AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U vs Intel Core i3-9100TE Comparison

The Intel Core i3-9100TE and AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U are both 4-core, 4-thread processors from the 14 nm era, but they target different corners of the market. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U decisively outperforms the Intel chip across every single benchmark in the data set, winning all six head-to-head comparisons. Despite this, the two processors land near each other in overall CPU percentile rankings, with the Intel at the 37th percentile and the AMD at the 36th percentile, indicating that while the Ryzen wins every direct test, both are positioned in the same lower-midrange performance tier. The data shows a clear performance hierarchy, but the architectural and platform differences explain why these two chips exist in different segments.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U wins in every measurable compute benchmark. In Cinebench R15, it scores 480 in multi-core versus Intel’s 393, a 18.1% advantage. The single-core gap is similar, with the Ryzen scoring 67 against Intel’s 55, a 17.9% lead. This pattern holds across R20 and R23: the AMD chip is 18.2% faster in multi-core in both tests, and 18.1% and 18.3% faster in single-core respectively. For users running rendering workloads, video encoding, or any CPU-bound task that leverages Cinebench-style scaling, the Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U is the clear choice.

The Intel Core i3-9100TE has no benchmark victories to claim. Its only advantages are platform-level. It supports ECC memory, a feature the AMD chip lacks, making it suitable for error-sensitive computing environments like entry-level servers or workstations where data integrity is paramount. The Intel part also offers more PCIe lanes (16 vs. 8), which can be relevant for expansion cards or NVMe storage configurations. Additionally, the Intel chip is end-of-life, whereas the AMD part is active in production, meaning availability of the AMD chip in new systems is more likely.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i3-9100TE is built on the Coffee Lake architecture, fabricated on Intel’s 14 nm process with a die size of 126 mm². It has 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The chip supports DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth, and it houses UHD Graphics 630 integrated graphics. It uses Intel Socket 1151 and has a 35W TDP.

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U is based on the Zen architecture (Raven Ridge), fabricated on the same 14 nm node but by GlobalFoundries, with a much larger die size of 210 mm² and 4,950 million transistors. It also has 4 cores and 4 threads, but with a lower base clock of 2.00 GHz and a higher boost clock of 3.40 GHz. Its cache design is different: 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, but only 4 MB of shared L3. It matches Intel’s memory bandwidth at 38.4 GB/s over dual-channel DDR4, and it integrates Radeon Vega 6 graphics. This is a mobile part on AMD Socket FP5 with a 15W TDP, less than half the power envelope of the Intel chip.

The transistor count and die size differences are stark: the AMD chip packs over 4.9 billion transistors onto a 210 mm² die, while the Intel chip uses a smaller 126 mm² die. The AMD chip’s larger L1 and L2 caches per core likely contribute to its higher single-core performance, while the Intel chip’s larger L3 cache (6 MB vs. 4 MB) does not translate into a benchmark win. The TDP difference is critical: the AMD part is a 15W mobile processor, whereas the Intel part is a 35W desktop chip, yet the lower-power part is significantly faster in all tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data set is unambiguous: AMD wins all six head-to-head comparisons. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U scores 480 against the i3-9100TE’s 393, a delta of -18.1% (negative meaning the Intel chip is behind). The single-core R15 test shows 67 vs. 55, a -17.9% delta. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core scores are 2002 vs. 1638 (-18.2%), and single-core is 282 vs. 231 (-18.1%). In Cinebench R23, the multi-core gap is 4769 vs. 3900 (-18.2%), and single-core is 673 vs. 550 (-18.3%).

The consistency of the deltaPct values—hovering between -17.9% and -18.3% across all tests—suggests a uniform performance advantage rather than a workload-specific one. The AMD chip is roughly 18% faster in every scenario tested. This is likely due to a combination of its higher boost clock (3.40 GHz vs. 3.20 GHz), larger per-core caches, and more efficient Zen architecture. Notably, the Intel chip’s higher base clock (2.20 GHz vs. 2.00 GHz) does not help it in sustained workloads, as the AMD chip’s boost behavior appears superior.

For context, the Intel i3-9100TE has an average benchmark score of 1386, placing it just ahead of the AMD Opteron 6274 (1387, -0.1%) and the Intel Core i7-3615QE (1381, +0.4%). The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U has an average score of 1379, matching the AMD Opteron 6366 HE and AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 exactly (both 0.0% delta), and sitting just behind the Intel Core i7-3740QM (1378, +0.1%). The difference in average scores between the two chips is only 7 points, yet the direct benchmark deltas are consistently around 18%. This discrepancy arises because the average benchmark score includes Geekbench results for the Intel chip (3214 multi-core, 1105 single-core), which are not available for the AMD chip in this data set.

FAQ

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U faster than the Intel Core i3-9100TE in all benchmarks?

A: Yes. The AMD chip wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23, both multi-core and single-core), with deltas ranging from -17.9% to -18.3% in Intel’s favor (i.e., Intel is that far behind).

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U has a boost clock of 3.40 GHz, while the Intel Core i3-9100TE boosts to 3.20 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Core i3-9100TE supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U does not.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The Intel Core i3-9100TE has a 35W TDP, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U has a 15W TDP, making the AMD chip more power-efficient despite being faster.

Q: Which chip has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Intel Core i3-9100TE offers 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U offers 8 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only).

Q: Are these processors in the same performance percentile?

A: The Intel chip is at the 37th percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD chip is at the 36th percentile, indicating they are in the same performance tier overall despite the AMD chip’s clear win in direct comparisons.

The Verdict

The data supports a straightforward conclusion: the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U is the superior processor in raw compute performance. It wins every benchmark by a consistent margin of roughly 18%, whether in single-core or multi-core workloads, while operating at a 15W TDP compared to Intel’s 35W. For anyone building a low-power system that still needs solid rendering or multi-threaded performance, the AMD chip is the data-backed pick.

However, the Intel Core i3-9100TE has specific platform advantages that matter in certain contexts. Its ECC memory support is a decisive feature for reliability-focused builds, and its 16 PCIe lanes offer more expansion flexibility than the AMD chip’s 8 lanes. The Intel chip also has a slightly higher average benchmark score (1386 vs. 1379) and a higher percentile ranking (37th vs. 36th), though these differences are negligible.

Choosing between these two comes down to priorities. If raw CPU speed and power efficiency are the goals, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U wins outright—it is faster in every test and uses less than half the power. If ECC memory support or more PCIe lanes are non-negotiable requirements, the Intel Core i3-9100TE is the only option. The AMD chip’s active production status also gives it an availability advantage over Intel’s end-of-life part. For most users seeking performance, the Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U is the clear recommendation from this data.