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

The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U and Intel Core Ultra 7 265F occupy opposite ends of the performance spectrum, and the benchmark data reflects this clearly. The Ryzen 3 3100U is a 2-core, 2-thread mobile processor from the 3000 series, built on the 12 nm Picasso architecture, while the Core Ultra 7 265F is a 20-core, 20-thread desktop part from the Core Ultra Series 2, using the 3 nm Arrow Lake architecture. The database records 11 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, and the Intel processor wins all 11 of them. This is not a near contest; it is a categorical gap in every measured workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single margin in the head-to-head data appears in floating-point math. The Ryzen 3 3100U scores 5,854, while the Core Ultra 7 265F scores 173,855, a delta of -96.6%. This means the Intel part delivers more than 29 times the floating-point throughput. The gap is driven by the Core Ultra 7 265F's 20 cores versus the Ryzen's 2 cores, plus its much higher boost clock of 5.30 GHz compared to 3.20 GHz.

Integer math follows a similar pattern. The Ryzen 3 3100U scores 8,873, and the Core Ultra 7 265F scores 138,078, a delta of -93.6%. The Intel processor is roughly 15 times faster in this workload. The extended instructions test shows a delta of -94.6%, with scores of 2,116 for the Ryzen and 39,235 for the Core Ultra 7 265F. Prime number finding, a test that relies heavily on single-thread speed and cache, shows a delta of -95.7%, with scores of 18 and 416 respectively.

Data compression and encryption also favor the Intel part heavily. In data compression, the Ryzen scores 38,455, while the Core Ultra 7 265F scores 507,018, a delta of -92.4%. Data encryption shows a delta of -95%, with scores of 1,972 and 39,468. The multithread benchmark, which aggregates all cores, shows a delta of -93.2%, with the Ryzen at 3,348 and the Intel at 49,410. The physics test, which simulates rigid body dynamics, shows a delta of -92.7%, with scores of 232 and 3,172.

The smallest relative gap is in single-thread performance. The Ryzen 3 3100U scores 1,592, while the Core Ultra 7 265F scores 4,750, a delta of -66.5%. This is still a massive advantage for the Intel processor, but it is the closest the Ryzen gets in any comparison. The single-thread score reflects the Core Ultra 7 265F's higher base clock of 2.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.30 GHz, versus the Ryzen's 1.90 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. Even with only 2 cores, the Ryzen cannot close the gap in single-threaded work because the Intel part's clock advantage is substantial.

Where Each One Wins

The data shows no workload category where the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U wins. The head-to-head table records 0 wins for the Ryzen and 11 wins for the Core Ultra 7 265F. Every benchmark, from integer math to random string sorting, is won by the Intel part. The Ryzen's scores are consistently lower across all 11 tests, with deltas ranging from -66.5% to -96.6%.

The Core Ultra 7 265F wins in every use case that the benchmarks represent. For compute-heavy tasks like floating-point math and integer math, the Intel processor's 20 cores and 30 MB of shared L3 cache provide a decisive advantage. For memory-bandwidth-sensitive workloads, the Intel part supports DDR5 memory with a recorded bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, versus the Ryzen's DDR4 support at 38.4 GB/s. This bandwidth differential contributes to the large margins in data compression and encryption, both of which move substantial data through the memory subsystem.

For single-threaded applications, such as legacy software or lightly threaded games, the Core Ultra 7 265F still wins, but the margin is smaller. The -66.5% delta in single-thread performance indicates that the Ryzen's single-core execution is not competitive, but it is less embarrassing than the multi-core deltas. The Ryzen's average benchmark score of 6,247 places it at the 62nd percentile among all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 7 265F's average score of 64,438 places it at the 93rd percentile. This percentile difference confirms that the Intel part is in a different performance class entirely.

Architecture Differences

The two processors differ fundamentally in architecture, node, and feature set. The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U uses the Picasso codename, which is based on the Zen+ microarchitecture. It is manufactured by GlobalFoundries on a 12 nm process node, with 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Core Ultra 7 265F uses the Arrow Lake-S codename, based on the Arrow Lake architecture, and is manufactured by TSMC on a 3 nm process node, with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die.

The core configuration is starkly different. The Ryzen 3 3100U has 2 cores and 2 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. The Core Ultra 7 265F has 20 cores and 20 threads, also without hyperthreading, but with 10 times the physical cores. The Ryzen has 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, with 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part has 192 KB of L1 cache per core and 3 MB of L2 cache per core, with 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The L3 cache advantage alone is 7.5 times in favor of the Intel part.

Memory support diverges completely. The Ryzen 3 3100U supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, delivering 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The Core Ultra 7 265F supports DDR5 memory, also dual-channel, but delivers 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. Neither processor supports ECC memory. The PCIe interface also differs: the Ryzen uses PCIe Gen 3, while the Intel part uses PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes on the CPU.

The integrated graphics situation is notable. The Ryzen 3 3100U includes Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics, making it a complete mobile solution. The Core Ultra 7 265F has no integrated graphics, listed as N/A, which is typical for an F-series desktop part. This means the Intel processor requires a discrete graphics card, while the Ryzen can operate with its internal GPU. The Ryzen's TDP is 15 watts, reflecting its mobile design, while the Core Ultra 7 265F has a TDP of 65 watts, appropriate for a desktop part. The Ryzen uses AMD Socket FP5, while the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1851.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265F has 20 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U has 2 cores and 2 threads. The Intel part has 10 times the physical core count.

Q: How much faster is the Core Ultra 7 265F in multithreaded workloads?

A: In the PassMark multithread test, the Core Ultra 7 265F scores 49,410 versus 3,348 for the Ryzen 3 3100U, a delta of -93.2%. This indicates the Intel part is approximately 14.8 times faster.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the AMD Ryzen 3 3100U and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F have ECC memory support listed as false in the database.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Ryzen 3 3100U supports DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Core Ultra 7 265F supports DDR5 with 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel part has 2.7 times the memory bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3100U includes Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265F has no integrated graphics, listed as N/A.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Ryzen 3 3100U has an average benchmark score of 6,247, placing it at the 62nd percentile. The Core Ultra 7 265F has an average score of 64,438, placing it at the 93rd percentile.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a one-sided picture. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265F wins all 11 head-to-head benchmarks, with deltas that range from -66.5% in single-thread performance to -96.6% in floating-point math. The Ryzen 3 3100U cannot compete in any measured workload, and its 62nd percentile ranking versus the Intel part's 93rd percentile confirms this. The Ryzen's nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X and the Intel Core i9-7940X, with average scores in the 6,100 to 6,300 range, while the Core Ultra 7 265F's rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and the AMD EPYC 7343, with average scores in the 64,000 to 64,800 range. This places the two processors in entirely different performance tiers.

The Core Ultra 7 265F is the clear choice for any workload that benefits from high core counts, large L3 cache, or high memory bandwidth. Its 20 cores, 30 MB of shared L3 cache, and 102.4 GB/s of DDR5 bandwidth deliver dominant scores in data compression, encryption, and multithreaded physics. The Ryzen 3 3100U, with its 2 cores, 4 MB of L3 cache, and 38.4 GB/s of DDR4 bandwidth, is suited only for the lightest of tasks, and even then its single-thread score of 1,592 lags far behind the Core Ultra 7 265F's 4,750. The data does not show a single scenario where the Ryzen outperforms the Intel part. The choice, based strictly on the recorded benchmarks, is unequivocally the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F, with the launch MSRP of $379 reflecting its position as a high-end desktop processor.