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

The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U and Intel Core 5 120U are both mobile processors aimed at thin-and-light laptops, but the recorded benchmark data shows they occupy completely different performance tiers. The Ryzen 3 3100U is a 2-core, 2-thread part from AMD’s 3000 series, built on the 12 nm Picasso design. The Intel Core 5 120U is a 10-core, 12-thread Raptor Lake-U part with a 10 nm process. The database’s head-to-head results show the Intel part winning every single benchmark, with an average benchmark score of 17898 versus 6247 for the AMD part. This places the Intel Core 5 120U in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, while the Ryzen 3 3100U sits in the 62nd percentile. The following analysis breaks down where each processor wins, what the performance gaps mean, and the architectural and specification differences that explain the results.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark set contains eleven recorded tests, all from the PassMark suite. The Intel Core 5 120U wins all eleven of those tests. The Ryzen 3 3100U records zero wins in the shared benchmark set. This is not a close contest anywhere in the data; the smallest margin for Intel is in passmark_single_thread, where it scores 3479 against 1592, a 54.2% advantage. The largest margin is in passmark_floating_point_math, where Intel scores 36026 against 5854, an 83.8% advantage. The Intel part also leads in passmark_integer_math by 83%, in passmark_data_encryption by 81.1%, and in passmark_extended_instructions by 77.2%. The single-threaded results, while still a clear Intel win, show the smallest relative gap, which suggests the Ryzen 3 3100U’s per-core performance is less distant from the Intel part than its multi-threaded performance. The Intel Core 5 120U also holds the advantage in passmark_multithread with a score of 15042 versus 3348, a 77.7% margin.

The Ryzen 3 3100U’s only area of relative strength is its single-thread score, where the 54.2% deficit is its narrowest loss. In all other tests, the Intel part leads by at least 66%. The passmark_find_prime_numbers test shows Intel at 53 versus 18, a 66% margin, which is the second-smallest gap after single-thread. The pattern across the data is consistent: the Intel Core 5 120U dominates compute-heavy workloads, particularly those that scale with core count and extended instruction sets. The Ryzen 3 3100U has no recorded benchmark win in any category, so there is no use case in this database where it outperforms the Intel part.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the Intel Core 5 120U is the stronger processor in every measured category. Its average benchmark score of 17898 is nearly three times the Ryzen 3 3100U’s 6247. The Intel part’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT with an average score of 17891 and a 0% delta, and the Intel Core 5 221TE with 17860 and a 0.2% delta. The Ryzen 3 3100U’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X with 6231 and a 0.3% delta, and the AMD EPYC 7272 with 6186 and a 1% delta. These rival placements confirm that the two processors belong to different performance classes. The Intel Core 5 120U competes with desktop-class 6-core parts, while the Ryzen 3 3100U sits near high-end desktop and server parts from several generations ago.

For users selecting between these two, the Intel Core 5 120U is the choice for any workload that benefits from multi-threading, encryption, extended instructions, or floating-point math. The Ryzen 3 3100U, with its 2-core, 2-thread configuration and 4 MB shared L3 cache, does not have a recorded benchmark where it leads. The Intel part also has a higher percentile ranking at 72 versus 62, indicating it outperforms a larger share of all CPUs in the database. The Ryzen 3 3100U’s production status is listed as Active, and its release date is later than the Intel part’s, but the performance data shows no scenario where that newer availability translates into a competitive advantage. The verdict from the recorded measurements is unambiguous: the Intel Core 5 120U is the superior processor across the board.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the Intel Core 5 120U is in passmark_floating_point_math, where it scores 36026 against the Ryzen 3 3100U’s 5854, a difference of 83.8%. This test stresses floating-point arithmetic, and the Intel part’s 10-core, 12-thread design with 12 MB shared L3 cache provides a substantial advantage over the Ryzen’s 2 cores and 4 MB cache. The passmark_integer_math test shows a similar pattern: Intel scores 52280, AMD scores 8873, a 83% margin. Integer math is a common component of general-purpose computing, so this gap indicates a wide performance difference in everyday workloads.

The passmark_data_compression test shows Intel at 166432 versus 38455, a 76.9% margin. The passmark_data_encryption test shows Intel at 10453 versus 1972, an 81.1% margin. Encryption workloads often benefit from dedicated instruction extensions, and the Intel part’s passmark_extended_instructions score of 9299 versus 2116, a 77.2% margin, supports that interpretation. The passmark_multithread score of 15042 versus 3348, a 77.7% margin, reflects the core count difference: the Intel part has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD part has 2 cores and 2 threads.

The passmark_physics test shows Intel at 937 versus 232, a 75.2% margin. The passmark_random_string_sorting test shows Intel at 19060 versus 4666, a 75.5% margin. The passmark_find_prime_numbers test shows Intel at 53 versus 18, a 66% margin. The smallest margins are in the single-thread tests: passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread both show Intel at 3479 and AMD at 1592, a 54.2% margin. The Intel part’s boost clock of 5.00 GHz, compared to the AMD part’s 3.20 GHz, explains part of this single-thread advantage. The data shows no benchmark where the Ryzen 3 3100U closes the gap to under 50%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U has an average benchmark score of 17898, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U has an average benchmark score of 6247.

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

A: In the passmark_single_thread test, the Intel Core 5 120U scores 3479 and the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U scores 1592, a 54.2% margin in favor of Intel.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U has 10 cores and 12 threads. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U has 2 cores and 2 threads.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in passmark_floating_point_math, where the Intel Core 5 120U leads by 83.8% with a score of 36026 versus 5854.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 120U’s nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT with an average score of 17891 and a 0% delta. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U’s nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X with an average score of 6231 and a 0.3% delta.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U win any head-to-head benchmark?

A: No. The Intel Core 5 120U wins all eleven head-to-head benchmarks in the database.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U uses the Picasso codename and is based on the Zen+ architecture, with its generation listed as Ryzen 3 (Zen+ (Picasso)). The Intel Core 5 120U uses the Raptor Lake-U codename and is based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with its generation listed as Core 5 (Raptor Lake-U). The process nodes differ: AMD uses a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries, while Intel uses a 10 nm process from its own foundry. The AMD part has 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, while the Intel part’s transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database.

The cache hierarchies are notably different. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 120U has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part’s L3 cache is three times larger than the AMD part’s. Memory support also differs: the AMD part supports DDR4 only, while the Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The AMD part has a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the Intel part’s memory bandwidth is not listed in the database. Both parts use dual-channel memory buses.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U uses Radeon Vega 8, while the Intel Core 5 120U uses Iris Xe Graphics 80EU. PCIe support differs: the AMD part uses Gen 3, while the Intel part uses Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only). Both parts have ECC memory support listed as false. The AMD part has a multiplier that is not unlocked, and the Intel part is also not multiplier unlocked. Neither part has a recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Specification Differences

The specification table shows several fields where the two processors differ. The core counts are 2 for the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U and 10 for the Intel Core 5 120U. Thread counts are 2 and 12, respectively. The base clocks are 1.90 GHz for the AMD part and 1.40 GHz for the Intel part. The boost clocks are 3.20 GHz for the AMD part and 5.00 GHz for the Intel part. Both parts have a TDP of 15. The sockets differ: the AMD part uses AMD Socket FP5, while the Intel part uses Intel BGA 1744.

The process node is 12 nm for AMD and 10 nm for Intel. The foundry is GlobalFoundries for AMD and Intel for the Intel part. The AMD part has a recorded transistor count of 4,940 million and a die size of 210 mm², while the Intel part has no recorded values for either. L1 cache is 96 KB per core for AMD and 80 KB per core for Intel. L2 cache is 512 KB per core for AMD and 1.25 MB per core for Intel. L3 cache is 4 MB shared for AMD and 12 MB shared for Intel. Memory support is DDR4 for AMD and DDR4, DDR5 for Intel. The AMD part has a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s; the Intel part has no recorded memory bandwidth. PCIe is Gen 3 for AMD and Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only) for Intel. Integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 8 for AMD and Iris Xe Graphics 80EU for Intel. The release dates differ: the AMD part is dated 2026-05-31, while the Intel part is dated 2024-01-07. The part numbers are YM3100C4T2OFG for AMD and SRM7P for Intel.