AMD Ryzen 3 3100U vs AMD Ryzen 5 240 Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data places the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U and the AMD Ryzen 5 240 in entirely different performance strata. The Ryzen 5 240 wins all 11 head-to-head benchmark comparisons in the database, with the narrowest margin being a 56.7% advantage in single-thread performance. The Ryzen 3 3100U, by contrast, records zero wins across the entire benchmark suite. The average benchmark score for the Ryzen 5 240 is 33542, placing it in the 84th percentile of all CPUs; the Ryzen 3 3100U averages 6247, which lands in the 62nd percentile. The Ryzen 5 240 is the clear choice for workloads that demand sustained multi-threaded throughput, data compression, encryption, or floating-point mathematics. The Ryzen 3 3100U, with its 2 cores and 2 threads, targets basic mobile productivity where low power draw matters more than raw output. The data shows no scenario in the tested suite where the older dual-core part outperforms the newer six-core processor.

Architecture Differences

The Ryzen 3 3100U is built on the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Picasso, using a 12 nm process node from GlobalFoundries. The Ryzen 5 240 uses the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Hawk Point, fabricated by TSMC on a 4 nm node. The process node difference is significant, as the database shows the Ryzen 5 240 packs 25,000 million transistors across a 178 mm² die, while the Ryzen 3 3100U contains 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The newer part achieves more than five times the transistor count on a physically smaller die, which indicates denser integration and a more modern manufacturing approach.

The Ryzen 3 3100U belongs to the 3000 series and carries the generation label "Ryzen 3 (Zen+ (Picasso))". The Ryzen 5 240 belongs to the Zen 4 (Hawk Point) generation. Cache configurations differ substantially. The Ryzen 3 3100U provides 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen 5 240 provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. Although the per-core L1 is smaller on the Ryzen 5 240, the total cache capacity is far larger due to the six-core layout and the quadrupled L3 pool.

Memory support also diverges. The Ryzen 3 3100U supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel operation and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Ryzen 5 240 supports DDR5 memory, also dual-channel, with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The newer platform more than doubles the theoretical memory bandwidth. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the Ryzen 3 3100U uses PCIe Gen 3, while the Ryzen 5 240 uses PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes available for the CPU. The integrated graphics are different GPU designs: the Ryzen 3 3100U uses Radeon Vega 8, while the Ryzen 5 240 uses Radeon 760M. Both processors target the mobile market segment, and both are listed as active production parts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest relative gap in the head-to-head results appears in extended instructions, where the Ryzen 5 240 scores 20201 against the Ryzen 3 3100U's 2116, a delta of 89.5%. This suggests the Zen 4 architecture carries a substantial advantage in SIMD and specialized instruction throughput. Data encryption shows a similar pattern: the Ryzen 5 240 scores 15849 versus 1972, a delta of 87.6%. Integer math favors the Ryzen 5 240 by 87.9%, with scores of 73189 and 8873 respectively. Floating-point math shows the Ryzen 5 240 at 45301 against 5854, a delta of 87.1%.

The multithread benchmark gives the Ryzen 5 240 a score of 22658, while the Ryzen 3 3100U manages 3348, a delta of 85.2%. This aligns with the core and thread count difference: the Ryzen 5 240 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Ryzen 3 3100U has 2 cores and 2 threads. Data compression results show the Ryzen 5 240 at 267963 versus 38455, a delta of 85.6%. Random string sorting also shows a 85.6% gap, with scores of 32385 and 4666.

The physics benchmark, which often reflects multi-core scaling, gives the Ryzen 5 240 a score of 1060 against 232 for the Ryzen 3 3100U, a delta of 78.1%. Prime number finding shows the Ryzen 5 240 at 70 versus 18, a delta of 74.3%. The smallest advantage for the Ryzen 5 240 is in single-thread performance, where it scores 3675 against 1592, a delta of 56.7%. Even in this closest comparison, the newer processor still leads by a wide margin.

The database also includes Cinebench results for the Ryzen 5 240, which are not present for the Ryzen 3 3100U. In Cinebench R23, the Ryzen 5 240 scores 13013 in multi-core and 1742 in single-core. In Cinebench R15, it scores 2078 in multi-core and 270 in single-core. These figures provide additional context for the Ryzen 5 240's standing, though no direct comparison is possible since the Ryzen 3 3100U lacks corresponding entries.

The nearest rivals in the database confirm the positioning of each part. The Ryzen 3 3100U sits near the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X, which has an average score of 6231 and a delta of 0.3%, and the AMD EPYC 7272 at 6186 with a delta of 1%. The Intel Core i9-10920X scores 6347, putting it 1.6% above the Ryzen 3 3100U. The Intel Core i9-7940X scores 6147, which is 1.6% below. The Ryzen 5 240, by contrast, sits near the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H, which averages 33537 with a delta of 0%. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS averages 33667, a delta of 0.4% above the Ryzen 5 240. The AMD Ryzen 5 7645HX averages 33668, also 0.4% above. The Intel Core i5-12600HX averages 33375, which is 0.5% below the Ryzen 5 240.

Specification Differences

The Ryzen 3 3 3100U and Ryzen 5 240 differ across nearly every major specification field in the database. The Ryzen 3 3100U has 2 cores and 2 threads; the Ryzen 5 240 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clock speeds are 1.90 GHz for the Ryzen 3 3100U and 4.30 GHz for the Ryzen 5 240. Boost clocks are 3.20 GHz for the Ryzen 3 3100U and 5.00 GHz for the Ryzen 5 240. Thermal design power is 15 W for the Ryzen 3 3100U and 45 W for the Ryzen 5 240. The socket assignment differs: the Ryzen 3 3100U uses AMD Socket FP5, while the Ryzen 5 240 uses AMD Socket FP8. The Ryzen 3 3100U lists its architecture field as null and its codename as Picasso; the Ryzen 5 240 lists Zen 4 as its architecture and Hawk Point as its codename. The Ryzen 3 3100U uses a 12 nm process node from GlobalFoundries; the Ryzen 5 240 uses a 4 nm node from TSMC. The Ryzen 3 3100U has 4,940 million transistors on a die size of 210 mm²; the Ryzen 5 240 has 25,000 million transistors on a die size of 178 mm². L2 cache per core is 512 KB for the Ryzen 3 3100U and 1 MB for the Ryzen 5 240. L3 cache is 4 MB shared for the Ryzen 3 3100U and 16 MB shared for the Ryzen 5 240. Memory support is DDR4 for the Ryzen 3 3100U and DDR5 for the Ryzen 5 240; memory bandwidth is 38.4 GB/s and 89.6 GB/s respectively. PCIe generation is Gen 3 for the Ryzen 3 3100U and Gen 4 with 20 lanes for the Ryzen 5 240. The Ryzen 3 3100U uses Radeon Vega 8 graphics; the Ryzen 5 240 uses Radeon 760M. The Ryzen 3 3100U has a part number YM3100C4T2OFG; the Ryzen 5 240 has part number 100-000001727. Both processors lack ECC memory support and both are locked multipliers that are not unlocked. Both target the mobile market segment and are active production parts.

The release dates in the database list the Ryzen 3 3100U as released on May 31, 2026, and the Ryzen 5 240 as released on January 7, 2025, 17:00:00.000Z. The Ryzen 5 240 belongs to the Ryzen 5 series, while the Ryzen 3 3100U belongs to the 3000 series. The Ryzen 3 3100U generation field reads "Ryzen 3 (Zen+ (Picasso))"; the Ryzen 5 240 generation field reads "Ryzen 5 (Zen 4 (Hawk Point)".

The Ryzen 3 3100U records an average benchmark score of 6247 and stands in the 62nd percentile among all CPUs. The Ryzen 5 240 records an average benchmark score of 33542 and stands in the 33542 percentile among all CPUs. 84th percentile. The Ryzen 3 3100U has 0 wins in head-to-head comparisons; the Ryzen 5 240 has 11 wins.

The Ryzen 3 3100U has 0 wins in head-to-head benchmarks; the Ryzen 5 240 has 11 wins. The head-to-head table shows 11 tests for the Ryzen 5 240 wins. The Ryzen 3 3100U wins 0. The passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread are identical at 1592 for the Ryzen 3 3100U and 3675 for the Ryzen 5 240, both winning for the Ryzen 5 240. The Ryzen 3 3100U shows scores of 38455 data compression, 1972 data encryption, 2116 extended instructions, 18 prime numbers, 5854 floating point, 8873 integer math, 3348 multithread, 232 physics, 4666 random string sorting, 1592 single thread. The Ryzen 5 240 shows 267963 data compression, 15849 data encryption, 20201 extended instructions, 70 prime numbers, 45301 floating point, 73189 integer math, 22658 multithread, 1060 physics, 32385 random string sorting, 3675 single thread.

The Ryzen 5 240 nearest rivals include Intel Core Ultra 7 255H with 33537 average score delta 0% Ryzen 7 8840HS 33667 delta -0.4% Ryzen 5 7645HX 33668 -0.4% Intel Core i5-12600HX 33375 delta 0.5%. The Ryzen 7 8840HS and Ryzen 5 7645HX both show average scores above.

The Ryzen 5 240 nearest rivals include Intel Core Ultra 7 255H with 33537 average score delta 0% Ryzen 7 8840HS 33667 delta -0.4% Ryzen 5 7645HX 33668 -0.4% Intel Core i5-12600HX 33375 delta 0.5%. The Ryzen 7 8840HS and Ryzen 5 7645HX both show average scores above the Ryzen 5 240.

The Ryzen 3 3100U nearest rivals include AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X 6231 avg delta 0.3% AMD EPYC 7272 6186 delta 1% Intel Core i9-10920X 6347 delta -1.6% Intel Core i9-7940X 6147 delta 1.6%. The Ryzen 3 3100U sits 0.3% below the Ryzen 5 240 in the database.

The Ryzen 3 3100U has 0 wins. Ryzen 5 240 has 11. The Ryzen 3 3100U has 0 wins.

The Ryzen 5 240 has 11 wins. Ryzen 3 3100U 0. The Ryzen 3 3100U has 0 wins. The Ryzen 5 240 11 wins.

The Ryzen 5 240 has 11 wins. Ryzen 3 3100U 0 wins. The Ryzen 3 3100U has 0 wins.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Ryzen 5 240 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Ryzen 3 3100U has 2 cores and 2 threads.

Q: What are the base and boost clock speeds?

A: The Ryzen 3 3100U has a base clock of 1.90 GHz base clock and 3.20 GHz boost clock. The Ryzen 5 240 has a base clock of 4.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

Q: Which memory types do the two processors support?

A: The Ryzen 3 3100U supports DDR4 memory; the Ryzen 5 240 supports DDR5. The Ryzen 3 3100U has dual-channel memory bus and 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth; the Ryzen 5 240 has dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: How do the integrated graphics differ?

A: The Ryzen 3 3100U uses Radeon Vega 8; the Ryzen 5 240 uses Radeon 760M. Both integrate graphics into the mobile processor package.

Q: What process nodes are used?

A: The Ryzen 3 3100U 12 nm process node from GlobalFoundries. The Ryzen 5 240 uses 4 nm process from TSMC. The Ryzen 3 3100U has a process node of 12 nm; the Ryzen 5 240 has 4 nm.

Q: What sockets are used on the two processors?

A: The Ryzen 3 3100U uses AMD Socket FP5; the Ryzen 5 240 uses AMD Socket FP8.

Q: What are the L3 cache sizes and TDPs?

A: The Ryzen 3 3100U has 4 MB L3 cache shared; the Ryzen 5 240 has 16 MB L3 cache shared. The Ryzen 5 240 L3 cache is 16 MB shared; the Ryzen 3 3100U L3 is 4 MB.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores and percentiles?

A: The Ryzen 3 3100U scores 6247 average and 62nd percentile; the Ryzen 5 240 scores 33542 average and 84th percentile. The Ryzen 3 3100U has a score of 6247; Ryzen 5 240 33542.