AMD Ryzen 3 3200G vs Intel Core i9-12900E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive sweep in favor of the Intel Core i9-12900E across every shared benchmark. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200G does not secure a single win in the head-to-head tests, with the Intel part taking all eight comparisons. The margins are substantial, particularly in multi-threaded workloads where the extra cores and threads of the Core i9-12900E dominate.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 3 3200G scores 600 while the Core i9-12900E posts 2371, a delta of -74.7% for the AMD part. The single-core result in R15 shows a similar gap: 84 for the Ryzen 3 3200G versus 334 for the Intel, again a -74.9% difference. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core test has the Ryzen 3 3200G at 2501 and the Core i9-12900E at 9882, while the single-core test shows 352 versus 1394. Both deltas sit at -74.7%.

Cinebench R23 continues the pattern. The Ryzen 3 3200G manages 5955 in multi-core, while the Core i9-12900E reaches 23529, a -74.7% delta. In single-core, the scores are 840 and 3321 respectively, again -74.7%. Geekbench results follow suit: multi-core shows 2833 for the AMD chip versus 10280 for the Intel, a -72.4% delta, while single-core is 884 versus 1775, a -50.2% delta.

The data indicates that the Core i9-12900E is roughly four times faster in multi-threaded Cinebench workloads, and about double the speed in single-threaded Geekbench. The smallest gap appears in Geekbench single-core, where the Intel part still leads by over 50%. For any workload that relies on raw CPU throughput, the Intel processor is the clear winner on paper.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Intel Core i9-12900E is the superior processor in every measured category. The Ryzen 3 3200G cannot match the Intel part in any test, and the magnitude of the differences makes the choice obvious for anyone prioritizing performance.

The Ryzen 3 3200G is a 4-core, 4-thread chip from the 3000 series, while the Core i9-12900E is a 16-core, 24-thread part from Core 12th Gen. That core and thread disparity explains most of the multi-threaded gap. In single-threaded tests, the Intel part's higher boost clock and newer architecture deliver a similarly large advantage.

For users building a system where the CPU must handle heavy rendering, encoding, or simulation, the Core i9-12900E is the only logical pick from these two. The Ryzen 3 3200G remains functional for basic desktop tasks, but the data shows it is outclassed in every head-to-head comparison. If the workload involves any form of parallel processing, the Intel part will finish the job in a fraction of the time.

That said, the Ryzen 3 3200G has its place for light computing, but the benchmark results do not support choosing it over the Core i9-12900E when performance is the primary criterion. The Intel processor is the default recommendation from the recorded measurements.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different design generations. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200G uses the Zen+ architecture with the codename Picasso, built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Intel Core i9-12900E uses the Alder Lake architecture, codename Alder Lake-S, fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel.

The Ryzen 3 3200G packs 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The Core i9-12900E offers 16 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Intel part's multi-core design relies on a hybrid architecture, though the database does not break down the exact core types, the thread count of 24 relative to 16 cores indicates some cores are multi-threaded.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. The Ryzen 3 3200G has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The Core i9-12900E has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. The Intel part's L3 cache is 7.5 times larger, which helps with data reuse in multi-threaded workloads.

Memory support also diverges. The Ryzen 3 3200G supports only DDR4, while the Core i9-12900E supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use a dual-channel memory bus. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

PCIe generation is another differentiator. The Ryzen 3 3200G uses PCIe Gen 3, while the Core i9-12900E supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes on the CPU. Integrated graphics differ as well: the Ryzen 3 3200G includes Radeon Vega 8, while the Core i9-12900E has UHD Graphics 770.

The Ryzen 3 3200G has a die size of 210 mm² and uses 4,940 million transistors. The Core i9-12900E has a die size of 215 mm², with transistor count not recorded in the database. Both chips have a 65 W TDP, making them comparable in power envelope despite the large performance difference.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900E has 16 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3200G has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel part has four times the cores and six times the threads.

Q: What is the single-threaded performance difference?

A: In Geekbench single-core, the Core i9-12900E scores 1775 against the Ryzen 3 3200G's 884, a -50.2% delta for the AMD chip. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel part scores 3321 versus 840, a -74.7% delta.

Q: Does the Ryzen 3 3200G win any benchmark against the Core i9-12900E?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the Intel processor winning all eight shared tests, with the AMD part trailing by at least 50.2% in every case.

Q: What memory types are supported by each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3200G supports DDR4 only. The Intel Core i9-12900E supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: Are the integrated graphics different?

A: Yes. The Ryzen 3 3200G includes Radeon Vega 8, while the Core i9-12900E has UHD Graphics 770.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the Intel Core i9-12900E?

A: The launch MSRP is $494. The Ryzen 3 3200G has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-12900E wins in every recorded head-to-head benchmark category. Its advantages are most pronounced in multi-threaded workloads: Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests all show the Intel part scoring roughly four times higher than the AMD chip. For video rendering, 3D scene compilation, or any task that scales across many cores, the Core i9-12900E is the clear choice.

Single-threaded performance also favors the Intel processor, though the gap is slightly smaller in Geekbench. The Core i9-12900E's 5.00 GHz boost clock gives it a large edge in lightly threaded applications. The Ryzen 3 3200G, with its 4.00 GHz boost clock, cannot keep pace in tasks like web browsing, office productivity, or legacy software that relies on one or two threads.

The Ryzen 3 3200G does not win any benchmark in the head-to-head data. Its only potential advantage lies in the platform level: it uses the AMD Socket AM4, which may be compatible with existing motherboards for some users. The database does not record any performance metric where the AMD chip comes out ahead.

For gaming, the integrated graphics differ, but the database does not include gaming benchmarks. The Core i9-12900E's UHD Graphics 770 and the Ryzen 3 3200G's Radeon Vega 8 are present, but no comparative scores exist. Given the CPU performance gap, the Intel part would likely provide a smoother experience in CPU-bound scenarios, but the data does not confirm this directly.

Users upgrading from an older AM4 platform might find the Ryzen 3 3200G easier to slot into an existing build. However, for raw compute capability, the Core i9-12900E is the only option that the benchmark results support.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors:

• Cores: 4 (Ryzen 3 3200G) versus 16 (Core i9-12900E)
• Threads: 4 versus 24
• Base Clock: 3.60 GHz versus 2.30 GHz
• Boost Clock: 4.00 GHz versus 5.00 GHz
• Socket: AMD Socket AM4 versus Intel Socket 1700
• Architecture: Zen+ versus Alder Lake
• Codename: Picasso versus Alder Lake-S
• Process Node: 12 nm versus 10 nm
• Foundry: GlobalFoundries versus Intel
• Transistors: 4,940 million versus not recorded
• Die Size: 210 mm² versus 215 mm²
• L1 Cache: 96 KB per core versus 80 KB per core
• L2 Cache: 512 KB per core versus 1.25 MB per core
• L3 Cache: 4 MB shared versus 30 MB shared
• Memory Support: DDR4 versus DDR4, DDR5
• PCIe: Gen 3 versus Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only)
• Integrated Graphics: Radeon Vega 8 versus UHD Graphics 770
• Release Date: 2019-07-06 versus 2022-01-03
• Part Number: YD3200C5M4MFH, YD3200C5FHBOX versus SRL6B

Both processors share a 65 W TDP, dual-channel memory bus, no ECC support, unlocked multiplier, and an active production status. The Core i9-12900E has a recorded launch MSRP of $494, while the Ryzen 3 3200G has none in the database.