AMD Ryzen 5 2400G vs Intel Core i7-3720QM Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G and Intel Core i7-3720QM are both 4-core, 8-thread processors, but they represent vastly different eras and design goals. The Ryzen 5 2400G is a modern 14nm desktop part with a focus on integrated graphics, while the i7-3720QM is a 22nm mobile chip from 2012. Benchmark results show a clear and consistent performance advantage for the AMD processor across all tested workloads, making this comparison less about close competition and more about the generational leap in CPU performance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the data is the sheer magnitude of the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G's victory in every single benchmark. It wins all four head-to-head comparisons, with zero wins for the Intel Core i7-3720QM. This is not a marginal win; it is a decisive sweep. The largest gap appears in the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where the Ryzen 5 2400G scores 155.65 versus the Intel's 66, resulting in a 135.8% delta. This indicates that the AMD processor's single-threaded performance is more than double that of the older Intel chip, which has significant implications for everyday responsiveness and lightly-threaded applications.

The multi-core results, while not as dramatic, still show a massive lead for the AMD part. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 5 2400G scores 846.5, which is 78.2% higher than the i7-3720QM's 475. This shows that even when all threads are engaged, the modern Zen architecture in the AMD chip is far more efficient at extracting work from each core. The Geekbench results reinforce this trend. The Ryzen 5 2400G achieves a multi-core score of 3750, which is 52.6% ahead of the Intel's 2457, and a single-core score of 1003, which is 38.2% ahead of the Intel's 726.

Looking at the broader context, the Intel Core i7-3720QM's average benchmark score of 1421 puts it in the 37th percentile of all CPUs, which is identical to the Ryzen 5 2400G's percentile ranking. However, this is misleading. The AMD processor's average score is 1439, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-2600K (1433, 0.5% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 3 2200GE (1444, -0.4% delta). The Intel i7-3720QM's nearest rivals are similarly scored, such as the Intel Core i7-2700K (1419, 0.2% delta). The data shows that despite the massive head-to-head deltas, both processors fall into the same performance tier when considering all CPUs, which confirms the i7-3720QM's strong multi-threaded design for its time, even if it cannot keep up with the modern AMD part.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark data, there is no workload category in which the Intel Core i7-3720QM emerges victorious. The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G wins every test, from single-core to multi-core. This means the AMD processor is the clear choice for any task that benefits from raw CPU speed, including video editing, 3D rendering, software compilation, and general multitasking. The 135.8% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core is particularly significant, as it suggests that the Ryzen 5 2400G will feel snappier in everyday use, with faster application launches and more responsive web browsing.

The Intel i7-3720QM's only potential advantage lies in its mobile design. With a TDP of 45W compared to the AMD's 65W, it was built for laptops where power consumption and heat dissipation are critical. However, this is a specification difference, not a benchmark win. The data shows that in terms of pure performance, the Intel chip has no wins to claim. Its higher average benchmark score relative to its nearest rivals (e.g., 0.2% delta vs. the Core i7-2700K) shows it holds its own against its contemporaries, but it cannot compete with the Ryzen 5 2400G. The verdict is simple: for any performance-based use case, the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G is the winner.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures that explain the performance gap. The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G uses the Zen architecture, codenamed Raven Ridge, and is fabricated on a 14nm process by GlobalFoundries. This newer process node allows for higher clock speeds and better power efficiency. The chip contains 4,950 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, a significant increase in complexity compared to the Intel part.

In contrast, the Intel Core i7-3720QM is based on the much older Ivy Bridge architecture, also known as Ivy Bridge, manufactured on a 22nm process by Intel. This older node limits its performance potential. It has only 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die, which is less than a third of the transistor count of the AMD chip. This difference in transistor count and process technology is the primary driver behind the AMD processor's superior performance.

The cache layouts also differ. The Ryzen 5 2400G has a larger L1 cache at 96 KB per core and a larger L2 cache at 512 KB per core, but a smaller shared L3 cache at 4 MB. The Intel i7-3720QM has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but a larger 6 MB of shared L3 cache. While the Intel chip has more L3 cache, the AMD chip's larger and faster per-core caches, combined with its newer architecture, prove more effective in the benchmarks. The integrated graphics also differ significantly, with the AMD featuring Radeon RX Vega 11 and the Intel featuring Intel HD 4000, though no specific graphics benchmarks are provided in the data.

Specification Differences

The most significant specification differences between the two processors highlight their different target markets and generations. The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-3720QM has a much lower base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. This higher clock speed is a major factor in the AMD's superior single-core performance. The TDP also differs, with the AMD at 65W and the Intel at 45W, reflecting the Intel chip's mobile design.

The sockets are completely different: the AMD uses AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel uses Intel BGA 1224, meaning they are not interchangeable. The AMD processor supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s. The Intel processor's memory support and bandwidth are not specified in the data, but it uses a dual-channel memory bus. The AMD processor also features a PCIe Gen 3 connection with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel's PCIe configuration is not specified.

Other key differences include the AMD's unlocked multiplier (multiplierUnlocked: true) versus the Intel's locked multiplier (false), making the AMD part more flexible for overclocking. The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G has a launch MSRP of $169, while the Intel chip has no launch MSRP listed. The AMD processor was released on 2018-02-11, while the Intel was released much earlier on 2012-04-28. Finally, the AMD part is listed as Active in production, while the Intel part has no production status specified. The AMD processor also has a larger L1 and L2 cache per core, while the Intel has a larger total L3 cache, as noted in the architecture section.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G is significantly faster. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 846.5 compared to the Intel Core i7-3720QM's 475, a 78.2% advantage. The Geekbench multi-core test shows a 52.6% lead for the AMD, with scores of 3750 versus 2457.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-3720QM better in single-core performance?

A: No. The data shows the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G is far superior in single-core tests. It scores 155.65 in Cinebench R15 single-core versus the Intel's 66, a 135.8% delta. In Geekbench single-core, the AMD scores 1003 versus the Intel's 726, a 38.2% lead.

Q: What are the main architectural differences between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G uses the modern Zen architecture (Raven Ridge) on a 14nm process from GlobalFoundries, containing 4,950 million transistors. The Intel Core i7-3720QM uses the older Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22nm process from Intel, with only 1,400 million transistors.

Q: Do they use the same motherboard socket?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G uses the AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel Core i7-3720QM uses the Intel BGA 1224 socket. These are incompatible with each other.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G has a higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-3720QM has a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The AMD chip also has a higher base clock at 3.60 GHz versus the Intel's 2.60 GHz.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G's average benchmark score higher than the Intel's?

A: Yes. The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G has an average benchmark score of 1439, while the Intel Core i7-3720QM has an average score of 1421. Both are in the 37th percentile of all CPUs.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G is the superior processor in every benchmark conducted. It wins all four head-to-head tests, with deltas ranging from a 38.2% advantage in Geekbench single-core to a massive 135.8% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core. For any user building a new system or upgrading an old one, the Ryzen 5 2400G offers dramatically better performance in both single-threaded and multi-threaded applications.

The Intel Core i7-3720QM, despite having a lower TDP of 45W, cannot compete on performance. Its only potential advantage would be in a scenario where the lower power draw is an absolute requirement, but its 45W TDP is still high for a modern ultraportable. Given that the Ryzen 5 2400G is an Active, currently available desktop part with an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel chip is an older, locked mobile processor, the choice is clear. For anyone who values CPU performance, the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G is the only logical pick. The Intel i7-3720QM should only be considered if you are servicing a legacy laptop and have no choice but to use that specific platform.