AMD Ryzen 3 4100 vs Intel Core i5-9600K Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-9600K has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 4100 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Ryzen’s simultaneous multithreading allows it to process more concurrent threads despite having fewer physical cores.

Q: How do they compare in overall average benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core i5-9600K posts an average benchmark score of 14605, while the AMD Ryzen 3 4100 scores 14505. This translates to a 0.7% delta in Intel’s favor, per the nearestRivals data. Both sit at the 69th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Which chip wins in Geekbench multicore performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-9600K leads decisively in Geekbench multicore, scoring 6075 versus the Ryzen 3 4100’s 5310. That is a 14.4% advantage for Intel in this specific test.

Q: What about single-thread performance?

A: Intel wins the single-thread race across the board. In Geekbench single-core, the i5-9600K scores 1559 against 1423 for the Ryzen (a 9.6% delta). In Cinebench R23 single-core, the margin narrows: Intel scores 1278, AMD scores 1326, meaning AMD actually wins that test by 3.6%.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i5-9600K and the AMD Ryzen 3 4100 have an unlocked multiplier, making them suitable for manual overclocking.

Q: What are the production statuses of these two chips?

A: The Intel Core i5-9600K is listed as end-of-life, while the AMD Ryzen 3 4100 is marked as active production. The Ryzen also has a launch MSRP of $99.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies and manufacturing eras. The Intel Core i5-9600K is built on Intel’s 14 nm process node, fabricated at Intel’s own foundry, using the Coffee Lake architecture. In contrast, the AMD Ryzen 3 4100 uses TSMC’s 7 nm process node, with a Zen 2 architecture under the Renoir codename. The Intel part packs 6 physical cores without hyperthreading, yielding 6 threads, while the AMD part uses 4 physical cores with simultaneous multithreading to reach 8 threads.

Cache layouts differ notably. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache per core. However, the Intel i5-9600K carries 256 KB of L2 per core, while the Ryzen 3 4100 doubles that to 512 KB per core. For L3 cache, the Intel chip has 9 MB shared across all cores, whereas the AMD chip has 8 MB shared. This gives Intel a slight total cache advantage but AMD a per-core L2 advantage.

The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 is fabricated with 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die, while the Intel chip’s transistor count and die size are not listed. Memory bandwidth favors AMD: the Ryzen 3 4100 supports 51.2 GB/s of dual-channel DDR4 bandwidth, compared to Intel’s 42.7 GB/s. Both support dual-channel DDR4 memory, and neither supports ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The Intel i5-9600K offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Ryzen 3 4100 provides Gen 3 with only 8 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics are another differentiator: Intel includes UHD 630 graphics, while the Ryzen 3 4100 has no integrated graphics at all. The Intel chip uses Socket 1151, while AMD uses Socket AM4.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a fascinating split: AMD wins 10 of the 19 head-to-head tests, while Intel wins 9. However, the margins tell a story of specialized strengths.

In Cinebench, the AMD Ryzen 3 4100 wins every single test. In Cinebench R15 multicore, AMD scores 946 against Intel’s 912, a 3.6% delta. The R15 single-core test shows AMD ahead at 133 versus 128, a 3.8% margin. Cinebench R20 multicore repeats the pattern: AMD scores 3945, Intel scores 3803, again a 3.6% delta. The R20 single-core test sees AMD at 556 versus 536 for Intel. Cinebench R23 multicore gives AMD 9394 against Intel’s 9055, and R23 single-core gives AMD 1326 versus 1278. In every Cinebench iteration, AMD holds roughly a 3.6% edge.

Geekbench flips the script entirely. The Intel Core i5-9600K scores 6075 in multicore versus AMD’s 5310, a commanding 14.4% advantage. In Geekbench single-core, Intel leads 1559 to 1423, a 9.6% margin. These are the largest single-test deltas in Intel’s favor in the entire comparison.

PassMark tests show a mixed bag. AMD wins data compression narrowly, scoring 149609 against Intel’s 148639, a 0.6% delta. The encryption test is AMD’s biggest win: AMD scores 9133 versus Intel’s 3269, an astonishing 64.2% delta in AMD’s favor. AMD also wins integer math, scoring 32307 against Intel’s 29215, a 9.6% advantage, and multithread, scoring 11050 versus 10636, a 3.7% margin.

Intel takes the remaining PassMark tests with significant margins. Extended instructions favor Intel at 12914 versus 9923, a 30.1% delta. Find prime numbers is Intel’s largest win: 43 versus 23, an 87% delta. Floating point math goes to Intel at 24913 against 19128, a 30.2% margin. Physics scores favor Intel at 746 versus 563, a 32.5% delta. Random string sorting sees Intel at 18313 versus 15760, a 16.2% advantage. Single-thread tests also go to Intel: 2727 versus 2531, a 7.7% delta.

Specification Differences

The core specifications diverge on nearly every major parameter. The Intel Core i5-9600K has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 4100 has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are close: Intel runs at 3.70 GHz, AMD at 3.80 GHz. Boost clocks differ more substantially: Intel boosts to 4.60 GHz, while AMD tops out at 4.00 GHz.

Thermal design power shows a significant gap. The Intel chip is rated at 95 W TDP, while the AMD chip draws only 65 W TDP. This makes the Ryzen considerably more power-efficient on paper.

Process technology differs by a full generation node: Intel uses 14 nm, AMD uses 7 nm. The foundries also differ, with Intel fabricating its own silicon and AMD using TSMC. The AMD chip has a listed transistor count of 9,800 million and a die size of 156 mm², while Intel lists neither.

Cache configurations differ as detailed earlier: Intel has 256 KB L2 per core and 9 MB shared L3, while AMD has 512 KB L2 per core and 8 MB shared L3. Memory bandwidth favors AMD at 51.2 GB/s versus Intel’s 42.7 GB/s.

PCIe lanes differ: Intel provides 16 Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, AMD provides 8. Integrated graphics are present on Intel (UHD 630) but absent on AMD. The Intel chip uses Socket 1151, while AMD uses Socket AM4. Production statuses differ, as do release dates: Intel launched on 2018-10-18, AMD on 2022-04-03. The AMD chip has a launch MSRP of $99, while Intel’s is not listed.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 is the clear winner in rendering workloads. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 all show AMD ahead by roughly 3.6% in both multicore and single-core tests. This suggests that for 3D rendering, video encoding, or any workload that scales across Cinebench-style multithreaded tasks, the Ryzen’s 8 threads provide a tangible benefit over Intel’s 6 threads.

AMD also dominates encryption and integer math. The data encryption test shows AMD scoring more than 2.7 times higher than Intel, a 64.2% delta that is the single largest performance gap in the entire comparison. Integer math also favors AMD by 9.6%. For users handling compressed archives, databases, or cryptographic workloads, the Ryzen 3 4100 is the superior choice.

The Intel Core i5-9600K wins in several specialized compute tasks. Floating point math goes to Intel by 30.2%, and extended instructions go to Intel by 30.1%. The find prime numbers test is Intel’s most lopsided victory at 87% ahead. Physics simulations also favor Intel by 32.5%. Random string sorting sees Intel ahead by 16.2%. These results indicate Intel’s architecture handles certain mathematical and sorting operations more efficiently.

Geekbench is Intel’s territory. The 14.4% multicore and 9.6% single-core advantages in Geekbench suggest that the i5-9600K performs better in general-purpose productivity applications and web workloads that this benchmark represents. Single-thread PassMark tests also favor Intel by 7.7%.

The overall win split is nearly even at 10 wins for AMD and 9 for Intel. The average benchmark scores are within 0.7% of each other, placing both chips at the 69th percentile. This is a remarkably close contest between a 2018 Intel part and a 2022 AMD part, with the choice ultimately depending on workload: AMD for threaded rendering and encryption, Intel for floating point, physics, and Geekbench-style general performance. The data shows no universal victor, only different optimization targets.