AMD Ryzen 3 3100U vs Intel Core i9-9920X Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U and Intel Core i9-9920X compare in overall benchmark scores?

A: The Ryzen 3 3100U has an average benchmark score of 6247, while the Core i9-9920X records an average of 5917. The Ryzen 3 sits at the 62nd percentile of all CPUs, slightly above the i9-9920X, which is at the 61st percentile.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U is a 2-core, 2-thread mobile processor. The Intel Core i9-9920X is a 12-core, 24-thread desktop processor.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i9-9920X boosts to 4.50 GHz, which is significantly higher than the Ryzen 3 3100U's boost of 3.20 GHz. The i9-9920X also has a higher base clock at 3.50 GHz versus 1.90 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, neither processor supports ECC memory. Both support DDR4, but the Ryzen 3 3100U uses a dual-channel memory bus, while the i9-9920X uses a quad-channel bus.

Q: What is the production status of each CPU?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U is listed as Active, while the Intel Core i9-9920X is marked End-of-life.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U includes Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics. The Intel Core i9-9920X has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits cleanly along workload types. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U dominates in the PassMark suite, winning every recorded test in that set. Its largest edge appears in data compression, with a score of 38455, and integer math, where it scores 8873. The Ryzen 3 also wins in floating-point math (5854), random string sorting (4666), and extended instructions (2116). In single-thread performance, it posts 1592, which is notably ahead of the i9-9920X's Geekbench single-core score of 1393. For basic throughput tasks, the Ryzen 3's efficiency and architecture deliver better raw results across the board in the PassMark tests.

The Intel Core i9-9920X wins decisively in multi-core rendering and compute workloads. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 21046 dwarfs anything the Ryzen 3 can produce, and its R20 multicore score of 8839 confirms the trend. The i9-9920X also excels in Geekbench multicore, scoring 9422. However, the Ryzen 3's average benchmark score of 6247 still edges out the i9-9920X's 5917, meaning the AMD part wins more often across the combined test pool. The i9-9920X is the clear choice for heavily threaded applications like video rendering, 3D modeling, and scientific computing, where its 12 cores and 24 threads provide massive parallel throughput.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U uses the Picasso architecture, built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It is part of the Ryzen 3 generation (Zen+), a mobile-focused design with a 15 W TDP. The chip integrates Radeon Vega 8 graphics, making it a complete system-on-chip for laptops and compact devices. Its transistor count is 4,940 million on a die size of 210 mm². The cache hierarchy is split with 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

The Intel Core i9-9920X uses the Skylake-X architecture, built on Intel's 14 nm process. It is a desktop-class part with a 165 W TDP, designed for high-end workstations. The die size is substantially larger at 484 mm², reflecting its 12 physical cores. The cache layout differs significantly: 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a much larger 19.25 MB of shared L3 cache. Intel does not list a transistor count for this chip. The i9-9920X has no integrated graphics, relying entirely on discrete GPUs. It also features an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, whereas the Ryzen 3 is locked.

The memory controllers also differ. The Ryzen 3 3100U supports dual-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i9-9920X supports quad-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, more than double. Both use PCIe Gen 3, but the i9-9920X provides 44 lanes from the CPU, a major advantage for expansion. The Ryzen 3 uses the AMD Socket FP5, while the i9-9920X uses Intel Socket 2066.

Specification Differences

The core count is the most striking difference: 2 cores on the AMD versus 12 cores on the Intel. Thread counts follow suit, with 2 threads versus 24 threads. Clock speeds favor Intel: base clocks are 1.90 GHz versus 3.50 GHz, and boost clocks are 3.20 GHz versus 4.50 GHz. The TDP is a massive gap, 15 W versus 165 W, reflecting the mobile versus desktop positioning.

The process nodes differ, with AMD at 12 nm and Intel at 14 nm. Die sizes are 210 mm² for the Ryzen 3 and 484 mm² for the i9-9920X. Cache configurations are distinct in every level: L1 is 96 KB per core on AMD versus 64 KB per core on Intel; L2 is 512 KB per core versus 1 MB per core; L3 is 4 MB shared versus 19.25 MB shared. Memory bandwidth shows a clear Intel advantage, 85.3 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s, due to quad-channel support.

The Ryzen 3 has integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics, while the i9-9920X has none. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier; the AMD does not. Production statuses differ: Active for AMD, End-of-life for Intel. Release dates are also far apart, with the i9-9920X launching on 2018-10-18, while the Ryzen 3's release date is 2026-05-31. The Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $1189. The part numbers are YM3100C4T2OFG for AMD and SREZ6 for Intel.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows no direct head-to-head benchmark entries, but the individual test suites reveal contrasting strengths. Starting with single-thread performance, the Ryzen 3 3100U scores 1592 in PassMark single-thread, while the i9-9920X scores 1393 in Geekbench single-core. The Ryzen 3 holds a 14.3% advantage in that comparison. In the PassMark data compression test, the Ryzen 3 posts 38455, an exceptional figure that highlights its efficiency in memory-bound operations.

The i9-9920X counters with overwhelming multi-core results. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 21046, a figure that reflects its 12-core design. The R20 multicore score of 8839 and R15 multicore score of 2121 further confirm its rendering prowess. Geekbench multicore also favors Intel, with a score of 9422. The single-core Cinebench scores for Intel are 299 (R15), 1247 (R20), and 2971 (R23), which are all lower than the Ryzen 3's PassMark single-thread result, but the comparison is not apples-to-apples across different test suites.

Looking at the nearest rivals for context, the Ryzen 3's average score of 6247 places it just 0.3% ahead of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X (6231) and 1.6% above the Intel Core i9-7940X (6147). It trails the Intel Core i9-10920X by 1.6% (6347). The i9-9920X, with an average of 5917, sits exactly level with the AMD EPYC 7451 (5915), 1.1% behind the Intel Xeon W-2170B (5985), and 1.8% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7401P (5814). These figures place both CPUs in a similar performance tier despite their wildly different designs.

In the PassMark tests, the Ryzen 3 wins all eleven recorded benchmarks, from physics (232) to find prime numbers (18) to multithread (3348). The i9-9920X has no PassMark entries in this data set, only Cinebench and Geekbench results. The database therefore shows a complete sweep for AMD in one suite and a complete sweep for Intel in the other two suites. The Ryzen 3's higher average score of 6247 versus 5917 suggests that, across a broader mix of workloads, the AMD part delivers more consistent performance per benchmark, even though the i9-9920X wins the heaviest multi-threaded tasks by massive margins.