AMD Ryzen 3 3300X vs Intel Core i5-7640X Comparison

The Intel Core i5-7640X and AMD Ryzen 3 3300X are both quad-core desktop processors, but they represent fundamentally different eras and design philosophies. The data shows a clear split: the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X dominates in multi-threaded and most single-threaded legacy tests, while the Intel part claims a narrow victory in one modern single-core metric. Despite the Intel chip’s higher average benchmark score of 2167 versus the AMD’s 2148, the head-to-head results reveal that the newer 7nm architecture delivers substantially better real-world performance in most scenarios, making it the more compelling choice for the majority of builders.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic difference appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the Ryzen 3 3300X scores 1071 against the i5-7640X’s 607. That is a 43.3% deficit for Intel, and it is not a close contest. The Ryzen’s 8 threads versus the i5’s 4 threads make the difference clear in heavily parallel workloads. The single-core R15 result is equally lopsided: AMD scores 195 while Intel manages only 85, a 56.4% gap. This is a massive delta that points to the i5-7640X struggling even with lightly threaded tasks in that benchmark generation.

Geekbench results tell a more nuanced story. In multi-core, the Ryzen 3 3300X again wins, posting 5772 versus Intel’s 5137, an 11% advantage. That is a solid margin, though less dramatic than Cinebench R15. However, the tables turn in Geekbench single-core: the i5-7640X takes the win with 1736 against AMD’s 1555, giving Intel an 11.6% lead. This is the only benchmark where the Intel part comes out ahead, and it suggests that the i5’s higher base clock of 3.90 GHz and boost of 4.30 GHz can still matter in specific, latency-sensitive workloads that favor Intel’s older but higher-clocked cores.

Overall, the Ryzen 3 3300X wins three out of four head-to-head tests. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 2167 for Intel and 2148 for AMD — but that is misleading because the i5-7640X has a Cinebench R20 and R23 result that the Ryzen lacks in the comparison set. Looking strictly at the shared tests, the AMD part is the clear performance leader in aggregate. Both CPUs sit at the 47th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they are statistically equivalent in the broader market, but the distribution of wins heavily favors the Ryzen for anyone running multi-threaded applications.

Architecture Differences

The i5-7640X is built on Intel’s 14 nm process under the Kaby Lake-X codename, using the Kaby Lake architecture. It is a 4-core, 4-thread part with no hyper-threading, which severely limits its multi-threaded throughput. The Ryzen 3 3300X, by contrast, uses AMD’s Zen 2 architecture on a 7 nm TSMC process, with 4 cores and 8 threads. The process node advantage is significant: 7 nm versus 14 nm means better transistor density and power efficiency, though the Intel chip compensates with higher clock speeds at 3.90 GHz base versus 3.80 GHz for AMD.

Cache configurations differ substantially. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core, but the Ryzen 3 3300X doubles the L2 to 512 KB per core versus 256 KB on the i5-7640X. The L3 cache is even more lopsided: AMD offers 16 MB shared, while Intel has only 6 MB shared. This 10 MB difference likely contributes to the Ryzen’s superior multi-core performance, as it can hold more working data closer to the cores. The Ryzen also has a larger die at 74 mm² with 3,800 million transistors, whereas the Intel part has no listed transistor or die size, reflecting its simpler design.

Memory support is another key divergence. The i5-7640X uses quad-channel DDR4 memory, which is unusual for a mainstream quad-core and reflects its HEDT-oriented X299 platform. The Ryzen 3 3300X uses dual-channel DDR4 with a rated bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. PCIe support also differs: the Intel chip runs Gen 3, while the Ryzen offers Gen 4 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Ryzen uses the AMD Socket AM4, while Intel uses Socket 2066, which means motherboard compatibility is completely separate.

The Ryzen 3 3300X was released in April 2020, nearly three years after the i5-7640X launched in June 2017. That time gap explains why the Ryzen feels more modern: it incorporates Zen 2 improvements, including a larger cache hierarchy and simultaneous multithreading. Both are unlocked for overclocking, and both lack integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is mandatory for either system.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: pick the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X for anything that benefits from more threads or modern memory bandwidth. It wins three of four head-to-head benchmarks, including a 43.3% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and an 11% lead in Geekbench multi-core. The 8-thread design gives it a massive advantage in rendering, compiling, and any parallel workload. Even in single-core R15, it beats the Intel chip by 56.4%, which is surprising given the i5’s higher clock speed. The only place Intel wins is Geekbench single-core, where it leads by 11.6%, likely due to better per-core IPC in that specific test.

Choose the Intel Core i5-7640X only if you specifically need the fastest single-core Geekbench score or if you are already invested in the Socket 2066 platform with quad-channel memory. The i5-7640X does edge out the Ryzen in that one metric, posting 1736 versus 1555, and its quad-channel memory controller might help in certain bandwidth-sensitive tasks. However, the Ryzen’s dual-channel bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s is still respectable, and the overall performance gap in multi-threaded work is too large to ignore.

For a new build, the Ryzen 3 3300X is the obvious recommendation. It is the newer part, with a 7 nm process, 16 MB of L3 cache, and active production status. The i5-7640X has no listed production status, suggesting it may be discontinued. The Ryzen’s 65 W TDP also makes it easier to cool than the i5’s 112 W TDP, though both are unlocked for overclocking. If you are building a budget gaming or productivity PC, the Ryzen offers superior performance in the vast majority of tests, and the only reason to consider the Intel part is if you have a specific workload that favors its Geekbench single-core win.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher single-core Geekbench score?

A: The Intel Core i5-7640X wins in Geekbench single-core with a score of 1736, compared to the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X’s 1555, giving Intel an 11.6% advantage.

Q: How much faster is the Ryzen 3 3300X in Cinebench R15 multi-core?

A: The Ryzen 3 3300X scores 1071 versus the i5-7640X’s 607 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, which is a 43.3% lead for AMD.

Q: Do both CPUs support overclocking?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i5-7640X and the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X have an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking.

Q: What is the L3 cache size difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X has 16 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i5-7640X has only 6 MB shared.

Q: Which processor has a higher core count?

A: Both have 4 physical cores, but the Ryzen 3 3300X supports 8 threads, while the i5-7640X supports only 4 threads.

Q: What is the memory bus configuration for each?

A: The Intel Core i5-7640X uses quad-channel DDR4 memory, whereas the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X uses dual-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X is the clear winner for multi-threaded productivity. It leads in Cinebench R15 multi-core by 43.3% and in Geekbench multi-core by 11%. This makes it the better choice for video editing, 3D rendering, software compilation, and any workload that can use more than four threads. Its 16 MB L3 cache and 512 KB per-core L2 cache also help in data-heavy tasks. The Ryzen’s 7 nm process and 65 W TDP make it more power-efficient, which is a practical advantage for small form factor builds or systems with modest cooling.

The Intel Core i5-7640X wins only in Geekbench single-core, with an 11.6% lead. That specific result matters for applications that are highly dependent on a single thread and respond poorly to multi-threading, such as certain legacy games or single-threaded simulation software. The i5’s higher base clock of 3.90 GHz and boost of 4.30 GHz give it a raw frequency advantage, and the quad-channel memory controller could be useful for memory-intensive single-threaded tasks. However, this is a narrow win, and it does not offset the Ryzen’s dominance elsewhere.

For gaming, the data suggests the Ryzen is the safer bet due to its superior multi-core performance, even though the i5 has a higher single-core Geekbench score. Most modern games use more than four threads, so the Ryzen’s 8 threads will likely provide more consistent frame rates. The Ryzen’s PCIe Gen 4 support also future-proofs it for newer GPUs, whereas the i5 is limited to Gen 3.

Specification Differences

• Cores/Threads: Intel has 4 cores and 4 threads; AMD has 4 cores and 8 threads.
• Base Clock: Intel runs at 3.90 GHz; AMD runs at 3.80 GHz.
• Boost Clock: Both parts boost to 4.30 GHz.
• TDP: Intel is rated at 112 W; AMD at 65 W.
• Socket: Intel uses Socket 2066; AMD uses Socket AM4.
• Process Node: Intel is on 14 nm; AMD is on 7 nm.
• Foundry: Intel uses Intel fabs; AMD uses TSMC.
• L2 Cache: Intel has 256 KB per core; AMD has 512 KB per core.
• L3 Cache: Intel has 6 MB shared; AMD has 16 MB shared.
• Memory Bus: Intel is quad-channel; AMD is dual-channel.
• Memory Bandwidth: Intel has no listed figure; AMD has 51.2 GB/s.
• PCIe: Intel is Gen 3; AMD is Gen 4 with 16 lanes from the CPU.
• Transistors: Intel has no listed count; AMD has 3,800 million.
• Die Size: Intel has no listed size; AMD is 74 mm².
• Release Date: Intel launched June 2017; AMD launched April 2020.
• Production Status: Intel has no listed status; AMD is active.