AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs Intel Arc G3 EXTREME Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Arc G3 EXTREME wins every single recorded test against the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U. Across all 11 head-to-head comparisons, Intel takes the victory with zero wins for AMD. The Arc G3 EXTREME delivers a 156% higher average benchmark score (36699 versus 14320), placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs while the Ryzen 5 3501U sits at the 69th percentile.

The most dramatic gaps appear in encryption and prime number workloads. In PassMark data encryption, Intel scores 23881 against AMD's 5580, a 76.6% deficit for the older chip. The find prime numbers test shows an even starker contrast: Intel's 248 score versus AMD's 21, meaning Intel completes nearly 12 times more work in that specific workload. This pattern indicates the Arc G3 EXTREME is not merely faster by a small margin, it fundamentally outclasses the Ryzen 5 3501U in compute-heavy tasks.

Multithreaded performance follows the same trend. Intel records 30659 in PassMark multithread, while AMD manages only 7071, a 76.9% difference. Floating point math tells a similar story: 86929 for Intel versus 12707 for AMD, an 85.4% gap. Even in single-thread performance, where the Ryzen's higher base clock might suggest competitiveness, Intel leads by 50.2% with a score of 4293 against 2136.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different design generations and manufacturing nodes. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses the Picasso codename, built on a 12 nm process by GlobalFoundries, with a Zen+ microarchitecture from the Ryzen 5 generation. It packs 4,940 million transistors into a 210 mm² die. In contrast, the Intel Arc G3 EXTREME uses the Panther Lake codename, fabricated on a 3 nm node by Intel itself, representing a much more advanced process technology.

Core counts differ substantially. AMD provides 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. Intel provides 14 cores and 14 threads, also without hyperthreading, but with more than three times the physical core count. This core disparity largely explains the multithreaded benchmark results. Clock speeds also favor Intel on the boost side: AMD's base clock is 2.10 GHz with a 3.70 GHz boost, while Intel runs at 1.90 GHz base but boosts to 4.70 GHz.

Cache hierarchies are very different. AMD uses 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. Intel uses 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core and shared caches give Intel a substantial advantage in data-heavy workloads. Memory support also diverges: AMD supports DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel supports LPDDR5X with 136.5 GB/s, more than 3.5 times the memory bandwidth. PCIe connectivity differs as well: AMD offers Gen 3, while Intel provides Gen 5 with 4 lanes for the CPU.

Thermal envelopes show Intel drawing more power: 25 W TDP versus AMD's 15 W TDP. Both are mobile processors with active production status. The integrated graphics differ: AMD uses Radeon Vega 8, while Intel uses Arc B390. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both lack ECC memory support.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single gap in the recorded data appears in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where Intel's score of 248 versus AMD's 21 represents a 91.5% lead. This workload is highly sensitive to instruction efficiency and clock speed, both of which favor the Panther Lake architecture.

Extended instructions show an 86.4% difference, with Intel scoring 24017 against AMD's 3274. Floating point math follows closely at 85.4%, with Intel's 86929 dwarfing AMD's 12707. These two results indicate that Intel's SIMD and vector processing capabilities are far more robust than those of the Zen+ based chip.

Data encryption shows Intel at 23881 versus AMD's 5580, a 76.6% gap. Random string sorting records Intel at 37331 against AMD's 10414, a 72.1% difference. Data compression yields 307094 for Intel and 87380 for AMD, a 71.5% gap. The smallest margin is in single-thread performance, where Intel's 4293 beats AMD's 2136 by 50.2%, still a decisive victory.

Physics simulation shows Intel at 2515 versus AMD's 483, an 80.8% lead. Integer math records Intel at 71164 against AMD's 26321, a 63% difference. Multithread performance shows Intel at 30659 versus AMD's 7071, a 76.9% gap. The pattern across all tests is consistent: Intel leads by margins ranging from roughly half to more than nine-tenths, with no workload where AMD manages to close the gap.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME boosts to 4.70 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U boosts to 3.70 GHz.

Q: How many cores does each processor have?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Arc G3 EXTREME has 14 cores and 14 threads.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where Intel leads by 91.5% with a score of 248 versus AMD's 21.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, neither processor supports ECC memory.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME provides 136.5 GB/s with LPDDR5X support, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U provides 38.4 GB/s with DDR4 support.

Q: Which processor has the larger shared L3 cache?

A: The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME has 18 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 MB.

The Verdict

The recorded data leaves no ambiguity. The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME outperforms the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U in every benchmark category, with margins that range from 50.2% to 91.5%. The average benchmark score of 36699 places Intel at the 85th percentile of all CPUs, while AMD's 14320 average places it at the 69th percentile. Anyone selecting between these two processors based strictly on performance should choose Intel without hesitation.

The Ryzen 5 3501U does offer a lower TDP of 15 W compared to Intel's 25 W, which could matter for specific power-constrained mobile designs. It also uses a more mature 12 nm process with GlobalFoundries as the foundry, potentially offering different supply characteristics. However, these factors do not translate into any performance advantage in the measured tests. The Intel chip's 14 cores, larger caches, higher memory bandwidth, and newer 3 nm node deliver superior results across data compression, encryption, math, physics, and single-thread workloads.

For workloads that demand heavy multithreading, the Intel Arc G3 EXTREME delivers 30659 in PassMark multithread versus AMD's 7071. For single-thread responsiveness, Intel's 4293 versus AMD's 2136 shows a clear edge. The only scenario where the AMD chip might be preferable is when the lower 15 W TDP is a hard requirement, since the data shows no performance scenario where the Ryzen 5 3501U wins.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 3501U | Intel Arc G3 EXTREME |

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

| Cores | 4 | 14 |

| Threads | 4 | 14 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 1.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 25 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP5 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Codename | Picasso | Panther Lake |

| Process Node | 12 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| L1 Cache | 96 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | LPDDR5X |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 136.5 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 5, 4 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Vega 8 | Arc B390 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Mobile |

| Production Status | Active | Active |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |

| Part Number | YM3501C4T4MFG | SA4R3 |