AMD Ryzen 5 3600 vs Intel Core 7 150U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data paints a clear split between these two processors. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 wins 13 of the 19 recorded comparisons, while the Intel Core 7 150U takes 6. The margin of victory matters more than the count, though.

The Ryzen 5 3600 dominates multi-threaded workloads. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 15045 against Intel's 8883, a 41% advantage. That is the single largest performance gap in the entire comparison. Cinebench R20 multicore shows a similar story: 6318 versus 5248, a 16.9% lead for AMD. The Ryzen also wins Cinebench R15 multicore, though by a razor-thin margin: 1516 versus 1505.5, just 0.7% apart.

The Ryzen extends its lead in memory and data-heavy tasks. Passmark data compression favors AMD by 27.8% (219774 versus 158622), and data encryption shows a 28.2% gap (13953 versus 10025). Extended instructions, a proxy for AVX and similar workloads, goes to AMD by 39.4% (14442 versus 8748). Prime number finding, a classic integer test, favors AMD by 46.3% (108 versus 58).

The Intel Core 7 150U fights back in single-thread and floating-point tests. Cinebench R15 singlecore shows Intel ahead by 18.7% (254 versus 214). Geekbench singlecore gives Intel a 20.9% win (1857 versus 1536). The largest Intel victory comes in Passmark single-thread, where it scores 3508 against AMD's 2562, a 36.9% gap. Floating-point math also favors Intel by 20.3% (34405 versus 28607), and integer math shows a modest 5% Intel edge (51057 versus 48607).

Not every single-core test goes Intel's way. Cinebench R20 singlecore actually favors AMD by 17% (892 versus 740), and Cinebench R23 singlecore gives AMD an 11.7% lead (2124 versus 1875.5). These mixed results suggest the Ryzen's higher base clock and older architecture interact differently across test versions.

Geekbench multicore goes to AMD by 15.4% (7372 versus 6234). Passmark multithread favors AMD by 16.9% (17700 versus 14700). Physics and random string sorting also go to AMD, by 12.2% and 22.9% respectively.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 7 150U wins in scenarios that reward high burst frequencies and efficient floating-point execution. Its Passmark single-thread score of 3508 is exceptional, and the 20.9% Geekbench singlecore win confirms that lightly threaded applications, such as older games, web browsing, or office productivity, will feel snappier on the Intel chip. The floating-point math win by 20.3% suggests scientific or engineering software that relies on FPU throughput could also prefer Intel here.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 wins where core count and sustained throughput matter. Its 41% Cinebench R23 multicore advantage makes it the clear choice for video rendering, 3D modeling, or batch photo processing. The 27.8% and 28.2% wins in data compression and encryption indicate tasks like file archiving, database operations, or full-disk encryption will run noticeably faster. The 46.3% prime number win points to number-crunching workloads that scale with raw integer throughput.

The Ryzen also wins in mixed-thread workloads. Passmark multithread shows a 16.9% AMD advantage, and Geekbench multicore gives AMD 15.4%. These tests simulate real-world multitasking where several applications compete for cores simultaneously. The Ryzen's 6 cores, despite being fewer than Intel's 10, deliver more consistent performance across all threads.

For gaming, the data is indirect but informative. The Ryzen 5 3600 has no integrated graphics, so it requires a discrete GPU. The Intel Core 7 150U includes Iris Xe Graphics 96EU. In CPU-bound gaming scenarios, the Ryzen's superior multi-core scores suggest better frame pacing in modern titles that use multiple threads. The Intel chip's single-thread advantage could help in older or poorly optimized games, but the lack of a dedicated GPU for the Ryzen means any gaming comparison requires adding a separate graphics card.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core 7 150U uses Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm process, manufactured by Intel. It has 10 cores and 12 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 uses Zen 2 architecture on a 7 nm process, manufactured by TSMC. It has 6 cores and 12 threads. The process node difference is significant: 7 nm versus 10 nm gives AMD a transistor density advantage, though Intel's newer architecture compensates with higher clock speeds.

Cache layouts diverge sharply. Intel provides 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. AMD provides 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 32 MB shared L3. The Ryzen's L3 cache is nearly three times larger, which explains its strong showing in data compression and encryption tests where working sets exceed the Intel cache.

AMD's Zen 2 uses a chiplet design with a 74 mm² die and 3,800 million transistors. Intel's Raptor Lake-U is a monolithic design, though the database does not list its die size or transistor count. The Ryzen 5 3600 supports DDR4 memory only, while the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth for AMD is listed at 51.2 GB/s; Intel's figure is not recorded.

The Ryzen 5 3600 is unlocked for overclocking. The Intel Core 7 150U is locked. This means AMD users can push beyond the 4.20 GHz boost clock, while Intel users are stuck with the 5.40 GHz maximum. The Ryzen draws 65 W TDP versus Intel's 15 W, a massive difference that reflects the desktop versus mobile positioning.

PCIe connectivity also differs. AMD provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Intel provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU. This affects GPU and NVMe bandwidth in systems that rely on CPU-attached devices.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 7 150U | AMD Ryzen 5 3600 |

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

| Cores | 10 | 6 |

| Base Clock | 1.80 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.40 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB per core | 64 KB per core |

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

| L3 Cache | 12 MB shared | 32 MB shared |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4 |

| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 16 |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe Graphics 96EU | None |

| Unlocked Multiplier | No | Yes |

| Release Date | 2024-01-07 | 2019-07-06 |

The base clock difference is stark: 1.80 GHz versus 3.60 GHz. The Intel chip's boost clock of 5.40 GHz is 1.20 GHz higher than AMD's 4.20 GHz, but it only sustains that under favorable thermal conditions given the 15 W TDP envelope. The Ryzen's 65 W TDP allows sustained high clocks across all six cores.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core 7 150U has 10 cores versus 6 cores on the AMD Ryzen 5 3600. Both have 12 threads.

Q: Which chip is better for single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core 7 150U wins Passmark single-thread by 36.9% (3508 versus 2562) and Geekbench singlecore by 20.9% (1857 versus 1536). However, the AMD chip wins Cinebench R20 and R23 singlecore tests by 17% and 11.7% respectively.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 have integrated graphics?

A: No. The database lists no integrated graphics for the Ryzen 5 3600. The Intel Core 7 150U includes Iris Xe Graphics 96EU.

Q: Which processor supports DDR5 memory?

A: Only the Intel Core 7 150U supports DDR5. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 supports DDR4 only.

Q: Can the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 be overclocked?

A: Yes, the multiplier is unlocked. The Intel Core 7 150U has a locked multiplier.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 leads by 46.3% in Passmark find prime numbers (108 versus 58). The Intel Core 7 150U leads by 36.9% in Passmark single-thread (3508 versus 2562).

The Verdict

The benchmark data supports a straightforward recommendation. Choose the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 for any workload that scales across multiple cores. Its 41% Cinebench R23 multicore lead, 27.8% data compression advantage, and 28.2% encryption win make it the superior chip for rendering, compression, and data processing. The 6-core, 12-thread configuration delivers consistent throughput that the Intel 10-core design cannot match in sustained multi-threaded tasks. The unlocked multiplier and larger 32 MB L3 cache also give it headroom for tuning and cache-sensitive workloads.

Choose the Intel Core 7 150U for single-thread responsiveness and mobile deployment. Its 36.9% Passmark single-thread win and 20.9% Geekbench singlecore advantage make it feel faster in everyday applications. The integrated Iris Xe Graphics 96EU removes the need for a discrete GPU in basic systems, and the 15 W TDP suits thin laptops. The DDR5 memory support offers a modern upgrade path, though the 8 PCIe lanes limit expansion.

The market segments are clear: the Ryzen 5 3600 is a desktop processor for performance-oriented builds, while the Core 7 150U is a mobile processor for portability and efficiency. The Ryzen 5 3600 launched on 2019-07-06 with a launch MSRP of $199. The Intel chip launched on 2024-01-07 with no recorded MSRP. Both sit at the 71st percentile versus all CPUs, meaning they occupy similar overall performance tiers despite their very different strengths. For a desktop workstation, the Ryzen wins. For a thin-and-light laptop, the Intel chip is the only viable option of the two.