additional benchmark scores (Cinebench R20 multi-core 948, R20 single-core 133, R23 multi-core 2258, R23 single-core 318) are standalone figures without corresponding AMD results, so they cannot be used for direct comparison. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical (805 for AMD, 803 for Intel), but the head-to-head results show a clear winner in every directly comparable test.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture: the AMD Ryzen 3 2200U is the superior processor in every head-to-head benchmark against the Intel Core i5-3320M. With wins in all three direct comparisons and margins ranging from 37.4% to 64%, the AMD chip is decisively faster in both single-core and multi-core workloads. The Ryzen 3 2200U also offers a much lower TDP (15 watts versus 35 watts), making it more power-efficient for mobile use.

For users prioritizing raw performance, the Ryzen 3 2200U is the obvious choice. Its higher boost clock, larger cache hierarchy, and newer 14 nm process give it clear advantages. The Intel Core i5-3320M does have a higher base clock, but that does not translate into any benchmark victory. The Intel chip's only potential advantages are its older platform and possibly wider ecosystem compatibility, but the data does not support any performance benefit.

For users on a strict power budget, the Ryzen 3 2200U's 15-watt TDP is a major advantage over the Intel chip's 35-watt TDP. This suggests the AMD processor could enable thinner, lighter laptops with longer battery life. The Ryzen also supports DDR4 memory, which is a modern standard, while the Intel chip's memory support is unspecified.

Given that the Ryzen 3 2200U is both faster and more power-efficient, the verdict is straightforward. The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U is the better choice for anyone comparing these two mobile processors. The Intel Core i5-3320M may still be found in older systems, but as a new purchase or upgrade, the data strongly favors the AMD part. The 22nd percentile ranking for both CPUs indicates they are entry-level performers, but within that tier, the Ryzen 3 2200U is clearly the leader.