AMD Ryzen 5 1500X vs Intel Core i7-3930K Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data presents a split picture between these two desktop processors. The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X wins four of the six head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core i7-3930K takes two. The margins, however, are not symmetrical.

Starting with the largest single victory, the Ryzen 5 1500X dominates the Geekbench single-core test. It scores 1122 against the Intel chip's 617, a delta of 81.8%. This is a massive gap, more than any other difference in the dataset. The Ryzen's advantage in this test is nearly double, indicating a profound difference in per-thread performance.

The Geekbench multi-core test also goes decisively to the AMD part. The Ryzen 5 1500X records 4326 points, while the Core i7-3930K manages 2991. That is a 44.6% lead for the AMD processor. Notably, this multi-core win comes despite the Intel chip having more cores and threads (6 cores/12 threads versus 4 cores/8 threads). The benchmark results indicate that the Ryzen's architectural efficiency more than compensates for its lower core count in this workload.

Cinebench R15 results continue the AMD trend. In the multi-core test, the Ryzen 5 1500X scores 805 versus 701 for the Intel, a 14.8% advantage. In the single-core R15 test, the gap widens dramatically: 154 for AMD against 98 for Intel, a 57.1% delta. This reinforces the Geekbench single-core finding that the Ryzen's per-core performance is in a different class.

The picture flips in the more modern Cinebench R23 tests. The Intel Core i7-3930K takes the multi-core test with a score of 6955 against the Ryzen's 4597. That is a 33.9% deficit for the AMD part, meaning Intel wins by a wide margin. The R23 single-core test is much closer: Intel scores 981, AMD scores 947, a 3.5% delta. Here, the Intel chip ekes out a narrow victory, showing that in this specific test, its single-thread performance is slightly ahead.

Interestingly, the Intel chip also has a Cinebench R20 result in its own benchmark list (2921 multi-core, 412 single-core), while the Ryzen does not have R20 data. This means the R23 results are the only modern Cinebench comparison available. The overall pattern shows AMD winning the older R15 and Geekbench tests decisively, while Intel wins the newer R23 multi-core test by a large margin and the R23 single-core test by a small one.

The Verdict

The data points to two very different usage profiles. The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X is the clear choice for workloads that favor single-threaded performance or older multi-threaded benchmarks. Its 81.8% lead in Geekbench single-core and 57.1% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core are decisive. For everyday responsiveness, legacy software, and lightly threaded applications, the Ryzen is the stronger part.

The Intel Core i7-3930K, despite being the older architecture, wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test by 33.9%. This suggests that in heavily threaded modern workloads, the Intel's additional two cores and four threads provide a real advantage. The R23 single-core result, however, shows only a 3.5% lead for Intel, meaning the Ryzen is nearly competitive even there.

The average benchmark scores are close: the Ryzen's average is 1992, the Intel's is 1960, a difference of about 1.6%. Both sit at the 44th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The nearest rivals for the AMD part include the Intel Core i7-7920HQ at a 0% delta, while the Intel chip's closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE at a 0.3% delta. These averages suggest that, in a broad mix of workloads, the two processors are nearly equal, with the AMD having a slight edge.

For a buyer choosing strictly from this data, the Ryzen 5 1500X is recommended for general desktop use, older games, and applications that are not fully multi-threaded. The Intel Core i7-3930K is the pick for modern rendering or encoding tasks that scale across many threads, where its R23 multi-core win matters most. The production status also matters: the Ryzen is active, while the Intel is end-of-life.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X uses the Zen architecture, built on a 14 nm process by GlobalFoundries. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost of 3.70 GHz. The Intel Core i7-3930K uses Sandy Bridge-E, on a 32 nm process by Intel, with 6 cores and 12 threads, a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost of 3.80 GHz.

The transistor counts reflect the process gap. The AMD chip has 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die. The Intel chip has 2,270 million transistors on a much larger 435 mm² die. The smaller process allows the AMD part to pack more transistors into less space, while the Intel chip's larger die is a product of its older node.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Ryzen has 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, with a shared 16 MB L3. The Intel has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, with a shared 12 MB L3. The AMD processor offers more cache at every level, which likely contributes to its single-thread dominance.

Memory support is another major split. The Ryzen uses DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, and it supports ECC memory. The Intel uses DDR3 with a quad-channel bus and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, with no ECC support. The Intel's higher peak memory bandwidth comes from its quad-channel design, even though it uses older DDR3 technology.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The Ryzen provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Intel provides PCIe Gen 3 with 40 lanes (CPU only). The Intel chip offers more than double the PCIe lanes, which could matter for multi-GPU or high-end storage configurations.

Both processors have unlocked multipliers, making them overclockable. Neither has integrated graphics. The sockets are different: AMD Socket AM4 for the Ryzen, Intel Socket 2011 for the Core i7. The TDP also differs sharply: 65 watts for the AMD, 130 watts for the Intel. The Ryzen is far more power-efficient, a direct consequence of its newer process node.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X has an average benchmark score of 1992, while the Intel Core i7-3930K has an average of 1960. The AMD part is ahead by about 1.6%.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap in the head-to-head tests?

A: The largest delta is in Geekbench single-core, where the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X scores 1122 against the Intel's 617, a lead of 81.8%.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-3930K win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the Intel chip wins Cinebench R23 multi-core (6955 vs 4597, a 33.9% margin) and Cinebench R23 single-core (981 vs 947, a 3.5% margin).

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-3930K has 6 cores and 12 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Intel has 50% more cores and threads.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-3930K does not.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X is listed as Active in production. The Intel Core i7-3930K is listed as End-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X wins in every single-core benchmark recorded, plus the Geekbench multi-core test. Its single-core leads are enormous: 81.8% in Geekbench, 57.1% in Cinebench R15, and a smaller 3.5% deficit in R23 single-core (where Intel actually wins). For tasks like web browsing, office productivity, legacy games, and any application that relies on one or two fast threads, the Ryzen is clearly superior.

The Ryzen also wins the Geekbench multi-core test by 44.6%, which is striking given its fewer cores. This suggests that many real-world multi-threaded workloads, as measured by Geekbench, favor the AMD architecture's efficiency. The Ryzen's larger L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB) and newer process likely contribute to this.

The Intel Core i7-3930K wins in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test by a substantial 33.9%. This is a modern rendering benchmark that scales well with thread count. The Intel's 6 cores and 12 threads provide a physical advantage that the Ryzen cannot overcome in this specific test. The R23 single-core win for Intel, while narrow at 3.5%, shows that in this workload, the Intel's higher boost clock (3.80 GHz vs 3.70 GHz) and older architecture still edge out the Ryzen.

For a user running modern video rendering, 3D modeling, or batch processing that uses Cinebench-like scaling, the Intel chip is the better choice. For everything else, especially older software and single-threaded tasks, the Ryzen dominates. The Intel's quad-channel DDR3 memory (51.2 GB/s) also gives it a bandwidth advantage over the Ryzen's dual-channel DDR4 (42.7 GB/s), which could help in memory-intensive multi-threaded workloads.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 1500X | Intel Core i7-3930K |

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

| Cores | 4 | 6 |

| Threads | 8 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 130 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket 2011 |

| Architecture | Zen | Sandy Bridge |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 32 nm |

| Transistors | 4,800 million | 2,270 million |

| Die Size | 213 mm² | 435 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Quad-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes | Gen 3, 40 Lanes |

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

| Release Date | 2017-04-10 | 2011-11-13 |

| Launch MSRP | $189 | $583 |