AMD Ryzen 5 3600 vs Intel Core i7-1260P Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and Intel Core i7-1260P are closely matched overall, with the data showing a marginal 0.2% average benchmark score advantage for the AMD part (17035 vs 17007). Despite this near-parity in aggregate scoring, the two processors have starkly different performance profiles across individual workloads. The Ryzen 5 3600 wins 15 of the 23 head-to-head comparisons, while the Core i7-1260P takes 8, but the Intel chip’s victories are often by larger margins in single-threaded and specific math workloads. The Ryzen 5 3600 sits at the 71st percentile of all CPUs, while the Core i7-1260P is at the 70th percentile, reinforcing just how close these two are in overall capability.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic single result in this comparison is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Ryzen 5 3600 scores 15045 against the Intel’s 9711, a 54.9% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire dataset and indicates that the AMD chip’s sustained multi-threaded rendering performance is in a different class entirely. The Ryzen 5 3600 also dominates in PassMark’s find prime numbers test, scoring 108 versus 63, a 71.4% lead, and in extended instructions (14442 vs 10493, a 37.6% margin). These results point to the AMD processor’s superior efficiency in heavily parallel integer workloads.

The Intel Core i7-1260P, however, takes the single-thread crown decisively. In 3DMark single-thread, it scores 915 against the Ryzen’s 696, a 23.9% lead, and in PassMark single-thread it wins 3250 to 2562, a 21.2% margin. The Intel chip also wins 3DMark 2-thread (1601 vs 1361, a 15% lead) and Cinebench R15 single-core (243 vs 214, an 11.9% margin). These results indicate that for lightly-threaded tasks such as everyday application responsiveness and legacy software, the Intel part holds a clear edge.

Interestingly, the two processors split the Cinebench family of tests. The Intel wins R15 multi-core (1626 vs 1516, a 6.8% lead) and R15 single-core, but the AMD wins R20 multi-core (6318 vs 5874, a 7.6% margin) and R20 single-core (892 vs 829, also 7.6%). The same split appears in R23, where the AMD wins both multi-core (54.9% ahead) and single-core (2124 vs 1737.5, a 22.2% lead). This suggests that the Ryzen 5 3600 scales better with newer and more demanding rendering workloads, while the Intel part performs relatively better in older benchmark versions.

In 3DMark, the Ryzen 5 3600 wins the 8-thread test by 21.7% (3844 vs 3159) and the 16-thread test by 13.1% (4605 vs 4072), but the Intel wins the 2-thread and single-thread tests. The 4-thread test is nearly a tie, with the AMD winning by just 1.5% (2579 vs 2540). This pattern reinforces the conclusion that the AMD processor gains its advantage as thread counts increase, while the Intel processor is stronger when only one or two cores are active.

In PassMark’s math suite, the Intel wins floating-point math (42417 vs 28607, a 32.6% lead) and integer math (62316 vs 48607, a 22% margin). These are significant wins for the Intel part and indicate that its AVX-512-capable cores provide a measurable boost in certain numerical workloads. However, the AMD wins data compression (219774 vs 182968, a 20.1% lead), data encryption (13953 vs 11238, a 24.2% margin), and random string sorting (23707 vs 20586, a 15.2% lead). The overall PassMark multi-thread score goes to the AMD by 5.5% (17700 vs 16775), as does the physics test by the same 5.5% margin (1152 vs 1092).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 has an average benchmark score of 17035, which is marginally higher than the Intel Core i7-1260P’s 17007, a difference of 0.2%. The AMD part also sits at the 71st percentile of all CPUs, one point above the Intel’s 70th percentile.

Q: How large is the single-thread performance gap?

A: The Intel Core i7-1260P is significantly ahead in single-thread tests. In 3DMark single-thread, it leads by 23.9% (915 vs 696), and in PassMark single-thread, it leads by 21.2% (3250 vs 2562). The Intel also wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 11.9% (243 vs 214).

Q: Where does the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 have its biggest advantage?

A: The AMD’s largest win is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 15045 versus the Intel’s 9711, a 54.9% advantage. It also has a 71.4% lead in PassMark find prime numbers (108 vs 63) and a 37.6% lead in PassMark extended instructions (14442 vs 10493).

Q: Do the two processors trade wins in the Cinebench suite?

A: Yes. The Intel wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 6.8% (1626 vs 1516) and R15 single-core by 11.9% (243 vs 214). The AMD wins R20 multi-core and single-core by 7.6% each (6318 vs 5874 and 892 vs 829), and R23 multi-core by 54.9% and R23 single-core by 22.2% (2124 vs 1737.5).

Q: Which processor is better for math-heavy workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-1260P wins both PassMark floating-point math (42417 vs 28607, a 32.6% lead) and integer math (62316 vs 48607, a 22% margin). However, the AMD wins PassMark extended instructions by 37.6% and data encryption by 24.2%.

Q: What is the multi-thread score difference in PassMark?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 wins PassMark multi-thread by 5.5%, scoring 17700 against the Intel’s 16775. The same 5.5% margin applies to the PassMark physics test, where the AMD scores 1152 versus 1092.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is built on the Zen 2 architecture with the Matisse codename, fabricated by TSMC on a 7 nm process node. It contains 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die. In contrast, the Intel Core i7-1260P uses the Alder Lake architecture with the Alder Lake-P codename, fabricated by Intel on a 10 nm process node, with a much larger 217 mm² die size. The transistor count for the Intel part is not listed in the data.

Core configurations differ substantially. The AMD has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel has 12 cores and 16 threads. The Intel’s core layout is not detailed in the data, but its hybrid design is implied by the fact that it has more cores than threads, which is atypical for a conventional symmetric multi-threading design. The AMD has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, while the Intel has a lower base clock of 2.10 GHz but a higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz.

Cache hierarchies are also distinct. The AMD allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 32 MB L3 cache. The Intel uses 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 18 MB L3 cache. This gives the AMD a larger total L3 pool, which likely contributes to its multi-threaded performance advantage. The Intel’s larger per-core L2 cache may help with certain workloads that benefit from more private cache per core.

The AMD supports DDR4 memory only, while the Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use a dual-channel memory bus. The AMD has a listed memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the Intel’s is not specified. Neither processor supports ECC memory. For PCIe, the AMD provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The Intel also includes integrated graphics in the form of Iris Xe 96EU, whereas the AMD has no integrated graphics listed.

The AMD is a desktop part with an unlocked multiplier, socketed in AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel is a mobile part soldered to Intel BGA 1744 with a locked multiplier. The AMD was released on 2019-07-06 with a launch MSRP of $199. The Intel was released on 2022-02-22 with no launch MSRP listed. Both processors are currently marked as Active in production status.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every core specification. The AMD offers 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel offers 12 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 3.60 GHz for the AMD and 2.10 GHz for the Intel, while boost clocks are 4.20 GHz and 4.70 GHz, respectively. The TDP is a major differentiator: the AMD is rated at 65 watts, while the Intel is rated at 28 watts, reflecting its mobile design target.

Cache configurations differ in both per-core and shared amounts. The AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 32 MB shared L3. The Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3. Memory support also diverges: the AMD supports DDR4 only, while the Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The AMD has a listed memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s; the Intel’s is not listed. PCIe lane counts differ, with the AMD providing Gen 4 with 16 lanes and the Intel providing Gen 4 with 20 lanes.

The socket and form factor are entirely different: the AMD uses AMD Socket AM4 for desktop, while the Intel uses Intel BGA 1744 for mobile. The AMD has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel’s is locked. The AMD has no integrated graphics, while the Intel includes Iris Xe 96EU. The process node differs, with the AMD at 7 nm and the Intel at 10 nm. The die size is 74 mm² for the AMD and 217 mm² for the Intel. The AMD lists 3,800 million transistors; the Intel does not list a transistor count. The AMD was released earlier and has a launch MSRP of $199; the Intel has no launch MSRP listed. The AMD’s part number is 100-000000031, and the Intel’s is SRLD6.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is the clear winner for heavily threaded workloads. Its 54.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 71.4% lead in PassMark find prime numbers make it the superior choice for rendering, scientific computing, and any task that scales across many threads. It also wins data compression (20.1% ahead), data encryption (24.2% ahead), and random string sorting (15.2% ahead), making it stronger for database operations, file archiving, and cryptographic workloads. The AMD’s 32 MB shared L3 cache and higher base clock contribute to its sustained multi-threaded performance. It wins the overall PassMark multi-thread by 5.5% and the physics test by the same margin, indicating better sustained performance in simulation and physics-based applications.

The Intel Core i7-1260P is the winner for single-threaded and lightly-threaded tasks. Its 23.9% lead in 3DMark single-thread and 21.2% lead in PassMark single-thread make it the better choice for general desktop responsiveness, legacy applications, and tasks that rely on a single fast core. The Intel’s 32.6% lead in floating-point math and 22% lead in integer math indicate a strong advantage in numerical analysis and financial modeling. Its 15% lead in 3DMark 2-thread also suggests better performance in older games or applications that are limited to two threads. The Intel’s higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz and 80 KB of L1 cache per core likely drive these wins.

The Cinebench R15 results are an outlier, with the Intel winning multi-core by 6.8% and single-core by 11.9%, but this is offset by the AMD’s decisive wins in R20 and R23. This suggests that the Intel performs better with older rendering workloads, while the AMD is better optimized for newer ones. For users working with modern renderers, the AMD is the stronger pick; for legacy workflows, the Intel holds an edge.

In terms of platform features, the AMD offers an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, while the Intel does not. The Intel includes integrated graphics, which is a significant advantage for systems without a discrete GPU, especially in a mobile context. The Intel also supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, providing more flexibility in system building, while the AMD is limited to DDR4. The Intel’s higher PCIe lane count (20 vs 16) could benefit systems with multiple NVMe drives or other expansion cards.

The data shows that these processors are nearly tied in overall average score, but they excel in different domains. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is the go-to for multi-threaded compute, while the Intel Core i7-1260P is the pick for single-thread speed and integrated graphics. The choice between them ultimately depends on whether the workload favors parallel throughput or single-core responsiveness.