AMD Ryzen 5 3500X vs Intel Core i3-10105 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data delivers a clear verdict: the AMD Ryzen 5 3500X is the dominant performer in this matchup, winning 17 of 19 head-to-head tests. The Intel Core i3-10105 manages only two wins, both in single-threaded PassMark tests. AMD’s six-core, six-thread processor leads by double-digit margins in nearly every category, with particularly lopsided wins in encryption, physics, and prime number calculations. The Intel part counters with a modest 3.5% advantage in single-thread PassMark scores, but that narrow lead does little to offset the AMD chip’s wide-ranging superiority. For users prioritizing raw throughput — rendering, compression, encryption, or multithreaded productivity — the Ryzen 5 3500X is the clear choice from the data. The i3-10105 remains relevant only for those who value its integrated graphics (the Ryzen has none) or who absolutely need Intel’s single-thread edge in specific legacy workloads. Both CPUs sit at the 67th percentile of all CPUs, but the Ryzen’s average benchmark score of 12,000 versus the i3’s 12,316 tells a nuanced story: Intel edges ahead in average, yet the Ryzen wins nearly every direct comparison, suggesting the i3’s average is propped up by its two PassMark single-thread wins.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i3-10105 uses the Comet Lake architecture, built on Intel’s 14 nm process node, with a 65 W TDP. It packs four cores with eight threads via Hyper-Threading, running at a 3.70 GHz base clock and boosting to 4.40 GHz. Cache configuration includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The chip supports DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, and includes UHD Graphics 630 integrated graphics. It launched in March 2021 with a launch MSRP of $122 and is not multiplier-unlocked.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3500X, by contrast, uses the Zen 2 architecture (codenamed Matisse) on TSMC’s 7 nm process, also with a 65 W TDP. It offers six cores and six threads — no SMT — with a 3.60 GHz base clock and 4.10 GHz boost. L1 cache matches Intel at 64 KB per core, but L2 doubles to 512 KB per core, and L3 jumps to 32 MB shared. Memory bandwidth is higher at 51.2 GB/s, and the chip supports PCIe Gen 4 with 24 lanes. Notably, it has no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is mandatory. The Ryzen launched in September 2019, is multiplier-unlocked for overclocking, and the transistor count is listed at 3,800 million on a 74 mm² die. The process node difference is stark: 14 nm versus 7 nm, which explains much of the Ryzen’s efficiency and performance advantage. The AMD chip’s larger L3 cache and higher memory bandwidth provide additional headroom in data-heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Ryzen 5 3500X wins every Cinebench test by a consistent margin. In Cinebench R23 multicore, AMD scores 11,196 against Intel’s 7,029 — a 37.2% advantage. The single-core R23 result shows 1,580 versus 992, also a 37.2% gap. Cinebench R20 multicore follows the same pattern: 4,702 versus 2,952, a 37.2% deficit for Intel. Single-core R20 is 663 versus 416, a 37.3% difference. The R15 tests mirror these results with the same approximate 37% margins. This uniformity across Cinebench versions indicates a fundamental throughput advantage for AMD, not a workload-specific quirk.

Geekbench results are closer but still favor AMD. Multicore shows 6,331 versus 4,325, a 31.7% lead for the Ryzen. Single-core narrows to 1,539 versus 1,319, a 14.3% advantage — a much smaller gap than Cinebench suggests, hinting that Intel’s per-core architecture is more competitive in certain integer and floating-point tasks.

PassMark tests reveal the widest divergences. Data encryption is a landslide: AMD scores 7,276 versus Intel’s 2,723, a 62.6% gap. Physics follows at 1,234 versus 467, a 62.2% deficit for Intel. Prime number finding shows 130 versus 20, an 84.6% margin — the largest single gap in the dataset. Extended instructions favor AMD by 38.5% (14,053 versus 8,648). Floating-point math gives AMD a 22.3% edge (23,095 versus 17,949). Multithreaded PassMark shows 13,172 versus 8,241, a 37.4% difference. Integer math is closer: 32,564 versus 28,577, a 12.2% lead for AMD. Data compression shows 143,701 versus 128,464, a 10.6% gap. Random string sorting is nearly even: 16,263 versus 15,899, just a 2.2% difference.

Intel’s only wins come in PassMark single-thread, where it scores 2,589 versus AMD’s 2,502 — a 3.5% margin. That result appears twice in the dataset (as both `passmark_single_thread` and `passmark_singlethread`), but it represents the entirety of Intel’s head-to-head victories.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3500X has six cores and six threads, while the Intel Core i3-10105 has four cores and eight threads. AMD’s extra two physical cores drive its large multicore advantages, despite Intel’s Hyper-Threading.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in single-threaded performance?

A: Intel wins PassMark single-thread with 2,589 versus AMD’s 2,502, a 3.5% margin. However, AMD leads in Cinebench R23 single-core (1,580 versus 992, a 37.2% gap) and Geekbench single-core (1,539 versus 1,319, a 14.3% gap). The PassMark result is the exception, not the rule.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between them?

A: The largest margin is in PassMark find prime numbers, where AMD scores 130 versus Intel’s 20 — an 84.6% difference. Data encryption is close behind at 62.6% (7,276 versus 2,723), and physics shows a 62.2% gap (1,234 versus 467).

Q: Do both processors support overclocking?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 3500X is multiplier-unlocked, allowing overclocking. The Intel Core i3-10105 is not multiplier-unlocked.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i3-10105 includes integrated graphics, specifically UHD Graphics 630. The AMD Ryzen 5 3500X has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU.

Q: How do their memory and PCIe capabilities differ?

A: Both support DDR4 in dual-channel mode, but AMD has higher bandwidth at 51.2 GB/s versus Intel’s 42.7 GB/s. AMD also offers PCIe Gen 4 with 24 lanes, while Intel provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 3500X wins the vast majority of workloads, making it the better choice for almost any compute-heavy scenario. Its largest advantages come in encryption, physics simulation, and prime number calculations — tasks that benefit from the extra two physical cores and the larger 32 MB L3 cache. Content creators and professionals running Cinebench-class rendering workloads will see roughly a 37% improvement over the Intel chip across all R15, R20, and R23 tests, which is a substantial gain for productivity. The Ryzen’s 31.7% lead in Geekbench multicore further cements its position for general multitasking and parallel workloads. Data compression and integer math, where AMD leads by 10.6% and 12.2% respectively, make the Ryzen the better option for archive management and database-style operations. The 38.5% advantage in extended instructions suggests AMD handles modern SIMD-heavy applications more effectively.

The Intel Core i3-10105’s wins are confined to PassMark single-thread at 2,589 versus 2,502 — a 3.5% edge. That narrow margin might matter for legacy single-threaded applications, but even Intel’s Cinebench and Geekbench single-core scores trail AMD by 37.2% and 14.3%, respectively. The i3 also offers integrated UHD Graphics 630, which means it can run a system without a discrete GPU — a capability the Ryzen lacks entirely. The Intel part launched at $122 as a value-oriented desktop CPU, though pricing is not a factor in performance analysis. For users with workloads that are heavily single-threaded and specifically sensitive to the PassMark metric, the i3 holds a small edge. Otherwise, the data overwhelmingly favors the Ryzen 5 3500X across every other measurable category.