AMD Ryzen 3 3300X vs Intel Core i7-8559U Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data in this comparison is unambiguous. Across every recorded test, the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X outperforms the Intel Core i7-8559U. The head-to-head results show four wins for the AMD part and zero for the Intel part. The Ryzen 3 3300X leads by a substantial margin in multi-core workloads, with a 34.4% advantage in Cinebench R15 multi-core and a 25.6% advantage in Geekbench multi-core. Single-core results also favor AMD, though by a narrower margin: 49.2% in Cinebench R15 single-core and 11% in Geekbench single-core.

The average benchmark score for the Intel Core i7-8559U is 2225, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X sits at 2148. Despite the lower average, the Ryzen 3 3300X wins every direct comparison. This discrepancy arises because the average score includes different benchmark sets for each processor, whereas the head-to-head tests use identical workloads. Both processors occupy the 47th percentile among all CPUs in the database, indicating they land in the same performance tier overall.

Who should pick which? The data supports the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X for users prioritizing raw compute throughput, particularly in threaded workloads like rendering or encoding. The Intel Core i7-8559U remains relevant for systems requiring its mobile form factor, integrated graphics, and lower thermal envelope, but the performance crown belongs to AMD. The Ryzen 3 3300X also offers an unlocked multiplier, allowing users to adjust clock behavior, though the database does not quantify overclocking results.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and manufacturing generations. The Intel Core i7-8559U uses the Kaby Lake architecture, specifically the Kaby Lake-R refresh, built on a 14 nm process at Intel's foundry. Its die size measures 123 mm². The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X uses the Zen 2 architecture under the Matisse codename, fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The AMD die is substantially smaller at 74 mm², and the chip integrates 3,800 million transistors. The Intel part's transistor count is not recorded in the database.

Core and thread counts are identical: both have 4 cores and 8 threads. Cache configurations differ notably. Each processor provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core for Intel, while AMD doubles the per-core L2 to 512 KB. The L3 cache also diverges: Intel offers 8 MB shared, while AMD provides 16 MB shared. This doubled L3 capacity on the AMD side likely contributes to its performance advantage in repeated or cache-resident workloads.

Clock speeds tell another story. The Intel Core i7-8559U has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X starts higher at 3.80 GHz base and boosts to 4.30 GHz. Intel's boost ceiling is higher, but AMD's base clock is considerably faster, which helps sustained performance. The thermal design power differs sharply: Intel is rated at 28 W, AMD at 65 W. This reflects their market segments, mobile versus desktop, and explains why the AMD part can sustain higher clocks under load.

Memory support includes DDR4 for both, with AMD specifying a dual-channel bus and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. Intel's memory bus and bandwidth are not recorded. Neither processor supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X includes PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while Intel's PCIe configuration is not listed.

Integrated graphics separate the two. The Intel Core i7-8559U includes Iris Pro Plus graphics, making it suitable for systems without a discrete GPU. The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X has no integrated graphics, requiring a separate graphics card for display output. The Intel part uses the BGA 1356 socket, designed for mobile platforms, while AMD uses the desktop Socket AM4. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel chip does not.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-8559U reaches 4.50 GHz boost, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X boosts to 4.30 GHz. Intel leads by 0.20 GHz in maximum boost frequency.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes. Both the Intel Core i7-8559U and the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X have 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X has 16 MB of shared L3 cache, double the 8 MB shared L3 cache found on the Intel Core i7-8559U.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X include integrated graphics?

A: No. The database lists no integrated graphics for the AMD part. The Intel Core i7-8559U includes Iris Pro Plus graphics.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X?

A: The launch MSRP is $120. The Intel Core i7-8559U has no recorded launch MSRP.

Q: Which processor wins in single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X wins in both recorded single-core tests, with a 49.2% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core and an 11% lead in Geekbench single-core.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every recorded specification. The Intel Core i7-8559U belongs to the Kaby Lake-R generation and uses the Kaby Lake architecture, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X belongs to the Ryzen 3 series under the Zen 2 (Matisse) generation. Manufacturing process nodes differ: Intel uses 14 nm, AMD uses 7 nm, and the foundries are Intel and TSMC respectively.

Die size shows a significant difference. Intel's die measures 123 mm², while AMD's measures 74 mm². The AMD chip's transistor count is recorded at 3,800 million; Intel's transistor count is not available in the database. Base clocks differ by 1.10 GHz, with AMD at 3.80 GHz and Intel at 2.70 GHz. Boost clocks differ by 0.20 GHz, with Intel at 4.50 GHz and AMD at 4.30 GHz.

Thermal design power is a major differentiator. Intel is rated at 28 W, AMD at 65 W, reflecting their intended markets. The Intel part uses the BGA 1356 socket, while AMD uses Socket AM4. Market segments confirm this: Intel is listed as Mobile, AMD as Desktop. The Intel part has a production status of Active and a release date of 2018-04-04, while AMD's release date is 2020-04-23.

Cache hierarchies differ in L2 and L3. Both have 64 KB L1 per core, but Intel provides 256 KB L2 per core versus AMD's 512 KB per core. L3 cache is 8 MB shared for Intel and 16 MB shared for AMD. Memory support is DDR4 for both, but AMD specifies a dual-channel bus and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel's memory bus and bandwidth are not recorded. PCIe support exists only in AMD's entry, with Gen 4 and 16 lanes from the CPU; Intel's PCIe is not listed.

Integrated graphics appear only on the Intel side, with Iris Pro Plus. The AMD part has none. The multiplier is unlocked on AMD and locked on Intel. AMD also records a part number of 100-000000159, while Intel's part number is not listed. The launch MSRP for AMD is $120, and Intel has no launch MSRP recorded.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a clean sweep for the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X across all four compared tests. The largest margin appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where AMD scores 195 against Intel's 99, a difference of 49.2%. This is a massive gap for a single-threaded workload, suggesting that the Intel Core i7-8559U's 4.50 GHz boost clock does not translate into competitive single-core performance in this test. The AMD part's higher base clock and newer architecture appear to dominate.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD scores 1071 versus Intel's 703, a 34.4% advantage. This test scales across all 8 threads, and the AMD part's superior cache and sustained clock speeds give it a clear edge. The Intel part's 28 W thermal design power likely limits its ability to maintain high clocks under full load, while the AMD part's 65 W budget allows more sustained throughput.

Geekbench multi-core shows AMD at 5772 against Intel's 4293, a 25.6% lead. This workload mixes memory access and compute patterns, where AMD's 16 MB L3 cache and 512 KB per-core L2 provide an advantage. The narrower margin compared to Cinebench R15 multi-core suggests that Intel's memory hierarchy performs relatively better in some Geekbench subtests, but the overall result still favors AMD.

Geekbench single-core is the closest contest. AMD scores 1555, Intel scores 1384, a difference of 11%. This is the smallest margin across all tests. Intel's higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz helps close the gap in lightly threaded workloads, but AMD's Zen 2 architecture still emerges ahead. The 11% delta indicates that for single-thread-heavy applications, the choice between these two processors matters less than in multi-threaded scenarios.

The average benchmark scores in the database place the Intel Core i7-8559U at 2225, with its nearest rivals including the Intel Core i7-5775C at 2224 (no difference), the Intel Xeon E5-4648 v3 at 2227 (0.1% behind), the Intel Xeon D-1548 at 2231 (0.3% behind), and the Intel Xeon D-1715TER at 2238 (0.6% behind). The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X averages 2148, with rivals including the Intel Core i5-10200H at 2154 (0.3% ahead of AMD), the Intel Core i7-5950HQ at 2158 (0.4% ahead), the Intel Core i5-9400T at 2136 (0.6% behind), and the AMD Ryzen 3 5300U at 2135 (0.6% behind). These averages draw from different test sets, so they are not directly comparable to the head-to-head deltas.

The percentile rankings place both processors at 47% among all CPUs, meaning they sit near the middle of the database's performance distribution. This parity in percentile, despite the AMD part's clear head-to-head wins, reflects the fact that the Intel part's average includes Cinebench R20 and R23 scores, which are not present in AMD's benchmark list. The AMD part's average is pulled down by the absence of those newer tests, which tend to produce higher absolute numbers.

For users analyzing these results, the takeaway is straightforward: in every workload where both processors ran the same test, the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X delivered higher scores. The magnitude of the win ranges from 11% to 49.2%, with the largest margins in single-core Cinebench and the smallest in Geekbench single-core. The Intel Core i7-8559U's integrated graphics and lower thermal design power remain its distinguishing features, but the raw performance data consistently favors AMD.