AMD Ryzen 3 3100U vs Intel Core i5-14600 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data presents an unambiguous split: the Intel Core i5-14600 wins every single head-to-head benchmark in the database. Out of 11 comparative tests, the Intel part takes 11, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U takes none. This is not a close contest with trade-offs across workload types; the Intel processor dominates each category by a wide margin.

The largest gaps appear in compute-heavy workloads. In floating-point math, the Intel Core i5-14600 scores 85,759 against the Ryzen 3 3100U's 5,854, a delta of -93.2%. Integer math shows a similar pattern: 117,078 versus 8,873, a -92.4% difference. These are workloads that scale with core count, clock speed, and modern instruction execution, all areas where the Intel part holds a structural advantage.

The smallest relative gap is in single-thread performance, where the Intel Core i5-14600 scores 4,167 versus 1,592, a delta of -61.8%. While still a commanding lead, the fact that this is the narrowest margin suggests the Ryzen 3 3100U's per-core efficiency is comparatively less far behind than its multi-threaded capabilities. The data compression test, which is often memory and cache sensitive, shows the Intel part at 434,620 versus 38,455, a -91.2% delta. The encryption test shows the Intel part at 25,082 versus 1,972, a -92.1% delta.

The percentile ranking reinforces this divide. The Intel Core i5-14600 sits at the 89th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U sits at the 62nd percentile. The average benchmark score tells the same story: 44,889 for the Intel part versus 6,247 for the AMD part. The nearest rivals for the Intel part include the Intel Core i9-12900KS with an average score of 45,094 (0.5% higher), the AMD EPYC 4344P at 45,122 (0.5% higher), and the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D at 44,573 (0.7% lower). The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U's nearest rivals are far lower in absolute terms: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X at 6,231 (0.3% lower), the AMD EPYC 7272 at 6,186 (1% lower), and the Intel Core i9-7940X at 6,147 (1.6% lower).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and market segments. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U is a mobile part built on the Picasso architecture, which uses the Zen+ microarchitecture. It is manufactured on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-14600 uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-R, manufactured on a 10 nm process at Intel with a 257 mm² die size.

Core and thread counts diverge sharply. The AMD part has 2 cores and 2 threads, while the Intel part has 14 cores and 20 threads. This 7x core count difference and 10x thread count difference explains much of the multi-threaded benchmark gap. The base clock of the AMD part is 1.90 GHz with a boost of 3.20 GHz, while the Intel part runs at 2.70 GHz base and 5.20 GHz boost. The higher boost clock, combined with more cores, gives the Intel part a substantial advantage in both single-thread and multi-thread scenarios.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core i5-14600 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part's 24 MB L3 is six times larger than the AMD part's 4 MB, which directly impacts data-heavy workloads like compression and sorting.

Memory support differs as well. The AMD part supports DDR4 only, while the Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The AMD part has a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the Intel part has no bandwidth figure in the database. ECC memory support also differs: the AMD part does not support ECC, while the Intel part does. PCIe generation differs: the AMD part uses Gen 3, while the Intel part uses Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

Integrated graphics differ. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U uses Radeon Vega 8, while the Intel Core i5-14600 uses UHD Graphics 770. The market segments are different: the AMD part is Mobile, the Intel part is Desktop. The sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket FP5 for the Ryzen 3 3100U, Intel Socket 1700 for the Core i5-14600.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded data, the Intel Core i5-14600 is the superior processor in every measured benchmark. Its average benchmark score of 44,889 is roughly 7.2 times higher than the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U's 6,247. Its percentile ranking of 89 versus 62 places it far higher in the overall distribution of all CPUs in the database.

The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U, however, serves a different role. It is a mobile processor with a 15 W TDP, while the Intel part has a 65 W TDP. The AMD part uses a 12 nm process with 2 cores and 2 threads, making it suitable for low-power, lightweight mobile tasks. The Intel part, with 14 cores and 20 threads, a 5.20 GHz boost clock, and 24 MB of L3 cache, is designed for desktop workloads that demand high throughput.

The data shows no scenario in which the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U outperforms the Intel Core i5-14600. The closest margin is single-thread performance, where the Intel part still leads by 61.8%. In multi-threaded workloads, the Intel part leads by over 90%. The choice, from the data alone, depends entirely on whether the mobile form factor and lower power envelope of the AMD part are required, because on raw performance the Intel part wins every test.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-14600 scores 4,167 in the passmark single-thread test, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U scores 1,592. The Intel part leads by 61.8%.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-14600 scores 35,848 in passmark multithread, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U scores 3,348, a difference of 90.7%.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U has 2 cores and 2 threads. The Intel Core i5-14600 has 14 cores and 20 threads.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U does not support ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-14600 does support ECC memory.

Q: What memory types does each support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U supports DDR4 only. The Intel Core i5-14600 supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600 has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U has 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is one-sided, but the magnitude of each delta reveals where the Intel Core i5-14600's architectural advantages matter most. In floating-point math, the Intel part scores 85,759 versus 5,854, a delta of -93.2%. This is the largest percentage gap in the entire set. The Ryzen 3 3100U's 2-core, 2-thread configuration with a 3.20 GHz boost simply cannot compete with the Intel part's 14 cores and 5.20 GHz boost in a workload that scales with parallel execution.

Integer math shows a delta of -92.4%, with the Intel part at 117,078 and the AMD part at 8,873. Data encryption is close behind at -92.1%, with scores of 25,082 and 1,972. Extended instructions show a delta of -91.8%, with 25,674 versus 2,116. Data compression shows a delta of -91.2%, with 434,620 versus 38,455.

The passmark multithread test shows the Intel part at 35,848 versus 3,348, a delta of -90.7%. Random string sorting shows 48,043 versus 4,666, a delta of -90.3%. The physics test shows 2,330 versus 232, a delta of -90%. Find prime numbers shows 155 versus 18, a delta of -88.4%.

The narrowest gap is in single-thread performance. The passmark single-thread test shows the Intel part at 4,167 versus 1,592, a delta of -61.8%. This is still a decisive win, but it indicates that the AMD part's per-core efficiency, based on the Zen+ architecture at 12 nm, is relatively closer to the Intel part's per-core performance than the multi-threaded results would suggest. The dual passmark_singlethread scores confirm the same values: 4,167 and 1,592.

In Cinebench tests, which are only recorded for the Intel part, the Core i5-14600 scores 3,070 in Cinebench R15 multicore, 433 in R15 singlecore, 12,794 in R20 multicore, 1,806 in R20 singlecore, 30,464 in R23 multicore, and 4,300 in R23 singlecore. Geekbench scores for the Intel part are 14,680 multicore and 2,424 singlecore. No comparable Cinebench or Geekbench scores exist for the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U in the database.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every recorded specification field. Core count: 2 for the AMD part, 14 for the Intel part. Threads: 2 versus 20. Base clock: 1.90 GHz versus 2.70 GHz. Boost clock: 3.20 GHz versus 5.20 GHz. TDP: 15 W versus 65 W. Socket: AMD Socket FP5 versus Intel Socket 1700.

Process node: 12 nm for the AMD part, 10 nm for the Intel part. Foundry: GlobalFoundries versus Intel. Die size: 210 mm² versus 257 mm². Transistor count: 4,940 million for the AMD part, not recorded for the Intel part.

Cache: L1 is 96 KB per core for AMD versus 80 KB per core for Intel. L2 is 512 KB per core for AMD versus 2 MB per core for Intel. L3 is 4 MB shared for AMD versus 24 MB shared for Intel. Memory support: DDR4 for AMD, DDR4 and DDR5 for Intel. Memory bus: dual-channel for both. Memory bandwidth: 38.4 GB/s for AMD, not recorded for Intel. ECC: false for AMD, true for Intel.

PCIe: Gen 3 for AMD, Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only) for Intel. Integrated graphics: Radeon Vega 8 for AMD, UHD Graphics 770 for Intel. Market segment: Mobile for AMD, Desktop for Intel. Production status: Active for both. Release date: 2026-05-31 for the AMD part, 2024-01-07 for the Intel part. Launch MSRP: the Intel part has a launch MSRP of $255, while the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP. Multiplier unlocked: false for both. Part numbers: YM3100C4T2OFG for AMD, SRN44 for Intel.