AMD Ryzen 3 3250U vs Intel Core i7-870 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a fascinating split between these two processors, with each claiming victory in different workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U takes a decisive win, scoring 353 against the Intel Core i7-870's 271. That is a 23.2% advantage for AMD in this legacy rendering test, a surprising outcome given the Intel part's higher core count.

However, the narrative flips completely in the newer Cinebench R23 multi-core test. Here, the Intel Core i7-870 delivers 2697 points, while the Ryzen 3 3250U manages only 2010. The Intel processor is 34.2% ahead, a massive reversal that suggests the older architecture scales far better with the newer benchmark's workload demands. This is the largest performance gap recorded in either direction.

Single-core performance tells yet another story. The Ryzen 3 3250U posts 776 points in Cinebench R23 single-core, dwarfing the Intel Core i7-870's 380 points. The AMD chip leads by 51%, more than doubling the Intel score in percentage terms. This wide margin highlights how much single-thread efficiency has improved over the eleven years separating these designs.

Looking at the overall average benchmark scores, the two are nearly inseparable. The Intel Core i7-870 averages 928 points across all recorded tests, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U averages 908. That is a difference of just 2.2%, placing both processors in essentially the same performance tier. The Intel part sits at the 25th percentile among all CPUs, with the AMD part at the 24th percentile, confirming their statistical equivalence in aggregate terms.

The nearest rivals for each chip reinforce this picture. The Intel Core i7-870's closest competitor is the Intel Core i5-4288U at 927 points, a mere 0.1% difference. The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U is exactly tied with the Intel Core i3-4330T at 908 points, showing zero delta. Both processors inhabit a crowded mid-range space where benchmark scores cluster tightly together.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architectural gap between these two processors is stark. The Intel Core i7-870 uses the Nehalem architecture on the Lynnfield codename, built on Intel's 45 nm process node. It packs 774 million transistors into a 296 mm² die. The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U employs the Zen architecture with the Dali codename, fabricated on GlobalFoundries' 14 nm process. It contains 3,500 million transistors on a much smaller 148 mm² die, a signal of how far manufacturing technology advanced between 2009 and 2020.

Core configurations differ significantly. The Intel part offers 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD part provides 2 cores and 4 threads. Despite having half the cores and threads, the Ryzen 3 3250U competes closely in aggregate benchmarks, which speaks to its much higher per-core efficiency. The Intel chip's base clock of 2.93 GHz and boost clock of 3.60 GHz exceed the AMD chip's 2.60 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost, yet the newer architecture still wins single-thread tests decisively.

Cache hierarchies reveal another major divergence. The Intel Core i7-870 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U counters with 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, but only 4 MB of shared L3. The larger L3 on the Intel part likely helps it in the multi-threaded R23 test, while the AMD part's larger L1 and L2 per core contribute to its single-thread dominance.

Memory support shows a generational leap. The Intel chip uses DDR3 with a dual-channel memory bus, while the AMD chip uses DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The AMD part also integrates Radeon Vega 3 graphics, whereas the Intel Core i7-870 has no integrated graphics at all. The Intel processor uses PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD processor uses PCIe Gen 3.

Thermal and physical characteristics differ dramatically. The Intel Core i7-870 has a 95 W TDP and uses Intel Socket 1156, a desktop platform. The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U sips just 15 W and uses AMD Socket FP5, a mobile platform. The Intel part is end-of-life production, released in September 2009, while the AMD part remains active, released in January 2020. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-threaded workloads according to the data?

A: It depends on the benchmark. The Intel Core i7-870 wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 34.2%, scoring 2697 versus 2010. However, the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 23.2%, scoring 353 versus 271.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap between these two CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U leads by 51% in Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 776 points against the Intel Core i7-870's 380 points. This is the largest percentage difference recorded in any head-to-head test between them.

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

A: The Intel Core i7-870 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U has 2 cores and 4 threads, exactly half the Intel configuration.

Q: How do their overall average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-870 averages 928 points across all tests, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U averages 908 points. The Intel part is 2.2% ahead, a margin that places both at nearly identical performance levels.

Q: Which processor has more cache, and how does it differ?

A: The Intel Core i7-870 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U has 4 MB. However, the AMD chip has larger per-core L1 (96 KB versus 64 KB) and L2 (512 KB versus 256 KB) caches.

Q: Do these processors support the same memory type?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-870 supports DDR3 memory, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U supports DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the AMD part records 38.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification category. The Intel Core i7-870 is a desktop processor from Intel with 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U is a mobile processor from AMD with 2 cores and 4 threads. The Intel chip clocks at 2.93 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost, compared to the AMD chip's 2.60 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost.

Power consumption separates them widely: the Intel part draws 95 W TDP, while the AMD part draws only 15 W. The Intel processor uses Intel Socket 1156, the AMD processor uses AMD Socket FP5. Architecture differs completely, with Intel on Nehalem (Lynnfield) and AMD on Zen (Dali). The Intel chip uses a 45 nm process from Intel's foundry, while the AMD chip uses a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries.

Transistor counts and die sizes show the manufacturing gap: 774 million transistors on a 296 mm² die for Intel, versus 3,500 million transistors on a 148 mm² die for AMD. Cache configurations differ as detailed above, with Intel offering 8 MB shared L3 and AMD offering 4 MB shared L3. The Intel part supports DDR3, the AMD part supports DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel chip has no integrated graphics, while the AMD chip includes Radeon Vega 3. The Intel part uses PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes from the CPU, the AMD part uses PCIe Gen 3. The Intel processor is end-of-life, released in September 2009, while the AMD processor is active, released in January 2020. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The data points to a generational trade-off rather than a clear winner. The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U wins the newer single-core benchmark by 51% and the older multi-core benchmark by 23.2%, but loses the newer multi-core benchmark by 34.2%. The Intel Core i7-870's victory in Cinebench R23 multi-core is its only head-to-head win, yet it is the largest margin recorded in either direction.

For users prioritizing modern single-thread performance, the Ryzen 3 3250U is the obvious choice based on its 776-point score. For users running workloads similar to Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core i7-870's 2697 points provide a substantial advantage. The aggregate scores suggest either processor delivers comparable overall performance, with the Intel part holding a narrow 2.2% edge in average benchmark score.

The production status matters for practical decisions. The Intel Core i7-870 is end-of-life, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U remains active. The AMD part also offers integrated graphics, which the Intel part lacks entirely. The 15 W TDP of the AMD chip versus 95 W for the Intel chip implies dramatically different thermal and power requirements, though the database records no direct efficiency measurements.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-870 wins in scenarios that stress multi-threaded performance as measured by Cinebench R23. Its 34.2% lead in that test indicates that workloads with heavy parallel processing demands benefit from its 4-core, 8-thread configuration and larger 8 MB L3 cache. The data suggests this processor handles modern rendering tasks that scale across multiple cores effectively.

The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U wins in single-thread performance by a wide 51% margin, making it the better choice for applications that rely on per-core speed. Its 23.2% win in Cinebench R15 multi-core also shows it can outperform in certain legacy multi-threaded tests, despite having only 2 cores and 4 threads. The AMD part's active production status and integrated Radeon Vega 3 graphics make it the more versatile option for systems requiring a complete package without a discrete GPU.

The recorded head-to-head results show two wins for the AMD processor and one win for the Intel processor. Yet the magnitude of Intel's win in the R23 multi-core test is substantial enough to keep the overall comparison competitive. Users should match the benchmark profile to their actual workload patterns, as the data reveals no single processor dominates across all test conditions.