AMD Ryzen 3 4100 vs Intel Core i7-9750H Comparison

The Intel Core i7-9750H and AMD Ryzen 3 4100 are fundamentally different processors from different eras, yet their benchmark data reveals a surprisingly competitive matchup. The Ryzen 3 4100, a 4-core desktop part from 2022, wins the majority of head-to-head tests (12 out of 19), while the 6-core Intel mobile chip from 2019 claims 7 victories. Both CPUs sit at the 69th percentile of all CPUs, indicating they occupy a similar performance tier overall. The Intel part, however, shows clear strengths in specific workloads like floating-point math, integer math, and physics, where its higher core count and older architecture deliver decisive wins. The AMD part counters with superior single-thread performance and a massive advantage in data encryption. This is not a simple generational victory; it is a nuanced trade-off between core count, IPC, and workload-specific optimizations.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear split recommendation. For users whose workloads are dominated by integer math, floating-point math, physics simulations, or prime number finding, the Intel Core i7-9750H is the stronger choice. It leads by 17.1% in PassMark integer math, 22% in floating-point math, and 19% in physics. Its 39.1% lead in the find prime numbers test is the largest single margin in the entire comparison. This suggests the Intel chip's 6 cores and 12 threads handle parallel integer-heavy tasks with greater efficiency than the AMD part's 4 cores and 8 threads.

Conversely, the AMD Ryzen 3 4100 is the better pick for single-threaded responsiveness and cryptographic workloads. It wins every single-core benchmark in the comparison, including a 5.2% lead in Geekbench single-core and a 5% lead in PassMark single-thread. Its most staggering victory is in data encryption, where it scores 9133 versus Intel's 3756 – a 58.9% advantage. This indicates that the Zen 2 architecture's IPC advantage over Coffee Lake is substantial, and that its AES-NI implementation is vastly superior.

For general multi-threaded productivity, the AMD chip holds a consistent, if modest, edge. It wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 4.5% (9394 vs 8973) and PassMark multi-thread by 3.4% (11050 vs 10671). The Intel part only manages to tie in Geekbench multi-core with a 0.2% margin (5323 vs 5310). Therefore, for users running typical render or compression workloads, the Ryzen 3 4100 is the safer bet.

The choice ultimately hinges on the specific application profile. The Intel i7-9750H is a specialist for scientific and engineering compute tasks. The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 is a generalist with a strong single-core foundation and exceptional security-related performance. Given that the AMD part is an active desktop product with a launch MSRP of $99, while the Intel part is an end-of-life mobile component, the Ryzen 3 4100 appears to be the more rational purchase for most new builds, despite its lower core count.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-9750H has 6 cores and 12 threads. The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 3 4100 faster in single-core performance?

A: Yes. The AMD chip wins all single-core benchmark tests. It leads by 4.5% in Cinebench R15 (133 vs 127), 4.5% in Cinebench R20 (556 vs 531), 4.5% in Cinebench R23 (1326 vs 1266), 5.2% in Geekbench (1423 vs 1349), and 5% in PassMark single-thread (2531 vs 2404).

Q: Where does the Intel Core i7-9750H have its biggest advantage?

A: The Intel chip's largest win is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where it scores 32 versus AMD's 23, a 39.1% difference. It also has substantial leads in floating-point math (22%) and physics (19%).

Q: How do the two processors compare in memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 has a higher theoretical memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, compared to the Intel Core i7-9750H's 42.7 GB/s. Both use dual-channel DDR4 memory.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-9750H is listed as end-of-life. The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 is listed as active and currently in production.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Neither the Intel Core i7-9750H nor the AMD Ryzen 3 4100 supports ECC memory.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs represent distinct architectural philosophies. The Intel Core i7-9750H is built on Intel's Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-HR revision, using a 14 nm process node fabricated by Intel. The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 uses AMD's Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Renoir, on a 7 nm process node from TSMC. This process difference is significant; the AMD chip is smaller in transistor count? No, the AMD chip has 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die, while the Intel chip has a 149 mm² die with no transistor count listed.

Core configuration differs fundamentally. The Intel part offers 6 cores and 12 threads, relying on Intel's Hyper-Threading to reach 12 threads. The AMD part offers 4 cores and 8 threads, also using simultaneous multithreading. The cache hierarchies are structured differently. Both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the AMD chip doubles the L2 cache to 512 KB per core. The shared L3 cache is larger on the Intel chip at 12 MB versus 8 MB on the AMD chip.

The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 has a higher base clock of 3.80 GHz and a lower boost clock of 4.00 GHz, compared to the Intel chip's 2.60 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel chip is locked. The AMD part is a desktop segment processor with a 65 W TDP and uses the AMD Socket AM4. The Intel chip is a mobile processor with a 45 W TDP and uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket. The Intel chip includes integrated UHD 630 graphics, while the AMD chip has no integrated graphics. Both support PCIe Gen 3, but the AMD chip has 8 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip's lane count is not specified in the data.

Specification Differences

The most direct specification comparison shows a clear divergence in core counts and process technology. The Intel Core i7-9750H has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 4100 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The AMD part is manufactured on a 7 nm process node, whereas the Intel part uses a 14 nm node. The AMD chip's base clock is 3.80 GHz, which is 1.20 GHz higher than Intel's 2.60 GHz. Conversely, Intel's boost clock is 4.50 GHz, which is 0.50 GHz higher than AMD's 4.00 GHz.

The TDP figures differ by 20 W, with the Intel part rated at 45 W and the AMD part at 65 W. The memory bandwidth specifications favor AMD, with 51.2 GB/s versus Intel's 42.7 GB/s. The L3 cache is larger on the Intel chip (12 MB shared) compared to the AMD chip (8 MB shared). The L2 cache per core is larger on the AMD chip (512 KB) than on the Intel chip (256 KB). The Intel chip has integrated UHD 630 graphics, while the AMD chip has none. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel chip does not. The market segments differ: Intel is mobile, AMD is desktop. The production statuses differ: Intel is end-of-life, AMD is active. Finally, the AMD part is in the 4000 series, while Intel's series is not specified.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results reveal a clear pattern of workload-specific dominance. The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 wins every major rendering benchmark. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 946 against Intel's 904, a 4.4% advantage. This lead expands to 4.5% in Cinebench R20 (3945 vs 3768) and remains at 4.5% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (9394 vs 8973). The AMD chip also wins every single-core Cinebench test by 4.5%, including R15 (133 vs 127), R20 (556 vs 531), and R23 (1326 vs 1266).

The AMD chip's most dramatic win is in PassMark data encryption, where it scores 9133 against Intel's 3756 – a 58.9% lead. This is the single largest performance delta in the entire comparison. It also wins PassMark extended instructions by 7.4% (9923 vs 9187) and PassMark multi-thread by 3.4% (11050 vs 10671). In Geekbench single-core, the AMD chip wins by 5.2% (1423 vs 1349). In PassMark single-thread, it wins by 5% (2531 vs 2404).

The Intel Core i7-9750H counters with decisive wins in compute-heavy workloads. Its largest victory is in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 32 versus AMD's 23, a 39.1% lead. It wins PassMark random string sorting by 26% (19862 vs 15760) and PassMark floating-point math by 22% (23343 vs 19128). The Intel chip also wins PassMark physics by 19% (670 vs 563) and PassMark integer math by 17.1% (37822 vs 32307). In PassMark data compression, the Intel chip wins narrowly by 0.6% (150443 vs 149609). The only test where the Intel chip wins by a tiny margin is Geekbench multi-core, with a 0.2% lead (5323 vs 5310).