AMD Ryzen 3 30 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 356H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data paints a decisive picture: the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H wins every single head-to-head benchmark in the database, taking all 11 comparisons against the AMD Ryzen 3 30. The margins are substantial across the board, with the smallest gap appearing in single-thread performance, where Intel leads by 39.5% (2465 versus 4072). That single-thread result is the closest the AMD chip comes to competitiveness, yet it still represents a clear deficit in basic instruction throughput.

The largest disparity appears in the prime number search test, where the Intel processor scores 327 against the AMD’s 20, a delta of 93.9% in favor of the Core Ultra 7 356H. This workload, which stresses integer branching and loop efficiency, shows an order-of-magnitude difference in computational capability. Floating point math follows a similar pattern: Intel posts 103128 versus 14448, a gap of 86%. Extended instruction handling also heavily favors Intel, with scores of 27898 versus 6075, a 78.2% difference.

Data compression and encryption workloads reveal the Intel part’s multicore advantage clearly. In data compression, Intel scores 336177 against AMD’s 135834, a 59.6% lead. Encryption shows Intel at 26345 versus 6461, a 75.5% margin. These tests tend to scale with core count and memory bandwidth, and the hardware specifications align with those results. Integer math performance sits at 83111 for Intel versus 29846 for AMD, a 64.1% advantage, while random string sorting shows Intel at 40990 against 14431, a 64.8% lead.

The multithread score, a broad indicator of parallel capability, gives Intel 33978 versus AMD’s 9027, a 73.4% gap. Physics simulation results follow the same trend, with Intel at 2895 and AMD at 436, a difference of 84.9%. The aggregate benchmark score confirms the hierarchy: Intel averages 41215 across all tests, while AMD averages 20137. The Intel processor sits at the 87th percentile among all CPUs in the database, whereas the AMD part lands at the 74th percentile. That percentile spread, combined with the per-test deltas, indicates the Core Ultra 7 356H is not merely modestly faster but operates in a different performance tier.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 30 does not win any recorded benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. Across all 11 tests in the database, the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H holds a clean sweep. This does not mean the AMD part lacks any utility; it simply means that in every measured workload, from single-threaded integer operations to heavily parallel floating-point calculations, the Intel processor delivers higher raw scores.

The AMD chip’s strongest relative showing comes in single-thread performance, where the 39.5% deficit is the smallest of any test. This suggests that for lightly threaded tasks, the gap narrows considerably compared to multicore-heavy workloads. The data compression test also shows a comparatively smaller margin at 59.6%, indicating that the AMD part’s memory subsystem and core efficiency handle this workload better than others. However, these are relative observations; the Intel part still wins outright.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H excels most dramatically in workloads that exploit many cores and high memory bandwidth. Prime number search, floating point math, and extended instructions all show deltas above 78%, with the prime number test exceeding 90%. The physics simulation and multithread scores also demonstrate strong scaling, with gaps above 73%. Encryption and integer math show slightly smaller but still decisive margins. For users prioritizing parallel compute, the data is unambiguous.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and manufacturing processes. The AMD Ryzen 3 30 uses the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Mendocino, built on a 6 nm process at TSMC. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The thermal design power is 15 W. Cache configuration includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. It supports LPDDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus with 88.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The integrated graphics are Radeon 610M, and the socket is AMD Socket FT6. PCIe support is Gen 3 with 4 lanes from the CPU.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H uses the Panther Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process at Intel. It has 16 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The thermal design power is 25 W. Cache is substantially larger: 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. It supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory over a dual-channel bus with 115.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The integrated graphics are Intel Xe3 Graphics, and the socket is Intel BGA 2540. PCIe support is Gen 5 with 12 lanes from the CPU.

The core count difference is the most obvious architectural gap: Intel offers four times the cores of AMD, and the thread count disparity is similarly large at 16 versus 8. The cache hierarchy also favors Intel substantially, with an L3 pool of 18 MB versus 4 MB. Memory bandwidth is 31% higher on Intel, and its PCIe implementation is two generations newer with three times the lane count. The process node difference, 3 nm versus 6 nm, allows Intel to pack more transistors and features into a comparable power envelope, though the TDP is higher at 25 W versus 15 W.

The Intel part’s boost clock of 4.70 GHz exceeds the AMD’s 4.10 GHz, which helps explain the single-thread advantage. The base clock is lower on Intel at 1.90 GHz versus 2.40 GHz, but the turbo behavior clearly delivers more sustained performance. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both target the mobile market segment. The AMD part was released in September 2025, while the Intel part followed in January 2026.

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates that the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H is the superior processor for essentially all measured workloads. Its aggregate score of 41215 is more than double the AMD Ryzen 3 30’s 20137. The Intel part’s 87th percentile placement versus the AMD’s 74th percentile reinforces this conclusion. In every head-to-head test, from single-thread to heavily parallel, the Intel processor delivers higher scores, often by margins exceeding 60%.

The AMD Ryzen 3 30’s advantages are limited to power draw and physical footprint. Its 15 W TDP is lower than Intel’s 25 W, and its smaller core count and cache may translate to lower production costs, though pricing data is not recorded. For a system where battery life and thermals are absolute priorities and performance demands are minimal, the AMD part could serve adequately. However, the database shows no performance scenario where it wins.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H should be the choice for any application that benefits from multicore throughput, high memory bandwidth, or fast single-thread execution. The data shows it leads by 73.4% in multithread, 86% in floating point, and 39.5% in single-thread performance. The 16 cores, 18 MB of L3 cache, and 115.2 GB/s memory bandwidth provide a foundation that the AMD part cannot match. The 3 nm process and Gen 5 PCIe support also position the Intel part for modern workloads.

For users who prioritize raw performance, the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H is the clear winner. For users who need the lowest possible power consumption and can accept substantially lower scores, the AMD Ryzen 3 30 remains functional. The data does not support any other conclusion.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H scores 4072 in the PassMark single-thread test, while the AMD Ryzen 3 30 scores 2465, giving Intel a 39.5% lead.

Q: How do the two compare in multithread performance?

A: Intel scores 33978 in the PassMark multithread test versus AMD’s 9027, a 73.4% advantage for the Intel part.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 30 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has 16 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen 3 30 has 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD part supports 88.0 GB/s, while the Intel part supports 115.2 GB/s, a 31% higher bandwidth for Intel.

Q: How do the aggregate benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H averages 41215 across all tests, while the AMD Ryzen 3 30 averages 20137. Intel sits at the 87th percentile of all CPUs, AMD at the 74th.