AMD Ryzen 3 7440U vs Intel Core i3-1315U Comparison

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 3 7440U is the clear winner for multi-threaded productivity and content creation workloads. It wins 12 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, with its largest advantages coming in random string sorting (53.1% ahead) and extended instructions (39.7% ahead). For users who compile code, process large datasets, or run rendering tasks, the 7440U is the stronger choice despite having fewer physical cores.

The Intel Core i3-1315U wins only 5 benchmarks, but those wins matter for specific tasks. It dominates in single-threaded PassMark performance (22.7% ahead) and floating-point math (24.9% ahead). If your workflow is heavily single-threaded, such as older applications or lightly threaded games, the i3-1315U provides the better responsiveness. It also has a much lower 15W TDP compared to the AMD chip's 28W, making it the better pick for fanless or ultra-thin designs where sustained load is rare.

Both processors sit at the 69th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The AMD chip's average benchmark score is 15682, while the Intel chip scores 15022, a difference of about 4.4%. Neither is a flagship; both are mid-pack mobile parts. The right choice depends on whether your priority is raw multi-core throughput (choose AMD) or single-thread speed plus power efficiency (choose Intel).

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 3 7440U uses a 4-core, 8-thread configuration built on the Zen 4 architecture with the Phoenix2 codename. It is manufactured on a 4nm process by TSMC, with 20,900 million transistors packed into a 137 mm² die. The Intel Core i3-1315U uses a 6-core, 8-thread setup based on Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-U codename. It is built on Intel's 10nm process, and the database does not list transistor count or die size for it.

The core count difference is notable: Intel has 6 physical cores versus AMD's 4. However, both support 8 threads, meaning the Intel chip uses some form of hybrid or efficiency core arrangement to reach that thread count without a full 6-thread-to-6-thread mapping. The AMD chip uses a more straightforward 4-core, 8-thread design with simultaneous multi-threading.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 10 MB of shared L3. Intel's larger L3 cache (10 MB vs 8 MB) helps in workloads that repeatedly access the same data, though the benchmark results do not always reflect that advantage.

Memory support is another dividing line. The AMD chip supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and a listed bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but the database does not list a bandwidth figure. AMD also supports ECC memory, while Intel does not. For users who need error-correcting memory for stability in long-running compute tasks, the AMD chip is the only option here.

PCIe connectivity also differs. AMD provides Gen 4 with 14 lanes (CPU only), while Intel provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The AMD chip has more room for expansion, which could matter for users connecting multiple NVMe drives or external GPUs.

Integrated graphics are present on both. AMD uses the Radeon 740M, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 64EU. The database does not provide graphics benchmarks, so a direct comparison is not possible from recorded data.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 7440U wins every Cinebench test in the head-to-head comparison. It leads by 17.8% in Cinebench R15 multicore, R20 multicore, R23 multicore, and R23 singlecore. The R15 singlecore and R20 singlecore also show a 17.3% and 17.8% lead respectively. This consistency across rendering workloads suggests the Zen 4 architecture delivers strong all-around compute performance, not just in one specific test.

The AMD chip also wins all PassMark multi-threaded workloads except two. It leads in data compression by 21.6%, data encryption by 21.5%, extended instructions by 39.7%, multithread by 13.1%, physics by 33%, and random string sorting by 53.1%. These are the kind of workloads that benefit from efficient instruction handling and good memory bandwidth. The large win in random string sorting suggests the AMD chip's memory subsystem handles pointer chasing and random access patterns particularly well.

The Intel Core i3-1315U wins the remaining benchmarks. It leads in PassMark single-thread by 22.7%, which is a significant margin for single-core performance. It also wins floating-point math by 24.9%, integer math by 2.4%, and find prime numbers by 2.4%. The floating-point win is interesting because it suggests the Intel chip's FPU handles certain math operations more efficiently, even though the AMD chip wins in extended instructions. The single-thread win is more straightforward: Intel's higher per-core clock behavior, as reflected in the recorded scores, gives it an edge in lightly threaded tasks.

The practical split is clear. For video encoding, 3D rendering, compression, encryption, and physics simulation, the AMD chip is the better performer. For single-threaded applications, spreadsheet recalculation, older games, and floating-point-heavy scientific code, the Intel chip holds the advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 7440U scores 11042, which is 17.8% higher than the Intel Core i3-1315U's 9374.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins 5 of the 17 head-to-head tests: PassMark single-thread, PassMark floating-point math, PassMark integer math, PassMark find prime numbers, and the duplicate PassMark singlethread entry.

Q: Which chip has better single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-1315U has a clear edge in PassMark single-thread with a score of 3380 versus the AMD chip's 2614, a 22.7% advantage. However, in Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD chip wins with 1558 versus 1323.

Q: How do their power draws compare?

A: The Intel chip has a 15W TDP, while the AMD chip has a 28W TDP. This makes the Intel part more suitable for passively cooled or very compact laptops.

Q: Can either chip support ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen 3 7440U supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i3-1315U does not.

Q: What memory types does each support?

A: The AMD chip supports DDR5 only. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest AMD win comes in PassMark random string sorting, where the 7440U scores 21479 versus the i3-1315U's 14028, a 53.1% difference. This is a workload that stresses memory access patterns and string manipulation, and the Zen 4 architecture handles it decisively better. The second-largest AMD win is in extended instructions, with 10356 versus 7413, a 39.7% lead. This suggests the AMD chip has a more capable instruction execution pipeline for modern SIMD workloads.

In physics simulation, the AMD chip wins by 33%, scoring 939 versus 706. This is a significant gap for a workload that often scales with multi-core performance. Data compression and encryption follow closely, with 21.6% and 21.5% leads respectively. These wins indicate the AMD chip's memory bandwidth and cache efficiency translate into real throughput gains for data-heavy tasks.

The Cinebench results are remarkably consistent. Every Cinebench test shows a 17.8% lead for the AMD chip, except R15 singlecore at 17.3%. This uniformity suggests the AMD chip has a stable architectural advantage across different rendering loads, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded.

The Intel chip's wins are concentrated in specific areas. The PassMark single-thread score of 3380 versus 2614 is a 22.7% lead, which is the largest Intel win. This is a substantial margin and shows the i3-1315U can outperform the 7440U in tasks that depend heavily on a single core's speed. Floating-point math is another strong Intel area, with 27012 versus 20291, a 24.9% lead. This is particularly notable because it is the second-largest margin in the entire comparison.

The remaining Intel wins are narrow. Integer math shows a 2.4% lead (37644 versus 36758), and find prime numbers shows a 2.4% lead (41 versus 40). These are close enough that they may not be noticeable in real-world use, but they still represent consistent advantages for the Intel chip in those specific workloads.

The overall win count is 12 to 5 in favor of AMD, and the average benchmark scores reflect that: 15682 for AMD versus 15022 for Intel. However, the Intel chip's single-thread and floating-point wins are large enough that users with those specific workloads should not dismiss it.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 3 7440U | Intel Core i3-1315U |

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

| Cores | 4 | 6 |

| Threads | 8 | 8 |

| Base clock | 3.00 GHz | 1200.00 MHz |

| Boost clock | 4.70 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| TDP | 28W | 15W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP7 | Intel BGA 1744 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Raptor Lake |

| Codename | Phoenix2 | Raptor Lake-U |

| Process node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| L1 cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 8 MB (shared) | 10 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | Not listed |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 14 lanes | Gen 4, 8 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 740M | UHD Graphics 64EU |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $309 |

The most consequential differences are the core count, TDP, and memory support. The Intel chip has two more physical cores but the same thread count, which indicates a different thread scheduling approach. The AMD chip has a much higher TDP at 28W versus 15W, which means it can sustain higher performance but will generate more heat and require better cooling. The memory support difference is also significant: AMD is DDR5-only with ECC support, while Intel offers both DDR4 and DDR5.

The process node difference is stark: 4nm TSMC versus 10nm Intel. This explains why the AMD chip packs 20,900 million transistors into just 137 mm², while the Intel chip's transistor count and die size are not listed. The smaller process node gives AMD a density advantage, though the benchmark results do not always show it because the Intel chip has more physical cores to work with.

Both chips are mobile parts, both are currently in active production, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD chip was released on 2023-05-02, while the Intel chip was released on 2023-01-03. The Intel part has a listed launch MSRP of $309, while the AMD part does not have a launch MSRP in the database.