AMD Ryzen 3 30 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 165U Comparison

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165U and AMD Ryzen 3 30 are both 15 W mobile processors, yet the benchmark data reveals a decisive performance gap. The Intel part wins all 11 shared head-to-head tests, with the overall average benchmark score sitting at 20249 for the Core Ultra 7 165U versus 20137 for the Ryzen 3 30, a margin of 0.6% in favor of Intel. While the aggregate scores are close, the individual workload results tell a story of vastly different strengths, with the Intel chip dominating in nearly every measured category.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the head-to-head comparison is in the PassMark find prime numbers test. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165U scores 66, while the AMD Ryzen 3 30 scores 20, giving Intel a 230% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire dataset and indicates a massive lead in integer-heavy, single-threaded workloads. Similarly, the floating point math test shows Intel at 40775 versus AMD’s 14448, a 182.2% difference. These two results alone demonstrate that the Core Ultra 7's architecture is significantly more efficient at raw mathematical computation.

In multi-threaded scenarios, the Intel processor continues its dominance. The PassMark multithread score for the Core Ultra 7 165U is 17101, compared to 9027 for the Ryzen 3 30, an 89.4% lead. This is echoed in the integer math test, where Intel scores 57785 against AMD’s 29846, a 93.6% advantage. The physics test, which often reflects real-world gaming and simulation performance, shows Intel at 1141 versus AMD’s 436, a 161.7% gap. These numbers suggest that the Intel part handles parallel workloads with far greater efficiency.

The data encryption and extended instructions tests further highlight the architectural gap. In encryption, Intel scores 11896 compared to AMD’s 6461, an 84.1% win. For extended instructions, Intel’s 10610 beats AMD’s 6075 by 74.7%. Even in data compression, a task that often benefits from memory bandwidth, Intel leads with 188105 versus 135834, a 38.5% margin. The random string sorting test also goes to Intel, 21258 to 14431, a 47.3% advantage.

The single-thread results are the closest of the set, but still favor Intel. The PassMark single thread score is 3357 for Intel versus 2465 for AMD, a 36.2% difference. This is consistent with the find prime numbers result, reinforcing that the Core Ultra 7 165U holds a solid edge in single-core performance as well. With 11 wins out of 11 tests, the data is unambiguous: the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U is the faster processor in every shared benchmark.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 165U has an average benchmark score of 20249, while the AMD Ryzen 3 30 scores 20137. The delta between them is 0.6% in favor of Intel.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two in any single test?

A: The largest gap is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U scores 66, which is 230% higher than the AMD Ryzen 3 30's score of 20.

Q: How do the two compare in multi-threaded workloads?

A: In the PassMark multithread test, the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U scores 17101, which is 89.4% higher than the AMD Ryzen 3 30's 9027. Intel also leads in integer math with a 93.6% advantage.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 3 30 competitive in any benchmark against the Intel part?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the AMD Ryzen 3 30 wins zero tests. All 11 shared benchmarks are won by the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U.

Q: What are the single-thread performance scores for each processor?

A: In the PassMark single thread test, the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U scores 3357, and the AMD Ryzen 3 30 scores 2465. Intel leads by 36.2%.

Q: Do both processors have the same TDP?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U and the AMD Ryzen 3 30 have a TDP of 15 W, making them comparable in power envelope.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165U uses the Meteor Lake architecture, manufactured on a 7 nm process by Intel. In contrast, the AMD Ryzen 3 30 is based on the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Mendocino, and is built on a 6 nm process by TSMC. This process node difference is notable, with the AMD part using a smaller node, yet the Intel design still manages to outperform it decisively.

The core and cache configurations are starkly different. The Intel chip features 12 cores and 14 threads, while the AMD chip has 4 cores and 8 threads. This 3x core advantage for Intel is a primary driver of its multi-threaded performance. The cache hierarchy also favors Intel significantly. The Core Ultra 7 165U has 112 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen 3 30 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and only 4 MB of shared L3. The larger caches on Intel give it a substantial advantage in workloads that benefit from data locality.

Memory support also differs. The Intel part supports DDR5 memory, with bandwidth rated at 89.6 GB/s. The AMD part supports LPDDR5, with a slightly lower bandwidth of 88.0 GB/s. Both are dual-channel. The PCIe capabilities are also distinct: Intel offers Gen 4 with 12 lanes, while AMD provides Gen 3 with 4 lanes. This gives Intel a significant advantage for external device connectivity and bandwidth.

The integrated graphics differ as well. Intel uses Arc Xe-LPG with 64 execution units, while AMD uses the Radeon 610M. The benchmark data does not include iGPU tests, but the architectural specifications suggest Intel’s solution is more robust. Finally, the Intel part is based on the Meteor Lake generation, while the AMD part is from the Mendocino generation, reflecting different design philosophies and release timelines.

Specification Differences

The most obvious specification difference is the core and thread count. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165U has 12 cores and 14 threads, whereas the AMD Ryzen 3 30 has 4 cores and 8 threads. This is a massive difference in parallelism capacity.

Clock speeds also vary. The Intel base clock is 1700 MHz with a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The AMD base clock is higher at 2.40 GHz, but its boost clock is lower at 4.10 GHz. The Intel part’s higher boost clock contributes to its single-thread wins.

The process node and foundry differ: Intel uses 7 nm from its own foundry, while AMD uses 6 nm from TSMC. The die size is only specified for AMD at 100 mm², with no data for Intel.

The cache specifications are distinct. Intel has 112 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. This shows Intel’s larger cache footprint at every level.

Memory support and bandwidth differ: Intel uses DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s, while AMD uses LPDDR5 with 88.0 GB/s. PCIe generation and lane count also differ: Intel is Gen 4 with 12 lanes, and AMD is Gen 3 with 4 lanes.

The integrated graphics are different, with Intel offering Arc Xe-LPG 64EU and AMD offering Radeon 610M. The sockets are also different: Intel BGA 2049 for Intel and AMD Socket FT6 for AMD.

The launch date differs as well. The Intel part was released on 2023-12-13, while the AMD part was released on 2025-09-30. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $448, while the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U is the superior processor. It wins every single head-to-head test, with wins ranging from 36.2% in single-thread performance to 230% in prime number finding. The average benchmark score of 20249 puts it slightly ahead of the AMD Ryzen 3 30’s 20137, but the individual workload results show a much larger practical gap.

The Intel part’s 12 cores and 14 threads versus AMD’s 4 cores and 8 threads provide a fundamental advantage in multi-threaded tasks, which is reflected in the 89.4% lead in the multithread test. The larger L3 cache of 12 MB versus 4 MB also helps in data-intensive workloads. The higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz versus 4.10 GHz explains part of the single-thread advantage.

For users seeking maximum performance in a 15 W envelope, the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U is the clear choice. The data does not show any scenario where the AMD Ryzen 3 30 comes out ahead. The AMD part’s higher base clock of 2.40 GHz does not translate into any benchmark wins. Therefore, the verdict is straightforward: the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U is the faster CPU.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165U wins in every single benchmark category included in the head-to-head comparison. There are no wins for the AMD Ryzen 3 30. This means Intel dominates across all tested use cases.

For single-threaded tasks, Intel wins by 36.2% in the PassMark single thread test and by 230% in find prime numbers. This covers workloads like basic office applications, web browsing, and legacy software that rely on fast single-core execution.

For multi-threaded tasks, Intel wins by 89.4% in the multithread test and by 93.6% in integer math. This includes video encoding, 3D rendering, and compilation tasks that scale with core count.

For memory and data-heavy tasks, Intel wins by 38.5% in data compression and 47.3% in random string sorting. This benefits database operations, file archiving, and data processing.

For specialized instruction sets, Intel wins by 74.7% in extended instructions and 84.1% in encryption. This supports cryptography, scientific computing, and multimedia codecs.

The AMD Ryzen 3 30 does not win anywhere. The only area where it comes relatively close is single-thread performance, where the gap is still a substantial 36.2%. Given the data, the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U is the recommended processor for all workloads, from light productivity to heavy parallel processing.