CPU Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 3 7320C and Intel Core 7 160UL are two 15 W processors that land at nearly the same overall performance tier, with average benchmark scores of 14277 and 14232 respectively, a difference of only 0.3%. Despite this statistical tie, the two chips have almost entirely opposite performance profiles, with the AMD part winning only 2 of 17 head-to-head tests while the Intel part takes 15. The data shows that the Ryzen 3 7320C is a specialist that excels in specific memory-heavy workloads, whereas the Core 7 160UL delivers broadly superior throughput across most compute tasks.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 7 160UL is the dominant general-purpose processor in this comparison. Its wins span every Cinebench iteration (R15, R20, R23) in both single-core and multi-core tests, with consistent deltas of -25.2% to -25.6% relative to the AMD chip. In PassMark workloads, the Intel part also wins in data encryption (7146 vs 5443, a 23.8% advantage), extended instructions (5832 vs 3663, 37.2% ahead), prime number finding (50 vs 18, a 64% lead), floating-point math (25670 vs 14071, 45.2% ahead), integer math (47515 vs 32247, 32.1% ahead), multithreaded performance (11043 vs 8265, 25.2% ahead), physics (819 vs 500, 38.9% ahead), and single-thread performance (3391 vs 2439, 28.1% ahead). This is a comprehensive sweep of compute-oriented tasks, indicating that the Core 7 160UL is the clear choice for rendering, simulation, and general productivity.

The AMD Ryzen 3 7320C, however, wins the two workloads where memory bandwidth and compression efficiency matter most. In PassMark data compression, the AMD part scores 144465 versus 108953 for Intel, a 32.6% advantage. It also wins PassMark random string sorting with a score of 16973 versus 11843, a 43.3% lead. These two wins point to a specific architectural strength in handling data streams and sorting algorithms, likely tied to its memory subsystem. For any workload that involves heavy data packing, archiving, or database-style sorting, the Ryzen 3 7320C is measurably faster despite being slower in nearly every other metric.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320C is built on TSMC's 6 nm process using the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Mendocino, and belongs to the 7000 series. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The Intel Core 7 160UL, in contrast, uses Intel's 10 nm process with the Raptor Lake architecture, codenamed Raptor Lake-PS, and is a desktop-market part. It has 10 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Intel chip's higher core count and much higher boost clock are the primary drivers of its broad performance lead.

Cache hierarchies also differ substantially. The AMD part provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip's larger per-core caches and triple the L3 capacity give it a significant advantage in workloads that benefit from data reuse. The AMD chip compensates somewhat with a smaller die size of 100 mm², whereas Intel's die size is not listed in the data.

Memory support is a notable differentiator. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320C supports only LPDDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and a listed memory bandwidth of 88.0 GB/s. The Intel Core 7 160UL supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus, though its memory bandwidth is not specified in the data. This difference may explain the AMD chip's wins in data compression and random string sorting, as LPDDR5's high bandwidth can accelerate memory-bound algorithms. The AMD part also lacks ECC memory support, as does the Intel part, but the socket types differ: AMD uses Socket FT6 while Intel uses Socket 1700.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 7 160UL has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C has 4 cores and 8 threads. This gives the Intel part a 2.5x core advantage and a 1.5x thread advantage.

Q: Why does the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C win in data compression if it is slower in most tests?

A: The AMD part scores 144465 in PassMark data compression versus 108953 for Intel, a 32.6% advantage. This is likely due to its LPDDR5 memory support with 88.0 GB/s bandwidth, which is well-suited for streaming data operations. The Intel part's memory bandwidth is not listed, but its DDR4/DDR5 support does not match this specific performance in compression and sorting tasks.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 7320C has an average benchmark score of 14277, while the Intel Core 7 160UL scores 14232. The AMD part is 0.3% higher, but both processors are rated at the 69th percentile versus all CPUs, indicating they are statistically equivalent in overall performance.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 7 160UL has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, which is substantially higher than the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C's boost clock of 4.10 GHz. This 1.10 GHz difference contributes to Intel's 28.1% lead in PassMark single-thread performance.

Q: Are these processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. Neither the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C nor the Intel Core 7 160UL has an unlocked multiplier, so both are fixed-clock parts intended for standard operation.

Q: What is the market segment for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 7320C is classified as a Mobile processor, while the Intel Core 7 160UL is classified as a Desktop processor, despite both having a 15 W TDP.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320C has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core 7 160UL has 10 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 2.40 GHz for AMD versus 1.80 GHz for Intel, but boost clocks reverse the situation: 4.10 GHz for AMD versus 5.20 GHz for Intel. Both have a 15 W TDP. The AMD part uses AMD Socket FT6, while the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1700. The process node is 6 nm (TSMC) for AMD and 10 nm (Intel) for Intel. Cache sizes differ: AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3; Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. Memory support is LPDDR5 for AMD, versus DDR4 and DDR5 for Intel. Memory bandwidth is listed at 88.0 GB/s for AMD, but not listed for Intel. PCIe support is Gen 3 with 4 lanes for AMD, versus Gen 4 with 8 lanes for Intel. Integrated graphics are Radeon 610M for AMD and Iris Xe Graphics 96EU for Intel. Release dates are 2023-05-22 for AMD and 2024-04-07 for Intel.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest Intel win comes in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core 7 160UL scores 50 against the Ryzen 3 7320C's 18, a 64% advantage. This massive gap highlights the Intel part's superior integer execution capabilities in iterative compute loops. The next biggest win is in floating-point math, where Intel leads 25670 to 14071, a 45.2% margin. This suggests the Intel part has a significantly wider or more efficient FPU pipeline. Extended instructions also favor Intel heavily, with a score of 5832 versus 3663, a 37.2% lead, indicating better SIMD throughput.

In the Cinebench suite, the Intel part wins all six tests with consistent deltas around -25.2%. For example, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 9386 versus 7025, and in single-core, Intel scores 1325 versus 991. The uniformity of these deltas suggests a fixed clock and core-count advantage across all rendering workloads. PassMark physics shows Intel winning 819 to 500, a 38.9% lead, which aligns with the multi-core advantage seen in Cinebench.

The AMD part's wins are concentrated in two data-oriented tests. In PassMark data compression, AMD scores 144465 versus 108953, a 32.6% lead. In random string sorting, AMD scores 16973 versus 11843, a 43.3% lead. These are the only two tests where AMD beats Intel, but the margins are substantial, indicating that the Ryzen 3 7320C's memory architecture provides a real advantage for specific algorithmic patterns. In all other 15 head-to-head tests, Intel wins, including a 28.1% lead in single-thread performance (3391 vs 2439) and a 32.1% lead in integer math (47515 vs 32247). The overall picture is clear: the Intel Core 7 160UL is the stronger all-around processor, while the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C is a niche performer for memory-bandwidth-sensitive workloads.