AMD Ryzen 3 3100U vs AMD Ryzen 9 270 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data positions the AMD Ryzen 9 270 as the dominant processor in this comparison. The Ryzen 9 270 wins all 11 recorded head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with no wins recorded for the Ryzen 3 3100U. The Ryzen 9 270 achieves an average benchmark score of 40,246, which places it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs. The Ryzen 3 3100U, by contrast, records an average benchmark score of 6,247, placing it in the 62nd percentile.

The Ryzen 9 270 also lands in a different performance class according to the nearest rival data. Its average score sits within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 and within 0.2% of the Intel Core i9-13905H. The Ryzen 3 3100U sits within 1.6% of the Intel Core i9-7940X and within 1% of the AMD EPYC 7272, a very different competitive neighborhood.

The data is unambiguous for users selecting between these two mobile processors: the Ryzen 9 270 is the faster chip in every measured workload category. The Ryzen 3 3100U exists in a much lower performance bracket, with roughly one-sixth of the average benchmark score of its higher-tier counterpart.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 270 scores 3,784 in the PassMark single-thread test, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U scores 1,592. The Ryzen 9 270 leads by 57.9% in this comparison.

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

A: The PassMark multithread score for the Ryzen 9 270 is 29,089, versus 3,348 for the Ryzen 3 3100U. The Ryzen 9 270 leads by 88.5% in this test.

Q: What is the difference in process node and foundry?

A: The Ryzen 3 3100U uses a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries, while the Ryzen 9 270 uses a 4 nm process from TSMC. The Ryzen 9 270 is built on the Zen 4 architecture with the Hawk Point codename, whereas the Ryzen 3 3100U uses the Zen+ architecture with the Picasso codename.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Ryzen 9 270 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Ryzen 3 3100U has 2 cores and 2 threads.

Q: How do the memory bandwidth specifications compare?

A: The Ryzen 9 270 supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Ryzen 3 3100U supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s.

Q: What are the thermal design power ratings?

A: The Ryzen 9 270 has a TDP of 45 watts, while the Ryzen 3 3100U has a TDP of 15 watts. The Ryzen 9 270 draws three times the thermal envelope.

Architecture Differences

The two processors belong to different architectural generations. The Ryzen 3 3100U is part of the 3000 series and uses the Zen+ architecture under the Picasso codename. The Ryzen 9 270 is a Zen 4 design with the Hawk Point codename. This generational gap shows up in the process node: the Ryzen 3 3100U is fabricated on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries, while the Ryzen 9 270 is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC.

Transistor counts reflect the scale of the design difference. The Ryzen 9 270 integrates 25,000 million transistors on a die size of 178 mm². The Ryzen 3 3100U integrates 4,940 million transistors on a larger die of 210 mm². The newer, denser process allows the Ryzen 9 270 to pack roughly five times the transistor count into a smaller physical area.

Cache hierarchies also differ. 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 9 270 provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. While the per-core L1 is smaller on the Ryzen 9 270, the L2 per core is double, and the total L3 is four times larger.

The integrated graphics solutions differ as well. The Ryzen 3 3100U carries a Radeon Vega 8 iGPU, while the Ryzen 9 270 carries a Radeon 780M. Both are mobile processors, and both use AMD sockets, but the Ryzen 3 3100U uses Socket FP5 while the Ryzen 9 270 uses Socket FP8.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts present the largest specification gap. The Ryzen 9 270 offers 8 cores and 16 threads, four times the cores and eight times the threads of the Ryzen 3 3100U, which has 2 cores and 2 threads. Clock speeds reinforce this gap. The Ryzen 9 270 has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Ryzen 3 3100U has a base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz.

The thermal design power differs by a factor of three: 45 watts for the Ryzen 9 270 versus 15 watts for the Ryzen 3 3100U. Memory support also diverges. The Ryzen 9 270 supports DDR5 with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Ryzen 3 3100U supports DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory buses, and neither supports ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity differs. The Ryzen 9 270 uses PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The Ryzen 3 3100U uses PCIe Gen 3. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The Ryzen 3 3100U carries the part number YM3100C4T2OFG and was released in 2026, while the Ryzen 9 270 carries the part number 100-000001836 and was released in 2025. Both processors are currently listed as Active in production status.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Ryzen 9 270 wins every recorded head-to-head benchmark, and the margins are consistently large. The smallest relative gap appears in the PassMark single-thread test, where the Ryzen 9 270 scores 3,784 against 1,592 for the Ryzen 3 3100U, a lead of 57.9%. This indicates that even in lightly threaded workloads, the newer architecture and higher clocks provide a substantial advantage.

The largest relative gap appears in the PassMark extended instructions test. The Ryzen 9 270 scores 26,729, while the Ryzen 3 3100U scores 2,116, representing a 92.1% lead. This suggests a very large advantage in workloads that use advanced instruction sets.

In integer math, the Ryzen 9 270 scores 98,266 versus 8,873 for the Ryzen 3 3100U, a 91% lead. Floating-point math shows a similar pattern: 60,122 for the Ryzen 9 270 versus 5,854 for the Ryzen 3 3100U, a 90.3% lead. Data encryption scores favor the Ryzen 9 270 at 20,852 versus 1,972, a 90.5% lead.

The data compression test shows the Ryzen 9 270 at 351,398 versus 38,455 for the Ryzen 3 3100U, a 89.1% lead. Random string sorting produces 42,819 for the Ryzen 9 270 versus 4,666 for the Ryzen 3 3100U, also an 89.1% lead. The multithread test shows 29,089 versus 3,348, an 88.5% lead.

The physics test shows 1,365 for the Ryzen 9 270 versus 232 for the Ryzen 3 3100U, an 83% lead. The prime number search shows 88 for the Ryzen 9 270 versus 18 for the Ryzen 3 3100U, a 79.5% lead. Across all categories, the Ryzen 9 270 maintains at least a 57.9% advantage and frequently exceeds 90%.

The Cinebench results for the Ryzen 9 270 place its multi-core performance firmly in the high end: 2,664 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 11,103 in R20 multi-core, and 26,438 in R23 multi-core. Single-core Cinebench scores are 376 in R15, 1,567 in R20, and 3,732 in R23. No Cinebench data exists for the Ryzen 3 3100U in the database, so the comparison relies entirely on the PassMark suite.

The average benchmark score difference is stark: 40,246 for the Ryzen 9 270 versus 6,247 for the Ryzen 3 3100U. The Ryzen 9 270's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-13905H, the Intel Xeon 6369P, the Intel Core 5 221E, and the AMD Ryzen 7 7700, all within roughly half a percent. The Ryzen 3 3100U's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X, the AMD EPYC 7272, the Intel Core i9-10920X, and the Intel Core i9-7940X. The data places these two chips in completely separate performance tiers, with no overlap in their competitive sets.