AMD Ryzen 3 7320U vs Intel Core i7-4940MX Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U boosts to 4.10 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-4940MX boosts to 4.00 GHz. The AMD part holds a 0.10 GHz advantage at the top end.

Q: How do the two compare in multi-threaded Cinebench R23 performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-4940MX scores 5759 in Cinebench R23 multicore, beating the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U's 4809 by 16.5%. This is Intel's largest win in the head-to-head benchmark set.

Q: Which chip wins in Cinebench R15 single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U dominates with a score of 162.4 versus 81 for the Intel Core i7-4940MX, a 100.5% advantage. This is the biggest margin recorded between the two processors in any test.

Q: What is the process node difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U is built on TSMC's 6 nm process, while the Intel Core i7-4940MX uses Intel's 22 nm process. The die sizes are 100 mm² for AMD and 177 mm² for Intel.

Q: Which processor supports faster memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U supports LPDDR5 memory with 88.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core i7-4940MX supports DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, a substantial gap in memory throughput.

Q: What is the production status of each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U is listed as Active, while the Intel Core i7-4940MX is End-of-life. The Intel launch MSRP was $1096.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U and Intel Core i7-4940MX represent two very different design eras. The AMD part uses Zen 2 architecture under the Mendocino codename, fabricated on a 6 nm process at TSMC. The Intel part uses Haswell architecture, fabricated on Intel's 22 nm process. This node gap explains much of the efficiency difference: AMD's die measures 100 mm², while Intel's larger design spans 177 mm² and contains 1,400 million transistors.

Both chips offer 4 cores and 8 threads, but their cache hierarchies diverge. The Ryzen 3 7320U has 64 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 4 MB of shared L3. The Core i7-4940MX matches the 64 KB L1 per core but halves L2 to 256 KB per core, then doubles L3 to 8 MB shared. The larger L3 on the Intel part may help in certain workloads that benefit from a bigger shared cache pool.

Memory architecture also differs sharply. The AMD chip supports LPDDR5 over a dual-channel bus, delivering 88.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel chip supports DDR3 over a dual-channel bus, delivering 25.6 GB/s. That is a 3.4x bandwidth advantage for the AMD processor, which matters for integrated graphics and memory-sensitive tasks.

The integrated graphics differ as well. AMD pairs the Ryzen 3 7320U with Radeon 610M graphics, while Intel uses HD 4600. Neither part supports ECC memory. On the platform side, AMD uses Socket FT6 with PCIe Gen 3 and 4 CPU lanes, while Intel uses Socket G3 with PCIe Gen 3 and 16 CPU lanes. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the AMD multiplier is locked.

Power envelopes are far apart. The AMD processor carries a 15 W TDP, while the Intel Extreme edition part draws 57 W. That is a 42 W difference in thermal design power, which has direct implications for cooling requirements and battery life in mobile systems.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U wins in short-duration single-threaded workloads and older rendering tests. Its Cinebench R15 single-core score of 162.4 is more than double the Intel's 81, a 100.5% margin. It also wins Cinebench R15 multicore with 790 versus 580, a 36.2% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD leads 1095 to 813, a 34.7% edge. These results suggest the Zen 2 core design delivers stronger per-thread performance in legacy and single-threaded benchmarks.

The Intel Core i7-4940MX wins in more modern multi-threaded and synthetic workloads. It takes Cinebench R23 multicore with 5759 versus 4809, a 16.5% lead. It also wins Geekbench multicore with 3869 versus 3536, an 8.6% margin, and Geekbench single-core with 1227 versus 1103, a 10.1% edge. The Intel part's larger 8 MB L3 cache and higher base clock of 3.10 GHz likely contribute to its strength in these tests.

The split is clean: AMD dominates the R15 generation of tests and single-core R23, while Intel takes R23 multicore and both Geekbench results. Users running legacy rendering pipelines may favor AMD. Users running modern Geekbench-style workloads or heavily threaded R23 renders may favor Intel.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 3 7320U | Intel Core i7-4940MX |

|---|---|---|

| Architecture | Zen 2 | Haswell |

| Codename | Mendocino | Haswell |

| Process Node | 6 nm | 22 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | 100 mm² | 177 mm² |

| Transistors | No data | 1,400 million |

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 3.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 57 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FT6 | Intel Socket G3 |

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

| L3 Cache | 4 MB shared | 8 MB shared |

| Memory Support | LPDDR5 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 88.0 GB/s | 25.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 4 Lanes | Gen 3, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 610M | Intel HD 4600 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

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

| Release Date | 2022-09-19 | 2014-01-19 |

| Launch MSRP | No data | $1096 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows three wins for each processor, but the margins are not symmetrical. AMD's victories are far more decisive. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Ryzen 3 7320U scores 162.4 against 81 for the Intel part, a 100.5% delta. That is the single largest gap in the entire comparison. The R15 multicore test also favors AMD heavily, 790 to 580, a 36.2% margin. In Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD leads 1095 to 813, a 34.7% advantage.

Intel's wins are narrower but consistent in modern tests. The Core i7-4940MX leads Cinebench R23 multicore with 5759 to 4809, a 16.5% margin. In Geekbench multicore, Intel wins 3869 to 3536, an 8.6% delta. In Geekbench single-core, Intel wins 1227 to 1103, a 10.1% delta. None of Intel's victories approach the scale of AMD's R15 single-core blowout.

The average benchmark scores tell a similar story. The Ryzen 3 7320U has an average benchmark score of 1916, placing it at the 43rd percentile of all CPUs. The Core i7-4940MX has an average score of 1886, also at the 43rd percentile. The AMD part's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-6700T at 1918, a delta of -0.1%. The Intel part's nearest rival is the Intel Xeon D-1531 at 1885, a delta of 0.1%. Despite very different architectures and release dates, the two chips land within 30 points of each other in the database's aggregate scoring.

The Cinebench R23 multicore result deserves special attention. Intel's 5759 score is its best showing and the only test where it leads by double digits. This suggests the Haswell design's 8 MB L3 cache and higher 3.10 GHz base clock translate well into sustained all-core rendering. Meanwhile, AMD's R15 results show that Zen 2's per-core efficiency can produce massive wins in older benchmark versions that may be less cache-sensitive.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split based on workload type. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U is the choice for single-threaded performance in legacy benchmarks. Its Cinebench R15 single-core score of 162.4 is more than double the Intel's 81, and its R23 single-core lead of 34.7% confirms a strong per-core advantage. The AMD part also delivers vastly higher memory bandwidth at 88.0 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s, and does so within a 15 W TDP compared to 57 W. For thin-and-light mobile systems or any workload that favors newer process technology and per-thread speed, the Ryzen 3 7320U is the stronger pick.

The Intel Core i7-4940MX is the choice for modern multi-threaded rendering and Geekbench-style workloads. It wins Cinebench R23 multicore by 16.5% and both Geekbench tests by 8.6% and 10.1%. Its 8 MB L3 cache and unlocked multiplier may appeal to users who want to extract extra performance from an older Extreme edition platform, provided the 57 W TDP is acceptable.

Both processors sit at the 43rd percentile of all CPUs in the database. The average benchmark scores are close: 1916 for AMD versus 1886 for Intel. The deciding factor is not overall capability but workload fit. Users running older Cinebench versions or single-threaded tasks should choose AMD. Users prioritizing modern multi-core renders and Geekbench results should choose Intel, accepting the higher power draw and end-of-life production status. The Ryzen 3 7320U is the more future-proof option with active production and a 6 nm process, while the Core i7-4940MX remains competitive in specific modern tests despite its 2014 Haswell lineage.