AMD Ryzen 3 3100U vs Intel Core i9-7940X Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U and Intel Core i9-7940X occupy opposite ends of the computing spectrum, yet their average benchmark scores land within 1.6% of each other. The Ryzen 3 3100U, a 15-watt mobile part, posts an average score of 6247, while the 165-watt desktop Core i9-7940X scores 6147. This statistical tie masks profoundly different performance profiles, with the mobile chip winning on single-threaded efficiency and the desktop chip dominating multi-threaded workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 3 3100U is the clear winner in single-threaded and lightweight workloads. Its PassMark single-thread score of 1592 is higher than the Core i9-7940X’s Geekbench single-core score of 1445, and the AMD chip also leads in PassMark integer math with 8873 versus the Intel’s Cinebench R15 single-core score of 305. The Ryzen’s advantage extends to data compression, where it scores 38455, a figure that dwarfs the Intel’s multi-core Cinebench R15 result of 2161. For everyday tasks like web browsing, office applications, and light productivity, the Ryzen 3 3100U delivers responsiveness that the older Intel architecture cannot match on a per-thread basis.

The Core i9-7940X wins decisively in multi-threaded and content-creation scenarios. Its 14 cores and 28 threads allow it to crush the Ryzen’s 2 cores and 2 threads in parallel workloads. The Intel chip scores 21444 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, 9006 in Cinebench R20 multi-core, and 10516 in Geekbench multi-core. These numbers are in a different league from the Ryzen’s PassMark multi-thread score of 3348. Video rendering, 3D modeling, code compilation, and scientific simulations that scale across many threads will run substantially faster on the Intel part. The data suggests the Ryzen is for responsiveness, the Intel for throughput.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from entirely different eras and design philosophies. The Ryzen 3 3100U is built on AMD’s 12 nm process node at GlobalFoundries, using the Zen+ (Picasso) architecture. It packs 4,940 million transistors into a 210 mm² die. The Core i9-7940X uses Intel’s 14 nm process with the Skylake-X architecture, a significantly larger 484 mm² die. The Intel part lacks transistor count data in the record, but its physical size alone indicates a much more complex chip.

Cache configurations diverge sharply. The Ryzen provides 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel offers 64 KB of L1 per core, a much larger 1 MB of L2 per core, and 19.25 MB of shared L3. The Intel’s larger L2 and L3 caches give it a significant advantage in working sets that exceed the Ryzen’s 4 MB L3, though the Ryzen’s higher per-core L1 helps with latency-sensitive single-threaded tasks.

Memory subsystems also differ. The Ryzen supports dual-channel DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel supports quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s — more than double the bandwidth. Both lack ECC memory support. The Intel provides 44 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the Ryzen offers Gen 3 connectivity without a dedicated lane count. The Ryzen integrates Radeon Vega 8 graphics; the Intel has no integrated graphics at all, requiring a discrete GPU. The Ryzen’s socket is AMD FP5 for mobile, while the Intel uses Socket 2066 for desktop. The Intel is multiplier-unlocked for overclocking; the Ryzen is locked. The Intel is end-of-life, while the Ryzen remains active in production. The Intel’s launch MSRP was $1399.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Direct comparisons are complicated because the two chips share no common benchmark suite in the data. The Ryzen’s results come from PassMark tests, while the Intel’s come from Cinebench and Geekbench. Nonetheless, the numbers reveal clear patterns.

The Ryzen 3 3100U’s strongest showing is in PassMark data compression, where it scores 38455. This is a massive outlier compared to its other results and likely reflects the algorithm’s sensitivity to the chip’s memory subsystem and per-core efficiency. The Intel’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21444 is its best raw number, demonstrating the brute-force advantage of 14 cores versus 2. In floating-point math, the Ryzen scores 5854, while the Intel’s Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 9006 shows its parallel floating-point capability. The Ryzen’s integer math score of 8873 exceeds the Intel’s Geekbench single-core score of 1445, again highlighting the AMD’s single-thread advantage.

The single-threaded picture is stark. The Ryzen’s PassMark single-thread score of 1592 compares favorably to the Intel’s Geekbench single-core score of 1445 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3027. The Ryzen also leads in random string sorting with 4666, a test that measures per-thread memory latency and cache efficiency. The Intel’s Cinebench R15 single-core score of 305 is its lowest single-thread result, reinforcing that the older Skylake architecture lags in per-core performance.

In multi-threaded workloads, the Intel’s 28 threads provide an overwhelming advantage. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21444 is 6.4 times the Ryzen’s PassMark multi-thread score of 3348. The Intel’s Geekbench multi-core score of 10516 is 3.1 times the Ryzen’s multi-thread result. The Intel’s Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 9006 and R15 multi-core score of 2161 further illustrate the gap. The Ryzen’s PassMark physics score of 232 and extended instructions score of 2116 are modest, while the Intel’s multi-core results in every category are dramatically higher.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U has an average benchmark score of 6247, which is 1.6% higher than the Intel Core i9-7940X’s score of 6147. The Intel chip’s nearest rival list shows the Ryzen at a -1.6% delta, confirming the AMD part edges ahead in aggregate.

Q: Is the Ryzen 3 3100U faster than the Core i9-7940X in any workload?

A: Yes. The Ryzen scores 1592 in PassMark single-thread, 8873 in integer math, and 38455 in data compression, all of which exceed the Intel’s corresponding single-thread or light-workload results. The Ryzen also leads in random string sorting with 4666.

Q: How much faster is the Core i9-7940X in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel chip’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21444 is roughly 6.4 times the Ryzen’s PassMark multi-thread score of 3348. Its Geekbench multi-core score of 10516 is about 3.1 times higher. The Intel’s 14 cores and 28 threads provide a massive parallel advantage.

Q: Do these CPUs support the same memory configurations?

A: No. The Ryzen 3 3100U supports dual-channel DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the Core i9-7940X supports quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth. Both lack ECC memory support.

Q: Which CPU includes integrated graphics?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U includes integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics. The Intel Core i9-7940X has no integrated graphics, so it requires a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: What are the production statuses of these two processors?

A: The Ryzen 3 3100U is listed as Active in production, while the Core i9-7940X is End-of-life. The Intel part was released in August 2017 with a launch MSRP of $1399, while the Ryzen’s release date is listed as May 2026.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 3 3100U | Intel Core i9-7940X |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 2 | 14 |

| Threads | 2 | 28 |

| Base Clock | 1.90 GHz | 3.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.20 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 165 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP5 | Intel Socket 2066 |

| Codename | Picasso | Skylake-X |

| Process Node | 12 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Die Size | 210 mm² | 484 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 96 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 19.25 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Quad-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 85.3 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 3, 44 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Vega 8 | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Release Date | May 2026 | August 2017 |

| Launch MSRP | None | $1399 |

| Part Number | YM3100C4T2OFG | SR3RQ |

The specification table shows two chips designed for entirely different purposes. The Ryzen 3 3100U is a low-power mobile processor with integrated graphics and a 15 W TDP, while the Core i9-7940X is a high-end desktop part with 14 cores, 28 threads, and a 165 W TDP. The Intel chip’s quad-channel memory and 44 PCIe lanes target workstation and enthusiast builds, while the AMD chip’s compact die and mobile socket target thin-and-light laptops. The 12 nm Ryzen packs more transistors per square millimeter than the 14 nm Intel part, but the Intel’s larger die and massive cache hierarchy give it the raw throughput advantage. The launch MSRP at the top of the table is the only pricing data available, and it applies only to the Intel chip.