AMD Ryzen 3 4100 vs Intel Core i5-10400 Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded benchmark data presents a clear split: the AMD Ryzen 3 4100 wins every Cinebench and Geekbench test, while the Intel Core i5-10400 wins the majority of PassMark workloads. The Ryzen 3 4100 takes 9 wins, the Core i5-10400 takes 10 wins, but the margins tell a more nuanced story. The AMD part leads by double digits in most of its victories, with Geekbench single-core being its largest at 28.4% ahead. The Intel part leads by similarly large margins in several PassMark tests, including a 32.4% advantage in prime number finding and a 32.1% edge in random string sorting. The only near-tie is PassMark single-thread, where Intel leads by just 1.1%. For buyers prioritizing rendering, general productivity, and encryption workloads, the Ryzen 3 4100 is the data-backed choice. For users focused on compression, math-heavy tasks, or physics simulations, the Core i5-10400 holds the advantage. The average benchmark score places the Ryzen 3 4100 at 14505 versus 14037 for the Intel part, a difference of roughly 3.3% in favor of AMD. Both sit near the 68th and 69th percentile of all CPUs, meaning they occupy a similar performance tier overall, but with sharply different workload profiles.

Architecture Differences

The Ryzen 3 4100 uses AMD's Zen 2 architecture under the Renoir codename, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It packs 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The chip integrates 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die. Its cache layout includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The memory controller supports dual-channel DDR4 with a theoretical bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The processor connects via PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes reserved for CPU use. It has no integrated graphics, which means a discrete GPU is mandatory. The multiplier is unlocked, allowing overclocking, and the socket is AMD Socket AM4. The launch MSRP is $99.

The Intel Core i5-10400 uses the Comet Lake architecture, manufactured on Intel's 14 nm process. It provides 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The L1 cache is 64 KB per core, L2 is 256 KB per core, and L3 is 12 MB shared. Memory support is dual-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth rating of 42.7 GB/s, which is lower than the AMD part's figure. PCIe connectivity is Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, double the lane count of the Ryzen 3 4100. The chip includes UHD Graphics 630 integrated graphics, so it can operate without a discrete GPU. The multiplier is locked, preventing conventional overclocking, and the socket is Intel Socket 1200. The transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database. The launch MSRP is not available for this part.

The core and thread disparity is significant: the Intel part offers 50% more cores and 50% more threads. Its boost clock is also 0.30 GHz higher. Yet the AMD part's newer 7 nm process and higher base clock compensate in many tests. The L3 cache difference favors Intel (12 MB versus 8 MB), as does the PCIe lane count. The AMD part counters with higher memory bandwidth and an unlocked multiplier. The integrated graphics on the Intel side is a practical advantage for systems without a discrete GPU, while the AMD part demands one. These architectural differences map directly onto the benchmark outcomes seen in the recorded data.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows consistent AMD dominance. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 3 4100 scores 946 versus 838 for Intel, a 12.9% lead. Single-core in R15 is 133 versus 118, a 12.7% edge. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 3945 versus 3492, a 13% advantage. Single-core R20 is 556 versus 493, a 12.8% lead. Cinebench R23 multi-core continues the pattern: 9394 versus 8316, again 13% ahead. Single-core R23 is 1326 versus 1174, a 12.9% margin. The consistency across all three Cinebench versions, each with identical or near-identical deltas, indicates a stable architectural advantage for the AMD part in both single-threaded and multi-threaded rendering tasks.

Geekbench results amplify the trend. Multi-core shows 5310 versus 4790, a 10.9% lead for AMD. Single-core is far more lopsided: 1423 versus 1108, a 28.4% advantage. This is the largest single-core gap in the entire comparison. The Ryzen 3 4100's higher base clock and Zen 2 efficiency appear to drive this result. The Intel part's higher boost clock does not translate into a single-core win in this test.

The PassMark suite tells a different story. Data compression heavily favors Intel: 187207 versus 149609, a 20.1% lead. The Intel part's extra cores and threads likely contribute here. Extended instructions go to Intel at 12501 versus 9923, a 20.6% edge. Prime number finding shows Intel at 34 versus 23, a 32.4% lead. Floating point math favors Intel at 26080 versus 19128, a 26.7% margin. Integer math also goes Intel's way: 41715 versus 32307, a 22.6% lead. Multithread performance is closer, with Intel at 12006 versus 11050, an 8% advantage. Physics tests show Intel at 669 versus 563, a 15.8% lead. Random string sorting is Intel-favored at 23206 versus 15760, a 32.1% gap. Single-thread is nearly tied: 2560 versus 2531, a 1.1% edge for Intel.

The one PassMark test that flips hard to AMD is data encryption. The Ryzen 3 4100 scores 9133 versus 4078, a massive 124% lead. This is the single largest delta in either direction across the entire benchmark set. The AMD part's cryptographic performance is more than double that of the Intel chip in this workload. The wins tally shows AMD taking 9 tests and Intel taking 10, but the margin distribution matters. AMD's wins average around 13-28%, while Intel's wins range from 1.1% to 32.4%. The overall average benchmark score still favors AMD, 14505 versus 14037.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher multi-core performance in Cinebench?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 wins all three Cinebench multi-core tests. In R15 it scores 946 versus 838, in R20 it scores 3945 versus 3492, and in R23 it scores 9394 versus 8316. The delta is consistently 12.9% to 13% in AMD's favor.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-10400 beat the AMD Ryzen 3 4100 in any benchmark?

A: Yes. The Intel part wins 10 of the 19 recorded head-to-head tests. Its largest victories are in PassMark random string sorting (23206 versus 15760, a 32.1% lead) and PassMark prime number finding (34 versus 23, a 32.4% lead). It also wins data compression, extended instructions, floating point math, integer math, multithread, physics, and single-thread tests, though the single-thread margin is only 1.1%.

Q: What is the most significant performance gap between these two CPUs?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark data encryption, where the AMD Ryzen 3 4100 scores 9133 versus 4078 for the Intel chip. That is a 124% advantage for AMD, meaning it more than doubles the Intel part's encryption throughput. The second largest gap is the Geekbench single-core test, where AMD leads by 28.4%.

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-10400 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Intel part provides 50% more cores and 50% more threads, which helps in parallel workloads like data compression and integer math, where Intel wins by 20.1% and 22.6% respectively.

Q: Do these CPUs have integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-10400 includes UHD Graphics 630. The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 has no integrated graphics. This means the AMD part requires a discrete graphics card for any display output, while the Intel part can run with just the integrated GPU.

Q: How do these CPUs compare in overall average score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 has an average benchmark score of 14505, while the Intel Core i5-10400 has an average of 14037. The AMD part sits at the 69th percentile of all CPUs, and the Intel part at the 68th percentile. The average score difference is approximately 3.3% in favor of AMD.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 is the clear winner for rendering workloads. All three Cinebench versions, R15, R20, and R23, show the same 12.7% to 13% advantage in both single-core and multi-core tests. The Geekbench results reinforce this, particularly the single-core test where AMD leads by 28.4%. Users running 3D rendering, video encoding, or general productivity suites that rely on Cinebench-style workloads will see consistent gains from the AMD part. The encryption performance is also a standout: the 124% lead in PassMark data encryption makes the Ryzen 3 4100 the obvious choice for cryptographic tasks, disk encryption, or secure data handling. The unlocked multiplier on the AMD part adds overclocking headroom, which the data suggests could push its already-leading single-core results even further.

The Intel Core i5-10400 dominates in arithmetic and data manipulation. PassMark integer math shows a 22.6% lead, floating point math a 26.7% lead, and prime number finding a 32.4% lead. These results point to scientific computing, financial modeling, and number-crunching applications that stress raw ALU and FPU throughput. The data compression win of 20.1% makes the Intel part preferable for file archiving, database compression, and storage-heavy workflows. Random string sorting, where Intel leads by 32.1%, suggests an advantage in sorting algorithms, data indexing, and text processing. The multithread score, while narrower at 8%, still favors Intel, indicating that heavily parallel non-rendering workloads may benefit from the extra cores. The physics test, with a 15.8% Intel lead, points to simulation and physics engine workloads. The integrated UHD Graphics 630 is a practical advantage for office desktops or media PCs where a discrete GPU is not warranted.

The near-tie in PassMark single-thread (1.1% for Intel) means everyday responsiveness is effectively a wash. Neither chip has a meaningful edge in lightly threaded general use. The decision comes down to workload type. For rendering, encryption, and Geekbench-style general performance, the AMD Ryzen 3 4100 is the data-backed pick. For arithmetic, compression, sorting, and physics, the Intel Core i5-10400 wins. The average benchmark scores put AMD slightly ahead overall, but the 10-to-9 win tally for Intel shows a finely balanced contest. Buyers who know their dominant applications can choose accordingly; those who need balanced performance across varied tasks should note that the AMD part's wins are more concentrated in high-impact areas like encryption and single-core speed, while Intel's wins cover a broader spread of math and data operations. The 7 nm process and higher base clock of the AMD part deliver strong per-thread efficiency, while the 6-core, 12-thread Intel design leverages raw core count for throughput in integer-heavy and compression tasks.