AMD Ryzen 3 3200GE vs Intel Core i7-980X Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear and consistent pattern across all six shared benchmark tests: the AMD Ryzen 3 3200GE wins every single head-to-head matchup against the Intel Core i7-980X. There are no exceptions, and the margins are remarkably uniform.

Starting with the oldest test in the set, Cinebench R15 multicore, the Ryzen 3 3200GE scores 622 against 584 for the Core i7-980X, a 6.5% advantage. The single-core portion of the same test shows 87 versus 82, a 6.1% edge. These are not margin-of-error differences; they represent a real, repeatable performance gap.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore result is 2595 for the AMD part versus 2434 for the Intel part, delta of 6.6%. The single-core result is 366 versus 343, a 6.7% lead. This is the largest percentage gap recorded in any of the six tests, though only by a tenth of a point.

Cinebench R23, the newest rendering workload in the database, tells the same story. The multicore score is 6179 for the Ryzen 3 3200GE and 5797 for the Core i7-980X, a 6.6% difference. The single-core score is 872 versus 818, again 6.6%. The consistency across all three Cinebench generations is striking: the AMD chip leads by 6.1% to 6.7% in every test, regardless of workload intensity or core count utilization.

The Intel Core i7-980X does have two additional Geekbench entries in its own benchmark list, scoring 3247 multicore and 659 single-core, but the AMD Ryzen 3 3200GE has no corresponding Geekbench record in the database, so no direct comparison is possible there.

It is notably the Intel chip has six physical cores and twelve threads, while the AMD chip has four cores and four threads. Despite that core and thread deficit, the Ryzen 3 3200GE outperforms the older Intel Extreme Edition part in every rendering benchmark. The win count is 6 to 0 in favor of the AMD product.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multicore performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3200GE scores 6179, while the Intel Core i7-980X scores 5797. The AMD part wins by 6.6%.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-980X competitive in single-core tests?

A: No. The Intel chip trails in all three single-core Cinebench tests. In R15 it scores 82 versus 87, in R20 it scores 343 versus 366, and in R23 it scores 818 versus 872.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-980X have more cores?

A: Yes. The Intel part has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3200GE has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the largest performance gap recorded between the two?

A: The largest delta is 6.7%, which occurs in Cinebench R20 single-core. The AMD chip scores 366, the Intel chip scores 343.

Q: How many benchmark wins does each processor have in the head-to-head data?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3200GE has 6 wins, and the Intel Core i7-980X has 0 wins.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3200GE has an average benchmark score of 1787, while the Intel Core i7-980X has an average of 1746.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200GE is built on the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Picasso, using a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It is part of the Ryzen 3 generation in the 3000 series. The Intel Core i7-980X uses the Westmere architecture, codenamed Gulftown, on a 32 nm process at Intel. It belongs to the Core i7 Extreme generation.

The transistor counts diverge sharply. The AMD chip packs 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Intel chip has 1,170 million transistors on a 239 mm² die. The AMD part achieves a much higher transistor density on a smaller physical footprint, which is a direct consequence of the newer 12 nm process versus the older 32 nm process.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200GE has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core i7-980X has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a much larger 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has triple the L3 capacity, but the AMD chip has more L1 and L2 per core.

Memory support differs by generation. The AMD part supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a measured memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s. The Intel part supports DDR3 memory in a triple-channel configuration, though the database does not list a bandwidth figure. The AMD chip also supports ECC memory, while the Intel chip does not.

PCIe connectivity is a generation apart. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200GE provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Intel Core i7-980X provides PCIe Gen 2, with no lane count specified in the database.

Integrated graphics are another major divergence. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200GE includes Radeon Vega 8 graphics on the package, which means it can drive a display without a discrete GPU. The Intel Core i7-980X has no integrated graphics at all. This is a functional difference, not just a spec sheet difference: the AMD chip can serve in a compact or low-power build without add-in hardware, while the Intel chip requires a separate graphics card.

Production status also separates them. The AMD part is listed as Active, meaning it is still in production. The Intel part is End-of-life. The release dates reinforce this: the AMD chip launched on 2019-07-06, while the Intel chip launched on 2010-03-15. The power envelope is dramatically different, with the AMD chip rated at 35 W TDP and the Intel chip at 130 W TDP.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion for rendering workloads measured by Cinebench. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200GE is the faster processor in every benchmark the two share, despite having fewer cores and fewer threads. Its single-core advantage ranges from 6.1% to 6.7%, and its multicore advantage ranges from 6.5% to 6.6%. This is a uniform, consistent lead across three generations of Cinebench.

The Intel Core i7-980X does offer more cores and threads, plus a much larger L3 cache, but the benchmark results show that these architectural advantages do not translate into performance wins. The older Westmere architecture and DDR3 memory platform cannot overcome the newer Zen+ design.

For a system builder choosing between these two, the AMD Ryzen 3 3200GE is the better performer in CPU rendering tasks. It also carries major practical advantages: a 35 W TDP versus 130 W, integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics, DDR4 memory support, and active production status. The Intel chip is end-of-life, requires a discrete GPU, and draws nearly four times the power.

The percentile rankings reflect the overall picture. The AMD part sits at the 42nd percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Intel part sits at the 41st. Their nearest rivals in the database are also close: the AMD chip's closest competitor is the AMD Opteron 6281 with an average score of 1789, a delta of -0.1%. The Intel chip's closest competitor is the Intel Core i5-8269U with an average score of 1748, a delta of -0.1%. Both processors occupy similar tiers in the overall database, but the AMD chip is slightly higher within that tier.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ significantly. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200GE has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i7-980X has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Clock speeds are close but not equal. The AMD chip has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The Intel chip has a base clock of 3.33 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The AMD chip boosts higher, while the Intel chip has a marginally higher base clock.

TDP is a major differentiator. The AMD part is rated at 35 watts. The Intel part is rated at 130 watts. The AMD chip draws 95 watts less under its rated thermal design power.

Sockets are incompatible. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket AM4. The Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1366.

Process technology differs by node and foundry. The AMD chip is built on 12 nm at GlobalFoundries. The Intel chip is built on 32 nm at Intel.

Memory support differs by type and channel configuration. The AMD chip supports DDR4 in dual-channel mode. The Intel chip supports DDR3 in triple-channel mode.

ECC memory support is present on the AMD chip and absent on the Intel chip. PCIe generation differs: Gen 3 on AMD, Gen 2 on Intel.

Integrated graphics are present on the AMD chip (Radeon Vega 8) and absent on the Intel chip. Production status is Active for AMD and End-of-life for Intel. Release dates differ by over nine years.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 3200GE wins in every single benchmark category recorded in the head-to-head data. That covers Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multicore variants. If the workload is a Cinebench-style rendering task, the AMD chip is the faster choice.

The AMD chip also wins decisively in power efficiency. Its 35 W TDP versus the Intel chip's 130 W TDP means it can be cooled more easily, and it can run in systems where the Intel chip would require a more robust thermal solution. The database does not provide specific cooler requirements, but the power data speaks for itself.

The AMD chip wins in platform modernity. DDR4 memory support, PCIe Gen 3, and an active production status all favor the newer part. It also includes integrated graphics, which eliminates the need for a separate GPU in basic systems.

The Intel Core i7-980X does have some advantages, though they do not appear in the benchmark scores. It has more cores and threads, which could theoretically help in highly parallel workloads that scale beyond what the Cinebench tests measure, but the database does not include such tests. It also has a larger L3 cache at 12 MB versus 4 MB, which could benefit certain cache-sensitive applications, but again no benchmark in the shared set demonstrates this.

The Intel chip's triple-channel DDR3 memory configuration is a structural difference, but without a bandwidth figure in the database, its practical impact cannot be quantified. The AMD chip's listed memory bandwidth is 46.9 GB/s.

For a user prioritizing raw Cinebench rendering performance, power efficiency, modern memory support, integrated graphics, and active production status, the AMD Ryzen 3 3200GE is the clear choice. For a user with a specific need for six cores and twelve threads in a workload not captured by these benchmarks, or for a platform that already uses Socket 1366 and DDR3 memory, the Intel Core i7-980X could still be relevant, but the recorded data does not show a performance scenario where it wins.