AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U vs Intel Core i7-6850K Comparison

The Intel Core i7-6850K and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U are separated by nearly seven years of silicon evolution, yet their aggregate benchmark scores are remarkably close. The data shows the AMD part edges out the Intel processor in the overall average, with a score of 3063 against 3079, placing both at the 52nd percentile of all CPUs. This near-parity in overall standing, however, masks a stark divergence in workload-specific performance. The Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U dominates the Cinebench suite, while the older Core i7-6850K scores a decisive victory in Geekbench multicore tests, creating a fascinating generational trade-off between raw multi-threaded throughput and modern single-thread efficiency.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most significant differentiator is in the Geekbench multicore test, where the Intel Core i7-6850K posts a score of 6629 compared to the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U's 4532. This represents a 46.3% advantage for Intel, the largest delta in the entire comparison. The i7-6850K’s six-core, twelve-thread configuration with a 15 MB shared L3 cache provides a substantial parallel processing advantage in this particular workload, which appears to favor the older chip's architecture. This is a decisive win, indicating that the Intel part retains considerable strength in scenarios that scale well with multiple physical cores.

However, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U turns the tables in every other benchmark. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Ryzen scores 10605 against Intel's 9672, an 8.8% lead for AMD. The pattern repeats across the entire Cinebench suite: R15 multicore (1068 vs 974), R20 multicore (4454 vs 4062), and R23 multicore all show the same 8.8% margin. This consistency suggests a fundamental architectural efficiency advantage for the Zen 3 core design, which achieves higher throughput with only four cores and eight threads. The Ryzen's 4.30 GHz boost clock, significantly higher than the i7-6850K's 3.80 GHz, likely plays a crucial role in this sustained performance.

Single-threaded performance further emphasizes the generational gap. The Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U wins Cinebench R23 single-core with 1497 points versus 1365 for the i7-6850K, again an 8.8% margin. The Geekbench single-core test shows an even larger 22.6% advantage for AMD, with scores of 1573 and 1217, respectively. The Ryzen also leads in Cinebench R15 single-core (150 vs 137) and R20 single-core (628 vs 573). Across the eight head-to-head benchmarks, the AMD processor wins seven, with the Intel part securing only the Geekbench multicore test. The data suggests that while the i7-6850K can leverage its core count in specific applications, the Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U offers superior performance per clock and better overall efficiency in most modern workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U has a slightly higher average score of 3063, compared to the Intel Core i7-6850K's 3079. The difference is marginal, with the Intel part being 0.5% ahead on average.

Q: How does the Intel Core i7-6850K fare in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel chip wins the Geekbench multicore test decisively, scoring 6629 against the AMD's 4532, a 46.3% advantage. However, it loses in all Cinebench multicore tests, trailing by 8.8% in R15, R20, and R23.

Q: What is the performance difference in single-core tests?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U leads in all single-core benchmarks. The largest margin is in Geekbench single-core, where it scores 1573 versus 1217 for Intel, a 22.6% difference. In Cinebench tests, the AMD's lead is consistently 8.8%.

Q: Are these processors comparable in overall performance?

A: Yes, benchmark results indicate they are very close in aggregate. The Intel Core i7-6850K has an average score of 3079, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U averages 3063. Both are placed in the 52nd percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Which chip has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-6850K has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the significance of the Geekbench multicore result?

A: It is the only benchmark where the Intel processor wins and by a substantial margin. This suggests that the i7-6850K's additional cores provide a significant advantage in applications that are optimized for high core counts and can utilize the 15 MB shared L3 cache effectively.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent completely different design philosophies and manufacturing eras. The Intel Core i7-6850K is built on the 14 nm process by Intel, with a die size of 246 mm² containing 3,400 million transistors. It uses the Broadwell-E architecture and is a desktop part for the Intel Socket 2011-3 platform. In contrast, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U is manufactured by TSMC on a much more advanced 7 nm node, packing 10,700 million transistors into a smaller 180 mm² die. This is a fundamental difference, as the AMD chip achieves higher density and efficiency.

The core designs are also distinct. The Intel part is a six-core, twelve-thread processor based on the older Broadwell microarchitecture, while the AMD is a four-core, eight-thread chip using the modern Zen 3 architecture. The cache hierarchy reflects this, with Intel offering 15 MB of shared L3 cache, whereas AMD provides 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part has 256 KB of L2 cache per core, while the AMD doubles that with 512 KB per core, though the AMD's L1 cache is the same at 64 KB per core.

Memory architecture shows significant differences. The Intel Core i7-6850K supports quad-channel DDR4 memory with a theoretical bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U uses a dual-channel interface with a lower 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. However, the AMD chip supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the Intel part. The AMD also integrates Radeon Graphics (Vega 6), whereas the Intel Core i7-6850K has no integrated graphics. The Intel processor offers more PCIe lanes (40 Gen 3 lanes) compared to the AMD's 16 Gen 3 lanes.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets reveal stark contrasts in power and platform targets. The Intel Core i7-6850K has a TDP of 140 W and is an unlocked multiplier part (part number SR2PC), designed for enthusiast desktop overclocking. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U, conversely, is a 15 W mobile processor with a locked multiplier (part number 100-000000950), targeting power-efficient laptops. The Intel chip uses a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost of 3.80 GHz, while the AMD starts at 2.30 GHz but boosts much higher to 4.30 GHz.

The sockets are incompatible, with Intel using Socket 2011-3 and AMD using Socket FP6. The Intel part was released on 2016-05-30 and is end-of-life, with a launch MSRP of $617. The AMD processor was released on 2023-01-03 and is still active. The AMD's market segment is Mobile, while the Intel is a Desktop processor. The Intel chip supports a quad-channel memory bus, while the AMD uses dual-channel. The Intel part has a larger die and more PCIe lanes, but the AMD part has a smaller process node and a higher transistor count.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-6850K is the clear winner in Geekbench multicore performance, posting a 46.3% higher score than the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U. This makes it the better choice for specific multi-threaded applications that are heavily optimized for multiple cores and can take advantage of its 6-core, 12-thread configuration and larger 15 MB shared L3 cache. It also offers a quad-channel memory interface for higher theoretical bandwidth, which could benefit memory-intensive tasks. The Intel part is also an unlocked multiplier processor, allowing for overclocking, and it supports 40 PCIe lanes for extensive expansion options.

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U wins in all other benchmark categories, including every Cinebench test and Geekbench single-core. Its most significant advantages are in single-threaded performance, where it leads by as much as 22.6% in Geekbench single-core and a consistent 8.8% in Cinebench tests. This makes it the superior choice for everyday productivity, general responsiveness, and applications that favor higher clock speeds and modern IPC. Its 15 W TDP and 7 nm process make it vastly more power-efficient, and its integrated Radeon Graphics provide a display output capability that the Intel part lacks entirely. The AMD chip also supports ECC memory, a feature that could be critical for specific professional or server-adjacent workloads.

The data paints a clear picture of two processors optimized for different eras. The Intel Core i7-6850K excels in a narrow band of high-thread-count workloads where its physical core count and memory bandwidth can be fully utilized. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U, despite having fewer cores, is faster in the majority of tests, showcasing the substantial IPC and clock speed improvements of the Zen 3 architecture. For a user prioritizing multi-core performance in legacy applications, the Intel part has a specific, albeit limited, advantage. For nearly every other scenario, the benchmark results favor the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U.