AMD Ryzen 3 3100U vs Intel Core i9-9940X Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do these two processors compare in overall average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i9-9940X records an average benchmark score of 6657, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U scores 6247. That places the Intel part roughly 6.6% higher in aggregate performance, though both sit at the 62nd percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-9940X features 14 cores and 28 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U has just 2 cores and 2 threads. The Intel chip’s thread count is 14 times higher, which heavily influences multi-threaded workloads.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U runs at a 1.90 GHz base clock and 3.20 GHz boost clock. The Intel Core i9-9940X operates at 3.30 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost, giving it a 1.30 GHz higher boost ceiling.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U includes Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics. The Intel Core i9-9940X has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: What memory configurations do they support?

A: Both support DDR4 memory, but the AMD chip uses a dual-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel chip uses a quad-channel bus with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part offers more than double the memory bandwidth.

Q: Are these processors still in production?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U is listed as Active in production, with a release date of May 2026. The Intel Core i9-9940X is marked End-of-life, having been released in October 2018.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U and Intel Core i9-9940X target completely different segments, and their benchmark data reflects that split clearly.

AMD Ryzen 3 3100U wins in power efficiency and mobility. With a 15W TDP, it draws a fraction of the Intel chip’s 165W TDP. It is designed for thin-and-light laptops, offering a 1.90 GHz base clock that sips power while still reaching 3.20 GHz under load. The integrated Radeon Vega 8 GPU means the processor can handle display output without a separate graphics card, making it suitable for everyday portable computing.

Intel Core i9-9940X wins in raw compute throughput. Its 14 cores and 28 threads dominate any workload that can parallelize. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 23810, while the AMD chip’s highest multi-thread score among Passmark tests is 3348. The Intel part also carries a 4.50 GHz boost clock, giving it a decisive edge in single-threaded responsiveness despite its older architecture.

For content creation and rendering, the Intel chip is the clear choice. Its Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 10000 and Geekbench multi-core score of 10466 indicate strong performance in video encoding, 3D rendering, and compilation tasks. The AMD chip has no comparable Cinebench or Geekbench entries in the database.

For battery-conscious laptop use, the AMD chip wins by design. The 15W TDP allows for sustained operation in compact chassis, while the Intel part’s 165W TDP demands substantial cooling and power delivery, limiting it to desktop systems.

For single-threaded tasks, the Intel chip still leads. It scores 3361 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 1468 in Geekbench single-core. The AMD chip achieves 1592 in Passmark single-thread, which is respectable for its class but far behind the Intel part’s clock speed advantage.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies.

Process node: The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U uses a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries, while the Intel Core i9-9940X uses a 14 nm process from Intel. Despite the older node, Intel’s larger die and higher power budget allow for more aggressive clock speeds.

Die size: The Intel chip has a die size of 484 mm², more than double the AMD chip’s 210 mm². Intel’s larger die accommodates 14 cores and 28 threads, while AMD’s smaller die fits just 2 cores and 2 threads.

Codename and generation: The AMD chip is codenamed Picasso, part of the Ryzen 3 generation built on the Zen+ architecture. The Intel chip is codenamed Skylake-X, part of the Core i9 X-Series 9th generation, using the Skylake architecture.

Cache layout: The AMD chip has 96 KB L1 cache per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 19.25 MB shared L3 cache. Intel’s larger L2 and L3 caches provide more on-chip data storage, while AMD’s smaller cache reflects its 2-core configuration.

Transistors: The AMD chip contains 4,940 million transistors. Intel’s transistor count is not recorded in the database, but its larger die and 14 nm process suggest a higher number.

PCIe support: Both use PCIe Gen 3, but the Intel chip exposes 44 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD chip’s lane count is not specified in the database.

Socket and market segment: The AMD chip uses Socket FP5 and targets the mobile segment. The Intel chip uses Socket 2066 and targets desktop systems.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 3 3100U | Intel Core i9-9940X |

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

| Cores | 2 | 14 |

| Threads | 2 | 28 |

| Base Clock | 1.90 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.20 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 165 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP5 | Intel Socket 2066 |

| 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 |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Vega 8 | None |

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

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no direct head-to-head benchmark entries between these two processors, but the individual benchmark suites reveal stark performance differences.

Multi-threaded performance: The Intel Core i9-9940X dominates in any parallel workload. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23810 is roughly 7 times higher than the AMD chip’s Passmark multi-thread score of 3348. The Intel part’s Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 10000 and Geekbench multi-core score of 10466 further illustrate its capability, while the AMD chip’s Passmark data compression score of 38455 is its strongest multi-threaded result, but still trails the Intel part’s rendering scores by a wide margin.

Single-threaded performance: The Intel chip also leads here, scoring 3361 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 1411 in Cinebench R20 single-core. The AMD chip’s Passmark single-thread score of 1592 is respectable for a 2-core mobile part, but the Intel chip’s 4.50 GHz boost clock gives it a clear advantage in latency-sensitive tasks.

Integer and floating-point math: The AMD chip scores 8873 in Passmark integer math and 5854 in floating-point math. These are solid numbers for a 2-core processor, but they cannot match the Intel chip’s 14-core throughput. The Intel chip’s Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 2400, while lower than its newer R20 and R23 scores, still indicates strong math performance.

Physics and prime number tests: The AMD chip scores 232 in Passmark physics and 18 in Passmark find prime numbers. These low scores reflect its limited core count. The Intel chip has no comparable Passmark entries, but its Cinebench and Geekbench results suggest far higher computational throughput.

Data encryption and sorting: The AMD chip scores 1972 in Passmark data encryption and 4666 in random string sorting. These are modest results, consistent with a low-power mobile processor. The Intel chip’s higher core count and memory bandwidth would likely produce significantly higher scores in these workloads, though no direct comparison is available in the database.

Relative standing: The AMD chip’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X (0.3% higher average score), AMD EPYC 7272 (1% higher), Intel Core i9-10920X (1.6% higher), and Intel Core i9-7940X (1.6% lower). The Intel chip’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X (0.1% higher), Intel Core i5-13400E (0.3% higher), AMD EPYC 72F3 (0.6% lower), and Intel Core i9-12900E (0.7% higher). Both processors cluster tightly with their peers, indicating that each performs exactly as expected for its respective class.