CPU Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 and Intel Core 7 160UL present a fascinating split in benchmark results, with the AMD claiming 11 wins against Intel's 6. However, the data reveals two very different performance profiles rather than a simple overall winner.

In the Cinebench suite, the two processors are virtually inseparable. Both score exactly 946 in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 133 in single-core. The Ryzen 3 4100 edges ahead by 0.1% in Cinebench R20 multi-core (3945 vs 3942) and by the same margin in R23 multi-core (9394 vs 9386). Single-core results in R20 are identical at 556, while R23 single-core shows a 0.1% advantage for AMD (1326 vs 1325). These differences are statistically negligible, indicating that in traditional rendering workloads, the two chips deliver essentially equivalent performance.

The Passmark suite tells a more dramatic story. The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 dominates in several specialized workloads. Its largest victory comes in extended instructions, where it scores 9923 against Intel's 5832, a massive 70.1% advantage. Data compression shows a 37.3% lead (149609 vs 108953), and random string sorting favors AMD by 33.1% (15760 vs 11843). Data encryption also goes to AMD with a 27.8% margin (9133 vs 7146).

The Intel Core 7 160UL counters with equally decisive wins in other Passmark tests. Its most striking victory is in find prime numbers, where it scores 50 versus AMD's 23, a 54% advantage. Integer math favors Intel by 32% (47515 vs 32307), while floating point math shows a 25.5% lead (25670 vs 19128). Physics tests go to Intel by 31.3% (819 vs 563), and single-thread performance shows a 25.4% gap (3391 vs 2531).

The Passmark multithread test is nearly tied at 11050 for AMD versus 11043 for Intel, a 0.1% difference. This near-parity in aggregate multithreaded performance, despite the wildly divergent individual workload results, underscores how different architectural strengths can produce similar overall throughput.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 establishes clear superiority in data-oriented workloads. Its 37.3% lead in data compression and 27.8% advantage in data encryption point to strengths in compression algorithms, archive handling, and cryptographic operations. The 70.1% margin in extended instructions suggests that workloads leveraging SIMD and specialized instruction sets will run substantially faster on the AMD chip. Random string sorting, where AMD leads by 33.1%, indicates advantages in text processing and database-style operations that involve frequent string comparisons.

The Intel Core 7 160UL claims the mathematical and physics-based workloads. Its 54% lead in prime number finding reflects strong integer arithmetic performance, which carries over to the 32% advantage in integer math. The 25.5% edge in floating point math and 31.3% lead in physics tests indicate that simulation, scientific computing, and game physics calculations will favor Intel. The 25.4% single-thread advantage is particularly notable for lightly threaded applications like legacy software or applications with serial bottlenecks.

For rendering and general multi-core workloads, the two are effectively tied. All Cinebench tests fall within 0.1% of each other, and the Passmark multithread score difference is negligible. Users whose primary workloads are video encoding, 3D rendering, or other tasks that scale across cores will see virtually identical performance from either chip.

The Verdict

The benchmark data paints a clear picture for specific use cases. The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 is the choice for workloads involving data compression, encryption, string processing, and applications that leverage extended instruction sets. Its 37.3% lead in data compression and 70.1% advantage in extended instructions make it the stronger option for database servers, file compression utilities, and cryptographic applications.

The Intel Core 7 160UL is the pick for mathematics-heavy workloads and single-threaded applications. Its 54% advantage in prime number finding, 32% lead in integer math, and 25.5% edge in floating point operations make it suitable for scientific computing, financial modeling, and physics simulations. The 25.4% single-thread advantage also benefits older or poorly threaded software.

For general-purpose use and multi-core rendering, the decision is less clear-cut. The Cinebench results show near-identical performance, with the Ryzen 3 4100 holding a 0.1% edge across all four tests. The Passmark multithread score also favors AMD by the same margin. Buyers looking for a balanced all-rounder should note that the AMD chip wins 11 of 17 benchmark comparisons, but the Intel processor's wins come in meaningful categories.

The Ryzen 3 4100 also offers a launch MSRP of $99. The Intel Core 7 160UL carries an integrated Iris Xe Graphics 96EU unit, which the AMD processor lacks entirely.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 scores 9394 versus 9386 for the Intel Core 7 160UL, a 0.1% advantage for AMD.

Q: How much faster is the Intel chip in single-threaded Passmark tests?

A: The Intel Core 7 160UL scores 3391 in Passmark single-thread, which is 25.4% higher than the AMD Ryzen 3 4100's 2531.

Q: Which processor has better data compression performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 leads Passmark data compression with 149609 versus 108953 for Intel, a 37.3% advantage.

Q: Do the two processors differ in core and thread counts?

A: Yes. The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core 7 160UL has 10 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two in any benchmark?

A: The biggest difference is in Passmark extended instructions, where the AMD Ryzen 3 4100 scores 9923 versus 5832 for Intel, a 70.1% margin.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 7 160UL boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 3 4100 boosts to 4.00 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different architectural designs. The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 uses the Zen 2 architecture under the Renoir codename, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It contains 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die. The Intel Core 7 160UL uses Raptor Lake architecture under the Raptor Lake-PS codename, fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process.

Cache organization differs substantially. The AMD chip provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. Intel's design offers 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger per-core L1 and L2 caches on Intel may contribute to its single-thread advantage, while AMD's shared L3 configuration suits its multi-threaded approach.

Memory support also diverges. The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 supports DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The Intel Core 7 160UL supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also over dual channels, though its bandwidth figure is not listed. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

PCI Express capabilities differ by generation. The AMD chip offers PCIe Gen 3 with 8 CPU lanes, while Intel provides PCIe Gen 4 with the same 8 CPU lanes. The newer PCIe generation on Intel allows for potentially faster data transfer to GPUs and NVMe storage.

Integrated graphics represent another major difference. The Intel Core 7 160UL includes Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units, while the AMD Ryzen 3 4100 has no integrated graphics at all. This means the Intel chip can operate without a discrete GPU, while the AMD processor requires one.

The Intel processor is built on a hybrid core design characteristic of Raptor Lake, combining different core types. The AMD chip uses a homogeneous set of 4 cores, all identical. This architectural difference explains why Intel achieves 10 cores and 12 threads from a 15-watt TDP, while AMD delivers 4 cores and 8 threads within its 65-watt envelope.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts separate these processors clearly. AMD offers 4 cores and 8 threads, while Intel offers 10 cores and 12 threads. Clock speeds show a significant divergence: AMD bases at 3.80 GHz and boosts to 4.00 GHz, while Intel bases at 1.80 GHz and boosts to 5.20 GHz. This extreme boost clock on Intel explains its single-thread dominance despite the lower base frequency.

Thermal design power differs by more than 4x. The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 draws 65 watts, while the Intel Core 7 160UL draws just 15 watts. This makes Intel the clear choice for power-constrained or compact systems, while AMD's higher power budget enables sustained multi-core performance.

Socket compatibility separates the platforms entirely. AMD uses Socket AM4, while Intel uses Socket 1700. These are not interchangeable, and motherboard selection will be determined by processor choice. The AMD chip features an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, while Intel's multiplier is locked.

Process node and foundry differ: AMD uses 7 nm at TSMC, while Intel uses 10 nm at its own foundry. The AMD processor has a specified transistor count of 9,800 million and die size of 156 mm²; neither figure is listed for Intel.

The Intel Core 7 160UL includes Iris Xe Graphics 96EU integrated graphics, which AMD lacks entirely. Memory support favors Intel with DDR4 and DDR5 compatibility versus AMD's DDR4-only support. PCIe generation favors Intel with Gen 4 versus AMD's Gen 3, though both provide 8 CPU lanes.

Release timing differs by two years: AMD launched on April 3, 2022, while Intel launched on April 7, 2024. AMD lists a launch MSRP of $99, while Intel's launch MSRP is not provided.