AMD Ryzen 3 3250U vs Intel Core i3-4330T Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U and Intel Core i3-4330T are directly comparable mid-range processors, with both holding an identical average benchmark score of 908 and sitting in the 24th percentile of all CPUs. Despite this apparent parity, the benchmark data reveals a stark divergence in workload strengths: the AMD chip dominates single-threaded and older multi-threaded tests, while the Intel chip pulls ahead decisively in the modern Cinebench R23 multi-core workload. This split makes the choice between them entirely dependent on the target application, with the Ryzen 3 3250U being the superior option for legacy software and lightly-threaded tasks, and the Core i3-4330T being the better pick for contemporary multi-threaded rendering.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U wins two out of three head-to-head benchmarks, establishing its strength in single-core performance and in the legacy Cinebench R15 multi-core test. Its most dramatic victory is in the Cinebench R23 single-core benchmark, where it scores 776 against Intel's 372, a massive 108.6% advantage. This indicates that the Ryzen 3 3250U is the clear choice for applications that rely on a single thread, such as older games, basic office productivity, and general system responsiveness, where its superior per-core throughput will be most noticeable.

The Intel Core i3-4330T, while losing the single-core battle, claims the most important modern multi-threaded win. In the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, it scores 2639 compared to AMD's 2010, a 23.8% lead. This is a significant reversal, suggesting that the Intel chip's architecture is better optimized for scaling across its four threads in contemporary rendering workloads. For users running modern video encoding, 3D rendering, or other heavily-threaded applications that use the latest Cinebench version as a benchmark, the Core i3-4330T is the more capable processor.

The split is not clean, however. In the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U wins with a score of 353 against Intel's 265, a 33.2% advantage. This suggests that AMD's strength in multi-threaded tasks diminishes with newer software versions, likely due to differences in instruction sets or memory architecture. The data indicates a clear pattern: AMD wins on single-core and older multi-core tests, while Intel wins on the newest multi-core benchmark.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies, which explains their divergent benchmark results. The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U is a mobile processor from the 3000 series, built on the Zen architecture with the Dali codename. It uses a 14 nm process node from GlobalFoundries, containing 3,500 million transistors on a 148 mm² die. In contrast, the Intel Core i3-4330T is a desktop chip from the Haswell generation, fabricated on Intel's 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a larger 177 mm² die.

The cache layouts differ notably. The AMD chip features 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, while the Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core. Both share 4 MB of L3 cache, but AMD's larger per-core L1 and L2 caches likely contribute to its significant single-core performance advantage. The memory support also differs, with the Ryzen 3 3250U using DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the Core i3-4330T uses older DDR3 memory, also dual-channel, with no bandwidth figure listed in the data.

Clock speeds are another key differentiator. The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz, while the Intel Core i3-4330T has a higher base clock of 3.00 GHz but no boost capability. The Intel chip's higher base clock helps it in multi-threaded tasks, but its lack of boost means it cannot match AMD's peak single-thread speed. The TDP also differs significantly, with the AMD mobile chip rated at 15 watts versus the Intel desktop chip at 35 watts, reflecting their different market segments (Mobile vs. Desktop) and sockets (AMD Socket FP5 vs. Intel Socket 1150).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the head-to-head data is the Cinebench R23 single-core test, where the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U scores 776, delivering a 108.6% improvement over the Intel Core i3-4330T's 372. This is more than a double, indicating that the Zen architecture's per-core efficiency far surpasses the older Haswell design in single-threaded workloads. This result aligns with the cache and boost clock advantages, making the AMD chip the definitive winner for any application that cannot utilize more than one or two threads.

In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U again wins, scoring 353 versus Intel's 265, a 33.2% lead. This older benchmark rewards the AMD chip's higher boost clock and larger caches, showing that even in multi-threaded scenarios, the Ryzen 3 3250U can outperform the Core i3-4330T when the workload is not optimized for the newest processor features. This result is counterintuitive given the Intel chip's higher base clock, but the data is clear: AMD dominates this legacy test.

The tables turn completely in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test. Here, the Intel Core i3-4330T scores 2639, beating the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U's 2010 by 23.8%. This suggests that the newer Cinebench R23 workload is better able to leverage the Intel chip's architecture, possibly through better memory access patterns or instruction scheduling. The fact that Intel wins this test by a wide margin while losing the older R15 multi-core test by an equally wide margin indicates a fundamental shift in how the workload scales between the two architectures.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: Both the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U and the Intel Core i3-4330T have an identical average benchmark score of 908, placing them both in the 24th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest difference is in the Cinebench R23 single-core test, where the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U scores 776 compared to the Intel Core i3-4330T's 372, a 108.6% advantage for AMD.

Q: Which processor is better for modern multi-threaded rendering?

A: The Intel Core i3-4330T is better for modern multi-threaded rendering, as it scores 2639 in Cinebench R23 multi-core versus the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U's 2010, a 23.8% lead.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: Both processors feature 2 cores and 4 threads, with the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U having a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz, while the Intel Core i3-4330T has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and no boost clock.

Q: What memory types do these CPUs support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel Core i3-4330T supports DDR3 memory also in a dual-channel configuration.

Q: Which chip has a lower TDP?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U has a TDP of 15 watts, which is significantly lower than the Intel Core i3-4330T's 35 watts, reflecting its mobile design.

The Verdict

The data clearly shows that the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U is the superior choice for single-threaded performance and legacy multi-threaded workloads. Its 108.6% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and 33.2% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core make it the obvious pick for users running older software, basic productivity tasks, or any application that is not heavily optimized for multi-core scaling. The Ryzen 3 3250U's larger L1 and L2 caches and boost clock up to 3.50 GHz provide a tangible advantage in these scenarios.

Conversely, the Intel Core i3-4330T is the better processor for modern multi-threaded workloads, as evidenced by its 23.8% victory in Cinebench R23 multi-core. Users who regularly run the latest rendering, video encoding, or scientific computing applications will benefit from the Intel chip's higher base clock of 3.00 GHz and its ability to maintain performance in the newest benchmark. Its 35-watt TDP and desktop form factor also suggest it is designed for sustained workloads in a desktop environment.

The choice ultimately comes down to software priorities. If the primary use case involves modern, heavily-threaded applications, the Intel Core i3-4330T's R23 multi-core score is the deciding factor. If the workload is mixed, older, or single-threaded, the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U offers a more balanced and often faster experience, despite its lower base clock and mobile orientation. With an identical average score of 908, neither is a clear overall winner, but their distinct benchmark profiles make them suited for different tasks.

Specification Differences

The primary specification differences between the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U and Intel Core i3-4330T are as follows:

• Manufacturer: AMD vs. Intel
• Base Clock: 2.60 GHz vs. 3.00 GHz
• Boost Clock: 3.50 GHz vs. None
• TDP: 15 watts vs. 35 watts
• Socket: AMD Socket FP5 vs. Intel Socket 1150
• Architecture: Zen vs. Haswell
• Codename: Dali vs. Haswell
• Process Node: 14 nm vs. 22 nm
• Foundry: GlobalFoundries vs. Intel
• Transistors: 3,500 million vs. 1,400 million
• Die Size: 148 mm² vs. 177 mm²
• L1 Cache: 96 KB (per core) vs. 64 KB (per core)
• L2 Cache: 512 KB (per core) vs. 256 KB (per core)
• Memory Support: DDR4 vs. DDR3
• Memory Bandwidth: 38.4 GB/s vs. Not listed
• Integrated Graphics: Radeon Vega 3 vs. Intel HD 4600
• Market Segment: Mobile vs. Desktop
• Release Date: 2020-01-05 vs. 2013-08-31
• Part Number: YM3250C4T2OFG vs. SR1NK