AMD Ryzen 3 7320U vs Intel Core i7-6700T Comparison

The Intel Core i7-6700T and AMD Ryzen 3 7320U are evenly matched in the aggregate, with average benchmark scores of 1918 and 1916, respectively—a negligible 0.1% difference. Both processors occupy the 43rd percentile of all CPUs, and their head-to-head results split exactly at three wins apiece. However, the distribution of those wins reveals two very different performance profiles: the AMD chip dominates in short, single-threaded bursts, while the Intel part pulls ahead in longer, multi-threaded workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic separation occurs in the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U scores 162.4 against the Intel Core i7-6700T's 84. That is a 48.3% advantage for AMD, the largest delta in any comparison. This result is consistent with the Ryzen's higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz versus the Intel's 3.60 GHz, though architecture also plays a role. The AMD chip is not just faster here; it is in a different performance class for this specific workload.

The trend continues in Cinebench R23 single-core, where AMD posts 1095 points versus Intel's 839, a 23.4% lead. The gap narrows in Cinebench R15 multi-core, but AMD still wins decisively: 790 versus 599, a 24.2% advantage. These three wins suggest that the Ryzen 3 7320U extracts more performance per clock in lightly-threaded and moderately-threaded scenarios.

The Intel Core i7-6700T's wins are concentrated in the heavier multi-threaded tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 5943 against AMD's 4809, a substantial 23.6% margin. This is a reversal of the R15 multi-core result, which is notable because both processors have identical core and thread counts (4 cores, 8 threads). The Geekbench multi-core test also favors Intel, with a score of 3906 versus 3536, a 10.5% advantage. The single-core Geekbench result is nearly a tie, with Intel edging out AMD 1128 to 1103, a slim 2.3% margin.

The overall picture is one of divergence: AMD wins the R15 tests by wide margins, Intel wins the R23 and Geekbench multi-core tests by wide margins, and the single-core Geekbench test is statistically close. The average score masks this bimodal distribution, which is why head-to-head analysis matters more than a single aggregate number.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U is the clear choice for workloads that rely on rapid single-thread execution. Its 48.3% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core and 23.4% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core indicate superior responsiveness in applications that cannot utilize more than one or two threads, such as legacy software, certain scripting workloads, or lightly-threaded games. The higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz directly supports this strength.

The Intel Core i7-6700T wins in sustained multi-threaded scenarios. Its 23.6% margin in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 10.5% margin in Geekbench multi-core suggest better scaling across all 8 threads, likely due to its larger 8 MB shared L3 cache compared to AMD's 4 MB. For tasks like video encoding, 3D rendering, or compilation that run for extended periods, the data shows Intel maintains higher throughput. The Geekbench single-core result, where Intel wins by 2.3%, is effectively a wash and does not alter the primary use-case split.

These results indicate that the Ryzen 3 7320U is better suited for interactive, latency-sensitive tasks, while the Core i7-6700T is better for batch processing. The Intel part's desktop market segment and 35 W TDP also suggest it is designed for sustained operation, whereas the Ryzen's 15 W TDP and mobile segment point toward power-constrained environments.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures and process nodes. The Intel Core i7-6700T uses the Skylake architecture on a 14 nm process, fabricated by Intel. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U uses the Zen 2 architecture on a 6 nm process, fabricated by TSMC. This process node difference—14 nm versus 6 nm—explains why AMD can achieve higher clock speeds (4.10 GHz boost versus 3.60 GHz) while maintaining a much lower TDP of 15 W versus Intel's 35 W.

The cache hierarchies differ significantly. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, but the AMD doubles the L2 cache to 512 KB per core. The L3 cache is where Intel holds a clear advantage: 8 MB shared versus AMD's 4 MB shared. This larger L3 cache is the most plausible explanation for Intel's superior multi-threaded performance in Cinebench R23, as more cache reduces memory access latency for repeated data.

The memory subsystem also diverges sharply. Intel supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory with dual-channel access and a bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. AMD supports only LPDDR5, also dual-channel, but with a much higher bandwidth of 88.0 GB/s. The AMD chip's memory bandwidth is 2.5 times higher, which should benefit memory-intensive workloads, yet the benchmark data shows Intel winning the multi-threaded tests. The explanation likely lies in the L3 cache size and the different memory latency characteristics, though the data does not specify latency figures.

The PCIe capabilities also differ: Intel provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while AMD provides Gen 3 with only 4 lanes. This makes the Intel part more suitable for discrete GPUs or multiple expansion cards. Both processors have integrated graphics, with Intel offering HD Graphics 530 and AMD offering Radeon 610M, but no benchmark data for these iGPUs is provided.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly all major specification fields. The base clock is 2.80 GHz for Intel versus 2.40 GHz for AMD, but the boost clock reverses this: 3.60 GHz for Intel versus 4.10 GHz for AMD. The TDP is a major divergence: 35 W for the Intel versus 15 W for the AMD, reflecting the different intended power envelopes.

The socket types are incompatible: Intel uses Socket 1151, while AMD uses Socket FT6. The process node differs as noted, with Intel on 14 nm and AMD on 6 nm. The AMD die size is 100 mm², while no die size is listed for Intel. The L2 cache is 256 KB per core for Intel and 512 KB per core for AMD, and the L3 cache is 8 MB for Intel versus 4 MB for AMD.

Memory support is exclusive: Intel supports DDR3 and DDR4, while AMD supports LPDDR5 only. Memory bandwidth is 34.1 GB/s for Intel versus 88.0 GB/s for AMD. PCIe lanes differ at 16 for Intel versus 4 for AMD. The integrated graphics are different (HD Graphics 530 versus Radeon 610M). The market segment is Desktop for Intel and Mobile for AMD, and the production status is End-of-life for Intel and Active for AMD.

The release dates are far apart: Intel launched on 2015-08-31, while AMD launched on 2022-09-19. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $303; no launch MSRP is listed for the AMD part. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not supported on either platform.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U has a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, compared to the Intel Core i7-6700T's 3.60 GHz. This higher boost clock is reflected in AMD's 48.3% and 23.4% wins in Cinebench R15 and R23 single-core tests, respectively.

Q: Why does the Intel Core i7-6700T win the Cinebench R23 multi-core test despite having the same core and thread count?

A: The Intel part scores 5943 versus AMD's 4809, a 23.6% margin. The most significant architectural difference is the L3 cache: Intel has 8 MB shared, while AMD has only 4 MB shared. A larger L3 cache reduces memory latency for multi-threaded workloads, which likely explains Intel's advantage despite AMD's higher memory bandwidth of 88.0 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s.

Q: Which processor consumes less power?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U has a TDP of 15 W, compared to the Intel Core i7-6700T's 35 W. This is a 20 W difference, making the AMD chip significantly more power-efficient, which aligns with its mobile market segment and 6 nm process node versus Intel's 14 nm node.

Q: Are these two processors comparable in overall performance?

A: Yes, their average benchmark scores are nearly identical: 1918 for Intel and 1916 for AMD, a 0.1% difference. Both occupy the 43rd percentile of all CPUs. However, the performance distribution is different, with AMD winning single-core tests and Intel winning multi-core tests.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Intel Core i7-6700T supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U supports only LPDDR5 memory. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the AMD's memory bandwidth is 88.0 GB/s compared to Intel's 34.1 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Intel Core i7-6700T provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U provides only 4 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. This makes the Intel part more suitable for configurations requiring multiple expansion cards or a discrete GPU.