AMD Ryzen 3 3200U vs Intel Core i7-930 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U and the Intel Core i7-930 represent two distinct eras of processor design. The Ryzen 3 3200U is a modern, power-efficient mobile chip, while the Core i7-930 is an older, high-power desktop part. Benchmark data from the database shows a clear split in their capabilities, with the AMD processor dominating single-threaded tasks and the Intel processor taking the lead in one specific multi-threaded workload. The Ryzen 3 3200U wins two of the three head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the Core i7-930 wins one.

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data shows that the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U is the preferred choice for tasks that rely on single-core performance. Its score of 765 in Cinebench R23 single-core is more than double that of the Intel Core i7-930, which scored 361. This substantial lead indicates that the Ryzen 3 3200U is better suited for everyday applications, older software, and workloads that do not scale well across multiple cores. The Ryzen 3 3200U also wins the Cinebench R15 multi-core test with a score of 334, beating the Intel Core i7-930's score of 258 by a margin of 29.5%. This suggests that for certain rendering tasks, the newer architecture of the AMD chip provides a significant advantage despite having fewer cores.

The Intel Core i7-930, on the other hand, wins in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, scoring 2563 compared to the Ryzen 3 3200U's 1786. This is a 30.3% difference in favor of the Intel processor. This result indicates that in a modern, heavily threaded rendering workload, the Intel chip's four cores and eight threads are able to outperform the two cores and four threads of the AMD processor. Therefore, the Intel Core i7-930 is the winner for multi-threaded tasks that are optimized for many cores, such as video encoding or 3D rendering in Cinebench R23.

The overall percentile rankings are nearly identical. The Ryzen 3 3200U has a percentile ranking of 24, while the Core i7-930 has a ranking of 23. This places both processors in the same performance tier relative to all CPUs in the database. The average benchmark scores are also very close, with the Ryzen 3 3200U scoring 893 and the Core i7-930 scoring 882. This near parity in overall statistics, contrasted with the large swings in individual tests, highlights that the choice between these two CPUs depends entirely on the specific workload.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U uses the Zen architecture, codenamed Raven Ridge, and is manufactured on a 14 nm process node by GlobalFoundries. In contrast, the Intel Core i7-930 uses the older Nehalem architecture, codenamed Bloomfield, and is built on a 45 nm process node by Intel. This generational gap explains many of the performance differences observed in the benchmarks.

The Ryzen 3 3200U integrates the Radeon Vega 3 graphics, while the Core i7-930 has no integrated graphics at all. The AMD processor is designed for mobile platforms, using the AMD Socket FP5, while the Intel processor is a desktop part using the Intel Socket 1366. The Ryzen 3 3200U supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, whereas the Core i7-930 supports DDR3 memory in a triple-channel configuration. The Ryzen 3 3200U also features PCIe Gen 3, while the Core i7-930 is limited to PCIe Gen 2. These differences in platform support mean that the two CPUs are not directly interchangeable and are intended for completely different systems.

The manufacturing process is a major differentiator. The 14 nm process of the Ryzen 3 3200U is significantly more advanced than the 45 nm process of the Core i7-930. This is reflected in the transistor count and die size. The Ryzen 3 3200U contains 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, while the Core i7-930 contains only 731 million transistors on a larger 263 mm² die. This demonstrates the density advantage of the modern manufacturing process. The power consumption also differs dramatically, with the Ryzen 3 3200U having a TDP of 15 watts and the Core i7-930 having a TDP of 130 watts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data provides a clear picture of the performance relationship between these two CPUs. The most dramatic difference is in the Cinebench R23 single-core test, where the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U scores 765 and the Intel Core i7-930 scores 361. This gives the AMD processor a 111.9% advantage in this test. This result highlights the massive improvements in single-thread performance that have been made in the years between the release of these two processors.

In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U again takes the lead with a score of 334, compared to a score of 258 for the Intel Core i7-930. This is a 29.5% advantage for the AMD chip. This result is notable because the Core i7-930 has twice as many physical cores and threads, yet it still loses in this older rendering benchmark. This suggests that the Core i7-930's older architecture is not efficient enough to overcome the Ryzen 3 3200U's architectural advantages in this test.

The only head-to-head win for the Intel Core i7-930 comes in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test. In this test, the Intel chip scores 2563 while the AMD chip scores 1786, giving the Intel processor a 30.3% lead. This reversal suggests that the Cinebench R23 multi-core workload is better able to utilize the eight threads of the Core i7-930. It is important to note that the Ryzen 3 3200U has more recent benchmark data in this comparison, while the Core i7-930 has a Cinebench R20 result of 1076 multi-core and 151 single-core, which are not directly compared. The database also records a Geekbench multi-core score of 1527 and a single-core score of 817 for the Ryzen 3 3200U, but no direct comparison is available for these tests.

Specification Differences

The specification differences between the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U and the Intel Core i7-930 are extensive. The Ryzen 3 3200U has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Core i7-930 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The base clock of the Ryzen 3 3200U is 2.60 GHz, which boosts to 3.50 GHz. The Core i7-930 has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.07 GHz. The TDP is a major difference, with the Ryzen 3 3200U rated at 15 watts and the Core i7-930 rated at 130 watts.

The cache configurations also differ. The Ryzen 3 3200U has 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, with a shared 4 MB L3 cache. The Core i7-930 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with a larger shared 8 MB L3 cache. The memory support is another key difference, with the Ryzen 3 3200U using DDR4 and the Core i7-930 using DDR3. The memory bus is dual-channel for the AMD chip and triple-channel for the Intel chip. The memory bandwidth for the Ryzen 3 3200U is recorded as 38.4 GB/s, while no bandwidth figure is available for the Core i7-930. The Ryzen 3 3200U is listed as an active production part, while the Core i7-930 is end-of-life.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U has a significantly higher score of 765, compared to the Intel Core i7-930's score of 361. This gives the AMD processor a 111.9% advantage in this test.

Q: Which CPU performs better in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test?

A: The Intel Core i7-930 performs better with a score of 2563, compared to the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U's score of 1786. This is a 30.3% difference in favor of the Intel chip.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Intel Core i7-930 has a TDP of 130 watts. This makes the Ryzen 3 3200U dramatically more power-efficient.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U has 2 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i7-930 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Do these processors use the same memory type?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U supports DDR4 memory, while the Intel Core i7-930 supports DDR3 memory.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-930 have integrated graphics?

A: No, the Core i7-930 has no integrated graphics. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U includes integrated Radeon Vega 3 graphics.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice based on workload. For users who prioritize single-threaded performance, the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U is the obvious selection. Its 111.9% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and 29.5% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core demonstrate a considerable performance advantage in these areas. This makes it the better option for general computing, office tasks, and older software that relies on strong single-core performance. Its much lower TDP of 15 watts also makes it suitable for thin and light mobile devices.

For users who need maximum multi-threaded performance in the Cinebench R23 workload, the Intel Core i7-930 is the stronger choice. Its 30.3% win in this specific test, powered by its 4 cores and 8 threads, shows that it can handle heavily threaded applications that are optimized for multiple cores. However, this comes at the cost of a 130 watt TDP, which requires a more robust cooling solution and power delivery system.

The percentile rankings of 24 for the AMD chip and 23 for the Intel chip suggest that they are close in overall performance. However, the nature of that performance is very different. The Ryzen 3 3200U is a modern, efficient processor that offers strong performance in everyday tasks and a specific rendering workload. The Core i7-930 is a legacy desktop processor that still holds its own in one modern multi-threaded test but is far less efficient and lacks modern features like integrated graphics and PCIe Gen 3 support. The choice comes down to whether the priority is modern efficiency and single-core speed or raw multi-threaded throughput in a power-hungry desktop platform.