AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs Intel Core 3 100U Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U and Intel Core 3 100U are both 15-watt mobile processors, but benchmark data positions them in different performance classes. The Intel Core 3 100U delivers decisively higher scores across every recorded workload, while the Ryzen 5 3501U counters with a longer production history and a different architectural foundation. The data shows a clear winner for raw performance, but each processor has a distinct role based on the recorded specifications.

The Verdict

The Intel Core 3 100U is the stronger processor in every measured category. It wins all 11 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with leads ranging from 31.3% to 59.6% over the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U. Its average benchmark score of 16148 places it in the 70th percentile of all CPUs, while the Ryzen 5 3501U averages 14320 and sits in the 69th percentile. The Intel part also benefits from a higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz versus 3.70 GHz for the AMD chip, plus two additional cores and four additional threads.

The Ryzen 5 3501U is a viable option only when the workload favors its specific traits: a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries, AMD Socket FP5 compatibility, and a Radeon Vega 8 integrated GPU. It is the older design, with a release date of 2026-05-31, but it remains in active production. For anyone choosing strictly on benchmark performance, the Intel Core 3 100U is the superior part. The data does not support a single workload category where the AMD processor leads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design generations and manufacturing approaches. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses the Picasso codename, built on the Zen+ architecture, and is manufactured on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It contains 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Intel Core 3 100U uses Raptor Lake-U, part of the Raptor Lake architecture, and is manufactured on a 10 nm process at Intel. The database lists no transistor count or die size for the Intel part.

Core and thread counts diverge substantially. The AMD chip has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel chip has 6 cores and 8 threads. Cache layouts also differ. The Ryzen 5 3501U provides 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 3 100U provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 10 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger shared L3 cache on the Intel part is notable for workloads that repeatedly access the same data.

Memory support separates the two as well. The AMD processor supports DDR4 only, with dual-channel memory and a measured bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but the database records no memory bandwidth figure for it. PCIe connectivity differs: the Ryzen 5 3501U uses Gen 3, while the Intel Core 3 100U uses Gen 4 with 8 lanes available from the CPU.

The integrated graphics solutions are different. AMD pairs the Ryzen 5 3501U with Radeon Vega 8, while Intel pairs the Core 3 100U with UHD Graphics 64EU. Both are mobile parts with 15 W TDP, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket FP5 for the Ryzen, Intel BGA 1744 for the Core 3.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core 3 100U wins every recorded comparison, and the margins are consistent across integer, floating-point, encryption, and single-thread tests. In PassMark data compression, the Intel part scores 136497 against 87380 for the AMD part, a 36% advantage. Data encryption shows a 31.3% lead for Intel (8128 vs 5580). Extended instructions favor Intel by 58.5% (7894 vs 3274), and prime number finding favors Intel by 59.6% (52 vs 21).

Floating-point math is another large gap. The Intel Core 3 100U scores 28322 versus 12707 for the Ryzen 5 3501U, a 55.1% lead. Integer math is closer but still decisive: 39580 versus 26321, a 33.5% advantage for Intel. The multithreaded PassMark score shows Intel at 12522 against 7071 for AMD, a 43.5% lead. Physics simulation follows a similar pattern, with Intel at 876 versus AMD at 483, a 44.9% gap.

Single-thread performance, often a good predictor of everyday responsiveness, strongly favors Intel. The Core 3 100U scores 3506 in PassMark single-thread testing, while the Ryzen 5 3501U scores 2136, a 39.1% difference. Random string sorting, a memory and cache sensitive test, shows Intel at 15191 versus AMD at 10414, a 31.4% lead.

The Intel part also records Cinebench results that the AMD part lacks entirely. The Core 3 100U scores 1070 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 150 in R15 single-core, 4462 in R20 multi-core, 629 in R20 single-core, 10624 in R23 multi-core, and 1499 in R23 single-core. The database contains no corresponding Cinebench runs for the Ryzen 5 3501U, so direct comparison is not possible, but these numbers reinforce the Intel part's standing among its rivals.

The nearest rival data places each processor in a different performance neighborhood. The Ryzen 5 3501U sits near the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 (14336 average, 0.1% ahead), the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C (14277, 0.3% behind), the Intel Core 7 160UL (14232, 0.6% behind), and the Intel Core i5-10400F (14185, 1% behind). The Intel Core 3 100U sits near the Intel Core i7-10850H (16204, 0.3% ahead), the Intel Core i5-10600KF (16228, 0.5% ahead), the Intel Core i7-1260U (16320, 1.1% ahead), and the AMD Ryzen 5 4600H (16341, 1.2% ahead). In other words, the Intel part competes with higher-tier desktop and mobile chips, while the AMD part competes with lower-power embedded and entry-level parts.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 3 100U averages 16148, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U averages 14320. The Intel part also holds a higher percentile rank at 70 versus 69.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core 3 100U has 6 cores and 8 threads.

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

A: The largest recorded margin is 59.6% in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the Intel Core 3 100U scores 52 versus 21 for the AMD part.

Q: Which processor supports faster memory?

A: The Intel Core 3 100U supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 only. The AMD part has a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the Intel part has no bandwidth figure in the database.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the Intel Core 3 100U?

A: The launch MSRP is $426. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has no recorded launch MSRP.

Q: Do both processors use the same socket?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses AMD Socket FP5, and the Intel Core 3 100U uses Intel BGA 1744.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 3 100U wins in every benchmark category recorded for both processors. Its strongest advantages come in extended instructions (58.5% ahead), prime number finding (59.6% ahead), and floating-point math (55.1% ahead). These results point to workloads involving cryptographic operations, mathematical computation, and instruction-heavy code. The 39.1% single-thread lead suggests faster response in applications that rely on one or two cores. The 43.5% multithread lead, combined with the extra cores and threads, favors multitasking and parallel rendering workloads.

The Ryzen 5 3501U does not win a single head-to-head benchmark, but it has structural advantages that matter for system design. It uses the AMD Socket FP5, which suits AMD-based platforms. Its Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics differ from Intel's UHD Graphics 64EU, which may matter for driver and software compatibility. The 12 nm process and GlobalFoundries foundry relationship are part of a different supply chain than Intel's 10 nm process. The AMD chip also has a later release date of 2026-05-31, while the Intel part launched on 2024-01-07.

For pure compute performance, the choice is unambiguous from the recorded data: the Intel Core 3 100U. For platform compatibility and AMD-specific system requirements, the Ryzen 5 3501U remains an active, available part. The database shows no workload where the AMD processor closes the gap, so its appeal rests entirely on ecosystem fit rather than benchmark results.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads; the Intel Core 3 100U has 6 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 2.10 GHz for AMD and 1.20 GHz for Intel, but boost clocks reverse the relationship: 3.70 GHz for AMD and 4.70 GHz for Intel. Both run at 15 W TDP.

Cache allocation differs by level. The AMD part has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 10 MB of shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 for AMD versus DDR4 and DDR5 for Intel. Memory bandwidth is recorded only for AMD at 38.4 GB/s. PCIe generation is Gen 3 for AMD and Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes for Intel. Neither supports ECC memory.

Manufacturing process and foundry also differ: AMD uses a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries with 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die; Intel uses a 10 nm process at Intel with no recorded transistor count or die size. The sockets are AMD Socket FP5 versus Intel BGA 1744. Integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 8 for AMD and UHD Graphics 64EU for Intel. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $426, while the AMD part has no recorded launch price. Both are mobile processors with locked multipliers and active production status.