AMD Ryzen 3 3250U vs Intel Core i3-6100 Comparison

The Verdict

The data presents a split decision between two dual-core, four-thread processors that occupy the same 24th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U wins two benchmark comparisons, while the Intel Core i3-6100 wins three. The Ryzen 3 3250U is the choice for users prioritizing Cinebench R15 multicore and Cinebench R23 single-core performance, where it leads by substantial margins. The Intel Core i3-6100 is the choice for users prioritizing Geekbench scores in both single-core and multi-core tests, along with Cinebench R23 multi-core. The Ryzen 3 3250U is a mobile processor with a 15 W TDP, making it suited for power-constrained portable systems, while the Intel Core i3-6100 is a desktop processor with a 51 W TDP, making it suited for stationary builds where power draw is less of a concern. Neither chip is unlocked for overclocking, so the recorded performance represents the ceiling for both.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U uses the Zen architecture with the Dali codename and belongs to the Ryzen 3 generation that traces back to Raven Ridge. It is manufactured on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries with 3,500 million transistors on a 148 mm² die. The Intel Core i3-6100 uses the Skylake architecture, also on a 14 nm process but fabricated by Intel, with 1,400 million transistors on a 150 mm² die. The AMD chip features a larger L1 cache at 96 KB per core versus 64 KB per core for Intel, and a larger L2 cache at 512 KB per core versus 256 KB per core. Both share 4 MB of L3 cache. The Ryzen 3 3250U has a base clock of 2.60 GHz with a boost clock of 3.50 GHz, while the Intel part has a base clock of 3.70 GHz with no boost capability listed. The AMD processor fits into Socket FP5, while the Intel processor uses Socket 1151. Memory bandwidth favors the AMD chip at 38.4 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s, though both support DDR4 in dual-channel configuration and neither supports ECC memory. The integrated graphics differ as well: Radeon Vega 3 on the AMD side versus Intel HD 530 on the Intel side. The AMD chip is a mobile segment part released in January 2020, while the Intel chip is a desktop segment part released in August 2015. Both support PCIe Gen 3, with the Intel part specifying 16 lanes for the CPU. The AMD part lists a part number of YM3250C4T2OFG, and the Intel part lists SR2HG.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest victory for the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 776 against the Intel Core i3-6100's 314, a delta of 147.1%. This is a decisive margin that indicates the Zen architecture's single-thread efficiency at its boost clock of 3.50 GHz outperforms Skylake's fixed 3.70 GHz clock in this specific workload. The AMD chip also wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with a score of 353 versus 224, a 57.6% advantage. These two wins are substantial in magnitude, showing that in older Cinebench workloads, the Ryzen 3 3250U holds a commanding lead.

The Intel Core i3-6100 counters with three wins, though the margins are narrower. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 2226 against AMD's 2010, a 9.7% advantage. In Geekbench multi-core, Intel scores 1605 against AMD's 1467, an 8.6% advantage. In Geekbench single-core, Intel scores 785 against AMD's 722, an 8% advantage. The Intel processor also has a Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 934 and a Cinebench R20 single-core score of 131, though the AMD processor has no recorded R20 scores in the database for direct comparison. The average benchmark score favors AMD slightly, with 908 for the Ryzen 3 3250U against 888 for the Intel Core i3-6100, a difference of roughly 2.3%.

The pattern across the head-to-head results suggests that the AMD chip excels in Cinebench workloads, particularly single-core R23, while the Intel chip holds the advantage in Geekbench tests. The Intel processor's higher base clock of 3.70 GHz likely contributes to its Geekbench performance, but the AMD processor's boost clock of 3.50 GHz paired with a larger cache hierarchy appears to benefit Cinebench R23 single-core enormously. The Cinebench R15 multi-core result is the outlier in magnitude, with AMD leading by 57.6%, yet the newer Cinebench R23 multi-core test flips the result in Intel's favor by 9.7%. This indicates workload-specific scaling differences between the two architectures that are not fully explained by clock speed alone.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance in Geekbench?

A: The Intel Core i3-6100 scores 785 in Geekbench single-core, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U scores 722, giving Intel an 8% advantage.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i3-6100 wins with a score of 2226 against the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U's 2010, a 9.7% lead.

Q: How large is the AMD processor's single-core advantage in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U scores 776 in Cinebench R23 single-core against the Intel Core i3-6100's 314, a 147.1% difference in favor of AMD.

Q: What are the cache configurations of the two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U has 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, while the Intel Core i3-6100 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. Both have 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i3-6100 has a base clock of 3.70 GHz, which is higher than the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U's base clock of 2.60 GHz. However, the AMD processor has a boost clock of 3.50 GHz, while the Intel processor has no boost clock listed.

Q: How do the two processors compare in average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U has an average benchmark score of 908, while the Intel Core i3-6100 has an average benchmark score of 888. Both sit at the 24th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U is the stronger choice for Cinebench R15 multi-core rendering, where its 353 score beats the Intel Core i3-6100's 224 by 57.6%. This suggests that legacy multi-threaded rendering workloads favor the AMD chip significantly. The AMD processor also dominates Cinebench R23 single-core with a 147.1% lead, making it the clear pick for single-threaded rendering tasks in that benchmark. For users running older Cinebench versions or applications with similar rendering patterns, the Ryzen 3 3250U offers a substantial performance advantage. The mobile form factor with a 15 W TDP also makes it the only viable option for thin-and-light laptops, as the Intel chip's 51 W TDP is designed for desktop power envelopes.

The Intel Core i3-6100 is the better choice for Geekbench workloads, winning single-core by 8% with a score of 785 against 722 and multi-core by 8.6% with a score of 1605 against 1467. Users running Geekbench-based application tests or software that mirrors those access patterns will see better results on the Intel chip. The Intel processor also wins the more modern Cinebench R23 multi-core test by 9.7%, scoring 2226 against 2010. For desktop users with access to Socket 1151 motherboards who prioritize these workloads, the Intel Core i3-6100 delivers consistent wins in three of the five recorded head-to-head comparisons. The Intel chip's fixed 3.70 GHz clock speed provides predictable performance without reliance on boost behavior, which may be preferable in sustained multi-threaded workloads. The Intel processor also has a larger die at 150 mm² versus 148 mm², though the AMD chip integrates more transistors at 3,500 million versus 1,400 million, reflecting the denser transistor layout of the Zen architecture. Each processor wins in distinct application domains, and the choice between them should be guided by the specific benchmark priorities of the user rather than overall averages, since the average benchmark scores differ by only 2.3% in favor of AMD.