AMD Ryzen 3 8440U vs Intel Core i3-12100E Comparison

The Intel Core i3-12100E and AMD Ryzen 3 8440U are both 4-core, 8-thread processors, but they target different market segments: a desktop socket versus a mobile one. The benchmark data reveals a clear split in strengths, with Intel dominating the majority of workloads while AMD claims specific single-thread and string manipulation victories.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i3-12100E wins 13 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen 3 8440U takes 4. The most decisive Intel victories come in compute-heavy tasks. In PassMark physics testing, the i3-12100E scores 1185 against the Ryzen 3 8440U’s 685, representing a 73% advantage. Similarly, in PassMark floating point math, Intel leads with 31919 versus 23017, a 38.7% gap. The find prime numbers test shows a 46.5% edge for Intel (63 vs. 43), indicating a substantial lead in integer-heavy, branch-intensive workloads.

Across the Cinebench suite, the Intel chip maintains a consistent advantage. In R15 multi-core, it scores 1164 versus 1097, a 6.1% win. Single-core R15 shows a 6.5% lead (164 vs. 154). The pattern repeats in R20 multi-core (4854 vs. 4571, 6.2%) and R20 single-core (685 vs. 645, 6.2%). R23 multi-core results show 11559 for Intel versus 10884 for AMD, also a 6.2% delta, with single-core R23 at 1631 vs. 1536, another 6.2% margin. This uniformity suggests a consistent architectural advantage for Intel across the Cinebench rendering workloads, rather than a benchmark-specific anomaly.

In other general-purpose tests, Intel leads PassMark multi-thread by 11.4% (14271 vs. 12805) and integer math by 9.1% (40885 vs. 37468). Data compression favors Intel by 9.5% (160112 vs. 146273), while data encryption is nearly a tie, with Intel edging ahead 8069 vs. 8012, a mere 0.7% difference.

The AMD Ryzen 3 8440U’s wins are concentrated in specific areas. The largest victory is in PassMark random string sorting, where AMD scores 17725 versus Intel’s 16089, a 9.2% advantage. The Ryzen also takes both single-thread benchmarks: PassMark single-thread shows 3648 vs. 3438, a 5.8% lead for AMD. The fourth win is in PassMark extended instructions, where AMD scores 11059 against 10814, a 2.2% edge. Notably, the 8440U has no Geekbench scores listed, while the i3-12100E records Geekbench multi-core of 7661 and single-core of 2202.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-12100E is the clear winner for multi-threaded productivity and simulation workloads. Its 73% lead in physics processing and 38.7% lead in floating-point math indicate a strong advantage for scientific computing, 3D rendering, and any task relying heavily on mathematical throughput. The 46.5% edge in prime number calculation points to superior performance in single-threaded integer sequences. The consistent 6%+ Cinebench leads across all versions (R15, R20, R23) confirm Intel’s dominance in rendering-centric tasks, making it the stronger choice for content creation workflows that use these engines.

For data compression, Intel’s 9.5% lead (160112 vs. 146273) makes it preferable for file archiving and database workloads. The 11.4% multi-thread advantage (14271 vs. 12805) reinforces its position for parallel processing. Even in encryption, where the margin is razor-thin at 0.7%, Intel still holds the top spot, so it remains the safer pick for security-focused tasks.

The AMD Ryzen 3 8440U wins in specific, less compute-intensive scenarios. The 9.2% lead in random string sorting suggests AMD’s memory subsystem handles unpredictable data access patterns more efficiently. This could benefit certain database indexing or text-processing operations. The 5.8% single-thread advantage (3648 vs. 3438) makes the Ryzen the better choice for lightly threaded applications where one core does most of the work, such as older games or some office productivity tools. The extended instructions win (11059 vs. 10814) indicates AMD’s newer Zen 4 architecture handles advanced x86 instruction sets slightly better, which could matter for specialized code using AVX-512 or similar features.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i3-12100E as the superior processor for the vast majority of workloads. It wins 13 out of 17 tests, with especially large margins in physics (73%), floating-point math (38.7%), and prime number finding (46.5%). Users who prioritize multi-core rendering, simulation, or heavy number crunching should choose the Intel part. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11559 versus 10884 for AMD demonstrates a tangible lead in CPU-intensive rendering.

The AMD Ryzen 3 8440U is the pick only for specific use cases. If a workload is dominated by single-threaded performance or involves heavy string manipulation, the Ryzen’s wins in PassMark single-thread (3648 vs. 3438) and random string sorting (17725 vs. 16089) make it competitive. However, these wins are narrower than Intel’s largest advantages. The Ryzen’s 5.8% single-thread lead is far less impactful than Intel’s 73% physics lead. For general-purpose computing, the i3-12100E’s higher multi-thread score (14271 vs. 12805) and broader benchmark coverage make it the default recommendation. Choose the Ryzen 3 8440U only if the specific software relies on its unique strengths.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100E scores 1631, while the AMD Ryzen 3 8440U scores 1536, giving Intel a 6.2% advantage.

Q: How large is the performance gap in PassMark physics testing?

A: Intel leads significantly, scoring 1185 versus AMD’s 685, which is a 73% difference in favor of the i3-12100E.

Q: In which benchmark does the AMD Ryzen 3 8440U have its biggest win?

A: The Ryzen’s largest victory is in PassMark random string sorting, where it scores 17725 against Intel’s 16089, a 9.2% edge.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the two processors are nearly tied?

A: Yes, PassMark data encryption shows Intel at 8069 and AMD at 8012, a difference of just 0.7% in Intel’s favor.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 3 8440U have a higher single-thread PassMark score?

A: Yes, the Ryzen scores 3648 versus Intel’s 3438, a 5.8% advantage for AMD.

Q: What is the total number of benchmark wins for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100E wins 13 tests, while the AMD Ryzen 3 8440U wins 4 tests.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The Intel Core i3-12100E uses Alder Lake (Alder Lake-S) on a 10 nm process from Intel’s own foundry. The AMD Ryzen 3 8440U uses Zen 4 (Hawk Point) on a 4 nm process fabricated by TSMC. The AMD chip integrates 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die, while the Intel part has a 163 mm² die size with no transistor count listed.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Intel chip provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip offers 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. This gives Intel a larger total cache pool, which likely contributes to its wins in data compression and integer math.

Memory support also diverges. The Intel i3-12100E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD Ryzen 3 8440U supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but AMD lists a specific memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while Intel’s bandwidth is not specified. The integrated graphics differ as well: Intel has UHD Graphics 730, while AMD has Radeon 740M. PCIe support is not equal, with Intel offering Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only) and AMD offering Gen 4 with 14 lanes (CPU only).

Specification Differences

The Intel Core i3-12100E and AMD Ryzen 3 8440U differ across several key specifications. The Intel part has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, while the AMD chip has a lower base clock of 3.00 GHz but a higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz. Thermal design power (TDP) differs substantially: the Intel processor has a 60 W TDP, while the AMD chip has a 28 W TDP, reflecting their desktop versus mobile positioning.

Socket compatibility is distinct, with Intel using Socket 1700 and AMD using Socket FP7. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $125, while the AMD chip has no launch MSRP listed. The Intel part was released on 2022-01-03, while the AMD chip was released on 2023-12-05. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The part numbers also differ: Intel’s is SRL6U, while AMD’s is 100-000001325(FP7r2)100-000001332(FP7). Both are listed as Active in production. The Intel chip is a Desktop segment part, while the AMD is a Mobile segment part. Both support dual-channel memory, but Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD supports only DDR5. Neither supports ECC memory.