AMD Ryzen 3 7330U vs Intel Core i7-8086K Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 3 7330U and Intel Core i7-8086K occupy opposite ends of the computing spectrum, one a low-power mobile chip and the other a high-thermal desktop part. The benchmark data shows a decisive performance gap, but the comparison is not simply about raw speed. The Ryzen 3 7330U is a current, efficient 7 nm design for thin laptops, while the Core i7-8086K is an older, end-of-life 14 nm desktop processor that still dominates in multi-threaded workloads. The recorded measurements indicate the Intel part wins every shared benchmark, yet the AMD chip delivers competitive single-core performance relative to its power envelope and remains the more practical choice for portable systems.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-8086K is far ahead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 11,975 while the Ryzen 3 7330U scores 6,230, a 48% lead for Intel. In Geekbench multi-core, the Intel chip scores 7,920 versus 4,131, a 47.8% advantage.

Q: How do the two compare in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-8086K also wins, but by a much smaller margin. Its Geekbench single-core score is 1,697 versus 1,514 for the Ryzen, a 10.8% difference. The Ryzen is closer in this metric than in multi-core.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 7330U has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core i7-8086K has 6 cores and 12 threads. This explains much of the multi-core performance gap.

Q: Which chip is built on a smaller manufacturing process?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 7330U uses a 7 nm process from TSMC. The Intel Core i7-8086K uses Intel's 14 nm process. The smaller node contributes to the AMD chip's lower power consumption.

Q: What is the power draw of each processor?

A: The Ryzen 3 7330U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Core i7-8086K has a TDP of 95 watts. This makes the AMD chip suitable for fanless or ultra-thin designs, whereas the Intel part requires robust desktop cooling.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 3 7330U is listed as active in production, with a release date of January 2023. The Intel Core i7-8086K is end-of-life, having been released in June 2018.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is stark. The AMD Ryzen 3 7330U belongs to the 7000 series, built on the Zen 3 architecture with the codename Barcelo-R. It is a 7 nm design manufactured by TSMC, containing 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-8086K uses the Coffee Lake architecture, also its codename, built on Intel's 14 nm process. The database does not list transistor count or die size for the Intel part.

Core configuration differs significantly. The Ryzen 3 7330U offers 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Core i7-8086K provides 6 cores and 12 threads. Cache hierarchies also diverge. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, with 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip matches the 64 KB L1 per core but has a smaller 256 KB L2 per core, while its shared L3 cache is larger at 12 MB. This gives the Intel part more total cache for multi-threaded tasks.

Clock speeds reflect their different roles. The Ryzen 3 7330U has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The Core i7-8086K starts at 4.00 GHz base and boosts to 5.00 GHz. The Intel chip's higher clocks, combined with more cores, drive its benchmark superiority.

Integrated graphics also differ. The AMD chip includes Radeon Graphics with Vega 4 architecture, while the Intel chip integrates UHD Graphics 630. Both support DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode, but the Ryzen 3 7330U has a higher memory bandwidth rating at 51.2 GB/s, compared to 42.7 GB/s for the Intel part. The AMD chip also supports ECC memory, a feature the Intel part lacks.

The Ryzen 3 7330U is a mobile processor with a 15-watt TDP, designed for laptops using the AMD Socket FP6. The Core i7-8086K is a desktop processor with a 95-watt TDP on Intel Socket 1151. The Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the AMD chip does not. The Ryzen 3 7330U is actively produced, while the Core i7-8086K is end-of-life.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data includes three head-to-head benchmark comparisons, and the Intel Core i7-8086K wins all three. The largest gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core. Here the Intel chip scores 11,975 against the Ryzen 3 7330U's 6,230. This is a 48% difference, reflecting the Intel part's six cores, twelve threads, and higher boost clock. The Ryzen's four cores and eight threads cannot compensate for the core count deficit in this heavily threaded workload.

Geekbench multi-core shows a similar pattern. The Intel Core i7-8086K scores 7,920, while the Ryzen 3 7330U scores 4,131. The delta is 47.8%, nearly identical to the Cinebench result. This consistency across different benchmarking suites confirms that multi-threaded performance is the Intel chip's clear strength.

The single-core comparison is closer. In Geekbench single-core, the Intel part scores 1,697 versus 1,514 for the AMD chip, a 10.8% advantage. This smaller gap indicates that the Zen 3 architecture in the Ryzen 3 7330U is competitive on a per-core basis, despite the Intel chip's higher 5.00 GHz boost clock. The Ryzen's 4.30 GHz boost is lower, but architectural efficiency narrows the gap.

The benchmark data also reveals a notable detail: the Intel Core i7-8086K has additional benchmark scores not shared with the AMD part. These include Cinebench R15 multi-core at 1,206, R15 single-core at 170, R20 multi-core at 5,029, R20 single-core at 709, and Cinebench R23 single-core at 1,690. The Ryzen 3 7330U lacks these test results in the database, so no direct comparison is possible for those workloads.

Looking at the average benchmark scores, the Ryzen 3 7330U averages 3,958 across all tests, placing it in the 57th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core i7-8086K averages 3,800, in the 56th percentile. Despite the Intel chip's dominance in the head-to-head tests, the average scores are very close, and the AMD part actually holds a slight edge in this aggregate metric. This is because the Ryzen's limited set of benchmark results skews its average, while the Intel chip's broader test suite includes lower-scoring older tests.

The nearest rivals provide context for each chip's standing. The Ryzen 3 7330U sits within 0.5% of the Intel Xeon E5-2669 v3, Intel Core i7-6900K, AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U, and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650G in average score. The Intel Core i7-8086K is similarly close to the Intel Core i7-9700KF, AMD Ryzen 9 4900H, Intel Xeon E-2286M, and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700, with deltas ranging from 0.3% to 0.6%. This suggests both processors are well-matched against their immediate peers, even though they differ drastically from each other.

Specification Differences

The specification table highlights several key differences between the two processors.

• Cores: AMD Ryzen 3 7330U has 4 cores; Intel Core i7-8086K has 6 cores.
• Threads: AMD has 8 threads; Intel has 12 threads.
• Base Clock: AMD runs at 2.30 GHz; Intel runs at 4.00 GHz.
• Boost Clock: AMD boosts to 4.30 GHz; Intel boosts to 5.00 GHz.
• TDP: AMD is rated at 15 watts; Intel is rated at 95 watts.
• Socket: AMD uses Socket FP6; Intel uses Socket 1151.
• Process Node: AMD uses 7 nm (TSMC); Intel uses 14 nm (Intel).
• L2 Cache: AMD has 512 KB per core; Intel has 256 KB per core.
• L3 Cache: AMD has 8 MB shared; Intel has 12 MB shared.
• Memory Bandwidth: AMD supports 51.2 GB/s; Intel supports 42.7 GB/s.
• ECC Memory: AMD supports ECC; Intel does not.
• Integrated Graphics: AMD uses Radeon Graphics (Vega 4); Intel uses UHD Graphics 630.
• Market Segment: AMD is mobile; Intel is desktop.
• Production Status: AMD is active; Intel is end-of-life.
• Release Date: AMD launched January 2023; Intel launched June 2018.
• Multiplier: AMD is locked; Intel is unlocked.
• Transistor Count: AMD has 10,700 million; Intel is not listed.
• Die Size: AMD is 180 mm²; Intel is not listed.

The Intel Core i7-8086K carries a launch MSRP of $425, while the AMD Ryzen 3 7330U has no listed launch MSRP. Both chips support DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode and provide PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear conclusion: the Intel Core i7-8086K is the stronger performer in every head-to-head benchmark recorded. It wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 48%, Geekbench multi-core by 47.8%, and Geekbench single-core by 10.8%. For users who prioritize raw compute throughput, particularly in multi-threaded applications, the Intel chip is the definitive choice.

However, the verdict is not one-sided. The Ryzen 3 7330U is a mobile processor with a 15-watt TDP, designed for battery-powered laptops. Its 7 nm process and lower power draw make it suitable for thin, light systems where the 95-watt Intel part would be impractical. The AMD chip's single-core deficit is modest at 10.8%, and its higher memory bandwidth and ECC support offer advantages in specific use cases.

The average benchmark scores complicate the picture. The Ryzen 3 7330U averages 3,958, slightly above the Intel part's 3,800, and holds a 57th percentile ranking versus the Intel chip's 56th. This is surprising given the Intel chip's head-to-head wins, but it reflects the different test sets available. The Ryzen's three scores are all from modern tests where it performs respectably, while the Intel chip's eight scores include older Cinebench R15 and R20 tests that drag down its average.

The production statuses also matter. The Ryzen 3 7330U is active and available for new laptop designs, while the Core i7-8086K is end-of-life. For a new system build, the AMD chip represents a current platform, whereas the Intel chip would require sourcing an older motherboard and CPU.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-8086K wins in raw performance scenarios. Its 6 cores and 12 threads, combined with a 5.00 GHz boost clock, make it the better option for video rendering, 3D modeling, software compilation, and other heavily threaded workloads. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11,975 is nearly double the Ryzen's 6,230, indicating that the Intel chip excels in professional content creation tasks that scale with core count. Its unlocked multiplier also allows overclocking, which can push performance further, though no overclocked benchmarks are recorded in the database. The Intel chip's higher single-core score of 1,697 in Geekbench also makes it preferable for lightly threaded applications that demand maximum clock speed.

The Ryzen 3 7330U wins in efficiency-focused scenarios. Its 15-watt TDP allows it to operate in laptops without active cooling, or with minimal cooling, enabling longer battery life and quieter operation. The 7 nm process and smaller die size of 180 mm² make it a compact solution for portable devices. Its higher memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s benefits integrated graphics performance, and ECC support is valuable for error-sensitive workloads such as data processing or server applications in a mobile form factor. The Ryzen chip's active production status means it is available for current laptop purchases, while the Intel chip is discontinued.

For single-core tasks, the gap is close enough that the Ryzen 3 7330U remains viable. Its 1,514 Geekbench single-core score is within 10.8% of the Intel chip's 1,697, so everyday applications like web browsing, office productivity, and light coding will feel similar on both platforms. The Ryzen's lower power consumption gives it an advantage in sustained workloads where the Intel chip would generate more heat and drain batteries faster.

The database shows that the Intel Core i7-8086K is the performance king, but the AMD Ryzen 3 7330U is the pragmatic choice for modern mobile computing. Users who need maximum throughput and already have a desktop platform should choose the Intel chip. Users who prioritize portability, efficiency, and a current production platform should select the AMD part. The 48% multi-core gap is decisive, but the Ryzen's efficiency and active status make it a legitimate alternative in its intended market segment.