AMD Ryzen 3 30 vs Intel Core i7-9700K Comparison

The Intel Core i7-9700K and the AMD Ryzen 3 30 are separated by more than just their average benchmark scores. The data reveals a fundamental split: the i7-9700K is a desktop powerhouse that wins almost every head-to-head test, while the Ryzen 3 30 is a mobile-focused chip that scores nearly the same overall average despite being dramatically slower in most raw compute tasks. The overall average scores are remarkably close — 20271 for the Intel part versus 20137 for the AMD part, a difference of just 0.7% — yet this near-parity masks a wide divergence in specific workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i7-9700K dominates the head-to-head comparisons, winning 10 of the 11 shared tests. The most lopsided victory comes in extended instructions, where the i7-9700K scores 18088 against the Ryzen 3 30's 6075 — a massive 197.7% advantage. This suggests the Intel chip's instruction handling is in a completely different class. Floating-point math tells a similar story: 35498 versus 14448, a 145.7% gap. Prime number finding shows a 160% lead (52 versus 20), and physics simulation results are 101.8% higher (880 versus 436). These are not marginal differences; they indicate the i7-9700K is built for heavy computational lifting.

The Intel part also wins the more mainstream multi-threaded workloads. In multithread performance, it scores 14414 against 9027, a 59.7% advantage. Random string sorting shows a 78.5% lead (25756 versus 14431), and data compression is 53.2% ahead (208062 versus 135834). Integer math is closer but still clearly favors Intel: 41411 versus 29846, a 38.7% edge. Even in single-thread performance, where the Ryzen 3 30's newer architecture might be expected to compete, the i7-9700K leads with 2865 versus 2465, a 16.2% advantage.

The single AMD victory is in data encryption. The Ryzen 3 30 scores 6461, which is 29% higher than the i7-9700K's 4590. This is a notable outlier — it suggests the AMD chip has some specialized capability or efficiency that the Intel part lacks, even though Intel wins everything else. The data implies that if your workload is encryption-heavy, the Ryzen 3 30 is the better choice, but for almost anything else, the i7-9700K is decisively ahead.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700K has an average benchmark score of 20271, which is 0.7% higher than the AMD Ryzen 3 30's 20137. Both chips sit at the 74th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: How much faster is the Intel chip in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The i7-9700K scores 14414 in PassMark's multithread test, which is 59.7% higher than the Ryzen 3 30's 9027. The gap is even larger in physics simulation, where Intel leads by 101.8%.

Q: Is there any workload where the AMD chip wins?

A: Yes, data encryption. The Ryzen 3 30 scores 6461 versus the i7-9700K's 4590, a 29% advantage. This is the only test out of 11 where AMD comes out ahead.

Q: How do these two compare to their closest rivals?

A: Both chips are closely matched with the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U. The i7-9700K is 0.1% ahead of that rival, while the Ryzen 3 30 is 0.6% behind it. The i7-9700K also trails the AMD EPYC 7713 by 0.5% and the EPYC 9454P by 0.7%.

Q: What about single-core performance?

A: The i7-9700K scores 2865 in PassMark's single-thread test, which is 16.2% higher than the Ryzen 3 30's 2465. This advantage is consistent across other single-thread metrics.

Q: Do the rivals' scores affect the head-to-head results?

A: The nearest rivals show that both chips sit in a tight competitive cluster. The i7-9700K's closest rival is the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U with a 0.1% delta, while the Ryzen 3 30's closest rival is the AMD EPYC 7713P with a 0.6% delta. The two chips themselves are rivals, with the i7-9700K holding a 0.7% edge.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-9700K is the clear winner for compute-heavy desktop tasks. Its 59.7% multithread advantage and 38.7% integer math lead make it suitable for rendering, compilation, and general productivity. The 145.7% floating-point math advantage points to scientific computing and engineering simulations. The 197.7% extended instructions lead suggests it handles complex instruction sets far more efficiently. The 101.8% physics score advantage indicates it is well-suited for game physics or simulation workloads. Data compression, where it leads by 53.2%, is another strong suit.

The AMD Ryzen 3 30's lone win in data encryption is its only clear use case from the benchmark data. If you are dealing with encrypted data streams, VPNs, or secure file operations, the 29% encryption advantage makes it the better choice. That said, the rest of its results are consistently lower. Its 436 physics score is less than half of Intel's 880, and its 9027 multithread score is far behind. The Ryzen 3 30 is a mobile chip with a 15 W TDP, so it may be better for battery-conscious scenarios, but the benchmark data does not show it winning any other compute test.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets reveal a stark contrast in design philosophy. The Intel Core i7-9700K has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 30 has 4 cores and 8 threads. Intel's base clock is 3.60 GHz with a boost of 4.90 GHz, compared to AMD's 2.40 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost. The i7-9700K has a 95 W TDP, while the Ryzen 3 30 is rated at just 15 W. The Intel chip uses an Intel Socket 1151, whereas the AMD part uses an AMD Socket FT6. Memory support differs as well: Intel uses DDR4 with a 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, while AMD uses LPDDR5 with an 88.0 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe lanes also differ, with Intel offering 16 lanes versus AMD's 4 lanes.

The integrated graphics are different too: Intel has UHD Graphics 630, while AMD has Radeon 610M. The Intel part is end-of-life, while AMD's is active. The i7-9700K has an unlocked multiplier and a launch MSRP of $385; the Ryzen 3 30 does not have an unlocked multiplier and has no listed launch MSRP. The Intel part number is SRG15SRELT, while AMD's is unknown.

Architecture Differences

The two chips are built on different nodes and architectures. Intel uses a 14 nm process with a Coffee Lake architecture, specifically from the Coffee Lake Refresh generation. The die size is 180.3 mm². AMD uses a 6 nm process with a Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Mendocino, and a die size of 100 mm². Intel's foundry is Intel itself, while AMD uses TSMC.

Cache layouts differ significantly. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache is 256 KB per core on Intel versus 512 KB per core on AMD. The L3 cache is 12 MB shared on Intel, while AMD has only 4 MB shared. This is a major difference — Intel has three times the L3 cache, which likely contributes to its strong performance in data-heavy workloads. The Ryzen 3 30's larger L2 cache per core is interesting, but it does not overcome Intel's overall cache advantage.

The memory bandwidth is another key architectural difference. AMD's LPDDR5 support provides 88.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is more than double Intel's 42.7 GB/s with DDR4. This is notable because the AMD chip wins the encryption test, which may rely on memory throughput. The i7-9700K's higher core count and clock speeds appear to be the main drivers of its benchmark dominance, but the AMD chip's newer node and memory tech show up in specific tasks.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-9700K is the superior processor for nearly every measured workload. It wins 10 of 11 head-to-head tests, with advantages ranging from 16.2% in single-thread performance to 197.7% in extended instructions. Its 8 cores, higher clocks, and larger L3 cache give it a commanding lead in multithreaded, math, and physics tasks. The 59.7% multithread win and 38.7% integer math win make it the obvious choice for productivity and content creation. The 145.7% floating-point lead and 101.8% physics lead suggest it is better for simulations and scientific applications.

The AMD Ryzen 3 30 is not without merit, but its strengths are narrow. The 29% encryption win is real and could matter for security-focused workloads. Its 88.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 6 nm node are modern, but they do not translate into broad benchmark victories. With a 15 W TDP and mobile socket, it is clearly designed for low-power laptops rather than desktop performance. The Ryzen 3 30's 74th percentile ranking matches the i7-9700K, but the underlying scores show it achieves that ranking through a different profile — one that is efficient but not fast.

For desktop users who need raw compute power, the Intel Core i7-9700K is the data-backed pick. For anyone whose primary task is encryption, the AMD Ryzen 3 30 has a unique advantage. The i7-9700K is the overall winner, but the Ryzen 3 30's specific encryption strength and memory bandwidth are worth noting. The near-identical average scores are misleading; the i7-9700K is the clear performance leader, while the Ryzen 3 30 offers a specialized edge in one area.