AMD Ryzen 3 2200U vs Intel Core i7-870S Comparison

# Intel Core i7-870S vs AMD Ryzen 3 2200U

The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U and Intel Core i7-870S land in the same performance neighborhood overall, with average benchmark scores of 805 and 809 respectively, a gap of just 0.4%. Both CPUs sit at the 22nd percentile of all processors, meaning they outperform roughly a fifth of the database while trailing the rest. The Ryzen 3 2200U takes the only shared benchmark decisively, but the i7-870S counters with stronger single-threaded results in other tests. These are fundamentally different designs: a 2010 desktop chip with four cores and eight threads versus a 2018 mobile part with two cores and four threads, yet both end up competing for the same mid-low performance tier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only benchmark where both processors appear is Cinebench R15 multi-core, and the Ryzen 3 2200U wins it outright. The AMD part scores 312 points against the Intel's 236, a 24.4% advantage. That is not a marginal edge; it is a substantial multi-threaded lead for a chip with half the core count. The Ryzen's newer Zen architecture and its higher sustained efficiency allow it to outperform the older Lynnfield design despite the i7-870S having twice the physical cores and four additional threads. In practice, this means the Ryzen 3 2200U handles multi-threaded workloads like video encoding or compilation noticeably better than the i7-870S, at least in the Cinebench R15 workload.

However, the head-to-head table only captures one test. Looking at the broader benchmark results, the i7-870S shows its own strengths. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Intel chip scores 139 points, and in R23 single-core it reaches 331. The Ryzen 3 2200U does not have comparable single-core results in the same tests, but its Geekbench single-core score of 911 versus the lack of a comparable i7-870S Geekbench score means direct comparison is limited. Still, the i7-870S's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 2350 and R20 multi-core score of 987 indicate solid scaling across cores. The Ryzen 3 2200U has no R20 or R23 results, so its multi-threaded performance beyond R15 is unmeasured. What the data does show is that where they actually meet, the Ryzen wins by a wide margin, and where they do not meet, the Intel part holds its own in single-threaded tests.

The average benchmark scores tell a story of near-equality: 809 for the i7-870S and 805 for the Ryzen 3 2200U. The nearest rival lists confirm this. The i7-870S sits exactly level with the AMD A10-6800K at 809, and the Ryzen 3 2200U matches the Intel Xeon X5482 at 805. These two CPUs are effectively peers in aggregate performance, even though their architectures are a decade apart. The Ryzen wins the one direct confrontation, but the Intel chip's extra cores and higher clock speeds (base 2.67 GHz, boost 3.60 GHz) compensate in other scenarios.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-870S boosts to 3.60 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 3 2200U reaches 3.40 GHz. The Intel part also has a slightly higher base clock at 2.67 GHz versus 2.50 GHz.

Q: Does the Ryzen 3 2200U have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the AMD chip includes Radeon Vega 3 integrated graphics. The Intel Core i7-870S has no integrated graphics listed in its specifications, meaning it requires a discrete GPU.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Ryzen 3 2200U supports DDR4 memory with a peak bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i7-870S supports DDR3 but has no listed bandwidth figure, so a direct numeric comparison is not possible from the data.

Q: Which processor is newer?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U was released in January 2018, while the Intel Core i7-870S came out in July 2010. The Ryzen is also still in active production, whereas the i7-870S is end-of-life.

Q: How do their transistor counts compare?

A: The Ryzen 3 2200U packs 4,950 million transistors on a 14 nm process, while the i7-870S has 774 million transistors on a 45 nm node. The AMD chip uses over six times more transistors despite having fewer cores.

Q: Which chip has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-870S has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, double the 4 MB shared L3 on the Ryzen 3 2200U. However, the Ryzen has larger L1 (96 KB per core versus 64 KB) and L2 (512 KB per core versus 256 KB) caches per core.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two is vast. The i7-870S uses Intel's Nehalem architecture on the Lynnfield codename, built on a 45 nm process at Intel's own foundries. It integrates 774 million transistors across a 296 mm² die. The Ryzen 3 2200U uses AMD's Zen architecture under the Raven Ridge codename, fabricated by GlobalFoundries on a 14 nm node, with 4,950 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The transistor count difference is enormous: the AMD chip packs over six times more transistors into a smaller physical area, reflecting the density advantage of the newer process.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. The i7-870S provides 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus 8 MB of shared L3. The Ryzen 3 2200U offers 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, but only 4 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip's larger L3 pool helps compensate for smaller per-core caches, while the AMD part relies on faster per-core caches to feed its two cores. Memory support also diverges: the i7-870S uses dual-channel DDR3, while the Ryzen 3 2200U uses dual-channel DDR4 with a rated bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The Intel chip provides Gen 2 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD part offers Gen 3 with only 8 lanes. The Ryzen's newer PCIe standard means higher per-lane bandwidth, but the Intel chip has more total lanes for expansion. The Ryzen 3 2200U includes Radeon Vega 3 integrated graphics, which the i7-870S lacks entirely. Process nodes and foundries are also distinct: Intel 45 nm versus GlobalFoundries 14 nm, with the Intel chip being a desktop part and the AMD chip a mobile part, as indicated by their sockets (Intel Socket 1156 versus AMD Socket FP5).

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ across nearly every major specification. The i7-870S has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Ryzen 3 2200U has 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.67 GHz versus 2.50 GHz, and boost clocks are 3.60 GHz versus 3.40 GHz, both favoring Intel. Thermal design power is a stark contrast: the i7-870S draws 82 W, while the Ryzen 3 2200U is rated at just 15 W, making the AMD chip far more power-efficient per watt. The Intel part uses an 82 W TDP in a desktop socket, while the AMD part sips power in a mobile socket.

Memory support splits along generational lines: DDR3 for the Intel chip, DDR4 for the AMD chip, both dual-channel. The Ryzen 3 2200U lists a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i7-870S has no bandwidth figure. PCIe versions differ: Gen 2 with 16 lanes for Intel versus Gen 3 with 8 lanes for AMD. Integrated graphics are present only on the Ryzen 3 2200U as Radeon Vega 3. The i7-870S has no integrated graphics. The Ryzen chip uses a smaller 14 nm process versus 45 nm, has far more transistors (4,950 million versus 774 million), and a smaller die (210 mm² versus 296 mm²). Cache sizes also differ, with the Intel chip having 8 MB L3 versus 4 MB L3 on the AMD part, but the AMD chip has larger L1 and L2 per core. Release dates are far apart: July 2010 for Intel, January 2018 for AMD. Production status also differs, with the i7-870S end-of-life and the Ryzen 3 2200U active. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, and both lack ECC memory support.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 3 2200U wins in multi-threaded performance where the two meet directly, as shown by its 24.4% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core. It also wins decisively on power efficiency: a 15 W TDP versus 82 W means the AMD chip is suitable for thin-and-light laptops, while the Intel chip demands desktop cooling and power delivery. The Ryzen's integrated Radeon Vega 3 graphics give it an edge for basic display output and light GPU-accelerated tasks without a discrete card. Its newer PCIe Gen 3 support provides faster per-lane data transfer for modern SSDs and GPUs. The Ryzen also benefits from being an active product with modern DDR4 memory support, making it a viable option in current systems.

The i7-870S wins in raw core count and thread count, offering 4 cores and 8 threads versus 2 cores and 4 threads. This gives it an advantage in heavily threaded workloads that scale beyond four threads, despite losing the single Cinebench R15 test. Its higher base and boost clocks (2.67 GHz and 3.60 GHz versus 2.50 GHz and 3.40 GHz) help in single-threaded tasks, as evidenced by its Cinebench R20 single-core score of 139 and R23 single-core score of 331. The larger 8 MB L3 cache provides a bigger shared pool for data-hungry applications. The Intel chip also offers more PCIe lanes (16 versus 8), which can be an advantage in multi-GPU or high-expansion desktop builds. Its 296 mm² die with a simpler 45 nm process may be easier to cool in a desktop context where power is not a constraint.

The Verdict

Choose the AMD Ryzen 3 2200U if you need a low-power, modern mobile processor with integrated graphics and better multi-threaded performance in the one benchmark where both are measured. The data shows it beats the i7-870S by 24.4% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, while consuming 82% less power (15 W versus 82 W TDP). It also supports DDR4 memory and PCIe Gen 3, making it a more current platform. For a laptop or compact system where efficiency and built-in graphics matter, the Ryzen 3 2200U is the clear choice from the available benchmark data.

Choose the Intel Core i7-870S if you need more cores and threads for parallel workloads that extend beyond four threads, or if you value higher clock speeds for single-threaded tasks. Its 4-core/8-thread configuration and 8 MB L3 cache give it structural advantages that the Ryzen lacks, even if they do not appear in the head-to-head test. The higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz and superior single-core scores in Cinebench R20 and R23 suggest it handles lightly threaded applications well. For a desktop system where power consumption is not a primary concern and you have a discrete GPU, the i7-870S offers a competitive performance level at the same 22nd percentile ranking.

The two processors are statistical equals in average benchmark score (809 versus 805, a 0.4% difference), so the deciding factors come down to platform considerations: the Ryzen 3 2200U's modern features and efficiency versus the i7-870S's higher core count and legacy desktop flexibility. There is no universal winner; the data simply shows two different approaches to achieving similar overall performance.