AMD Ryzen 3 3200U vs Intel Core i3-6100 Comparison

# AMD Ryzen 3 3200U vs Intel Core i3-6100: Mobile Efficiency Meets Desktop Legacy

The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U and Intel Core i3-6100 are both 2-core/4-thread processors, but they target fundamentally different markets and deliver contrasting performance profiles. Benchmark data shows the Ryzen 3 3200U wins 3 of 5 head-to-head tests, including a massive 143.6% single-core Cinebench R23 victory, while the Core i3-6100 counters with a 19.8% multi-core Cinebench R23 advantage. The overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 893 for AMD versus 888 for Intel — placing both at the 24th percentile of all CPUs. However, these aggregate scores mask divergent strengths: the Ryzen excels in single-threaded workloads and newer Cinebench versions, while the Intel chip holds its own in Geekbench multi-core and pulls ahead in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The decision between these two hinges on whether you prioritize the Ryzen's mobile efficiency and single-core prowess or the Intel's desktop-oriented multi-core consistency.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U leads with an average benchmark score of 893, compared to 888 for the Intel Core i3-6100. This translates to a 0.5% delta in AMD's favor, making the two effectively tied in overall performance.

Q: How do the single-core Cinebench R23 scores compare?

A: The Ryzen 3 3200U dominates with a score of 765 versus the Core i3-6100's 314, representing a 143.6% advantage for AMD. This is the largest performance gap in any head-to-head benchmark between the two.

Q: Which processor performs better in Geekbench multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i3-6100 wins with a Geekbench multi-core score of 1605, while the Ryzen 3 3200U scores 1527 — a 4.9% delta in Intel's favor. The Intel chip also wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 2226 versus 1786 (a 19.8% advantage).

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The Ryzen 3 3200U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Core i3-6100 has a TDP of 51 watts. This makes the AMD chip a mobile-focused processor, whereas the Intel part is designed for desktop use.

Q: Do both CPUs support DDR4 memory?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 memory with dual-channel memory buses. However, the Ryzen 3 3200U offers a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the Core i3-6100 provides 34.1 GB/s.

Q: How many benchmark wins does each CPU have in the head-to-head tests?

A: The Ryzen 3 3200U wins 3 of the 5 head-to-head benchmarks (Cinebench R15 multi-core, Cinebench R23 single-core, and Geekbench single-core), while the Core i3-6100 takes 2 (Cinebench R23 multi-core and Geekbench multi-core).

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is stark, reflecting their different target markets and design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U is built on the Zen architecture with the Raven Ridge codename, marking it as part of AMD's 3000 series mobile lineup. It uses a 14 nm process node fabricated by GlobalFoundries, with a die size of 210 mm² and a substantial 4,940 million transistors. The Intel Core i3-6100, in contrast, employs the Skylake architecture on an Intel 14 nm process, with a smaller 150 mm² die and 1,400 million transistors.

Cache configurations differ significantly between the two. The Ryzen 3 3200U features 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, while the Core i3-6100 has 64 KB per core of L1 and 256 KB per core of L2. Both share 4 MB of L3 cache across their cores, creating a parity point in the final cache tier.

The integrated graphics also diverge: the Ryzen 3 3200U carries Radeon Vega 3 graphics, while the Core i3-6100 includes Intel HD 530. Memory bandwidth favors AMD at 38.4 GB/s versus Intel's 34.1 GB/s, though both support DDR4 with dual-channel buses. The Ryzen's socket is AMD Socket FP5, whereas the Intel chip uses Socket 1151. PCIe connectivity is Gen 3 for both, but the Intel part specifies 16 lanes (CPU only) while AMD does not enumerate lanes in the data.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 3 3200U establishes clear dominance in single-threaded workloads, making it the stronger choice for applications that rely heavily on per-core performance. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 765 versus Intel's 314 demonstrates a 143.6% advantage — a staggering gap that suggests AMD's Zen architecture handles single-threaded instructions far more efficiently in this comparison. The Geekbench single-core result reinforces this trend, with AMD winning 817 to 785 (a 4.1% delta). For users running lightly-threaded applications, web browsing, or productivity software that scales poorly across cores, the Ryzen 3 3200U delivers noticeably better responsiveness.

The Ryzen also wins the Cinebench R15 multi-core test with 334 points versus 224 for Intel, a 49.1% margin. This older benchmark favors AMD's architecture, suggesting that legacy software may perform better on the mobile chip. The Ryzen's lower TDP of 15 watts compared to Intel's 51 watts further positions it as the efficiency leader, making it suitable for thermally-constrained environments like thin-and-light laptops.

Conversely, the Core i3-6100 takes the modern multi-core crown. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 2226 versus AMD's 1786 represents a 19.8% advantage, indicating that heavily-threaded modern workloads benefit from Intel's design in this matchup. The Geekbench multi-core result also goes Intel's way (1605 versus 1527, a 4.9% delta), suggesting consistent multi-threaded performance across different benchmark suites. For video rendering, content creation, or multitasking scenarios that leverage all four threads, the Core i3-6100 provides a measurable edge.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on nearly every specification field. The Ryzen 3 3200U has a base clock of 2.60 GHz with a boost clock of 3.50 GHz, while the Core i3-6100 runs at a fixed 3.70 GHz with no boost capability. TDP differs dramatically: 15 watts for AMD versus 51 watts for Intel, reflecting their mobile versus desktop positioning.

Manufacturing details separate them further. The Ryzen uses 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, while the Core i3-6100 uses 1,400 million transistors on a 150 mm² die. Both are fabricated on 14 nm processes but by different foundries (GlobalFoundries for AMD, Intel for Intel). Memory bandwidth favors AMD at 38.4 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s for Intel.

Cache hierarchies differ: AMD provides 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, while Intel offers 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core. Both share 4 MB L3. The integrated graphics differ (Radeon Vega 3 versus Intel HD 530), as do the sockets (AMD Socket FP5 versus Intel Socket 1151). The Ryzen 3 3200U is a mobile part released on 2019-01-05, while the Core i3-6100 is a desktop part from 2015-08-31. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, and both lack ECC memory support.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is the Cinebench R23 single-core test, where the Ryzen 3 3200U scores 765 against the Core i3-6100's 314 — a 143.6% advantage for AMD. This is the single largest performance differential in the entire comparison, and it fundamentally reshapes the narrative. The Ryzen's single-core performance is not merely better; it is decisively superior, suggesting that Zen's instruction handling and clock efficiency dramatically outperform Skylake in this specific workload.

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test also favors AMD, with the Ryzen scoring 334 versus Intel's 224, a 49.1% margin. This older benchmark shows AMD's architecture handling multi-threaded legacy workloads more effectively, potentially due to better cache utilization or scheduling decisions in that generation of the benchmark.

The Intel Core i3-6100's strongest showing comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 2226 against AMD's 1786 — a 19.8% advantage. This modern multi-threaded test reveals Intel's strength in sustained multi-core throughput, possibly reflecting the higher base clock of 3.70 GHz compared to the Ryzen's variable 2.60–3.50 GHz range. The Geekbench multi-core result adds to Intel's case, with a 1605 score versus 1527 (a 4.9% delta), though this margin is far narrower than the Cinebench R23 gap.

The Geekbench single-core test rounds out the results with AMD winning 817 to 785 (a 4.1% delta). This modest but consistent single-core advantage across multiple benchmarks confirms the Ryzen's superiority in lightly-threaded tasks, even as the overall average scores remain close (893 versus 888).

The Verdict

The data presents a clear split: the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U is the superior processor for single-threaded workloads and legacy multi-threaded applications, while the Intel Core i3-6100 dominates modern multi-threaded benchmarks. For users running older software, web-heavy workflows, or applications that reward high single-core performance, the Ryzen 3 3200U offers up to a 143.6% advantage in Cinebench R23 single-core and a 49.1% edge in Cinebench R15 multi-core. Its 15-watt TDP also makes it the obvious choice for portable or thermally-constrained systems, where the Intel chip's 51-watt TDP would be prohibitive.

However, for modern content creation, video encoding, or heavily-threaded productivity suites, the Core i3-6100 delivers a 19.8% Cinebench R23 multi-core advantage and a 4.9% Geekbench multi-core edge. These gains are meaningful for users who routinely push all four threads to their limits. The Intel chip's fixed 3.70 GHz clock also provides predictable, consistent performance without boost variability.

Given the near-identical average benchmark scores (893 versus 888) and equal 24th percentile rankings, neither processor is categorically "better." The Ryzen 3 3200U wins 3 of 5 head-to-head tests, including both single-core benchmarks, but the Intel Core i3-6100 wins the two most demanding multi-threaded tests. Choose the Ryzen 3 3200U for mobile efficiency, single-core dominance, and legacy application compatibility. Choose the Core i3-6100 for modern multi-threaded workloads in a desktop environment where power consumption is not a constraint. The data supports both conclusions, depending on your workload priorities.