AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs Intel Core 3 201E Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is a 15-watt mobile processor built for thin-and-light laptops, while the Intel Core 3 201E is a 60-watt desktop chip aimed at entry-level tower PCs. The recorded data shows a decisive performance gap between the two, with the Intel part winning all 11 shared benchmark comparisons. This analysis breaks down the architectural differences, benchmark results, and practical use cases based solely on the measured scores in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 3 201E posts an average benchmark score of 19056, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U averages 14320. The Intel chip also sits at the 73rd percentile among all CPUs, compared to the AMD part’s 69th percentile.

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

A: The Intel Core 3 201E scores 14839 in the PassMark multi-thread test, which is 52.3% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U’s 7071. The Intel chip’s 8 threads versus the AMD chip’s 4 threads contribute directly to this margin.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 3 201E boosts up to 4.80 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U reaches only 3.70 GHz. The Intel base clock of 3.60 GHz also exceeds the AMD part’s 2.10 GHz base clock.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 memory only, while the Intel Core 3 201E supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The Intel chip also doubles the memory bandwidth at 76.8 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s for the AMD part.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core 3 201E has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, three times the 4 MB shared L3 cache found on the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U. The Intel chip also has larger L2 cache at 1.25 MB per core versus 512 KB per core.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: Both processors are listed as Active in the database. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has a release date of May 2026, while the Intel Core 3 201E has a release date of January 2025.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design lineages. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is built on the Picasso codename, using the Zen+ architecture on a 12 nm process node manufactured by GlobalFoundries. It integrates 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Intel Core 3 201E uses the Bartlett Lake codename, part of the Core 3 generation, fabricated on a 10 nm process node by Intel itself, with a smaller die size of 163 mm².

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The AMD part has 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. The Intel part also has 4 cores but doubles the thread count to 8, allowing each core to handle two threads. This explains much of the multi-threaded performance advantage in the benchmark data.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. The AMD 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 201E uses 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip’s larger L2 and L3 allocations give it more on-die data capacity for compute-heavy tasks.

Memory support differs as well. The AMD part is limited to DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also on a dual-channel bus, but with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth, double the AMD figure. The Intel chip also supports ECC memory, while the AMD chip does not.

PCIe connectivity separates the two further. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses PCIe Gen 3, while the Intel Core 3 201E uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes available from the CPU. This gives the Intel platform access to faster storage and expansion options in the recorded specifications.

Integrated graphics also differ. The AMD part uses Radeon Vega 8, while the Intel part uses UHD Graphics 730. The database does not include separate graphics benchmark scores, so the comparison relies on the PassMark CPU tests only.

The AMD part is classified as Mobile, with a 15-watt TDP and an AMD Socket FP5. The Intel part is classified as Desktop, with a 60-watt TDP and an Intel Socket 1700. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and the database lists no launch MSRP for the AMD part, while the Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $134.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core 3 201E wins every one of the 11 shared benchmark tests, with margins ranging from 37.5% to 70.3%. The largest gap appears in extended instructions, where Intel scores 11035 versus AMD’s 3274, a 70.3% difference. This test measures SIMD and vectorized workload performance, and the Intel chip’s newer architecture and higher clocks drive the large margin.

Floating-point math shows a 61.8% advantage for Intel, with scores of 33260 versus 12707. Prime number finding, a test sensitive to integer throughput and branch prediction, gives Intel a 63.2% edge, scoring 57 versus 21. These two results indicate that Intel’s per-core execution efficiency outweighs the AMD chip’s older Zen+ design.

Multi-threaded performance follows the same pattern. The PassMark multi-thread test shows Intel at 14839 versus AMD’s 7071, a 52.3% lead. Physics simulation scores go to 1141 for Intel versus 483 for AMD, a 57.7% margin. These wins align with the Intel chip’s 8 threads and higher base and boost clocks.

Data compression and encryption tasks also favor Intel heavily. The compression test scores 164160 for Intel versus 87380 for AMD, a 46.8% difference. Encryption scores 8931 versus 5580, a 37.5% margin. Integer math shows a 40% lead for Intel, with 43894 versus 26321. Random string sorting gives Intel 17783 versus 10414, a 41.4% edge.

Single-thread performance shows the smallest gap, but Intel still wins by 38.7%. The single-thread test scores 3482 for Intel versus 2136 for AMD. The Intel boost clock of 4.80 GHz versus 3.70 GHz on the AMD part explains most of this difference, though the newer Intel core design also contributes.

The head-to-head summary records zero wins for the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U and 11 wins for the Intel Core 3 201E. The delta values range from -37.5% to -70.3%, all in Intel’s favor. No single benchmark closes the gap to below one-third, which indicates a consistent and substantial performance advantage across all measured categories.

Specification Differences

The table below shows only the fields where the two processors differ according to the database.

| Field | AMD Ryzen 5 3501U | Intel Core 3 201E |

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

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base clock | 2.10 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.70 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 60 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP5 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Codename | Picasso | Bartlett Lake |

| Generation | Ryzen 5 (Zen+ (Picasso)) | Core 3 (Bartlett Lake) |

| Process node | 12 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 4,940 million | Not listed |

| Die size | 210 mm² | 163 mm² |

| L1 cache | 96 KB per core | 80 KB per core |

| L2 cache | 512 KB per core | 1.25 MB per core |

| L3 cache | 4 MB shared | 12 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 76.8 GB/s |

| ECC memory | Not supported | Supported |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 5, 16 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon Vega 8 | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release date | May 2026 | January 2025 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $134 |

| Part number | YM3501C4T4MFG | SRVTR |

The Intel part has twice the threads, a higher base and boost clock, triple the L3 cache, double the memory bandwidth, and support for faster PCIe and newer memory standards. The AMD part counters with more L1 cache per core, a lower TDP, and a smaller process node in terms of feature size (12 nm versus 10 nm, though note the Intel node is described as smaller in the database). The AMD chip also has a higher transistor count and a larger die, but the database does not list transistors for the Intel part, so direct comparison is incomplete.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 3 201E wins in every benchmark category recorded in the head-to-head data. For users running CPU-intensive applications such as video encoding, 3D rendering, data compression, or scientific simulations, the Intel chip’s results show a clear advantage. The multi-thread score of 14839 versus 7071 means the Intel part handles parallel workloads nearly twice as effectively. The physics simulation score of 1141 versus 483 further confirms this for physics-based calculations.

Single-thread performance also favors Intel, with a 38.7% lead. This matters for applications that rely on one or two cores, such as older games, web browsers, or spreadsheet software with heavy formula calculations. The higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz gives the Intel chip an edge in latency-sensitive tasks.

Memory-intensive workloads benefit from the Intel part’s dual-channel DDR5 support and 76.8 GB/s bandwidth, double the AMD part’s 38.4 GB/s. Data compression and encryption tests, which often depend on memory throughput, show Intel leading by 46.8% and 37.5% respectively. The Intel chip also supports ECC memory, which is useful for error-sensitive compute tasks such as financial modeling or server-type workloads, though the database does not include specific ECC benchmarks.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U does not win any benchmark in the shared test set. However, its 15-watt TDP and mobile socket position it for low-power and portable systems. The database classifies it as Mobile, meaning it appears in thin-and-light laptops where power draw and cooling capacity are limited. The AMD part’s smaller process node (12 nm versus 10 nm) and higher transistor count (4,940 million) do not translate into benchmark wins, but the lower TDP allows for fanless or passively cooled designs in some chassis.

For desktop users, the Intel Core 3 201E is the only option among the two for Socket 1700 builds, with a 60-watt TDP that requires an active cooler. The AMD part’s FP5 socket is not compatible with desktop motherboards in the database, so its use case is restricted to mobile platforms.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core 3 201E outperforms the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U in every recorded test. The average score difference is 4736 points (19056 versus 14320), and the Intel chip sits at a higher percentile among all CPUs (73rd versus 69th). The largest single-test margin is 70.3% in extended instructions, and the smallest is 37.5% in data encryption, so no category is close.

The Intel part’s advantages come from its 8 threads, higher clocks (3.60 GHz base, 4.80 GHz boost), larger L3 cache (12 MB versus 4 MB), and double the memory bandwidth (76.8 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s). It also supports DDR5 and ECC memory, which the AMD part does not. The PCIe Gen 5 interface with 16 lanes further separates the platforms in terms of expansion capability.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U offers no benchmark wins, but its 15-watt TDP and mobile socket make it suitable for low-power laptops. The database lists no launch MSRP for the AMD part, so any price comparison is absent. The Intel Core 3 201E has a launch MSRP of $134 and is positioned as a desktop processor.

For a user choosing between these two based on measured performance, the Intel Core 3 201E is the correct pick for any CPU-bound task. The AMD part makes sense only in a mobile system where low power consumption is the priority and raw performance is secondary. The data shows that the Intel chip delivers higher scores across the board, from single-thread responsiveness to heavily threaded workloads, making it the stronger processor in all recorded comparisons.