AMD Ryzen 3 3100U vs Intel Core 5 330 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a complete sweep for the Intel Core 5 330 across every head-to-head PassMark workload, with the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U failing to take a single win. The most decisive margin appears in floating-point math, where the Intel part scores 43,885 against 5,854, a delta of -86.7% for the AMD chip. That gap is not an outlier; the pattern repeats across nearly every category, with the smallest difference still being substantial.

Single-thread performance, often a weaker area for lower-core-count mobile parts, shows the Intel Core 5 330 at 4,088 versus 1,592, a -61.1% delta. This indicates a large per-core efficiency advantage, not merely a core-count benefit. Data compression results follow a similar trajectory: 145,287 for the Intel chip against 38,455, a -73.5% delta. Integer math lands at 33,258 versus 8,873, a -73.3% delta, while random string sorting shows 17,771 versus 4,666, a -73.7% delta.

Multi-threaded workloads amplify the core-count disparity. The PassMark multithread score for the Intel Core 5 330 is 15,471, compared to 3,348 for the Ryzen 3 3100U, a -78.4% delta. Physics simulation delivers 1,201 versus 232, a -80.7% delta. Extended instructions measure 12,808 versus 2,116, a -83.5% delta. Prime number finding, a test sensitive to integer throughput and instruction efficiency, shows 114 versus 18, a -84.2% delta. Data encryption completes the set at 11,076 versus 1,972, a -82.2% delta.

The average benchmark score confirms the spread: the Intel part records 18,345, while the AMD part records 6,247. That places the Ryzen 3 3100U in the 62nd percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Core 5 330 sits in the 72nd percentile. The nearest rivals for each chip reinforce their respective tiers: the AMD processor's closest competitors include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X at 6,231 (0.3% delta), the AMD EPYC 7272 at 6,186 (1% delta), the Intel Core i9-10920X at 6,347 (-1.6% delta), and the Intel Core i9-7940X at 6,147 (1.6% delta). The Intel Core 5 330, meanwhile, trades positions with the Intel Core i3-14100 at 18,318 (0.1% delta), the Intel Core 7 360 at 18,374 (-0.2% delta), the Intel Core i3-13100 at 18,380 (-0.2% delta), and the Intel Core 3 305 at 18,302 (0.2% delta). The Core 5 330's score is effectively in the same band as those desktop-oriented chips, which suggests its performance class is far above the Ryzen 3 3100U.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core 5 330 records a single-thread score of 4,088, versus 1,592 for the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U. That is a -61.1% delta for the AMD part, the smallest relative gap of any benchmark in the comparison.

Q: How large is the multi-threaded performance gap?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 scores 15,471 in the PassMark multithread test, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U scores 3,348. The delta is -78.4%, meaning the AMD processor delivers less than a quarter of the Intel part's throughput in that workload.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U has an average benchmark score of 6,247, while the Intel Core 5 330 has an average benchmark score of 18,345. The Intel chip also holds a higher percentile ranking, at 72 versus 62 for the AMD chip.

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 boosts to 4.60 GHz, compared to 3.20 GHz for the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U. The base clocks are 1.50 GHz for the Intel part and 1.90 GHz for the AMD part.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U wins?

A: No. Across the 11 recorded head-to-head PassMark tests, the Intel Core 5 330 wins all of them. The AMD part's win count is zero.

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

A: The Intel Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory with a recorded bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U supports DDR4 with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel part also uses a single-channel memory bus, whereas the AMD part uses a dual-channel bus.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design generations and foundries. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U is built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with a die size of 210 mm² and 4,940 million transistors. Its codename is Picasso, part of the Ryzen 3 generation based on Zen+ architecture. The Intel Core 5 330 uses a 3 nm process at Intel, with the codename Wildcat Lake under the Core 5 generation. No transistor count or die size is recorded for the Intel part, which prevents a direct density comparison, but the process node advantage is clear.

Core counts differ substantially. The AMD chip provides 2 cores and 2 threads, while the Intel chip provides 6 cores and 6 threads. Neither processor uses simultaneous multithreading, so thread counts equal core counts. The cache hierarchy reflects the core difference: the AMD part has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The Intel part lists 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip's larger total cache, especially the L3, contributes to its higher scores in cache-sensitive workloads like data compression and random string sorting.

Memory support diverges as well. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U uses DDR4 with a dual-channel bus, while the Intel Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel bus. Despite the narrower bus, the Intel part records a higher memory bandwidth at 59.7 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s, driven by the newer memory standard. PCIe connectivity also differs: the AMD chip uses Gen 3, while the Intel chip uses Gen 4 with 6 lanes available on the CPU. Integrated graphics are present on both, with the AMD part featuring Radeon Vega 8 and the Intel part featuring Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores.

The socket and packaging are entirely different. The AMD processor uses AMD Socket FP5, while the Intel processor uses Intel BGA 1516. Both are mobile-market parts, and both have a 15 W TDP. Neither is multiplier-unlocked. The AMD part's release date is recorded as May 31, 2026, while the Intel part's release date is April 15, 2026, making the Intel chip the earlier launch. The AMD part has no launch MSRP listed; the Intel part lists a launch MSRP of $309.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U has 2 cores and 2 threads; the Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads. Base clock is 1.90 GHz for the AMD part and 1.50 GHz for the Intel part. Boost clock is 3.20 GHz for the AMD part and 4.60 GHz for the Intel part. The AMD chip uses the Picasso codename and Ryzen 3 (Zen+ (Picasso)) generation, while the Intel chip uses the Wildcat Lake codename and Core 5 (Wildcat Lake) generation.

Process node is 12 nm for the AMD part at GlobalFoundries, versus 3 nm for the Intel part at Intel. The AMD part has a die size of 210 mm² and 4,940 million transistors; no such figures are recorded for the Intel part. L1 cache is 96 KB per core for the AMD part versus 192 KB for the Intel part. L2 cache is 512 KB per core for the AMD part versus 2.5 MB for the Intel part. L3 cache is 4 MB shared versus 6 MB shared.

Memory support is DDR4 for the AMD part versus DDR5 and LPDDR5X for the Intel part. Memory bus is dual-channel for the AMD part versus single-channel for the Intel part. Memory bandwidth is 38.4 GB/s versus 59.7 GB/s. PCIe is Gen 3 versus Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 8 versus Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe). Socket is AMD Socket FP5 versus Intel BGA 1516. Release dates are May 31, 2026 versus April 15, 2026. The AMD part has no launch MSRP, while the Intel part has a launch MSRP of $309. The AMD part's part number is YM3100C4T2OFG, and the Intel part's part number is SAE3G.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 330 wins every recorded benchmark, so the use-case split is not about choosing one processor for a specific task; it is about the magnitude of the Intel advantage in different workload classes. For single-threaded operations, the Intel chip leads by 2,496 points in the PassMark single-thread test, which is the smallest relative gap at -61.1%. That means applications relying on per-core responsiveness, such as lightweight scripting or simple office tasks, still favor the Intel part, but the gap is less punishing than in other areas.

For multi-threaded and compute-heavy work, the Intel advantage becomes overwhelming. The multithread score of 15,471 versus 3,348, and the floating-point math score of 43,885 versus 5,854, indicate that the Intel Core 5 330 is the appropriate choice for any workload that scales across cores, such as rendering, scientific computation, or large data transformations. The data compression and encryption tests show similar dominance, with the Intel part scoring 145,287 versus 38,455 in compression and 11,076 versus 1,972 in encryption. These results point to strong integer throughput and memory subsystem performance on the Intel chip.

The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U, despite losing every head-to-head test, still holds a place in the database as a low-power 15 W part with a 1.90 GHz base clock and a 3.20 GHz boost clock. Its 62nd percentile ranking puts it in the middle of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals are desktop high-core-count parts like the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X and Intel Core i9-7940X, albeit with small deltas around 1.6%. That suggests the AMD chip's average score of 6,247 is competitive with much larger desktop processors from an older generation, but it does not approach the Intel Core 5 330's performance class.

For workloads that depend on memory bandwidth, the Intel part's 59.7 GB/s with DDR5 support gives it a clear edge over the AMD part's 38.4 GB/s with DDR4. The single-channel bus on the Intel chip does not prevent it from outperforming the dual-channel AMD part, which shows that the memory standard matters more than the channel count in this comparison. For workloads that depend on cache capacity, the Intel chip's 6 MB of L3 and 2.5 MB of L2 provide more headroom than the AMD chip's 4 MB of L3 and 512 KB per core of L2.

The practical takeaway from the data is straightforward: the Intel Core 5 330 is the faster processor in every measurable category, and the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U offers no benchmark-based advantage. The only area where the AMD part shows a favorable specification is its higher base clock of 1.90 GHz versus 1.50 GHz, but that does not translate into any recorded performance win. For users prioritizing raw performance across single-thread, multi-thread, memory-intensive, or cache-sensitive tasks, the Intel Core 5 330 is the clear leader in this comparison.