AMD Ryzen 3 7320U vs Intel Core i7-8709G Comparison

The Intel Core i7-8709G and AMD Ryzen 3 7320U represent two distinct approaches to mobile processing, with the former pairing a Kaby Lake CPU with high-end Radeon graphics and the latter built around a power-sipping Zen 2 design. The recorded benchmark data shows a fascinating split: the AMD part wins three of the four head-to-head tests, yet the Intel part takes the most decisive victory in the modern multi-core workload. The database places the Intel Core i7-8709G at the 44th percentile among all CPUs, just ahead of the Ryzen 3 7320U at the 43rd percentile, with average benchmark scores of 1950 and 1916 respectively. These figures suggest the two processors are closely matched overall, but the nature of their performance differences is highly workload-dependent.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the database is the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, where the Intel Core i7-8709G scores 6743 against the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U’s 4809, a 40.2% advantage. This is the largest margin in any comparison between the two, and it flips the expected narrative based on the older Cinebench R15 results. In the R15 multi-core test, the AMD part wins with 790 points versus 679 for Intel, a 14.1% deficit for the Intel chip. The discrepancy between R15 and R23 scores likely reflects differences in how the two workloads scale with memory bandwidth, cache size, and sustained power delivery, though the database does not break down those factors.

Single-core performance tells a clearer story. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U leads in Cinebench R15 single-core with 162.4 points against Intel’s 95, a 41.5% gap that is the second-largest margin recorded. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD part again wins, scoring 1095 versus 952, a 13.1% advantage. These results indicate that the Zen 2 architecture in the Ryzen 3 7320U delivers substantially higher per-thread throughput than the older Kaby Lake cores in the i7-8709G, despite both parts boosting to the same 4.10 GHz maximum clock. The single-core advantage is consistent across both Cinebench versions, suggesting it is not an artifact of a single workload but a genuine architectural edge.

Looking at the broader benchmark landscape, the Intel Core i7-8709G’s average score of 1950 places it within 0.2% of the Intel Core i5-1035G7 (1948) and 0.3% of the Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 (1945). The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U’s average of 1916 is similarly close to the Intel Core i7-6700T (1918, a 0.1% deficit) and the Intel Xeon E-2314 (1911, a 0.3% lead). These nearest-rival comparisons show that both chips sit in a dense cluster of mid-range processors, where small percentage differences separate many models. The i7-8709G’s single win in the head-to-head tests (the R23 multi-core) is decisive in that specific metric, but the Ryzen 3 7320U’s three wins, including both single-core tests and the older multi-core test, give it a broader performance profile across the recorded workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge fundamentally in their underlying designs. The Intel Core i7-8709G uses the Kaby Lake architecture, specifically the Kaby Lake G codename, built on Intel’s 14 nm process node. It features 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The cache hierarchy consists of 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U, by contrast, uses the Zen 2 architecture with the Mendocino codename, manufactured on TSMC’s 6 nm process. It also has 4 cores and 8 threads, but its base clock is lower at 2.40 GHz, while the boost clock matches Intel at 4.10 GHz. The cache layout differs significantly: the AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core (double the Intel part’s per-core L2), but only 4 MB of shared L3, half the Intel’s allocation.

The process node difference is notable: 14 nm for Intel versus 6 nm for AMD, with the latter produced by TSMC. This explains the substantial difference in thermal design power, with the Intel part rated at 65 watts and the AMD part at just 15 watts. The die size for the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U is listed as 100 mm², while the Intel part has no die size recorded in the database. Memory support also diverges: the Intel Core i7-8709G uses DDR4 memory, while the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U uses LPDDR5, with a dual-channel memory bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 88.0 GB/s. The Intel part has no memory bandwidth figure listed, but its DDR4 support and lack of a dual-channel designation suggest a different memory subsystem design.

The integrated graphics represent another major architectural difference. The Intel Core i7-8709G includes a Radeon RX Vega M GH, which is a high-end discrete-class GPU integrated into the package, reflecting the Kaby Lake G design that combined Intel CPU cores with AMD graphics. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U includes a Radeon 610M, a more modest integrated GPU typical of low-power mobile processors. The socket types differ as well: Intel BGA 2270 for the i7-8709G versus AMD Socket FT6 for the Ryzen 3 7320U, indicating different motherboard and system design requirements. The AMD part also lists PCIe support as Gen 3 with 4 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part has no PCIe information recorded.

Release dates place these chips in different eras: the Intel Core i7-8709G launched on January 31, 2018, while the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U launched on September 19, 2022. Both are marked as Active in production status. Neither processor has a recorded launch MSRP in the database. Both are locked multipliers, and both are targeted at the mobile market segment. The AMD part belongs to the 7000 series, with the part number 100-000000676, while the Intel part has no series or part number recorded.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance in the most recent Cinebench test?

A: The Intel Core i7-8709G wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test with a score of 6743, which is 40.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U’s 4809. This is the Intel part’s only win in the four head-to-head benchmarks.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare between the two chips?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U leads in both single-core tests. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 162.4 versus 95 for Intel, a 41.5% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 1095 versus 952, a 13.1% advantage.

Q: What are the clock speeds for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-8709G has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and the same boost clock of 4.10 GHz.

Q: How do their cache configurations differ?

A: The Intel part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The AMD part has double the per-core L2 but half the shared L3.

Q: What is the thermal design power for each chip?

A: The Intel Core i7-8709G is rated at 65 watts TDP, while the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U is rated at 15 watts TDP. This difference reflects the AMD part’s lower power design and smaller process node.

Q: Which processor has a higher memory bandwidth specification?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U has a recorded memory bandwidth of 88.0 GB/s with dual-channel LPDDR5 support. The Intel Core i7-8709G supports DDR4 memory but has no bandwidth figure listed in the database.

The Verdict

The benchmark data paints a nuanced picture for potential users. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U demonstrates superior single-core performance across both Cinebench R15 and R23, with margins of 41.5% and 13.1% respectively. It also wins the older multi-core test, Cinebench R15, by 14.1%. These results indicate that for lightly threaded workloads, such as everyday application responsiveness and many productivity tasks, the Ryzen 3 7320U is the stronger choice based on the recorded scores. Its 15 watt TDP also suggests suitability for thin-and-light systems where power efficiency is critical, though the database does not include battery life or thermal measurements.

The Intel Core i7-8709G, however, takes the most significant single victory: a 40.2% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core. This is the largest margin in any test between the two, and it suggests that in sustained multi-threaded workloads, such as video rendering or complex compilation, the Intel part holds a clear advantage. The larger 8 MB shared L3 cache and higher base clock of 3.10 GHz likely contribute to this result, even though the AMD part has a smaller 4 MB L3 and a lower base clock of 2.40 GHz. The Intel part’s higher 65 watt TDP also implies it can sustain higher power draw for longer periods, though the database does not provide power consumption measurements.

For users prioritizing modern single-thread performance and efficiency, the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U is the data-supported choice, given its three wins in the head-to-head tests and its significantly lower TDP. For users whose workloads are heavily multi-threaded and can benefit from the Intel part’s R23 multi-core lead, the Core i7-8709G offers a compelling advantage in that specific metric. The overall average scores are close, 1950 versus 1916, a difference of about 1.8%, so neither chip is a runaway winner in aggregate. The decision should rest on the specific benchmark results that match the user’s primary applications, with the AMD part favored for single-core and efficiency, and the Intel part favored for the most demanding multi-core rendering tasks.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the Intel Core i7-8709G and the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U, based on the recorded data:

| Specification | Intel Core i7-8709G | AMD Ryzen 3 7320U |

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

| Series | Not recorded | 7000 series |

| Base Clock | 3.10 GHz | 2.40 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 2270 | AMD Socket FT6 |

| Architecture | Kaby Lake | Zen 2 |

| Codename | Kaby Lake G | Mendocino |

| Generation | Core i7 (Kaby Lake-G) | Ryzen 3 (Zen 2 (Mendocino)) |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 6 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 100 mm² |

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

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | LPDDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Not recorded | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 88.0 GB/s |

| PCIe | Not recorded | Gen 3, 4 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon RX Vega M GH | Radeon 610M |

| Release Date | 2018-01-31 | 2022-09-19 |

| Part Number | Not recorded | 100-000000676 |

Both processors share the same core and thread count (4 cores, 8 threads), the same boost clock (4.10 GHz), the same L1 cache size (64 KB per core), no ECC memory support, a locked multiplier, and the mobile market segment. Neither has a launch MSRP recorded in the database.