AMD Ryzen 3 3300X vs Intel Core i7-1160G7 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X and Intel Core i7-1160G7 are both 4-core, 8-thread processors, but they occupy opposite ends of the computing spectrum. The Ryzen 3 3300X is a desktop chip designed for raw performance, while the Core i7-1160G7 is a low-power mobile processor built for efficiency. The benchmark data shows a decisive victory for the AMD part, which wins both shared head-to-head tests by substantial margins. The Ryzen 3 3300X outperforms the Intel chip by 44.7% in multi-core Cinebench R15 and by a staggering 87.5% in single-core Cinebench R15. The data clearly indicates that for anyone building a desktop system and prioritizing computational speed, the Ryzen 3 3300X is the superior choice. The Intel Core i7-1160G7, with its integrated Iris Xe graphics and mobile focus, is positioned for a completely different use case, but the performance numbers cannot be ignored.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark results, the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X is the clear winner for raw processing power. Its average benchmark score of 2148 places it slightly ahead of the Intel Core i7-1160G7's 2124, a margin of about 1.1%. More importantly, in the two benchmarks where they directly compete, the Ryzen 3 3300X wins decisively. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 1071 versus Intel's 740, a 44.7% advantage. The single-core test is even more lopsided, with the Ryzen 3 3300X scoring 195 against the Core i7-1160G7's 104, an 87.5% lead. This suggests the AMD chip is not just faster in multi-threaded workloads but also has a massive advantage in single-threaded tasks, which are common in everyday applications and many games.

The Intel Core i7-1160G7 is a different kind of product. It is an end-of-life mobile processor with a 15W TDP, designed for thin-and-light laptops where battery life and heat are paramount. Its performance, while lower, is still respectable for its class. The data shows it sits at the 46th percentile compared to all CPUs, and its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 7520C, is only 0.1% behind. This indicates that for a low-power mobile chip, it is competitive. However, this does not change the outcome of this comparison. The Ryzen 3 3300X is the superior processor for any workload where performance is the primary goal. The choice is clear: for a desktop build, select the Ryzen 3 3300X; for a specific low-power mobile application, the Core i7-1160G7 exists, but it cannot match the AMD chip's performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X is significantly faster. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, it scores 1071 compared to the Intel Core i7-1160G7's 740, a 44.7% difference.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X dominates. It scores 195 in Cinebench R15 single-core, while the Intel Core i7-1160G7 scores only 104, giving the AMD chip an 87.5% lead.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-1160G7 a good performer relative to other CPUs?

A: The data shows it is an average processor. Its 46th percentile ranking versus all CPUs and its average benchmark score of 2124 are both close to its nearest rivals, which include the Intel Atom C5125 and AMD Ryzen 5 7520C.

Q: What is the difference in their average benchmark scores?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X has an average benchmark score of 2148, while the Intel Core i7-1160G7 has a score of 2124. This makes the AMD chip about 1.1% faster on average.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i7-1160G7 has a higher boost clock speed of 4.40 GHz, compared to the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X's boost clock of 4.30 GHz. This advantage does not translate to a performance win in the benchmark data.

Q: Which processor is more suitable for a desktop computer?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X is explicitly classified as a desktop processor and uses the AMD Socket AM4. The Intel Core i7-1160G7 uses Intel BGA 1598, which is a soldered mobile socket, indicating it is intended for laptops.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures from different eras and process nodes. The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X is based on the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed "Matisse," and is manufactured on a 7 nm process at TSMC. In contrast, the Intel Core i7-1160G7 uses the Tiger Lake architecture, with the "Willow Cove-U" core, and is built on Intel's 10 nm process. This difference in process technology is significant, as the 7 nm node allows AMD to pack transistors more densely. The AMD chip contains 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die, whereas the Intel chip has a larger 144 mm² die with no transistor count listed in the data.

The cache hierarchies also differ considerably. The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X features a 16 MB shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i7-1160G7 has a smaller 12 MB shared L3 cache. The L1 and L2 caches are also different. The Ryzen 3 3300X has 64 KB of L1 cache and 512 KB of L2 cache per core. The Intel chip, on the other hand, has a larger 80 KB of L1 cache and a substantially larger 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core. This larger L2 cache on the Intel part could be a design choice to compensate for the smaller L3 cache, but the benchmark results show it does not overcome the AMD chip's overall advantage. The AMD processor also supports PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes, while the Intel chip only supports 4 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, reflecting its mobile, integrated design.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets for these two processors highlight their different purposes. The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X is a desktop part with a 65W TDP, while the Intel Core i7-1160G7 is a mobile part with a very low 15W TDP. This 50W difference in power consumption is a major differentiator, indicating the Intel chip is designed for passive cooling and long battery life. Clock speeds are also notably different on paper. The AMD chip has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The Intel chip has a surprisingly low base clock of 1200.00 MHz (1.20 GHz) but a higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz. This wide range on the Intel part is typical for mobile processors that scale down aggressively when idle.

Memory support differs as well. The Ryzen 3 3300X supports standard DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The Intel Core i7-1160G7 supports LPDDR4X memory, also dual-channel, but with a lower bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. Both processors lack ECC memory support. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, allowing for overclocking, while the Intel chip is locked. The Ryzen 3 3300X is an active production desktop part with a launch MSRP of $120, while the Intel Core i7-1160G7 is end-of-life and was launched with a significantly higher launch MSRP of $426. The Intel chip also comes with integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU, while the AMD chip has no integrated graphics.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The two processors share only two benchmarks in the data set, and the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X wins both. The first is Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the AMD chip scores 1071. The Intel Core i7-1160G7 scores 740. This results in a deltaPct of 44.7%, meaning the AMD processor is 44.7% faster. This is a massive lead for a multi-threaded workload and suggests the AMD chip is much better at leveraging its 8 threads for tasks like video rendering or compiling code.

The second benchmark is Cinebench R15 single-core. Here, the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X scores 195, and the Intel Core i7-1160G7 scores 104. The deltaPct is 87.5%, indicating the AMD chip is nearly twice as fast in single-threaded performance. This is a surprising result, given that the Intel chip has a higher boost clock (4.40 GHz vs 4.30 GHz). The data implies that the Zen 2 architecture is significantly more efficient at executing instructions per clock cycle than the Tiger Lake architecture in this specific test. This single-core advantage is critical for many games and legacy applications that rely on a few fast cores. The head-to-head data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X is the superior performer in both shared tests.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the benchmark data, the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X wins in every measured performance category. It is the clear choice for users who need maximum processing power for desktop workloads. Its 44.7% lead in multi-core performance makes it ideal for demanding tasks such as video editing, 3D modeling, and software compilation. Its 87.5% lead in single-core performance makes it excellent for gaming and general desktop responsiveness. The data positions this chip at the 47th percentile of all CPUs, with an average score of 2148, placing it in the same performance tier as Intel Core i5 and i7 parts from a few generations prior. For a desktop builder, this is the undisputed winner.

The Intel Core i7-1160G7 does not win any benchmarks in this comparison. However, its value proposition lies outside of raw performance. It is an end-of-life mobile processor with a 15W TDP, which is a fraction of the AMD chip's 65W TDP. This makes it suitable for ultra-portable laptops where power consumption and heat generation are the primary constraints. The presence of integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU also means it can power a system without a discrete graphics card, which is impossible with the Ryzen 3 3300X. Its benchmark scores, while lower, are still comparable to other low-power mobile chips like the AMD Ryzen 5 7520C, which is only 0.1% faster. Thus, the Intel chip "wins" in the specific niche of low-power mobile computing, but it cannot compete with the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X on any performance metric.