AMD Ryzen 5 2600X vs Intel Core 3 100HL Comparison

The comparison between the Intel Core 3 100HL and the AMD Ryzen 5 2600X shows a clear generational shift in desktop processing. The Intel part, built on a newer 10 nm process, dominates the majority of benchmark tests, while the older AMD chip, on a 12 nm node, holds only a single narrow victory. Both processors occupy the 76th percentile in the database, yet their average benchmark scores differ by a small margin: 23545 for the Intel versus 22823 for the AMD. This places the Core 3 100HL within a 1.2% delta of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H and 1.1% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V, while the Ryzen 5 2600X sits 0.9% above the Intel Core i5-12500H and 0.9% above the Intel Core Ultra 5 135U.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core 3 100HL emerges victorious in 12 of the 13 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The most dramatic margin appears in PassMark floating point math, where the Intel scores 42108 against the AMD's 24270, a 73.5% advantage. This result indicates a substantial difference in raw computational throughput for workloads relying heavily on floating-point operations. Similarly, extended instructions show a 64.4% gap, with the Intel scoring 12463 compared to 7581, suggesting superior handling of advanced instruction sets. Single-thread performance follows the same pattern: the Intel posts 3735 in PassMark single thread versus 2381 for the AMD, a 56.9% lead, and a 30.1% lead in Cinebench R15 single core, 212 versus 163.

Multi-threaded workloads also favor the Intel part, though by smaller margins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel scores 1506 against 1341, a 12.3% advantage. PassMark multithread shows a 26.6% gap, 17586 versus 13893. The Intel wins PassMark physics by 33.5% (928 versus 695) and integer math by 18.9% (56308 versus 47377). Prime number finding favors Intel by 26.3%, with scores of 48 and 38. Data compression is nearly a tie: Intel wins by 1.7% with 202225 versus 198785, and random string sorting is equally close, with Intel ahead by 1.4% (23223 versus 22911).

The single AMD victory comes in PassMark data encryption, where the Ryzen 5 2600X scores 13133 against the Intel's 11964, an 8.9% margin. This is an isolated result, and no other benchmark in the head-to-head set shows the AMD part ahead. The data indicates that for nearly every measured category, the Intel Core 3 100HL delivers materially higher performance, with the largest leads in floating point and single-threaded tasks.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core 3 100HL leads in all single-threaded tests. In Cinebench R15 single core it scores 212 versus 163, a 30.1% advantage, and in PassMark single thread it scores 3735 versus 2381, a 56.9% advantage.

Q: How do the two compare in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core 3 100HL wins every multi-threaded head-to-head test. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 1506 versus 1341, a 12.3% gap, and PassMark multithread shows 17586 versus 13893, a 26.6% gap.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 2600X win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins PassMark data encryption with a score of 13133 against the Intel's 11964, an 8.9% margin. This is the only head-to-head test where the AMD part comes out ahead.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark floating point math, where the Intel scores 42108 and the AMD scores 24270, a 73.5% difference in favor of Intel.

Q: Are the two processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Both are in the 76th percentile of all CPUs in the database. However, the Intel has a higher average benchmark score of 23545 compared to 22823 for the AMD.

Q: How close are their data compression and sorting scores?

A: Very close. In data compression, Intel scores 202225 versus 198785, a 1.7% difference. In random string sorting, Intel scores 23223 versus 22911, a 1.4% difference.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras. The Intel Core 3 100HL uses Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-PS variant, built on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600X uses the original Zen architecture, with the Zen+ (Pinnacle Ridge) variant, manufactured on a 12 nm process by GlobalFoundries. The Intel part has 8 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD has 6 cores and 12 threads. This core count difference partially explains the Intel's multi-threaded wins, but the AMD's higher base clock of 3.60 GHz cannot compensate for the Intel's 2.10 GHz base clock and 4.60 GHz boost clock in the recorded tests.

Cache hierarchies differ in structure. The Intel provides an L1 cache of 80 KB per core and an L2 cache of 2 MB per core, with 12 MB shared L3 cache. The AMD offers 96 KB per core, 512 KB per core, and 16 MB shared L3. The Intel does not report a memory bandwidth figure, while the AMD lists 46.9 GB/s. Both support dual-channel memory, but the Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5, whereas the AMD supports only DDR4. The Intel includes integrated Iris Xe Graphics with 48 execution units, and the AMD has no integrated graphics. PCIe support also differs: the Intel provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU, and the AMD provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The AMD has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel does not.

Specification Differences

The Intel Core 3 100HL has 8 cores and 12 threads, versus 6 cores and 12 threads for the AMD Ryzen 5 2600X. Base clocks are 2.10 GHz for Intel and 3.60 GHz for AMD, while boost clocks are 4.60 GHz and 4.25 GHz respectively. The Intel has a TDP of 45 watts, the AMD has a TDP of 95 watts. The Intel uses the Intel Socket 1700, and the AMD uses the AMD Socket AM4. The process node is 10 nm for Intel and 12 nm for AMD. The AMD reports 4,800 million transistors and a die size of 213 mm²; the Intel does not report these figures. Memory support differs, with Intel supporting DDR4 and DDR5, and AMD supporting only DDR4. The Intel has integrated Iris Xe Graphics 48EU, and the AMD has none. PCIe generation and lane count differ: Intel is Gen 4 with 8 lanes, AMD is Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The Intel's release date is 2024-04-07, and the AMD's is 2018-04-18. The AMD has a launch MSRP of $229 and an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel has no listed launch MSRP and a locked multiplier. The AMD's part numbers are YD260XBCM6IAF and YD260XBCAFBOX; the Intel's part number is unknown.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 3 100HL is the clear winner for general desktop productivity and computationally intensive tasks. Its leads in floating point math (73.5%), extended instructions (64.4%), and single-thread performance (56.9% in PassMark) make it suitable for applications that rely on modern instruction sets and high per-core throughput. The 26.6% lead in PassMark multithread and 12.3% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core also position it well for multi-threaded rendering and compilation workloads. The data compression and random string sorting results, though close, still favor Intel, giving it a slight edge in archival and data-processing tasks. The Intel's inclusion of integrated graphics adds a capability the AMD lacks entirely, which matters for systems without a discrete GPU.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600X wins only in data encryption, with an 8.9% margin. This single result suggests the AMD part retains an advantage in certain cryptographic workloads, possibly due to its specific instruction implementation or memory arrangement. Beyond that, the AMD's higher base clock of 3.60 GHz does not translate into benchmark wins, and its older Zen architecture lags in every other measured category. For users prioritizing power efficiency, the Intel's 45 watt TDP versus the AMD's 95 watt TDP is notable, though the database does not record power consumption measurements. The AMD's unlocked multiplier remains an option for overclocking, but the recorded scores reflect stock performance.

The Verdict

The recorded data points decisively toward the Intel Core 3 100HL for nearly all use cases. It wins 12 of 13 head-to-head benchmarks, with margins ranging from 1.4% in random string sorting to 73.5% in floating point math. Its average benchmark score of 23545 is higher than the AMD's 22823, and both sit at the 76th percentile, meaning the Intel achieves a superior average within the same percentile rank. The Intel also offers a newer process node (10 nm versus 12 nm), a lower TDP (45 watts versus 95 watts), DDR5 support, and integrated graphics, all of which are absent from the AMD.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600X should be considered only for scenarios where its data encryption advantage matters, or where the AM4 socket and unlocked multiplier are required. Its 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU exceed the Intel's 8 Gen 4 lanes, which could matter for systems with multiple expansion cards, though the database does not quantify real-world throughput differences. The AMD's launch MSRP of $229 is historical data and not a current price reference. For a new build or an upgrade, the Intel Core 3 100HL is the stronger choice based on benchmark results alone, offering faster single-threaded performance, better multi-threaded throughput, and a broader feature set. Users with a specific need for the AMD's encryption performance or its older platform compatibility may still find it relevant, but the overall data favors Intel.