AMD Ryzen 3 4100 vs AMD Ryzen 5 5500U Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U and AMD Ryzen 3 4100 are both Zen 2 parts, but they target very different platforms and use cases. The data reveals a clear split: the 5500U dominates in multi-threaded productivity workloads, while the 4100 counters with superior single-core and newer renderer performance. The 5500U takes 10 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark wins, but the 4100’s wins are concentrated in the most modern tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest margin of victory belongs to the Ryzen 5 5500U in passmark_integer_math, where it scores 45258 against the 4100’s 32307. That is a 40.1% advantage, a massive gap that reflects the 5500U’s two extra cores and four extra threads. The 5500U also dominates passmark_floating_point_math with 26029 versus 19128, a 36.1% lead. These two results show the 5500U’s core-count advantage translates directly into raw compute throughput.

The 5500U also wins in cinebench_r15_multicore with 1247 versus 946, a 31.8% lead, and in cinebench_r15_singlecore with 177 versus 133, a 33.1% lead. Interestingly, the 4100 flips the script in the newer cinebench_r23 tests. The 4100 scores 9394 in multi-core versus the 5500U’s 7186, a 23.5% win for the 4100. This is a stark reversal: in R15 the 5500U wins by roughly a third, but in R23 the 4100 wins by nearly a quarter. Single-core R23 also favors the 4100, 1326 versus 1172, an 11.6% lead.

The 4100 also wins in geekbench_multicore (5310 versus 4965, a 6.5% lead) and geekbench_singlecore (1423 versus 1292, a 9.2% lead). These results suggest the 4100’s higher base clock of 3.80 GHz versus the 5500U’s 2.10 GHz gives it a significant per-thread advantage in certain workloads, even though both boost to 4.00 GHz. The 4100 also wins passmark_physics (563 versus 533, a 5.3% lead) and passmark_single_thread (2531 versus 2419, a 4.4% lead).

The remaining wins for the 5500U come in passmark_data_compression (174584 versus 149609, a 16.7% lead), passmark_data_encryption (10405 versus 9133, a 13.9% lead), passmark_extended_instructions (10838 versus 9923, a 9.2% lead), passmark_find_prime_numbers (26 versus 23, a 13% lead), passmark_multithread (12831 versus 11050, a 16.1% lead), and passmark_random_string_sorting (19035 versus 15760, a 20.8% lead). The 5500U’s wins are consistent: it is faster in nearly every PassMark subtest except physics and the single-thread tests.

The overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the 5500U at 14589 and the 4100 at 14505. The deltaPct between them is only 0.6% in favor of the 5500U. Both sit at the 69th percentile of all CPUs. The nearest rivals list for the 5500U includes the Intel Core i5-9600K at 14605 (a -0.1% delta) and the Intel Xeon 6315P at 14574 (a 0.1% delta). The 4100’s nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 3 4300G at 14503, which is essentially tied.

The Verdict

The data shows two distinct processors for two distinct jobs. The Ryzen 5 5500U is the clear winner for multi-threaded workloads that use PassMark-style integer and floating-point math, compression, encryption, and sorting. Its 40.1% lead in integer math and 36.1% lead in floating-point math are decisive. It also wins the older Cinebench R15 tests by over 30%.

The Ryzen 3 4100 is the better choice for single-threaded performance and for the newer Cinebench R23 renderer. Its 11.6% lead in R23 single-core and 23.5% lead in R23 multi-core are substantial. Geekbench also favors the 4100, with a 9.2% lead in single-core and a 6.5% lead in multi-core. The 4100 wins 7 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, and those wins are not trivial.

For a user prioritizing modern rendering workloads, the 4100 is the data-backed pick. For general productivity, file compression, and encryption, the 5500U is the stronger performer. The 5500U’s 6 cores and 12 threads versus the 4100’s 4 cores and 8 threads explain the multi-threaded wins, while the 4100’s much higher base clock (3.80 GHz versus 2.10 GHz) explains its single-thread and R23 success. The 5500U is a mobile part with a 15W TDP and integrated Radeon Graphics 448SP, while the 4100 is a desktop part with a 65W TDP and no integrated graphics.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 wins significantly, scoring 9394 versus the Ryzen 5 5500U’s 7186, a 23.5% advantage.

Q: Which processor has a higher single-thread score in Geekbench?

A: The Ryzen 3 4100 scores 1423, which is 9.2% higher than the Ryzen 5 5500U’s 1292.

Q: What is the biggest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The Ryzen 5 5500U leads by 40.1% in passmark_integer_math, scoring 45258 versus the Ryzen 3 4100’s 32307.

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

A: No. The Ryzen 5 5500U has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Ryzen 3 4100 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock?

A: The Ryzen 3 4100 has a base clock of 3.80 GHz, while the Ryzen 5 5500U has a base clock of 2.10 GHz. Both have the same 4.00 GHz boost clock.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Ryzen 5 5500U has integrated graphics, listed as Radeon Graphics 448SP. The Ryzen 3 4100 has no integrated graphics.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Ryzen 5 5500U has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Ryzen 3 4100 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The base clock is a major difference: the 5500U runs at 2.10 GHz, while the 4100 runs at 3.80 GHz. Both boost to 4.00 GHz. The TDP also differs dramatically, with the 5500U at 15W and the 4100 at 65W. The sockets are different: the 5500U uses AMD Socket FP6, while the 4100 uses AMD Socket AM4. The 5500U supports 12 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the 4100 supports 8 lanes. The 5500U has integrated Radeon Graphics 448SP, while the 4100 has none. The 5500U is a mobile part, and the 4100 is a desktop part. The 4100 has an unlocked multiplier, while the 5500U does not. The 4100 has a launch MSRP of $99. The 5500U was released on 2021-01-11, and the 4100 was released on 2022-04-03.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the same Zen 2 architecture, manufactured by TSMC on a 7 nm process node. They share the same transistor count of 9,800 million and the same die size of 156 mm². The codenames differ: the 5500U is "Lucienne" from the 5000 series, while the 4100 is "Renoir" from the 4000 series. The cache configuration is identical: 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. Both support dual-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, and neither supports ECC memory. The key architectural difference beyond the core count is the platform: the 5500U is a mobile part with a 15W TDP and integrated graphics, while the 4100 is a desktop part with a 65W TDP and no integrated graphics. The 4100 has an unlocked multiplier, indicating it is designed for overclocking, while the 5500U is locked. The 5500U has more PCIe lanes (12 versus 8), but both are Gen 3.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 5 5500U wins in virtually every PassMark subtest except physics and single-thread tests. Its biggest wins are in integer math (40.1% ahead), floating-point math (36.1% ahead), random string sorting (20.8% ahead), data compression (16.7% ahead), and multithread (16.1% ahead). It also wins both Cinebench R15 tests by over 30%. This makes it the clear choice for general productivity, file compression, encryption, and any workload that scales with core count. Its 6 cores and 12 threads are the reason for these wins, and its 15W TDP makes it suitable for thin-and-light mobile devices.

The Ryzen 3 4100 wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core (23.5% ahead) and single-core (11.6% ahead), as well as Geekbench multi-core (6.5% ahead) and single-core (9.2% ahead). It also wins passmark_physics and passmark_single_thread. The 4100’s much higher base clock of 3.80 GHz gives it a per-thread advantage that the 5500U cannot match despite its extra cores. The 4100 is the better pick for modern rendering workloads, which the R23 benchmark represents, and for tasks that are sensitive to single-thread speed. Its desktop platform with an unlocked multiplier and 65W TDP also suggests it is meant for systems where power draw is not a constraint. The data shows a trade-off: the 5500U wins on raw throughput across many parallel tasks, while the 4100 wins on the newest renderer and per-core performance.