AMD Ryzen 3 3100U vs AMD Ryzen 7 260 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U and the AMD Ryzen 7 260 represent two very different points in AMD's mobile lineup, separated by generations, core counts, and process technology. The database shows a decisive performance gap, with the Ryzen 7 260 winning all 11 head-to-head benchmarks recorded. This analysis breaks down the specific deltas, architectural shifts, and specification differences that define this matchup.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a complete sweep for the AMD Ryzen 7 260 across all 11 PassMark tests. The largest margin comes in the extended instructions test, where the Ryzen 7 260 scores 26,544 versus the Ryzen 3 3100U's 2,116, a delta of 92%. This indicates a massive advantage in workloads that leverage advanced CPU instruction sets, likely reflecting both the newer Zen 4 architecture and the higher core count.

Data encryption follows a similar pattern. The Ryzen 7 260 posts 20,267 points against the Ryzen 3 3100U's 1,972, a 90.3% deficit for the older chip. Integer math shows the Ryzen 7 260 at 96,737 versus 8,873, a 90.8% gap. Floating point math delivers 59,462 for the Ryzen 7 260 against 5,854 for the Ryzen 3 3100U, a 90.2% difference. These three tests consistently illustrate the raw compute advantage of the newer processor.

Multithreaded performance tells a similarly one-sided story. The Ryzen 7 260 scores 28,078 in the PassMark multithread test, while the Ryzen 3 3100U manages 3,348, a delta of 88.1%. The physics test shows 1,218 for the Ryzen 7 260 versus 232 for the Ryzen 3 3100U, an 81% gap. Random string sorting delivers 42,383 for the Ryzen 7 260 against 4,666, a 89% difference. Data compression, a proxy for content creation and file handling, records 351,517 for the Ryzen 7 260 versus 38,455 for the Ryzen 3 3100U, a 89.1% gap.

The smallest relative deficit for the Ryzen 3 3100U appears in single-thread performance. The Ryzen 7 260 scores 3,736 in the PassMark single-thread test, while the Ryzen 3 3100U reaches 1,592, a delta of 57.4%. While still a substantial loss, this narrower margin suggests the Ryzen 3 3100U's single-core throughput is comparatively less disadvantaged than its multi-core throughput, though the Ryzen 7 260's higher boost clock still dominates. Prime number finding shows 77 for the Ryzen 7 260 versus 18 for the Ryzen 3 3100U, a 76.6% gap, the second-smallest margin for the older chip.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded benchmarks, the AMD Ryzen 7 260 wins in every measured category. There is no workload in the dataset where the Ryzen 3 3100U takes the lead. The Ryzen 7 260's strengths are most pronounced in heavily parallelized tasks like encryption, integer math, and extended instructions, where the 8-core, 16-thread configuration and Zen 4 architecture deliver scores roughly nine to ten times higher than the 2-core, 2-thread Ryzen 3 3100U.

The Ryzen 3 3100U's only relative strength, if it can be called that, lies in single-threaded workloads. Its 57.4% deficit in the single-thread test is the smallest of any benchmark, suggesting that lighter, less parallel tasks narrow the gap somewhat. Even so, the Ryzen 7 260's boost clock of 5.10 GHz against 3.20 GHz for the Ryzen 3 3100U ensures the newer chip still wins outright. The data indicates the Ryzen 7 260 is the appropriate choice for demanding mobile workloads, while the Ryzen 3 3100U occupies a lower-performance tier suited to basic computing tasks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras. The Ryzen 3 3100U uses the Picasso codename, built on the Zen+ architecture, and is fabricated on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Ryzen 7 260 uses the Hawk Point codename, based on Zen 4, and is manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC. This process shrink from 12 nm to 4 nm contributes directly to the Ryzen 7 260's higher clock speeds and efficiency.

Transistor counts reflect the scale difference. The Ryzen 3 3100U packs 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Ryzen 7 260 integrates 25,000 million transistors on a smaller 178 mm² die. The higher density of the 4 nm process allows the Ryzen 7 260 to fit over five times as many transistors into a physically smaller area.

Cache hierarchies also diverge significantly. The Ryzen 3 3100U offers 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen 7 260 provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. While the per-core L1 is smaller on the Ryzen 7 260, the quadrupled L3 capacity and doubled L2 per core give it a substantial advantage in data-heavy workloads. Neither chip supports 3D V-Cache.

Memory architecture also reflects the generational split. The Ryzen 3 3100U supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel access and 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The Ryzen 7 260 supports DDR5 with dual-channel access and 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth, more than double the memory throughput. PCIe connectivity advances from Gen 3 on the Ryzen 3 3100U to Gen 4 with 20 lanes on the Ryzen 7 260. Integrated graphics move from Radeon Vega 8 on the older chip to Radeon 780M on the newer one.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts represent the most obvious specification gap. The Ryzen 3 3100U has 2 cores and 2 threads, while the Ryzen 7 260 has 8 cores and 16 threads, a fourfold increase in both. Base clocks differ from 1.90 GHz on the Ryzen 3 3100U to 3.80 GHz on the Ryzen 7 260, and boost clocks from 3.20 GHz to 5.10 GHz. Thermal design power rises from 15 watts for the Ryzen 3 3100U to 45 watts for the Ryzen 7 260, reflecting the higher performance envelope.

The sockets are not interchangeable. The Ryzen 3 3100U uses AMD Socket FP5, while the Ryzen 7 260 uses AMD Socket FP8. Both are mobile parts with locked multipliers. The Ryzen 3 3100U belongs to the 3000 series with a Ryzen 3 generation label of Zen+ (Picasso). The Ryzen 7 260 carries a Ryzen 7 generation label of Zen 4 (Hawk Point). Release dates in the database place the Ryzen 3 3100U later in the record, with a 2026 date, while the Ryzen 7 260 carries a 2025 date, though both are listed as Active in production status. Neither chip has a recorded launch MSRP in the database.

The Ryzen 3 3100U's part number is YM3100C4T2OFG, while the Ryzen 7 260 uses 100-000001724. Both support dual-channel memory, and neither supports ECC memory. The Ryzen 3 3100U's average benchmark score sits at 6,247, placing it in the 62nd percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Ryzen 7 260 averages 43,717, placing it in the 88th percentile.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 260 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U has 2 cores and 2 threads.

Q: How large is the single-thread performance gap?

A: The Ryzen 7 260 scores 3,736 in the PassMark single-thread test, while the Ryzen 3 3100U scores 1,592, a delta of 57.4% in favor of the Ryzen 7 260.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The Ryzen 3 3100U supports DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The Ryzen 7 260 supports DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: Which chip has a smaller manufacturing process?

A: The Ryzen 7 260 is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Ryzen 3 3100U uses a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries.

Q: Do both processors use the same socket?

A: No. The Ryzen 3 3100U uses AMD Socket FP5, while the Ryzen 7 260 uses AMD Socket FP8.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Ryzen 7 260 has an average benchmark score of 43,717, placing it in the 88th percentile of all CPUs. The Ryzen 3 3100U has an average score of 6,247, placing it in the 62nd percentile.