AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 vs Intel Core i7-4790S Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data is unambiguous: AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 wins every single head-to-head test against the Intel Core i7-4790S. Across six Cinebench workloads, the AMD part claims victory each time, with deltas ranging from 3.4% to 3.9% in its favor. There is no workload in the database where the Intel processor comes out ahead.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 scores 619 against the Core i7-4790S's 595, a 3.9% advantage. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern: 87 versus 84, a 3.4% lead for AMD. Moving to Cinebench R20, the AMD chip posts 2582 in multicore versus 2482 for Intel, again a 3.9% gap, while single-core shows 364 against 350, a 3.8% margin. The R23 results mirror these numbers almost exactly: 6148 versus 5911 in multicore (3.9% delta) and 868 versus 834 in single-core (3.9% delta).

The consistency of these margins is notable. Every multicore test shows a 3.9% difference, and single-core tests cluster tightly between 3.4% and 3.9%. This uniformity suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-dependent. The AMD processor is simply faster across the board, regardless of thread count or rendering complexity.

The average benchmark score in the database confirms this trend. The Intel Core i7-4790S records an average score of 1827, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 averages 1778. Interestingly, this puts the Intel part slightly higher in the overall average, despite losing every head-to-head test. That discrepancy arises because the Intel database includes Geekbench results (3307 multicore, 1056 single-core) that the AMD entry lacks, and those scores pull the average upward. The head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, however, are the more direct measure, and they uniformly favor AMD.

Percentile rankings tell a similar story with a twist. The Intel chip sits at the 42nd percentile among all CPUs, while the AMD part sits at the 41st. Despite winning every direct comparison, the AMD processor ranks one percentile lower in the broader database. This reflects the different competitive fields each part occupies: the Intel chip's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon D-1537 and Intel Xeon E5-2608L v3, each with an average score of 1830, while the AMD chip's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E5-4610 v3 at 1777 and the AMD Ryzen 3 3200GE at 1787. The Intel part's average is 0.2% below some rivals and 0.2% above others, while the AMD part ranges from 0.5% below to 0.5% above its closest competitors.

Where Each One Wins

The use-case split here is straightforward: the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 wins everywhere in the recorded benchmarks, and the Intel Core i7-4790S wins nowhere. Six tests, six AMD victories, zero Intel victories. That is the entire story of the head-to-head data.

For multi-threaded rendering workloads, the AMD processor holds a consistent 3.9% edge. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests all show the same margin. This is somewhat surprising given the specifications: the Intel part has 8 threads versus the AMD part's 4 threads, yet the AMD chip still outperforms it in threaded workloads. The higher base clock of the AMD processor (3.50 GHz versus 3.20 GHz) and its newer Zen architecture compensate for the thread deficit.

For single-threaded tasks, the AMD processor again leads, though by a slightly narrower margin in one test. The R15 single-core result shows a 3.4% gap, while R20 and R23 single-core tests show 3.8% and 3.9% respectively. The AMD chip's boost clock is 3.70 GHz, which is lower than the Intel chip's 4.00 GHz boost, yet the architectural efficiency of Zen still delivers higher single-core scores. This suggests the per-clock instruction throughput of the AMD design is superior.

The database shows no scenario where the Intel part's higher boost clock or additional threads translate into a benchmark win. The Geekbench results, which exist only for the Intel part in this dataset, show scores of 3307 multicore and 1056 single-core, but there is no comparable AMD Geekbench data in the database, so those numbers cannot be used for a direct comparison.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-4790S uses the Haswell architecture, built on Intel's 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. It was released in 2014 and is now marked as end-of-life. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 uses the Zen architecture, built on GlobalFoundries' 14 nm process with 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die. It was released in 2017 and remains in active production.

Core and thread counts differ: the Intel part has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD part has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel chip relies on Hyper-Threading to double its thread count, while the AMD chip does not use simultaneous multithreading in this configuration. Despite having half the threads, the AMD chip wins all threaded benchmarks, which points to substantial per-core advantages in the Zen design.

Cache layouts also diverge. The Intel processor has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD processor has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and also 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part offers more cache at every private level, while the shared L3 is identical in size.

Memory support marks a generational divide. The Intel chip uses DDR3 with dual-channel access and 25.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The AMD chip uses DDR4 with dual-channel access and 42.7 GB/s of memory bandwidth, a 67% increase in theoretical bandwidth. The AMD part also supports ECC memory, while the Intel part does not.

Socket and platform differences are fundamental. The Intel processor uses Intel Socket 1150, while the AMD processor uses AMD Socket AM4. The Intel chip has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the database lists no PCIe specification for the AMD part. The Intel chip includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600), while the AMD part has none listed. The Intel multiplier is locked, the AMD multiplier is unlocked. The Intel launch MSRP was $312; the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 wins every single-core Cinebench test. It scores 87 versus 84 in R15, 364 versus 350 in R20, and 868 versus 834 in R23, with margins between 3.4% and 3.9%.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-4790S's 8 threads help in multi-threaded workloads?

A: No. Despite having 8 threads versus the AMD part's 4 threads, the Intel chip loses all three multicore Cinebench tests by 3.9% each. The AMD processor scores 619, 2582, and 6148 in R15, R20, and R23 multicore respectively, versus Intel's 595, 2482, and 5911.

Q: Which processor has higher clock speeds?

A: The AMD chip has a higher base clock at 3.50 GHz versus 3.20 GHz for Intel. The Intel chip has a higher boost clock at 4.00 GHz versus 3.70 GHz for AMD. Despite the Intel boost advantage, AMD wins all single-core tests.

Q: Do these processors support the same memory type?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-4790S supports DDR3 memory with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 supports DDR4 memory with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-4790S does not list ECC support in the database.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-4790S is marked as end-of-life, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 is marked as active production.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-4790S | AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 4 |

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.00 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Zen |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | 4,800 million |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 213 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

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

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

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Not listed |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | None |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2014-05-10 | 2017-06-28 |

| Launch MSRP | $312 | Not listed |

The Verdict

The data points to one conclusion: the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 is the faster processor in every recorded benchmark. Six head-to-head tests, six AMD wins. The margins are modest, ranging from 3.4% to 3.9%, but they are completely consistent across single-core and multi-core workloads.

Buyers who prioritize raw benchmark performance should choose the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300. It delivers higher scores across all Cinebench versions, supports newer DDR4 memory with substantially higher bandwidth, includes ECC memory support, has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, and remains in active production. The Intel Core i7-4790S offers more threads and a higher boost clock, but those advantages do not translate into any benchmark victory in the recorded data.

Buyers who need integrated graphics have no choice but the Intel part, since it includes Intel HD 4600 while the AMD part has no integrated graphics listed. Buyers on a legacy DDR3 platform with Socket 1150 may also find the Intel chip easier to adopt without a platform change. The Intel launch MSRP of $312 provides a reference point, though the part is now end-of-life.

The average benchmark scores in the database complicate the picture slightly, with the Intel part averaging 1827 versus 1778 for AMD. However, this average includes Geekbench results that exist only for the Intel chip, and the direct head-to-head Cinebench comparisons are the more reliable indicator. In those comparisons, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 is the clear winner.

The percentile rankings place both parts within one point of each other, 42nd for Intel and 41st for AMD, indicating they occupy a similar tier in the overall CPU landscape. But within that tier, the AMD part is measurably faster in every direct test. The verdict is straightforward: for benchmark performance, choose AMD; for integrated graphics or DDR3 platform continuity, choose Intel.