AMD Ryzen 3 3100U vs Intel Core Ultra 7 265 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a complete sweep in favor of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265, with the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U failing to secure a single win across the 11 recorded head-to-head tests. The margins are substantial, typically exceeding 90% in the Intel processor's favor. For instance, in data compression, the Intel chip scores 522,983 against AMD's 38,455, a delta of -92.6%. This pattern repeats in integer math, where Intel's 134,773 dwarfs AMD's 8,873, a -93.4% difference, and in multithreaded performance, where Intel's 49,682 compares to AMD's 3,348, a -93.3% gap.

The largest relative deficit for the AMD part appears in floating-point math, where the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 scores 172,776 versus 5,854, a -96.6% delta. Extended instructions show a similar story at -94.9%, with Intel at 41,478 and AMD at 2,116. Even in the single-threaded test, where the gap is smallest, Intel still leads decisively: 4,689 versus 1,592, a -66% difference. This is the only test where the AMD processor manages to stay within the same order of magnitude, yet it still trails by a two-thirds margin.

Physics computations follow the trend, with Intel at 2,923 and AMD at 232, a -92.1% delta. Random string sorting shows Intel at 63,833 versus 4,666, a -92.7% gap, while prime number finding reveals Intel at 418 versus 18, a -95.7% difference. Data encryption rounds out the list with Intel at 40,456 versus 1,972, a -95.1% delta. The overall average benchmark scores confirm the separation: the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 posts an average score of 64,640, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U averages 6,247, sitting in the 62nd percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras and market positions. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U is a 2-core, 2-thread mobile part built on the 12 nm Picasso architecture, fabricated by GlobalFoundries. Its transistor count is listed at 4,940 million on a 210 mm² die. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a 20-core, 20-thread desktop processor using the Arrow Lake-S architecture on a 3 nm process, with TSMC as the foundry. It integrates 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The process node difference alone, 12 nm versus 3 nm, explains much of the performance disparity, though core count is the more direct factor in the multithreaded results.

Cache configurations differ sharply as well. The AMD part provides 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The Intel processor offers 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and a much larger 30 MB of shared L3. That L3 capacity, more than seven times greater, gives Intel a significant advantage in workloads with large working sets that benefit from on-die data reuse.

Memory support also diverges. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U uses DDR4 with dual-channel access and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 uses DDR5 with dual-channel access and a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, nearly three times higher. PCIe generation differs too: AMD lists Gen 3 support, while Intel provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes on the CPU. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

Integrated graphics represent another distinction. AMD pairs the Ryzen 3 3100U with Radeon Vega 8, while Intel includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 32 execution units. The market segments reflect their intended use: the AMD chip is a mobile part with a 15 W TDP, while the Intel chip is a desktop part rated at 65 W. The base and boost clocks also differ, with AMD at 1.90 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost, versus Intel at 2.40 GHz base and 5.30 GHz boost. The Intel part also carries a launch MSRP of $394, while the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP in the database.

The Verdict

The recorded data leaves no ambiguity. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 wins every single head-to-head benchmark in the database, with deltas ranging from -66% to -96.6% against the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U. The average benchmark score of 64,640 for Intel versus 6,247 for AMD represents a roughly tenfold difference. The percentile ranking reinforces this: Intel sits in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, while AMD sits in the 62nd percentile. For any workload represented by these tests, the Intel processor is the superior choice based on raw performance.

The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U, however, is a mobile processor with a 15 W TDP, designed for efficiency in compact systems. Its 2-core, 2-thread configuration and lower clock speeds are consistent with a low-power part. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265, as a desktop processor with a 65 W TDP and 20 cores, targets a completely different performance envelope. Anyone comparing these two should recognize that the Intel chip is in a higher performance class entirely, and the benchmark outcomes reflect that classification rather than any unexpected result.

FAQ

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U has 2 cores and 2 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 has 20 cores and 20 threads.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U has an average benchmark score of 6,247. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 has an average benchmark score of 64,640.

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 scores 4,689 in the PassMark single-thread test, compared to 1,592 for the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U, a -66% delta.

Q: What memory types do the two processors support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U supports DDR4 memory. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 supports DDR5 memory.

Q: What is the process node for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U is built on a 12 nm process. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is built on a 3 nm process.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 has 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U has 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark database shows no wins for the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U in any of the 11 recorded tests. Every head-to-head comparison, from data compression to physics to single-thread performance, results in an Intel Core Ultra 7 265 victory. The closest margin is in the single-thread test, where Intel leads by 66%, but even that is a decisive gap. For the AMD processor, the data offers no performance category where it holds an advantage over the Intel chip.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 wins across all workload types. Its largest relative advantage appears in floating-point math, where it outperforms by 96.6%, followed closely by prime number finding at 95.7%. Data encryption and extended instructions both show margins above 95%. The smallest margins, still substantial, are in single-thread workloads at 66%. This consistency suggests that the Intel processor's advantages are not confined to one type of computation but apply broadly across integer, floating-point, memory-intensive, and single-threaded tasks.

The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U, despite losing every benchmark, still holds relevance in its intended mobile segment. Its 15 W TDP and 2-core configuration make it suitable for low-power laptops where battery life and thermal output take priority over raw performance. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265, with a 65 W TDP and desktop socket, requires a more robust cooling and power delivery system. The data does not measure efficiency or power consumption directly, but the TDP figures in the database indicate the AMD part is designed for a fundamentally lighter workload envelope.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification in the database. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U is a mobile part with 2 cores, 2 threads, a base clock of 1.90 GHz, and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a desktop part with 20 cores, 20 threads, a base clock of 2.40 GHz, and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. TDP differs significantly: 15 W for AMD versus 65 W for Intel.

Process technology separates them by a full node generation: 12 nm for AMD (GlobalFoundries) versus 3 nm for Intel (TSMC). Transistor counts are 4,940 million for AMD and 17,800 million for Intel. Die size is 210 mm² for AMD and 243 mm² for Intel. The socket types are entirely different: AMD uses Socket FP5, while Intel uses Socket 1851.

Cache hierarchies are distinct. AMD provides 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. Intel provides 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 30 MB shared L3. Memory support differs: AMD uses DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel uses DDR5 with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. Both use dual-channel memory buses, and neither supports ECC.

PCIe support shows a generation gap: AMD lists Gen 3, while Intel lists Gen 5 with 20 lanes on the CPU. Integrated graphics differ as well: AMD includes Radeon Vega 8, while Intel includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 32EU. The architecture and codename fields reflect their respective lineages: AMD uses Picasso (Zen+), while Intel uses Arrow Lake (Arrow Lake-S). Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. Release dates also differ, with Intel launching on 2025-01-06 and AMD on 2026-05-31. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $394, while the AMD part has none listed.