AMD Ryzen 3 3300X vs Intel Core i7-1185GRE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X dominates the Intel Core i7-1185GRE in three of the four shared tests, with the Intel part claiming only a single victory. The largest margin comes in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Ryzen 3 3300X scores 195 against the i7-1185GRE's 94 — a 51.8% deficit for Intel. That is not a close race; it is a rout. The Ryzen 3 3300X also wins Cinebench R15 multi-core decisively, posting 1071 versus 668, a 37.6% gap. In Geekbench multi-core, the AMD part scores 5772 against 4060, a 29.7% advantage.

The lone Intel win is Geekbench single-core, where the i7-1185GRE scores 1848 versus 1555 for the Ryzen 3 3300X — an 18.8% edge. This is a meaningful result for single-threaded workloads, but it does little to offset the sweeping multi-core losses. Across all head-to-head tests, the Ryzen 3 3300X wins three of four, with an average benchmark score of 2148 versus 2178 for the Intel part. Interestingly, despite the AMD chip winning most tests, the Intel i7-1185GRE holds a slightly higher average score overall, driven by its superior showing in Geekbench single-core.

Both processors land at the 47th percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the same broad performance tier. The nearest rival data reinforces this: the i7-1185GRE sits within 1% of the Intel Core i7-5950HQ and 0.5% of the Intel Core i5-7640X, while the Ryzen 3 3300X trails the Intel Core i5-10200H by just 0.3% and leads the Intel Core i5-9400T by 0.6%. These are razor-thin margins, suggesting that the two CPUs are competitive in aggregate despite the lopsided head-to-head results.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmark tests?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X wins three of four shared tests — Cinebench R15 multi-core, Cinebench R15 single-core, and Geekbench multi-core. The Intel Core i7-1185GRE wins only Geekbench single-core.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Ryzen 3 3300X scores 195 versus 94 for the i7-1185GRE, a 51.8% difference.

Q: How do the two compare in Geekbench multi-core?

A: The Ryzen 3 3300X scores 5772, while the i7-1185GRE scores 4060. That is a 29.7% advantage for the AMD part.

Q: Is there any test where the Intel chip is ahead?

A: Yes, in Geekbench single-core the i7-1185GRE scores 1848 against 1555 for the Ryzen 3 3300X, an 18.8% lead.

Q: Do both processors have the same overall performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are at the 47th percentile among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are close — 2178 for Intel versus 2148 for AMD.

Q: What do the nearest rival comparisons suggest about their tier?

A: Both sit within roughly 1% of several mid-range rivals. The i7-1185GRE is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 3400GE and 1% ahead of the Intel Core i7-5950HQ, while the Ryzen 3 3300X is 0.3% behind the Intel Core i5-10200H and 0.6% ahead of the Intel Core i5-9400T.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-1185GRE uses the Tiger Lake-U architecture on a 10 nm process node, built by Intel itself. It is a mobile part with a 15 W TDP, designed for thin-and-light laptops. The die size is 144 mm². Its cache layout is distinctive: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3.

The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X is built on the Zen 2 architecture (codename Matisse) using a 7 nm process node from TSMC. It is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP. The die is much smaller at 74 mm², but it packs 3,800 million transistors. Cache amounts differ as well: 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and a larger 16 MB shared L3.

Memory support diverges. The Intel part supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X memory in dual-channel mode, and it includes ECC memory support. The AMD part supports only DDR4, also dual-channel, with no ECC support. The memory bandwidth figure for the Ryzen 3 3300X is listed at 51.2 GB/s, while no corresponding number is given for the Intel chip.

PCIe connectivity is another differentiator. The i7-1185GRE provides Gen 4 with 4 lanes (CPU only), while the Ryzen 3 3300X offers Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Intel chip includes integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units; the AMD part has no integrated graphics at all.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are identical — both have 4 cores and 8 threads. The differences start with clock speeds. The Intel i7-1185GRE has a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X has a much higher base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz — nearly identical boost, but more than double the base frequency.

Thermal design power tells the bigger story: 15 W for Intel versus 65 W for AMD. That is a 4.3x difference in power envelope. Sockets are incompatible — Intel BGA 1449 for the i7-1185GRE, AMD Socket AM4 for the Ryzen 3 3300X. The Intel part is a mobile segment product; the AMD part is desktop.

The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel chip does not. The i7-1185GRE supports ECC memory; the Ryzen 3 3300X does not. The Intel part has integrated graphics; the AMD part has none. The Ryzen 3 3300X has a significantly larger PCIe lane count (16 versus 4). Release dates are close — September 2020 for Intel, April 2020 for AMD. Launch MSRP differs substantially: $490 for the Intel part versus $120 for the AMD part.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X is the clear choice for multi-threaded productivity. It wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 37.6% and Geekbench multi-core by 29.7%. For users running rendering, compilation, or any workload that scales across cores, the data points squarely to AMD. The Ryzen part also wins Cinebench R15 single-core by a massive 51.8%, meaning even lightly threaded tasks like older applications or certain games would favor the AMD chip.

The Intel Core i7-1185GRE wins only Geekbench single-core, taking an 18.8% lead. This suggests strengths in specific single-threaded scenarios, particularly those measured by Geekbench's workload mix. However, the Intel part's overwhelming losses in Cinebench single-core — a 51.8% deficit — indicate that its single-thread advantage is not universal across all benchmark types.

The Intel chip's integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU is a decisive feature for systems without a discrete GPU. The Ryzen 3 3300X has no integrated graphics, meaning a separate graphics card is mandatory. For compact, low-power mobile designs, the i7-1185GRE's 15 W TDP is a major advantage, enabling fanless or ultra-thin implementations. The Ryzen 3 3300X's 65 W TDP requires robust desktop cooling and a motherboard with proper power delivery.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear split. The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X wins three of four head-to-head tests, including the critical multi-core workloads and Cinebench single-core. For desktop users building a system around a discrete GPU, the Ryzen 3 3300X is the performance pick — it delivers 29.7% to 51.8% higher scores across most metrics. Its larger 16 MB shared L3 cache and 16-lane PCIe Gen 4 support further reinforce its desktop credentials.

The Intel Core i7-1185GRE is not a performance leader, but it occupies a different niche entirely. Its 15 W TDP, integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics, ECC memory support, and BGA 1449 socket target mobile and embedded applications where power efficiency and integrated graphics matter more than raw benchmark scores. The 18.8% Geekbench single-core win shows it has some single-thread strength, but the data does not justify choosing it for desktop workloads.

For a desktop build with a discrete GPU, the Ryzen 3 3300X is the easy recommendation. For a low-power, compact system with no graphics card, the i7-1185GRE's integrated graphics and 15 W envelope make it the only viable option. The data shows one decisive aggregate winner: the Ryzen 3 3300X, with three wins and a 47th percentile standing that matches Intel's — but with far superior results in the benchmarks that matter for most users.