AMD Ryzen 5 3550H vs Intel Core i3-9100T Comparison

The Verdict

The data splits this matchup cleanly by workload generation. The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H wins exactly half of the head-to-head tests (3 out of 6), and the Intel Core i3-9100T wins the other half. Neither chip dominates outright.

The Ryzen 5 3550H is the pick if your work leans on older rendering benchmarks or single-threaded legacy tests. Its Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 742 beats the i3-9100T's 482 by 53.9%, and its R15 single-core score of 144 crushes the Intel part's 67 by 114.9%. The Ryzen also leads in Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 886 versus 675, a 31.3% advantage.

The Core i3-9100T is the choice for modern multi-threaded rendering and general desktop responsiveness. It wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 4788 against the Ryzen's 3929.5, a 17.9% margin. In Geekbench, the Intel part leads both multi-core (3443 vs 3217, 6.6% ahead) and single-core (1215 vs 1001, 17.6% ahead).

If you are building a desktop system today and plan to run current software, the i3-9100T's newer benchmark wins matter more. If you are upgrading a laptop or working with older Cinebench R15 workloads, the Ryzen 5 3550H's massive lead in that specific test makes it the safer bet. The overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical: the Ryzen sits at 1653, the Intel at 1620, a gap of roughly 2%. Both chips sit near the 40th percentile of all CPUs, meaning either is a mid-tier performer. Choose based on your software, not on paper specs.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H uses the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Picasso, built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Intel Core i3-9100T uses Coffee Lake, built on a 14 nm process at Intel's own fabs. The AMD chip packs 4,940 million transistors into a 210 mm² die, while the Intel die is smaller at 126 mm² with no transistor count recorded in the database.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. Both have 4 cores, but the Ryzen 5 3550H supports 8 threads via simultaneous multithreading, while the i3-9100T is limited to 4 threads. This explains part of the Ryzen's large lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where extra threads help older renderers scale well.

Cache layouts are substantially different. The Ryzen 5 3550H has 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 4 MB of shared L3. The i3-9100T has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, but a larger 6 MB shared L3. The larger L3 on the Intel part likely contributes to its Geekbench and R23 wins, where memory latency and cache locality matter more.

Clock speeds also diverge. The Ryzen 5 3550H has a 2.10 GHz base clock and a 3.70 GHz boost. The i3-9100T starts higher at 3.10 GHz base but also boosts to 3.70 GHz. Both have a 35 W TDP, making them thermally comparable, though the Ryzen is a mobile part while the Intel is a desktop part.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Ryzen 5 3550H carries Radeon Vega 8, while the i3-9100T has UHD Graphics 630. The Ryzen also uses AMD Socket FP5, whereas the Intel part fits Socket 1151. The Intel chip supports ECC memory, the AMD does not. Both support DDR4 dual-channel memory and PCIe Gen 3, though the Intel part specifies 16 lanes from the CPU.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R15 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H wins decisively with 742 points versus 482 for the Intel Core i3-9100T, a 53.9% lead. This is the single largest gap in the head-to-head data.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-9100T beat the AMD chip in any modern benchmark?

A: Yes. The i3-9100T wins Cinebench R23 multi-core (4788 vs 3929.5, a 17.9% margin) and both Geekbench tests: multi-core 3443 vs 3217 (6.6% ahead) and single-core 1215 vs 1001 (17.6% ahead).

Q: Which chip has better single-thread performance?

A: It depends on the test. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Ryzen 5 3550H wins 144 vs 67, a huge 114.9% margin. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ryzen again wins 886 vs 675, a 31.3% lead. But in Geekbench single-core, the i3-9100T wins 1215 vs 1001, a 17.6% lead.

Q: Do both processors have the same TDP?

A: Yes, both are rated at 35 W. The Ryzen 5 3550H is a mobile chip, while the i3-9100T is a desktop chip, but their thermal design power is identical.

Q: Which chip has more threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H has 8 threads from 4 cores, while the Intel Core i3-9100T has 4 threads from 4 cores. The AMD part uses simultaneous multithreading; the Intel part does not.

Q: Is one chip significantly more popular or available?

A: The database shows the Ryzen 5 3550H as Active in production, while the i3-9100T is marked End-of-life. The Intel chip has a recorded launch MSRP of $122; the AMD chip has no launch MSRP listed.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every architectural field except cores and TDP.

• Threads: AMD Ryzen 5 3550H has 8 threads; Intel Core i3-9100T has 4.
• Base clock: AMD 2.10 GHz; Intel 3.10 GHz.
• Boost clock: Both 3.70 GHz.
• Process node: AMD 12 nm; Intel 14 nm.
• Foundry: AMD GlobalFoundries; Intel in-house.
• Die size: AMD 210 mm²; Intel 126 mm².
• Transistors: AMD 4,940 million; Intel not recorded.
• L1 cache: AMD 96 KB per core; Intel 64 KB per core.
• L2 cache: AMD 512 KB per core; Intel 256 KB per core.
• L3 cache: AMD 4 MB shared; Intel 6 MB shared.
• ECC memory: AMD no; Intel yes.
• Memory bandwidth: AMD not recorded; Intel 38.4 GB/s.
• PCIe: AMD Gen 3; Intel Gen 3 with 16 lanes from CPU.
• Integrated graphics: AMD Radeon Vega 8; Intel UHD Graphics 630.
• Socket: AMD FP5; Intel Socket 1151.
• Market segment: AMD Mobile; Intel Desktop.
• Production status: AMD Active; Intel End-of-life.
• Release date: AMD 2019-01-05; Intel 2018-08-31.
• Launch MSRP: AMD none; Intel $122.
• Architecture: AMD Zen+ (Picasso); Intel Coffee Lake.
• Generation: AMD Ryzen 5 (Zen+ Picasso); Intel Core i3 (Coffee Lake Refresh).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a clear generational split. In Cinebench R15, the older rendering workload, the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H dominates. Multi-core scores are 742 for AMD versus 482 for Intel, a 53.9% advantage. Single-core is even more lopsided: 144 versus 67, a 114.9% lead for AMD. These are the two largest wins in the entire comparison.

Cinebench R23 flips the script. The Intel Core i3-9100T scores 4788 in multi-core versus 3929.5 for AMD, a 17.9% win. The Intel part also wins Geekbench multi-core with 3443 versus 3217, a 6.6% margin, and Geekbench single-core with 1215 versus 1001, a 17.6% margin.

The only test where AMD wins in the modern suite is Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Ryzen 5 3550H scores 886 versus 675, a 31.3% lead. This pattern suggests the Ryzen's Zen+ architecture has strong legacy single-thread performance, while Intel's Coffee Lake design pulls ahead in newer and more complex workloads.

The overall benchmark averages are close. The Ryzen 5 3550H averages 1653 across all recorded tests, while the i3-9100T averages 1620. The nearest rivals for the AMD chip include the Intel Core i7-4810MQ at 1651 (0.1% difference) and the Intel Core i5-4670K at 1656 (0.2% difference). The Intel chip's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-970 at 1613 (0.4% difference) and the Pentium Gold G7400T at 1628 (0.5% difference). Both processors land in a tight performance cluster, with the AMD part slightly higher in the average but also slightly lower in percentile ranking (40th versus 39th).

Where Each One Wins

Choose the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H if:

• You run Cinebench R15 workloads, either multi-core or single-core. The 53.9% and 114.9% leads respectively are the strongest arguments for this chip.
• You need single-threaded performance in Cinebench R23, where it leads by 31.3%.
• You want a mobile processor with 8 threads for multitasking within a 35 W envelope.
• You are working with software that scales well with thread count in older renderers, as shown by the R15 multi-core result.

Choose the Intel Core i3-9100T if:

• You run modern multi-threaded rendering. The 17.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is the clearest signal of current-generation performance.
• You need Geekbench performance, where it wins both single-core (17.6% ahead) and multi-core (6.6% ahead).
• You prefer a desktop socket with 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, which can matter for expansion cards.
• You require ECC memory support, which the Ryzen 5 3550H lacks.
• You want a chip with a larger shared L3 cache (6 MB versus 4 MB), which may help in cache-sensitive workloads.

The split decision means the right choice depends entirely on your software stack. The database shows no clear overall winner: both chips win 3 of 6 head-to-head tests, and their average benchmark scores differ by only about 2%. The Ryzen 5 3550H is the legacy-rendering champion, while the i3-9100T is the modern-workload pick. If your workloads are mixed, the Intel part's wins in current benchmarks like R23 and Geekbench make it the safer recommendation for a new build, especially given its lower launch MSRP of $122. But for existing Ryzen 5 3550H owners, the data shows no urgent reason to switch, given the near-parity in average scores.