AMD Ryzen 3 3200G vs Intel Core i9-7980XE Comparison

The Intel Core i9-7980XE and AMD Ryzen 3 3200G occupy opposite ends of the desktop spectrum, and their benchmark results reflect that divide with unusual clarity. The data shows the i9-7980XE wins all eight shared head-to-head tests, but the Ryzen 3 3200G counters with a decisive advantage in integrated graphics and a dramatically lower thermal envelope. These are not direct competitors; they are solutions for entirely different workloads, and the numbers confirm that the i9-7980XE is a multi-threaded rendering monster while the Ryzen 3 3200G is a low-power APU built for everyday computing with light gaming.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-7980XE wins every single shared benchmark in this comparison, but its dominance is concentrated in heavily threaded workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i9-7980XE scores 25,072 against the Ryzen 3 3200G’s 5,955 — a 321% advantage that reflects its 18 cores and 36 threads versus the Ryzen’s 4 cores and 4 threads. The same pattern holds in Geekbench multi-core (11,198 vs 2,833, a 295.3% delta) and Cinebench R15 multi-core (2,527 vs 600, a 321.2% delta). This is a processor built for video rendering, 3D modeling, and any workload that scales with core count.

The Ryzen 3 3200G wins where the i9-7980XE cannot compete: it has integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics, while the Intel part has no integrated graphics at all. The Ryzen also draws just 65W TDP versus the i9’s 165W, making it suitable for compact, low-power builds where the i9 would require a far more robust cooling solution. In single-threaded work, the gap shrinks dramatically: Geekbench single-core shows the i9 ahead by only 62.3% (1,435 vs 884), and Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 321.3% lead for the i9, but that is still a massive gap driven by the i9’s higher 4.40 GHz boost clock versus the Ryzen’s 4.00 GHz.

The real story: the i9-7980XE is a workstation-class CPU that wins every benchmark it shares with the Ryzen, while the Ryzen 3 3200G is the only one of the two that can power a system without a discrete GPU. The benchmark data shows zero wins for the Ryzen in shared tests, but its value lies in features the benchmarks do not measure — specifically, the integrated Vega 8 graphics and 65W power draw.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is stark. The Intel Core i9-7980XE uses the Skylake-X architecture on a 14 nm process from Intel’s own foundry, packing 18 cores and 36 threads into a 484 mm² die. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200G uses the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Picasso, built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with 4 cores and 4 threads on a 210 mm² die with 4,940 million transistors. The i9 has a 24.75 MB shared L3 cache, while the Ryzen has just 4 MB shared L3; per-core L2 is 1 MB on the Intel versus 512 KB on the AMD, and per-core L1 is 64 KB on the Intel versus 96 KB on the AMD.

Memory support also differs: the i9-7980XE uses quad-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, while the Ryzen 3 3200G uses dual-channel DDR4 with no bandwidth figure listed. The i9 offers 44 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the Ryzen lists only "Gen 3" without a lane count. Both have unlocked multipliers, but the i9 is on the Intel Socket 2066 platform while the Ryzen uses AMD Socket AM4. The i9 is end-of-life, released in August 2017 with a launch MSRP of $1999; the Ryzen is still active, released in July 2019.

The integrated graphics is the single biggest architectural differentiator. The Ryzen 3 3200G includes Radeon Vega 8, enabling display output and basic gaming without a discrete card. The i9-7980XE has no integrated graphics, requiring a dedicated GPU for any video output. This is not a minor spec difference — it fundamentally changes what each processor can do in a build.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows the i9-7980XE’s overwhelming multi-core advantage. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i9 scores 2,527 against the Ryzen’s 600, a 321.2% delta. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 10,530 vs 2,501 (321% delta), and Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 25,072 vs 5,955 (321% delta). The consistency across R15, R20, and R23 is striking — the i9 maintains roughly a 4.2x performance ratio across all three versions.

Single-core results tell a similar but slightly narrower story. Cinebench R15 single-core: i9 scores 356 vs Ryzen’s 84, a 323.8% delta. Cinebench R20 single-core: 1,486 vs 352, a 322.2% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core: 3,539 vs 840, a 321.3% delta. Geekbench single-core is the closest result in the entire comparison: 1,435 vs 884, a 62.3% delta — still a massive lead for the Intel part, but far smaller than the multi-core gaps.

Geekbench multi-core amplifies the core-count difference: 11,198 vs 2,833, a 295.3% delta. The i9-7980XE wins all eight shared benchmarks, but the biggest margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core (323.8%) and the smallest is in Geekbench single-core (62.3%). The data suggests that the i9’s advantage is most pronounced in sustained multi-threaded rendering workloads, while its single-thread lead, though large, is comparatively less overwhelming.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i9-7980XE wins all 8 head-to-head benchmarks shared with the AMD Ryzen 3 3200G, with deltas ranging from 62.3% (Geekbench single-core) to 323.8% (Cinebench R15 single-core).

Q: Can the Ryzen 3 3200G output video without a dedicated GPU?

A: Yes. The Ryzen 3 3200G includes integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics, while the Intel Core i9-7980XE has no integrated graphics and requires a discrete GPU.

Q: What is the power draw difference?

A: The Ryzen 3 3200G has a 65W TDP, while the Intel Core i9-7980XE has a 165W TDP. This makes the Ryzen far more suitable for low-power or compact builds.

Q: How does the multi-core performance compare in Cinebench R23?

A: The i9-7980XE scores 25,072 in Cinebench R23 multi-core versus the Ryzen 3 3200G’s 5,955, a 321% delta in favor of the Intel part.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Intel Core i9-7980XE provides 44 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3200G lists only "Gen 3" with no lane count specified.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i9-7980XE and the AMD Ryzen 3 3200G have unlocked multipliers.

The Verdict

Pick the Intel Core i9-7980XE if your priority is raw multi-threaded compute. The data is unambiguous: it beats the Ryzen 3 3200G by 321% in Cinebench R23 multi-core and by 295.3% in Geekbench multi-core. This is the processor for rendering, compilation, and any workload that can use 18 cores and 36 threads. It also holds a 62.3% single-core lead in Geekbench, so it is not a slouch in everyday tasks. The trade-offs are a 165W TDP, no integrated graphics, and an end-of-life status with a launch MSRP of $1999.

Pick the AMD Ryzen 3 3200G if you need a complete, low-power system without a discrete GPU. Its 65W TDP and integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics make it a self-contained solution for office work, media playback, and light gaming. The benchmark data shows it loses every shared test, but it is not competing on those terms — it is competing on platform simplicity and power efficiency. The i9-7980XE cannot even display an image without add-in hardware, which disqualifies it for many compact or entry-level builds.

The final verdict from the data: the i9-7980XE is the performance king, winning 100% of shared benchmarks, while the Ryzen 3 3200G is the practical choice for systems where a dedicated GPU is not an option. Neither processor is a substitute for the other.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-7980XE | AMD Ryzen 3 3200G |

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

| Cores | 18 | 4 |

| Threads | 36 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.60 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| TDP | 165 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2066 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 12 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Die Size | 484 mm² | 210 mm² |

| Transistors | Not listed | 4,940 million |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 24.75 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 85.3 GB/s | Not listed |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 44 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3 (lane count not listed) |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Radeon Vega 8 |

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

| Release Date | 2017-08-31 | 2019-07-06 |

| Launch MSRP | $1999 | Not listed |

| Part Number | SR3RS | YD3200C5M4MFH / YD3200C5FHBOX |