AMD Ryzen 3 3300X vs AMD Ryzen 5 7520C Comparison

# AMD Ryzen 3 3300X vs AMD Ryzen 5 7520C

The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X and AMD Ryzen 5 7520C are both quad-core, eight-thread Zen 2 processors, but they are built for entirely different roles. The data shows the Ryzen 3 3300X dominates in raw performance, winning both head-to-head benchmark comparisons with decisive margins. The Ryzen 5 7520C, meanwhile, compensates with a dramatically lower 15W TDP, integrated graphics, and LPDDR5 memory support, positioning it as a mobility-first chip. The average benchmark scores are close — 2148 for the 3300X versus 2127 for the 7520C — but that aggregate hides the fact that the 3300X wins big in the tests both chips share, while the 7520C fields several additional benchmarks where it demonstrates its own capabilities.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 3 3300X wins outright in every head-to-head test available. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 1071 against the 7520C's 741, a 44.5% advantage. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it posts 195 versus 104, an 87.5% gap. These are not marginal differences; the 3300X is simply in a different performance class for both threaded and lightly-threaded workloads. Its 4.30 GHz boost clock matches the 7520C, but its 3.80 GHz base clock is a full 1.00 GHz higher, and it pairs that with 16 MB of shared L3 cache versus the 7520C's 4 MB. The data strongly indicates the 3300X is the choice for anyone prioritizing compute throughput, whether in gaming, rendering, or general desktop responsiveness.

The Ryzen 5 7520C, however, wins in the context of its intended platform. It has no head-to-head benchmark victories, but it brings a set of capabilities the 3300X lacks entirely. Its integrated Radeon 610M graphics mean it can output video without a discrete GPU, which is a requirement for many mobile and compact systems. It supports LPDDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and 88.0 GB/s bandwidth, compared to the 3300X's DDR4 at 51.2 GB/s. Its 15W TDP is 50W lower than the 3300X's 65W, making it dramatically more power-efficient. The 7520C also has a richer benchmark suite in the data, including Cinebench R20 and R23 results, where it scores 3089 multi-core / 435 single-core in R20 and 7355 multi-core / 1038 single-core in R23. These numbers are not comparable to the 3300X because the 3300X lacks those tests, but they show the 7520C is a functional processor for its segment.

The Verdict

Pick the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X if you need desktop-class performance and are willing to add your own graphics card. Its 44.5% multi-core and 87.5% single-core leads in the shared Cinebench R15 tests are decisive. It also offers a higher 65W TDP, which allows sustained performance, and an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — the 7520C's multiplier is locked. The 3300X uses the AM4 socket, which provides broad motherboard compatibility within its ecosystem, and it supports PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes, giving it far more expansion headroom than the 7520C's PCIe Gen 3 with 4 lanes. This is the processor for users who prioritize throughput over portability.

Pick the AMD Ryzen 5 7520C if power efficiency, integrated graphics, and modern memory support outweigh raw compute. Its 15W TDP makes it suitable for fanless or low-power designs, and the Radeon 610M eliminates the need for a separate GPU. The LPDDR5 memory interface with 88.0 GB/s bandwidth is a substantial upgrade over the 3300X's DDR4 in theoretical bandwidth, even if the CPU cores cannot fully exploit it in the available benchmarks. The 7520C also carries a newer 6 nm process node versus the 3300X's 7 nm, and it was released in 2023, three years after the 3300X's 2020 launch. For Chromebooks, thin laptops, or embedded systems, the 7520C is the rational choice. The data cannot justify choosing it for raw performance, but its feature set addresses a completely different use case.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The two processors share only two benchmark results in the data, and the Ryzen 3 3300X wins both by substantial margins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 3300X scores 1071, while the 7520C manages 741. The 44.5% delta is a categorical lead, indicating the 3300X handles multi-threaded workloads like video encoding or compilation far more effectively. The 3300X's higher base clock and 16 MB L3 cache are the likely contributors, though the data does not isolate those factors.

In Cinebench R15 single-core, the gap widens to 87.5%, with the 3300X at 195 and the 7520C at 104. This is an enormous difference for single-threaded tasks such as web browsing, office applications, or legacy games. The 7520C's 2.80 GHz base clock and smaller cache are clear disadvantages here. Notably, both chips share the same 4.30 GHz boost clock, so the 7520C's low base clock and memory architecture likely constrain its ability to sustain high single-core performance. The 3300X's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-9400T and AMD Ryzen 3 5300U, both within 0.6% of its average score; the 7520C's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-1160G7 and Intel Atom C5125, with the 7520C essentially tied with them. The 3300X's percentile rank is 47 versus the 7520C's 46, another indicator of near-equal overall standing despite the lopsided head-to-head results.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X has an average benchmark score of 2148, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7520C scores 2127, a difference of 21 points. Both sit at similar percentile rankings — 47th for the 3300X and 46th for the 7520C.

Q: Does the Ryzen 5 7520C have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 5 7520C includes Radeon 610M integrated graphics. The Ryzen 3 3300X has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Ryzen 3 3300X has a 65W TDP, while the Ryzen 5 7520C has a 15W TDP. The 7520C consumes 50W less, making it significantly more power-efficient.

Q: Which processor supports faster memory bandwidth?

A: The Ryzen 5 7520C supports LPDDR5 memory with 88.0 GB/s bandwidth, while the Ryzen 3 3300X supports DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. Both use a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. The Ryzen 3 3300X has an unlocked multiplier, while the Ryzen 5 7520C's multiplier is locked.

Q: What are the release dates for each processor?

A: The Ryzen 3 3300X was released on 2020-04-23, and the Ryzen 5 7520C was released on 2023-05-22. The 7520C is the newer product by roughly three years.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on AMD's Zen 2 architecture, but they diverge in nearly every implementation detail. The Ryzen 3 3300X uses the Matisse codename and is fabricated on TSMC's 7 nm process, with 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die. The Ryzen 5 7520C uses the Mendocino codename and moves to a 6 nm process, with a larger 100 mm² die (transistor count is not listed). Both have 4 cores and 8 threads with 64 KB of L1 cache and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, but the shared L3 cache differs dramatically: the 3300X has 16 MB, while the 7520C has only 4 MB. This 12 MB difference is significant for workloads that benefit from large cache residency, such as database queries or certain game engines.

The memory interfaces are also distinct. The 3300X supports DDR4 with dual-channel configuration and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the 7520C supports LPDDR5 with the same dual-channel layout but 88.0 GB/s bandwidth. The 7520C's higher bandwidth is tailored for mobile memory, whereas the 3300X's DDR4 is standard for desktop platforms. PCIe capabilities differ too: the 3300X offers Gen 4 with 16 lanes, while the 7520C provides Gen 3 with 4 lanes. The 3300X's PCIe Gen 4 support doubles the bandwidth potential for NVMe storage and graphics, but the 7520C's 4 lanes are sufficient for basic mobile peripherals. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and neither has any 3D V-Cache.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every physical and platform specification. The Ryzen 3 3300X has a base clock of 3.80 GHz, while the Ryzen 5 7520C has a base clock of 2.80 GHz — a 1.00 GHz gap. Both share a 4.30 GHz boost clock, but the 3300X's higher base clock means it sustains higher performance under load. The 3300X is a desktop part on the AM4 socket with a 65W TDP, whereas the 7520C is a mobile part on the FT6 socket with a 15W TDP. The 3300X has an unlocked multiplier and a launch MSRP of $120; the 7520C has no listed launch MSRP and a locked multiplier.

The 3300X uses DDR4 memory, while the 7520C uses LPDDR5, with the bandwidth difference noted above. The 3300X supports PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes; the 7520C supports PCIe Gen 3 with 4 lanes. The 3300X has no integrated graphics, while the 7520C includes Radeon 610M. The 3300X is from the 3000 series with a release date of 2020-04-23, while the 7520C is from the 7000 series with a release date of 2023-05-22. Their part numbers are 100-000000159 for the 3300X and 100-000000773 for the 7520C. The 3300X's process node is 7 nm, while the 7520C's is 6 nm, and the 3300X's die size is 74 mm² versus the 7520C's 100 mm². The 3300X has 3,800 million transistors; the 7520C's count is not listed. Both processors have 4 cores and 8 threads, and both are currently listed as Active in production.