AMD Ryzen 5 2600E vs Intel Core i3-14100 Comparison

The Intel Core i3-14100 is the dominant performer in this comparison, winning 15 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks against the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E, with decisive leads in nearly every category. The Ryzen 5 2600E, despite having more cores and threads, only manages to win in data encryption and random string sorting, making the i3-14100 the clear choice for users prioritizing raw speed and modern architecture. The data shows that the i3-14100 delivers a 22.2% advantage in multi-core workloads like Cinebench R23, a 63.6% lead in single-threaded PassMark results, and an 82.3% margin in extended instruction workloads. For anyone building a new system, the i3-14100 offers a newer platform, faster memory support, and integrated graphics, while the Ryzen 5 2600E represents older technology that only excels in niche tasks.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i3-14100 is the unequivocal winner for almost all use cases, based on benchmark results. It outperforms the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E in 15 of 17 tests, including every Cinebench iteration, with consistent margins of around 22% in both single-core and multi-core tests. The i3-14100 also excels in floating-point math, integer math, and physics simulations, where it leads by 68.2%, 13.9%, and 27.4%, respectively. Users should choose the i3-14100 for general productivity, gaming, and any workload that benefits from high single-thread performance or modern instruction sets.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600E is only preferable for two specific tasks: data encryption, where it leads by 27.2% (score of 12146 vs 8838), and random string sorting, where it wins by 16.8% (20918 vs 17397). However, these wins are narrow and do not compensate for its losses elsewhere. The Ryzen 5 2600E also offers more cores (6 vs 4) and threads (12 vs 8), which could theoretically benefit heavily threaded workloads, but the benchmark data shows the i3-14100 still wins multi-core tests by 22.2% in Cinebench R23, proving that core count alone does not translate to better performance. For most buyers, the i3-14100 is the superior choice; the 2600E is only relevant for users with specific, niche workloads that match its two benchmark wins.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The Intel Core i3-14100 is built on a 10 nm process node at Intel, using the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename. It features 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. In contrast, the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E uses a 12 nm process node from GlobalFoundries, based on the older Zen architecture with the Zen+ (Pinnacle Ridge) codename, offering 6 cores and 12 threads at a lower base clock of 3.10 GHz and boost clock of 4.00 GHz.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The i3-14100 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen 5 2600E has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and a larger 16 MB of shared L3 cache. Despite the Ryzen’s larger L3 cache, the i3-14100 still achieves higher benchmark scores, indicating that clock speed and architectural efficiency matter more than raw cache size in these tests. The i3-14100 also supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the 2600E is limited to DDR4, and only the Intel chip includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 730) — the 2600E has none. The Intel chip uses Socket 1700 and supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, while the AMD chip uses Socket AM4 with no PCIe information provided.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-14100 wins decisively in almost every benchmark category, making it the go-to processor for general performance. It dominates multi-threaded rendering tasks, as shown by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 12820 versus the 2600E’s 10494, a 22.2% margin. Single-threaded performance is also a landslide, with the i3-14100 scoring 1809 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 3759 in PassMark single-thread, compared to 1481 and 2297 for the 2600E, respectively — a 63.6% advantage in PassMark. The i3-14100 also wins in PassMark multithread (15095 vs 12346, +22.3%), physics (958 vs 752, +27.4%), floating-point math (35266 vs 20970, +68.2%), integer math (45329 vs 39781, +13.9%), and extended instructions (11865 vs 6509, +82.3%). It even wins in find prime numbers (55 vs 32, +71.9%) and data compression (174115 vs 173653, +0.3%).

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600E wins in only two areas. It leads in data encryption with a score of 12146 versus 8838, a 27.2% advantage, and in random string sorting with 20918 versus 17397, a 16.8% lead. These wins suggest the 2600E has some strength in specific memory-intensive or cryptographic operations, but they are isolated and do not indicate overall superiority. For any other workload, including all Cinebench tests and most PassMark sub-tests, the i3-14100 is faster, often by substantial double-digit margins.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-14100 is significantly faster in single-core tests. It scores 1809 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 3759 in PassMark single-thread, compared to 1481 and 2297 for the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E, representing a 22.1% to 63.6% lead depending on the test.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E have more cores than the Intel Core i3-14100?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 5 2600E has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i3-14100 has 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite this, the i3-14100 still wins multi-core benchmarks, such as Cinebench R23 multi-core (12820 vs 10494).

Q: In which benchmarks does the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E beat the Intel Core i3-14100?

A: The 2600E wins in two benchmarks: PassMark data encryption (12146 vs 8838, +27.2%) and PassMark random string sorting (20918 vs 17397, +16.8%).

Q: What are the memory support differences between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core i3-14100 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E supports only DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i3-14100 includes UHD Graphics 730, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: How do the two processors compare in terms of process node and foundry?

A: The Intel Core i3-14100 uses a 10 nm process at Intel, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E uses a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Intel chip also has a smaller die size of 163 mm² versus 192 mm² for the AMD chip.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i3-14100’s biggest wins come in compute-intensive workloads. In PassMark extended instructions, it scores 11865 versus 6509, a massive 82.3% advantage. PassMark floating-point math shows a similar story: 35266 versus 20970, a 68.2% lead. The i3-14100 also dominates single-thread performance, with a 63.6% lead in PassMark single-thread (3759 vs 2297) and a 71.9% lead in find prime numbers (55 vs 32). In Cinebench tests, the margins are consistent at around 22%: R15 multi-core (1292 vs 1057), R15 single-core (182 vs 149), R20 multi-core (5384 vs 4407), R20 single-core (759 vs 622), R23 multi-core (12820 vs 10494), and R23 single-core (1809 vs 1481). PassMark multithread also favors the i3-14100 at 15095 versus 12346, a 22.3% win, and PassMark physics sees a 27.4% lead (958 vs 752). The narrowest Intel win is data compression, where it scores 174115 versus 173653, a marginal 0.3% edge.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600E’s wins are limited but clear. In PassMark data encryption, it scores 12146 against the i3-14100’s 8838, a 27.2% victory. In PassMark random string sorting, it achieves 20918 versus 17397, a 16.8% win. These are the only two tests where the 2600E comes out ahead, out of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks recorded. The data shows that while the 2600E has specific strengths in encryption and sorting tasks, the i3-14100 is the overall performance leader by a wide margin.

Specification Differences

The core specifications reveal clear generational gaps. The Intel Core i3-14100 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E has 6 cores and 12 threads. Clock speeds favor Intel: the i3-14100 runs at 3.50 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost, versus 3.10 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost for the 2600E. Power draw is similar, with the i3-14100 rated at 60W TDP and the 2600E at 65W TDP. Sockets differ entirely — the i3-14100 uses Intel Socket 1700, while the 2600E uses AMD Socket AM4. Process technology is also different: the i3-14100 uses a 10 nm node from Intel, while the 2600E uses a 12 nm node from GlobalFoundries, with the latter having a larger die size of 192 mm² versus 163 mm² and 4,800 million transistors.

Cache layouts differ in structure: the i3-14100 has 80 KB L1 per core and 1.25 MB L2 per core, while the 2600E has 96 KB L1 per core and 512 KB L2 per core. The 2600E has a larger shared L3 cache at 16 MB, versus 12 MB for the i3-14100. Memory support is another differentiator: the i3-14100 supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the 2600E only supports DDR4. The i3-14100 also supports ECC memory, which the 2600E does not. PCIe capabilities are only listed for the Intel chip, which supports Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics are present only on the i3-14100 (UHD Graphics 730); the 2600E has none. Both are desktop processors, but the i3-14100 was released in 2024 with a launch MSRP of $134, while the 2600E was released in 2018 with no MSRP listed. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.