AMD Ryzen 3 4300U vs Intel Core i7-4790T Comparison

The Intel Core i7-4790T and AMD Ryzen 3 4300U represent two very different approaches to computing: a 2014 desktop part with Hyper-Threading versus a 2020 mobile chip built on a modern process. The benchmark data shows a clear split, with the older Intel CPU dominating in one demanding multi-threaded workload while the AMD chip leads in the vast majority of other tests, including all single-core metrics. This analysis breaks down the numbers to determine where each processor excels and who should choose which.

Where Each One Wins

The data reveals a stark contrast in workload suitability. The Intel Core i7-4790T’s primary win comes in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, where it scores 5378 against the Ryzen 3 4300U’s 3571. This is a massive 50.6% advantage, indicating that the Intel part’s 8 threads provide a significant edge in heavily parallelized rendering tasks. This is its sole benchmark victory out of six head-to-head comparisons.

The AMD Ryzen 3 4300U, conversely, wins the remaining five benchmarks. Its most decisive victory is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 163.9 versus the Intel’s 76, a staggering 53.6% lead. This suggests the Zen 2 architecture’s per-core performance is vastly superior to the older Haswell design. The AMD chip also leads in Cinebench R23 single-core by 29.3% (1074 vs 759), in Geekbench multi-core by 7.3% (3798 vs 3520), and in Geekbench single-core by 6.9% (1281 vs 1193). It also edges out the Intel part in Cinebench R15 multi-core, scoring 562.5 to 541, a 3.8% lead despite having fewer threads.

In essence, the Intel processor is the choice for a specific type of multi-threaded workstation task, while the AMD processor is superior for general computing, single-threaded applications, and even wins in most multi-core tests despite its thread deficit.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear recommendation for the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U for the majority of users. Its wins in five of six benchmarks, including all single-core tests and both Geekbench tests, demonstrate a more balanced and modern performance profile. The 29.3% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and 53.6% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core indicate that everyday applications, which often rely on single-thread speed, will feel significantly faster. Its lead in Geekbench multi-core (7.3%) also shows it handles common multi-threaded tasks better despite having half the threads of the Intel chip.

The Intel Core i7-4790T is for a niche audience. If your primary workload is a heavily threaded rendering task like the one simulated by Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 50.6% performance advantage is substantial. However, this is the only scenario where it comes out ahead. The data shows that for everything else, the Ryzen 3 4300U is the superior processor. The Intel part’s generation, with its 22 nm process and older architecture, holds it back in single-core performance, making it a poor choice for general-purpose use. The AMD processor is the default pick based on the benchmark results.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is the Cinebench R23 multi-core test. The Intel Core i7-4790T scores 5378, which is 50.6% higher than the Ryzen 3 4300U’s 3571. This is the largest delta in either direction and highlights the value of the Intel chip’s 8 threads in a heavily parallelized workload. The Ryzen’s 4 threads are simply outmatched here.

Conversely, the Cinebench R15 single-core test shows the opposite extreme. The AMD Ryzen 3 4300U scores 163.9, a full 53.6% ahead of the Intel’s 76. This massive gap illustrates the generational leap in single-thread efficiency. The Zen 2 architecture can execute far more instructions per clock than the older Haswell design, making it dramatically faster in tasks that cannot use multiple cores.

The Cinebench R23 single-core test further confirms this trend, with the AMD processor scoring 1074 versus the Intel’s 759, a 29.3% lead. In the Geekbench suite, the AMD wins are smaller but consistent: 7.3% in multi-core (3798 vs 3520) and 6.9% in single-core (1281 vs 1193). The only other Intel loss is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the AMD chip wins 562.5 to 541, a 3.8% margin. This shows that even in a multi-threaded test, the Ryzen’s superior core efficiency can overcome the Intel’s thread count advantage. The results show a pattern: the Intel part only wins when a workload scales perfectly with threads, while the AMD part wins everywhere else.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 4300U is significantly faster. It leads the Intel Core i7-4790T by 53.6% in Cinebench R15 single-core and by 29.3% in Cinebench R23 single-core.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-4790T win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test with a score of 5378, which is 50.6% higher than the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U’s score of 3571.

Q: How do the two processors compare in the Geekbench tests?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 4300U wins both. It scores 3798 vs 3520 in multi-core (a 7.3% lead) and 1281 vs 1193 in single-core (a 6.9% lead).

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-4790T has 8 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U has 4 threads.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-4790T has an average benchmark score of 1755, and the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U has an average of 1742. Both are in the 41st percentile of all CPUs.

Q: How does the Intel processor compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Xeon E3-1241 v3?

A: The Intel Core i7-4790T’s average score is 1755, which is a 0.1% delta behind the Xeon E3-1241 v3’s average score of 1756.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures from different eras. The Intel Core i7-4790T uses the Haswell architecture, manufactured on Intel’s 22 nm process node with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The AMD Ryzen 3 4300U uses the Zen 2 architecture, manufactured on TSMC’s 7 nm process node with 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die. This process advantage is a key factor in the AMD chip’s superior efficiency.

The cache hierarchies also differ. While both have 64 KB of L1 and a dual-channel memory bus, the Intel chip has 256 KB of L2 per core and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has a larger 512 KB of L2 per core but a smaller 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part supports DDR3 memory with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the AMD part supports DDR4 and LPDDR4 with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The AMD chip also features Radeon Graphics 320SP, while the Intel chip has Intel HD 4600. The Intel part is a desktop CPU on Socket 1150, while the AMD part is a mobile CPU on Socket FP6.

Specification Differences

The most notable specification difference is the thread count: the Intel Core i7-4790T has 8 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U has 4. The boost clocks also differ, with the Intel chip boosting to 3.90 GHz and the AMD chip to 3.70 GHz. The TDPs are vastly different, with the Intel desktop part rated at 45W and the AMD mobile part at 15W. The memory support is different, with the Intel chip using DDR3 and the AMD chip using DDR4 and LPDDR4. The memory bandwidth is also different, with the Intel chip at 25.6 GB/s and the AMD chip at 51.2 GB/s. The integrated graphics differ, with the Intel chip featuring Intel HD 4600 and the AMD chip featuring Radeon Graphics 320SP. The process nodes are different, with the Intel chip at 22 nm and the AMD chip at 7 nm. The release dates are also far apart, with the Intel chip released in 2014 and the AMD chip in 2020. The Intel part is end-of-life, while the AMD part is active in production.