AMD Ryzen 3 3200U vs Intel Core i3-5157U Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two mobile processors along clear lines. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U wins three of the five recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i3-5157U takes two. That alone suggests a narrow overall edge for AMD, but the margins tell a more interesting story than the raw win count.

The Ryzen 3 3200U dominates in Cinebench R15 multi-core with a score of 334 against 222, a 50.5% advantage. That is the single largest gap in the comparison. It also wins decisively in Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 765 versus 311, a massive 146% lead. In Geekbench single-core, the AMD part scores 817 against 778, a 5% margin. These three victories span both older and newer rendering workloads, plus a general-purpose single-thread test, which indicates the Zen architecture in Raven Ridge carries a real per-core performance advantage over the older Broadwell design.

The Intel Core i3-5157U answers back in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 2203 against 1786, an 18.9% lead. It also edges out the AMD chip in Geekbench multi-core, 1568 versus 1527, a 2.6% margin. The R23 multi-core result is particularly notable because it reverses the R15 multi-core outcome. Older Cinebench favored AMD heavily, but the newer R23 multi-core test favors Intel. That suggests the Intel part scales better in sustained multi-threaded rendering in the modern benchmark, despite losing badly in the single-core version of the same test.

The overall average benchmark scores are close. The Ryzen 3 3200U sits at 893, while the Intel Core i3-5157U sits at 877. That difference is only about 1.8%, which places both chips in the same performance tier. The Ryzen 3 3200U lands in the 24th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel part lands in the 23rd percentile. Neither processor is a performance leader by modern standards; both are entry-level mobile parts.

The nearest rival data reinforces this closeness. The Ryzen 3 3200U's closest competitor, the Intel Core i5-5300U, averages 895 in the database, a delta of -0.2%. The Intel Core i3-5157U's closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 3 2300U, averages 880, a delta of -0.3%. Both chips are surrounded by similar performers, which means the head-to-head differences here are the exception rather than the rule.

The Verdict

The recorded benchmarks point to a clear conclusion for most buyers: the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U is the stronger pick for single-threaded workloads and for older multi-threaded rendering tests. The 146% margin in Cinebench R23 single-core is not a small edge; it is a generational gap. The 50.5% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core reinforces that the AMD architecture extracts more from each core.

The Intel Core i3-5157U is the better choice if the workload relies on Cinebench R23 multi-core rendering or on Geekbench multi-core performance. Its 18.9% lead in R23 multi-core and 2.6% lead in Geekbench multi-core are real, but they come in a narrower set of tests. The Intel part also carries a 28W TDP, notably higher than the AMD's 15W TDP, which matters for sustained workloads in thin laptops.

For general use, the Ryzen 3 3200U's wins in both single-core benchmarks and in Geekbench multi-core are close enough that the AMD chip is the safer recommendation. The Geekbench multi-core gap is only 2.6%, well within run-to-run variance, but the single-core leads are substantial. The Intel part's R23 multi-core win is its only decisive advantage, and it comes with higher power consumption.

The production status also favors AMD. The Ryzen 3 3200U is listed as Active, while the Intel Core i3-5157U is End-of-life. For new system designs, that makes the AMD part the more practical option.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the entire comparison is Cinebench R23 single-core. The Ryzen 3 3200U scores 765, while the Intel Core i3-5157U scores 311. That is a 146% advantage for AMD. This test stresses a single thread with modern rendering instructions, and the Zen architecture simply overwhelms the older Broadwell core. A score of 765 is roughly 2.5 times the Intel result, which indicates the AMD core is far more efficient per clock in this workload.

Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a similar but less extreme pattern. The Ryzen 3 3200U scores 334, the Intel part scores 222, giving AMD a 50.5% lead. This older test still rewards core count and memory bandwidth, and the AMD chip's 4 MB shared L3 cache and 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth help it pull ahead. The Intel part's 3 MB shared L3 cache and 29.9 GB/s memory bandwidth are both lower, which likely contributes to the gap.

Cinebench R23 multi-core flips the script. The Intel Core i3-5157U scores 2203, while the Ryzen 3 3200U scores 1786. That is an 18.9% lead for Intel. This is the only multi-core test where Intel wins, and the margin is substantial. The Intel part's higher 28W TDP may allow it to sustain boost behavior better in this longer workload, though the database does not record clocks, so this remains a hypothesis based on the TDP figures.

Geekbench multi-core is nearly a tie. The Intel part scores 1568, the AMD part scores 1527, a 2.6% difference. Both chips have 2 cores and 4 threads, so the result reflects architectural efficiency rather than core count. The AMD part's 817 single-core score in Geekbench beats Intel's 778, a 5% lead, which is consistent with the R23 single-core result but far less dramatic.

The pattern across all five tests is consistent: AMD wins every single-core test, and the two chips split the multi-core tests. The AMD wins are larger in magnitude, especially in single-core, while the Intel multi-core win in R23 is the only test where Intel leads by more than 3%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U wins every recorded single-core benchmark. It leads by 146% in Cinebench R23 single-core (765 vs 311) and by 5% in Geekbench single-core (817 vs 778).

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core workloads?

A: It depends on the benchmark. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U wins Cinebench R15 multi-core (334 vs 222, a 50.5% lead), but the Intel Core i3-5157U wins Cinebench R23 multi-core (2203 vs 1786, an 18.9% lead) and Geekbench multi-core (1568 vs 1527, a 2.6% lead).

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U has an average benchmark score of 893, while the Intel Core i3-5157U has 877. The AMD part also sits in the 24th percentile of all CPUs, one point above the Intel part's 23rd percentile.

Q: What are the closest rivals to each chip?

A: The Ryzen 3 3200U's nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-5300U, which averages 895 (a -0.2% delta). The Intel Core i3-5157U's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 3 2300U, which averages 880 (a -0.3% delta).

Q: Which processor has a higher power draw?

A: The Intel Core i3-5157U is rated at 28W TDP, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U is rated at 15W TDP. The Intel part consumes nearly double the power budget.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U is listed as Active, while the Intel Core i3-5157U is listed as End-of-life.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations, and the benchmark results reflect those differences. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U uses the Zen architecture on the Raven Ridge codename, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It integrates 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Intel Core i3-5157U uses the Broadwell architecture on the Broadwell-U codename, also on a 14 nm process but fabricated by Intel. It integrates 1,900 million transistors on a 133 mm² die.

The cache layouts differ significantly. The AMD part has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache. Every level of cache favors AMD, which helps explain the single-core benchmark dominance.

Memory support also differs. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U supports DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Core i3-5157U supports DDR3 memory in dual-channel mode with 29.9 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD part's higher memory bandwidth is a clear advantage in memory-sensitive workloads like Cinebench R15.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The AMD chip uses Radeon Vega 3, while the Intel chip uses Intel Iris 6100. The database records no graphics benchmarks, so a direct comparison is not possible from this data.

The PCIe support also differs. The AMD part uses PCIe Gen 3, while the Intel part uses PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes for the CPU only. The newer PCIe standard on the AMD side is another architectural advantage.

Specification Differences

The most obvious specification difference is the TDP. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U is rated at 15W, while the Intel Core i3-5157U is rated at 28W. This nearly 2x difference has implications for cooling and battery life in mobile devices.

Clock speeds differ as well. The AMD part has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The Intel part has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and no recorded boost clock. The AMD part can reach a higher frequency under load, which contributes to its single-core wins.

The sockets are incompatible. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U uses AMD Socket FP5, while the Intel Core i3-5157U uses Intel BGA 1168. These are physically different packages, so no cross-compatibility exists.

Memory support differs on both the type and bandwidth. The AMD part supports DDR4, while the Intel part supports DDR3. The AMD part's 38.4 GB/s bandwidth exceeds the Intel part's 29.9 GB/s.

The manufacturing details differ. The AMD die is 210 mm² with 4,940 million transistors, while the Intel die is 133 mm² with 1,900 million transistors. The AMD die is larger and denser, but both use a 14 nm process.

The release dates are far apart. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U launched on 2019-01-05, while the Intel Core i3-5157U launched on 2015-02-28. The Intel part is nearly four years older, which explains its End-of-life status. The Intel part had a launch MSRP of $315, while the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP. The part numbers differ: YM3200C4T2OFG for AMD and SR26M for Intel.

Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not supported on either chip. Both support dual-channel memory, and neither supports ECC memory. Both have 2 cores and 4 threads, so the thread count is identical.