AMD Ryzen 3 4300U vs Intel Core i7-980X Comparison

The Intel Core i7-980X and AMD Ryzen 3 4300U are separated by a decade of silicon evolution, yet their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the Intel at 1746 and the AMD at 1742. This parity, however, masks a stark divergence in workload performance: the aging 6-core Intel dominates heavily threaded rendering tasks, while the modern 4-core AMD crushes single-thread and general-purpose workloads. The data shows a clear split—the i7-980X is a specialized multi-core workhorse, whereas the Ryzen 3 4300U is a versatile, efficient all-rounder.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results present a clear division of labor. The Intel Core i7-980X takes the crown in multi-core Cinebench tests, leveraging its 6 cores and 12 threads to deliver superior raw throughput in applications that scale with core count. It wins the Cinebench R15 multi-core test with a score of 584 against the AMD's 562.5, and its advantage expands dramatically in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 5797 versus 3571—a massive 62.3% lead. This makes the Intel the clear choice for sustained, heavily threaded workloads like video encoding or 3D rendering, where its additional cores and 12 MB of L3 cache provide a decisive edge.

Conversely, the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U wins every single-core benchmark and the Geekbench multi-core test. Its single-core scores are not just higher; they are overwhelmingly so. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD scores 163.9 versus the Intel's 82, a 50% advantage. The gap persists in Cinebench R23 single-core (1074 vs 818) and Geekbench single-core (1281 vs 659). Even in Geekbench multi-core, the AMD's superior per-core performance and modern Zen 2 architecture allow it to overcome its 4-core/4-thread limitation and beat the Intel's 6-core/12-thread setup, scoring 3798 versus 3247. This indicates the AMD is better suited for everyday computing, web browsing, office productivity, and lightly threaded applications where responsiveness and instructions-per-clock are paramount.

Architecture Differences

These two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies and eras. The Intel Core i7-980X is a desktop part from the Westmere generation, codenamed Gulftown, built on Intel's 32 nm process node. It features 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.33 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, alongside a large 12 MB shared L3 cache. It uses a triple-channel DDR3 memory bus and PCIe Gen 2, and it has a TDP of 130 W. Crucially, it lacks integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU.

In contrast, the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U is a mobile processor from the 4000 series, built on the Zen 2 architecture (codename Renoir) using TSMC's 7 nm process. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. It features 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, but only 4 MB of shared L3 cache—a third of the Intel's capacity. It uses a dual-channel memory bus supporting DDR4 and LPDDR4, with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, and it runs on PCIe Gen 3. Its TDP is a remarkably low 15 W, and it integrates Radeon Graphics with 320 SP. The AMD also uses a different socket (AMD Socket FP6) compared to the Intel's Socket 1366.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most significant Intel victory comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where its score of 5797 dwarfs the AMD's 3571, a 62.3% delta. This is the largest performance gap in the entire comparison and highlights the Intel's raw multi-threaded throughput advantage. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel also wins, scoring 584 against 562.5, though the margin is much slimmer at just 3.8%. These results suggest that in older multi-threaded benchmarks, the Intel's advantage is modest, but in more demanding modern workloads, its extra cores and threads pay off significantly.

The AMD's wins are defined by staggering single-core superiority. The most extreme case is Cinebench R15 single-core, where the AMD scores 163.9 against the Intel's 82, a 50% deficit for the Intel. In Geekbench single-core, the AMD's 1281 is nearly double the Intel's 659, a 48.6% lead. The AMD also wins Geekbench multi-core with 3798 versus 3247, a 14.5% margin, which is particularly telling given the Intel has 3 times the threads. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD leads with 1074 versus 818, a 23.8% advantage. These numbers indicate that the Zen 2 architecture's per-core performance is so far ahead of the decade-old Westmere design that it compensates for having fewer cores in many real-world scenarios. The data shows the AMD wins 4 out of the 6 head-to-head tests.

The Verdict

Strictly from the data, the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U is the better all-around processor for most users. Its dominance in single-core performance and its victory in Geekbench multi-core—a benchmark that often reflects general applications—makes it the more responsive and versatile choice. Its 41st percentile ranking among all CPUs, identical to the Intel's, belies its strengths; it achieves this with a fraction of the power draw (15 W TDP vs 130 W) and in a mobile form factor. For general productivity, web use, and software that isn't perfectly optimized for dozens of threads, the AMD is the clear winner.

The Intel Core i7-980X is the pick for a narrow but specific use case: heavily threaded rendering and compute tasks. Its 62.3% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is substantial and shows that applications with extreme thread scaling will benefit from its 6 cores and 12 threads. For a user running a dedicated rendering workstation where multi-core throughput is the sole priority, the Intel's benchmark profile is compelling. However, its lack of integrated graphics, higher power consumption, and poor single-core performance make it a poor choice for general computing. The AMD Ryzen 3 4300U is the recommended processor for the vast majority of workloads, while the Intel i7-980X is only preferable in scenarios where its specific multi-core advantage is the primary requirement.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster for single-core tasks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 4300U is significantly faster in all single-core tests, with a 50% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core (163.9 vs 82) and a 48.6% lead in Geekbench single-core (1281 vs 659).

Q: Does the Intel i7-980X have an advantage in any benchmark?

A: Yes, the Intel wins in multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 584 vs 562.5 in Cinebench R15 multi-core (a 3.8% lead) and 5797 vs 3571 in Cinebench R23 multi-core (a 62.3% lead).

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-980X has an average benchmark score of 1746, which is only 0.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U's average score of 1742. They are essentially matched overall.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-980X has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What are the key architectural differences?

A: The Intel uses the 32 nm Westmere architecture with a 130 W TDP, triple-channel DDR3, and no integrated graphics. The AMD uses the 7 nm Zen 2 architecture with a 15 W TDP, dual-channel DDR4/LPDDR4, and integrated Radeon Graphics.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 4300U has a higher boost clock at 3.70 GHz, compared to the Intel Core i7-980X's boost clock of 3.60 GHz.

Specification Differences

The table below highlights only the fields where the Intel Core i7-980X and AMD Ryzen 3 4300U differ.

| Specification | Intel Core i7-980X | AMD Ryzen 3 4300U |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Cores | 6 | 4 |

| Threads | 12 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.33 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.60 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| TDP | 130 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1366 | AMD Socket FP6 |

| Architecture | Westmere | Zen 2 |

| Codename | Gulftown | Renoir |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | 1,170 million | 9,800 million |

| Die Size | 239 mm² | 156 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4, LPDDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Triple-channel | Dual-channel |

| PCIe | Gen 2 | Gen 3 |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Radeon Graphics 320SP |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2010-03-15 | 2020-01-05 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | SLBUZ | 100-000000085 |