AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U vs Intel Core i7-8700B Comparison

Intel Core i7-8700B and AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U represent two very different answers to the same question: how to build a capable six- or four-core processor. The data shows a stark split—the Intel part wins decisively in one major benchmark suite, while the AMD part sweeps nearly everything else. Both CPUs land at the 52nd percentile of all CPUs tracked, with average benchmark scores of 3086 and 3063 respectively, placing them within 0.8% of each other overall. Yet the way they achieve that parity could hardly be more different, making this a fascinating study in architectural priorities rather than a simple spec-sheet comparison.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U is the clear victor in rendering workloads and single-threaded performance. Across every Cinebench iteration—R15, R20, and R23—the Ryzen chip takes the win in both multi-core and single-core tests. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 10605 edges out the Intel’s 9977 by 5.9%, while the single-core R23 result of 1497 versus 1408 shows a similar 5.9% advantage. The pattern is consistent: the Ryzen 3 PRO wins seven of the eight head-to-head benchmarks, with margins ranging from 5.9% to 8.3%. This makes it the better choice for content creation, 3D rendering, and any workload that leans heavily on Cinebench-style integer and floating-point performance.

The Intel Core i7-8700B, however, owns Geekbench multi-core. Its score of 5936 crushes the AMD’s 4532 by a commanding 31% margin—the single largest delta in the entire comparison. This suggests that in Geekbench’s specific mix of encryption, compression, and memory-bound tasks, the Intel’s six physical cores and 12 threads scale far better than the AMD’s four cores and eight threads. For users running productivity suites, database workloads, or any application that mirrors Geekbench’s heterogeneous test pattern, the Intel part holds a substantial edge. It is a narrow victory, but an emphatic one.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap here is generational and philosophical. The Intel Core i7-8700B uses Coffee Lake, a 14 nm design fabricated by Intel, with a die size of 154 mm². The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U is built on Zen 3, specifically the Barcelo-R refresh, using TSMC’s 7 nm process and a larger 180 mm² die. The transistor count difference is stark: AMD packs 10,700 million transistors into its chip, while the Intel part’s transistor count is not listed—a reflection of the older, less dense process node.

Core counts diverge significantly. The Intel offers 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD provides 4 cores and 8 threads. That two-core advantage is the backbone of Intel’s Geekbench multi-core win. Cache hierarchies also differ: both share 64 KB of L1 per core, but the Intel has 256 KB of L2 per core versus AMD’s 512 KB, and the Intel’s L3 is 12 MB shared compared to AMD’s 8 MB. The larger per-core L2 on the AMD part likely contributes to its single-thread efficiency, while the Intel’s bigger shared L3 helps feed its extra cores.

Production status tells another story. The Intel is end-of-life, released in April 2018, while the AMD is active, released in January 2023. The Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $303; the AMD has no listed launch price. The Intel is a desktop segment chip on Intel BGA 1440 socket, while the AMD is a mobile part on AMD Socket FP6. Both use DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration, but the AMD offers a higher memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s against Intel’s 42.7 GB/s, and the AMD supports ECC memory while the Intel does not.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result is Geekbench multi-core, where the Intel Core i7-8700B posts 5936 against the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U’s 4532. That 31% delta is the largest margin in either direction and flips the overall narrative despite AMD’s seven wins. It indicates that the Intel’s 6-core/12-thread configuration scales exceptionally well in Geekbench’s parallel workloads, far outpacing what the AMD’s 4-core/8-thread design can manage in that specific test.

Every other benchmark goes to AMD, and with remarkable consistency. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD scores 1068 versus Intel’s 1005, a 5.9% win. The single-core R15 result is 150 against 141, a 6% margin. Cinebench R20 shows the same 5.9% delta in both multi-core (4454 vs 4190) and single-core (628 vs 591). Cinebench R23 repeats the pattern: 10605 vs 9977 multi-core and 1497 vs 1408 single-core, both at 5.9%. The final benchmark, Geekbench single-core, gives AMD a 1573 to 1443 victory, an 8.3% margin—its largest single-core win. This consistency across three Cinebench versions suggests the AMD’s Zen 3 architecture delivers a uniform performance uplift over Coffee Lake in rendering tasks, regardless of workload size or threading model.

The single-core numbers are particularly telling. The AMD wins every single-core test by 5.9% to 8.3%, which is a significant gap for a 4.30 GHz boost clock against Intel’s 4.60 GHz boost. The AMD achieves this with a lower base clock of 2.30 GHz versus Intel’s 3.20 GHz, meaning the Zen 3 core is simply more efficient per clock cycle. The 7 nm process and larger transistor budget enable this IPC advantage, allowing the AMD to overcome a 300 MHz boost clock deficit.

Specification Differences

The specification sheet reveals where the two parts diverge most sharply. Core and thread counts differ: Intel has 6 cores/12 threads, AMD has 4 cores/8 threads. Clock speeds favor Intel on paper—base 3.20 GHz vs 2.30 GHz, boost 4.60 GHz vs 4.30 GHz—but AMD wins in real-world single-core tests anyway. Thermal design power is a massive differentiator: Intel at 65 W versus AMD at 15 W. The AMD draws less than a quarter of the power, a critical advantage for mobile applications.

Process node and foundry differ completely: Intel uses 14 nm at its own foundry, AMD uses 7 nm at TSMC. Die size is 154 mm² for Intel and 180 mm² for AMD, with the AMD carrying 10,700 million transistors. Cache allocations differ in L2 (256 KB vs 512 KB per core) and L3 (12 MB vs 8 MB shared). Memory bandwidth favors AMD at 51.2 GB/s versus Intel’s 42.7 GB/s, and only AMD supports ECC memory. Integrated graphics differ: Intel has UHD Graphics 630, AMD has Radeon Graphics (Vega 6). The AMD is an active mobile part; the Intel is an end-of-life desktop part. PCIe is identical: Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks overall?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U wins 7 of the 8 head-to-head benchmarks, losing only Geekbench multi-core.

Q: How large is Intel’s biggest victory?

A: The Intel Core i7-8700B wins Geekbench multi-core with 5936 against AMD’s 4532, a 31% margin.

Q: What is the AMD’s largest single-core advantage?

A: In Geekbench single-core, the AMD scores 1573 versus Intel’s 1443, an 8.3% lead.

Q: Do the two CPUs have the same overall performance rating?

A: They are nearly identical on average: Intel averages 3086 and AMD averages 3063, with both at the 52nd percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-8700B has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The Intel part has a 65 W TDP, while the AMD part has a 15 W TDP, a difference of 50 W.