AMD Ryzen 3 3100 vs Intel Core i5-1130G7 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 3 3100 and Intel Core i5-1130G7 are both 4-core, 8-thread processors, but they target different worlds: the Ryzen is a desktop part with a 65W TDP and a launch MSRP of $99, while the Core i5 is a mobile chip with a 15W TDP and integrated graphics. Despite that, the database places them close in overall average score: 2055 for the Ryzen versus 2026 for the Core i5, with percentile ranks of 46 and 45 respectively. The head-to-head results, however, tell a lopsided story.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records two shared tests between these CPUs, both from Cinebench R15. In the multicore test, the Ryzen 3 3100 scores 991 against the Core i5-1130G7's 706, a delta of 40.4% in favor of the AMD part. The single-core test is even more decisive: the Ryzen posts 178, while the Core i5 manages 99, a 79.8% advantage. These are not marginal differences; they represent a substantial performance gap in the workloads captured by this benchmark.

The Ryzen's dominance in these tests is notable given the Core i5's higher boost clock of 4.00 versus the Ryzen's 3.90. The Intel part also has a much lower base clock, recorded as 1100.00 compared to the Ryzen's 3.60, which likely contributes to its weaker showing in sustained multi-threaded work. The data shows that in this specific benchmark generation, the Ryzen's Zen 2 architecture delivers far superior per-thread and multi-thread throughput.

Context from the nearest rivals reinforces the picture. The Ryzen's average benchmark score of 2055 sits just 0.1% below the Intel Core i7-8705G (2058) and 0.2% below the AMD Ryzen 5 3400G (2059), while edging out the Intel Core i7-7820HK by 0.3%. The Core i5-1130G7, with an average of 2026, is effectively tied with the Intel Core i5-1145GRE (2025, +0.1%) and trails the Xeon E3-1260L v5 by 0.1%. Both CPUs occupy the same performance tier, yet the head-to-head results show the Ryzen pulling far ahead in the tests they share.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded head-to-head data, the Ryzen 3 3100 wins every shared test. That makes its case straightforward: in Cinebench R15, it is the clear choice. But the broader benchmark sets and architectural profiles suggest different strengths beyond those two tests.

The Ryzen 3 3100 is a desktop processor with a 65W TDP, an unlocked multiplier, and no integrated graphics. It is designed for systems with a discrete GPU, where raw CPU performance matters most. Its 16 MB of shared L3 cache is double the Core i5's 8 MB, and its 7 nm process node from TSMC gives it a manufacturing advantage over Intel's 10 nm node. The Ryzen also has a higher base clock (3.60 versus 1100.00) and a slightly lower boost (3.90 versus 4.00), but the benchmark results indicate that its sustained performance is superior in the tested workloads.

The Core i5-1130G7, on the other hand, is a mobile part with a 15W TDP, a locked multiplier, and integrated Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU. Its strengths lie in power efficiency and portability, not in raw throughput. It also has a higher memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s versus the Ryzen's 51.2 GB/s, and a larger L1 cache per core (96 KB versus 64 KB) and L2 cache per core (1.25 MB versus 512 KB). These features may benefit certain memory-intensive or latency-sensitive tasks, but the shared benchmark data does not show an advantage for the Intel part.

In practical terms, the Ryzen wins for desktop users who need maximum CPU performance per dollar (though we do not discuss pricing here). The Core i5 wins for ultraportable laptops where low power draw and integrated graphics are essential. The data shows that the Ryzen is the faster CPU in the tests they share, while the Core i5 is the more versatile mobile solution.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Ryzen 3 3100 uses AMD's Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Matisse, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It has 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die. The Core i5-1130G7 uses Intel's Tiger Lake architecture, codenamed Tiger Lake-U, built on a 10 nm process at Intel. Intel does not list transistor count or die size for this part.

Cache layouts differ significantly. The Ryzen has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Core i5 has 96 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Ryzen's larger L3 cache is a hallmark of the Zen 2 design, while the Core i5's larger per-core L1 and L2 caches reflect a different approach to latency.

Memory support is similar: both use DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration. However, the Core i5 has a higher memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s versus the Ryzen's 51.2 GB/s. Both support PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Neither supports ECC memory.

The Ryzen is a desktop part with an AM4 socket, while the Core i5 uses Intel BGA 1598, a soldered mobile socket. The Ryzen has an unlocked multiplier, the Core i5 does not. The Ryzen has no integrated graphics, while the Core i5 includes Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU. The Ryzen was released on April 23, 2020; the Core i5 on September 1, 2020. The Ryzen's generation is listed as "Ryzen 3 (Zen 2 (Matisse))", while the Core i5 is "Core i5 (Willow Cove-U)".

These differences explain the performance gap. The Ryzen's higher TDP (65W versus 15W) allows it to sustain higher clocks under load, and its larger L3 cache helps in multi-threaded workloads. The Core i5's lower TDP and integrated graphics make it suitable for fanless or low-power designs, but at the cost of raw performance.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-1130G7 has a boost clock of 4.00, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3100 has a boost clock of 3.90.

Q: Which CPU has more L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3100 has 16 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i5-1130G7 has 8 MB.

Q: Does the Core i5 have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i5-1130G7 includes Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100 has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which CPU has a higher TDP?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3100 has a 65W TDP, while the Intel Core i5-1130G7 has a 15W TDP.

Q: Which CPU is unlocked for overclocking?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3100 has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel Core i5-1130G7 is locked.

Q: Which CPU wins in Cinebench R15?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3100 wins both multicore and single-core tests, with deltas of 40.4% and 79.8% respectively.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 3 3100 | Intel Core i5-1130G7 |

|----------------|------------------|----------------------|

| Base clock | 3.60 | 1100.00 |

| Boost clock | 3.90 | 4.00 |

| TDP | 65 | 15 |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel BGA 1598 |

| Architecture | Zen 2 | Tiger Lake |

| Codename | Matisse | Tiger Lake-U |

| Generation | Ryzen 3 (Zen 2 (Matisse)) | Core i5 (Willow Cove-U) |

| Process node | 7 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| L1 cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 512 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 16 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 68.3 GB/s |

| Integrated graphics | None | Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU |

| Market segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release date | 2020-04-23 | 2020-09-01 |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

The data shows two capable 4-core processors that serve different markets. The Ryzen 3 3100 dominates the shared benchmark, while the Core i5-1130G7 offers integrated graphics and a much lower power envelope. For desktop performance, the Ryzen is the clear winner in the recorded tests; for mobile efficiency, the Core i5 has the features that matter.