AMD Ryzen 3 3100U vs Intel Core 5 120HL Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains a full Passmark benchmark suite for the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U, while the Intel Core 5 120HL currently has no recorded benchmark scores. This makes a direct numerical comparison impossible for any individual test. The available data for the AMD part shows a single-thread score of 1592 and a multithread score of 3348. In the floating point math test, the AMD chip records 5854 points, and integer math comes in at 8873. Data compression scores 38455, while encryption is much lower at 1972. Extended instructions produce 2116 points, and random string sorting finishes at 4666. The physics test yields 232 points, and the prime number search returns 18.

Because the Intel Core 5 120HL has no recorded benchmarks, its average benchmark score sits at 0 in the database. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U carries an average benchmark score of 6247, placing it in the 62nd percentile of all CPUs tracked. The nearest rivals to the AMD part in the database include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X with an average score of 6231 (a 0.3% difference), the AMD EPYC 7272 at 6186 (1% difference), the Intel Core i9-10920X at 6347 (a 1.6% deficit for the Ryzen), and the Intel Core i9-7940X at 6147 (a 1.6% advantage for the Ryzen). These figures indicate the Ryzen 3 3100U sits in a peculiar performance bracket, surrounded by desktop high-core-count parts despite being a 2-core mobile chip. The Intel Core 5 120HL, by contrast, has a 50th percentile standing with no average score, meaning the database cannot yet place it relative to any rivals.

The absence of Intel benchmark data means the head-to-head comparison relies entirely on architectural and specification differences rather than measured performance. The AMD chip shows a multithread score that is roughly double its single-thread score, which is consistent with its 2-core, 2-thread configuration. The Intel part, with 12 cores and 16 threads, would logically produce a far higher multithread result if tested, but no such number exists in the database. The recorded data cannot confirm any win for either side in any specific test, as the head-to-head benchmark table is empty and the win counters for both parts are 0.

The Verdict

The data supports only one clear conclusion: the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U has verified benchmark results, while the Intel Core 5 120HL does not. For anyone relying strictly on measured performance, the AMD part is the only option with proof of capability. Its 62nd percentile standing and average score of 6247 show it performs competently within its own class, though its nearest rivals are all desktop processors with far more cores, which suggests its score comes from strong per-core efficiency rather than raw core count.

The Intel Core 5 120HL should be selected when the requirement is for a modern desktop platform with a high core count and no immediate need for verified benchmark data. Its 12 cores, 16 threads, and 4.70 GHz boost clock indicate substantial processing potential on paper. The AMD part, with only 2 cores and 2 threads, cannot compete on raw parallelism. The Intel chip also supports DDR5 memory, which the AMD part does not, and it uses a PCIe Gen 4 interface with 8 CPU lanes, while the AMD chip uses PCIe Gen 3.

The database cannot award a performance victory to either side. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U wins on verified results and established standing. The Intel Core 5 120HL wins on specifications that strongly suggest superior multi-core throughput, but the absence of measured scores leaves that as inference, not fact. A builder needing confirmed numbers from the database should choose the AMD part. A builder prioritizing core count, newer memory support, and a faster boost clock on paper should choose the Intel part.

FAQ

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 120HL have any benchmark scores in the database?

A: No. The Intel Core 5 120HL has an empty benchmarks array, an average benchmark score of 0, and no nearest rivals listed.

Q: What is the single-thread score of the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U records a single-thread score of 1592 in the Passmark suite.

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U compare to its nearest rival in average score?

A: The closest rival is the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X with an average score of 6231, a 0.3% difference from the Ryzen 3 3100U's 6247.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U supports DDR4 only. The Intel Core 5 120HL supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: What is the core and thread count for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U has 2 cores and 2 threads. The Intel Core 5 120HL has 12 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 120HL boosts to 4.70 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U boosts to 3.20 GHz.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every measured specification. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U uses 2 cores and 2 threads, while the Intel Core 5 120HL uses 12 cores and 16 threads. The AMD base clock is 1.90 GHz, and the Intel base clock is 2.60 GHz. Boost clocks show the Intel part at 4.70 GHz versus 3.20 GHz for AMD. Thermal design power differs substantially: the AMD chip draws 15 watts, while the Intel chip draws 45 watts.

The AMD processor uses AMD Socket FP5, while the Intel processor uses Intel Socket 1700. The AMD part is a mobile segment chip, and the Intel part is a desktop segment chip. Memory support differs: the AMD chip supports DDR4 only, while the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The AMD chip has a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the Intel chip has no memory bandwidth figure in the database.

PCIe support differs: the AMD chip uses PCIe Gen 3, while the Intel chip uses PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only). Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD part's part number is YM3100C4T2OFG, and the Intel part's part number is SRPFR. The Intel Core 5 120HL has a launch MSRP of $279. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U has no launch MSRP recorded.

Integrated graphics differ: the AMD chip uses Radeon Vega 8, and the Intel chip uses Iris Xe Graphics 80EU. Neither supports ECC memory. The Intel part was released on April 7, 2024, while the AMD part has a release date of May 31, 2026. Both are marked as active in production.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U is built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries, using the Picasso codename from the Zen+ (Picasso) generation. It packs 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. Cache layout includes 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The architecture is a 2-core design with no SMT, meaning 2 threads total.

The Intel Core 5 120HL uses Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-PS codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel. It has no recorded transistor count or die size. Cache layout includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The 12-core, 16-thread configuration indicates a hybrid design with performance and efficiency cores, though the database does not specify the exact core mix.

The AMD part uses a monolithic die with integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics. The Intel part uses Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. The AMD chip's 12 nm node is older than the Intel chip's 10 nm node, which typically indicates lower density and higher power draw per transistor. The AMD chip's 15 watt TDP is remarkably low for its die size, while the Intel chip's 45 watt TDP aligns with a desktop segment part with far more cores.

The AMD part's L3 cache of 4 MB is small compared to the Intel part's 18 MB. Per-core L2 differs: 512 KB for AMD versus 2 MB for Intel. The L1 cache is larger per core on the AMD side at 96 KB versus 80 KB, but the Intel part has more cores to aggregate. The AMD chip uses a dual-channel DDR4 memory bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with no bandwidth figure recorded.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U wins in the database on verified performance data. Its average benchmark score of 6247 and 62nd percentile standing give it a concrete position among all tracked CPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X, sits only 0.3% away, which shows the Ryzen 3 3100U delivers a surprisingly competitive average score despite being a 2-core mobile part. The AMD chip also wins on power efficiency, with a 15 watt TDP versus 45 watts for the Intel part, making it suitable for low-power mobile systems.

The Intel Core 5 120HL wins on raw specifications. Its 12 cores and 16 threads dwarf the AMD part's 2 cores and 2 threads. The 4.70 GHz boost clock is substantially higher than the 3.20 GHz boost of the AMD chip. The 18 MB of shared L3 cache is more than four times the AMD part's 4 MB. The Intel chip supports DDR5 memory, which the AMD chip cannot use. PCIe Gen 4 support with 8 CPU lanes provides twice the bandwidth of the AMD chip's PCIe Gen 3. The Intel part's 80EU Iris Xe Graphics likely outperforms the older Radeon Vega 8, though no benchmark data confirms this.

For workloads that depend on single-thread speed, the Intel part's higher boost clock suggests an advantage, but the AMD part's single-thread score of 1592 is the only measured number available. For multi-threaded workloads, the Intel part's 16 threads versus 2 threads for AMD makes the outcome predictable, though unverified. The AMD chip's 15 watt TDP makes it the clear choice for battery-powered or passively cooled systems. The Intel chip's 45 watt TDP and desktop socket make it appropriate for systems with active cooling and higher power budgets. The database cannot declare a winner in any specific benchmark, but the specification differences point to the Intel part for heavy parallel processing and the AMD part for low-power mobile use.