AMD Ryzen 3 3100U vs Intel Core 5 315 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core 5 315 wins every single one of the 11 recorded head-to-head comparisons against the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U. The narrowest margin comes in the PassMark integer math test, where the Intel part scores 31,690 against the AMD's 8,873, a 72% advantage. The widest gap appears in floating-point math, with Intel at 42,441 versus AMD's 5,854, a 86.2% difference. Across all tests, the Intel Core 5 315 maintains a lead ranging from roughly three times to over seven times the AMD score.

Starting with the most extreme disparity, the floating-point math result shows the Intel Core 5 315 delivering 42,441 points while the Ryzen 3 3100U manages only 5,854. This 86.2% deficit for the AMD chip indicates a fundamental throughput difference that scales directly with the Intel part's higher core count and newer architecture. The extended instructions test tells a similar story: 13,143 for Intel versus 2,116 for AMD, a 83.9% gap. Prime number finding, often a measure of raw integer iteration speed, shows 112 versus 18, again an 83.9% difference.

The encryption workload favors Intel by 82.3%, with scores of 11,119 versus 1,972. Data compression, a test that stresses both memory bandwidth and core efficiency, has Intel at 146,143 and AMD at 38,455, a 73.7% delta. Random string sorting, another memory and cache-sensitive workload, shows 17,551 versus 4,666, a 73.4% gap.

The multithreaded PassMark score confirms the overall pattern: Intel at 15,272 versus AMD at 3,348, a 78.1% difference. The physics test, which often reflects both single-thread speed and core scaling, has Intel at 1,163 versus AMD's 232, an 80.1% gap. Single-thread performance, the most important metric for many everyday applications, shows Intel at 4,021 versus AMD's 1,592, a 60.4% advantage. This is the smallest relative gap in the suite, but it still represents a massive lead in absolute terms.

The average benchmark score puts the Intel Core 5 315 at 18,188, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U sits at 6,247. The Intel part's percentile ranking among all CPUs in the database is 72, compared to 62 for the AMD. The nearest recorded rivals for the Intel part include the AMD EPYC 9274F, Intel Core i7-9700, Intel Core i7-1365U, and AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, all within 0.1% of its average score. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X, AMD EPYC 7272, Intel Core i9-10920X, and Intel Core i9-7940X, with deltas ranging from 1.6% to -1.6%.

Where Each One Wins

The data shows no benchmark category where the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U comes out ahead. Every recorded workload, from integer math to compression to physics, is won by the Intel Core 5 315. The AMD chip's best relative showing is in single-thread performance, where the 60.4% gap is the smallest of any test. This suggests that while the AMD part is far behind in raw execution speed, its per-core efficiency is comparatively less disadvantaged than its multi-core throughput.

The Intel Core 5 315's largest advantages appear in floating-point math, extended instructions, and prime number finding, all with deltas of 83.9% or higher. These workloads typically benefit from wider execution resources and newer instruction set support. The Intel part also dominates in memory-sensitive tasks like data compression and random string sorting, which aligns with its higher recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s compared to 38.4 GB/s for the AMD chip.

For the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U, the data indicates that its strongest use case is single-threaded, light-duty work where the absolute scores are low but the relative deficit is smallest. The PassMark single-thread score of 1,592 is 60.4% below Intel's 4,021, which is a smaller gap than the 86.2% difference in floating-point math. In purely multi-core workloads, the AMD part's 3,348 multithread score is 78.1% below Intel, making it less competitive for parallel tasks.

The Intel Core 5 315's 6 cores and 6 threads give it a structural advantage over the AMD's 2 cores and 2 threads. The Intel chip also boosts to 4.40 GHz versus the AMD's 3.20 GHz, which directly explains much of the single-thread lead. The benchmark results show the Intel part outperforming the AMD chip by at least 72% in every test, so there is no workload category in the recorded data where the AMD chip is competitive.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 315 has an average benchmark score of 18,188, compared to 6,247 for the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U. The Intel part ranks in the 72nd percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the AMD chip ranks in the 62nd percentile.

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

A: The Intel Core 5 315 scores 4,021 in the PassMark single-thread test, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U scores 1,592. This is a 60.4% advantage for Intel, the smallest relative gap of any recorded benchmark between the two.

Q: What is the difference in multithreaded performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 315 scores 15,272 in the PassMark multithread test, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U scores 3,348. The Intel part leads by 78.1% in this workload.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 315 has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U boosts to 3.20 GHz. The Intel part also has a lower base clock of 1.50 GHz versus the AMD's 1.90 GHz.

Q: How do the two processors compare in memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core 5 315 records a memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s with single-channel memory support for DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U records 38.4 GB/s with dual-channel DDR4 support.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each processor in the database?

A: The Intel Core 5 315's nearest rivals by average score are the AMD EPYC 9274F, Intel Core i7-9700, Intel Core i7-1365U, and AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, all within 0.1%. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X, AMD EPYC 7272, Intel Core i9-10920X, and Intel Core i9-7940X, with deltas from 1.6% to -1.6%.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every recorded specification. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U has 2 cores and 2 threads, while the Intel Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads. Base clocks are 1.90 GHz for AMD and 1.50 GHz for Intel, but the boost clocks reverse the order: 3.20 GHz for AMD and 4.40 GHz for Intel. Both have a TDP of 15 watts.

The AMD chip uses AMD Socket FP5, while the Intel part uses Intel BGA 1516. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U is built on a 12 nm process by GlobalFoundries with a die size of 210 mm² and 4,940 million transistors. The Intel Core 5 315 uses a 3 nm process from Intel, with no recorded transistor count or die size.

Memory support differs completely. The AMD part supports DDR4 in dual-channel configuration with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X in single-channel configuration with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory. PCIe support is Gen 3 for AMD and Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes for Intel.

The integrated graphics differ as well: AMD uses Radeon Vega 8, while Intel uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The AMD chip's part number is YM3100C4T2OFG, and the Intel part's part number is SAEFC. The Intel Core 5 315 has a recorded launch MSRP of $340. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U has no recorded launch MSRP. Both are mobile market segments with active production status and locked multipliers.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U belongs to the Ryzen 3 generation based on Zen+ architecture with the codename Picasso. The Intel Core 5 315 belongs to the Core 5 generation based on Wildcat Lake. The AMD chip uses a 12 nm process node, while the Intel chip uses a 3 nm node manufactured by Intel. The foundry for AMD is GlobalFoundries; Intel manufactures its own chip.

Cache configurations differ substantially. 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 5 315 has 192 KB of L1 cache total, 2.5 MB of L2 cache total, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Neither processor has a 3D V-Cache option recorded.

The process node difference is the most significant architectural gap. The Intel chip's 3 nm process is several generations ahead of the AMD's 12 nm node, which contributes to the Intel part's higher boost clock and greater core count within the same 15 watt TDP. The AMD chip's Zen+ architecture is older, and its 12 nm process limits both frequency and power efficiency relative to the Intel part.

The Intel Core 5 315 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U supports only PCIe Gen 3. Memory architecture also differs: AMD uses dual-channel DDR4, while Intel uses single-channel DDR5 or LPDDR5X. Despite the single-channel configuration, the Intel part's memory bandwidth is higher at 59.7 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s. The integrated graphics differ as well, with AMD's Radeon Vega 8 versus Intel's Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores.

The Verdict

The recorded benchmark data leaves no ambiguity: the Intel Core 5 315 outperforms the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U in every measured workload. The Intel part's average benchmark score of 18,188 is roughly three times the AMD chip's 6,247, and it holds a 72nd percentile ranking versus the AMD's 62nd. The largest gaps appear in floating-point math, extended instructions, and prime number finding, where the Intel part leads by 83.9% or more. Even the smallest gap, single-thread performance at 60.4%, represents a decisive advantage for Intel.

The core and thread count difference is the most obvious structural reason. The Intel Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U has 2 cores and 2 threads. The Intel part also boosts to 4.40 GHz compared to the AMD's 3.20 GHz, and it uses a 3 nm process versus the AMD's 12 nm node. The Intel chip's higher memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s, despite single-channel support, further supports its dominance in data compression and random string sorting.

The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U remains an active mobile processor, but the data shows it is only competitive with much older high-end desktop parts like the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X and Intel Core i9-10920X in its nearest rival group. The Intel Core 5 315, by contrast, sits alongside modern parts like the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U and Intel Core i7-1365U in its nearest rival group. For any workload recorded in the database, the Intel Core 5 315 is the clear choice. The AMD chip's only relative strength, if it can be called that, is that its single-thread deficit is smaller than its multi-thread deficit. That does not change the overall outcome: 11 wins for Intel, 0 for AMD.