AMD Ryzen 5 9600X vs Intel Core 3 201E Comparison

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X vs Intel Core 3 201E

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data presents a remarkably one-sided picture. Across all fifteen shared benchmark tests, the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X records a win, with no test favoring the Intel Core 3 201E. The margins, however, vary widely depending on the workload type, which reveals meaningful insights about each processor's strengths.

The largest single victory comes in the passmark_find_prime_numbers test, where the Ryzen 5 9600X scores 233 against the Core 3 201E's 57, a lead of 308.8%. This test is heavily dependent on integer arithmetic and core efficiency, and the AMD part's advantage here is staggering. Similarly, passmark_extended_instructions shows a 153.9% delta (28023 vs 11035), indicating a substantial difference in modern instruction handling.

Multi-threaded workloads consistently favor the AMD chip, though the magnitude varies. The cinebench_r15_multicore test shows a 111.7% advantage (2691 vs 1271), while cinebench_r23_multicore narrows to a 39% lead (17528.5 vs 12613). This discrepancy between the two Cinebench versions suggests that the longer-duration R23 test allows the Intel part to settle into a more sustainable performance state, even though it still loses decisively. Passmark multithread delivers a 102.4% delta (30027 vs 14839), while integer math shows 104.9% (89918 vs 43894).

Single-threaded performance tells a tighter story. The cinebench_r15_singlecore delta is 91.1% (342 vs 179), but cinebench_r23_singlecore reduces that to 22.7% (2183.5 vs 1780). Passmark single_thread shows a 31.2% advantage (4570 vs 3482). These figures indicate that the Ryzen 5 9600X holds a clear, but less overwhelming, edge in lightly threaded tasks.

Other notable wins include data compression at 107.7% (341021 vs 164160), random string sorting at 102.1% (35946 vs 17783), floating point math at 80.6% (60081 vs 33260), data encryption at 86.3% (16638 vs 8931), and physics at 76.3% (2012 vs 1141). The consistency of these margins across diverse workloads suggests that the AMD processor does not merely excel in one niche but delivers broadly superior throughput.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge fundamentally in their underlying designs. The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X uses the Zen 5 architecture on the Granite Ridge codename, fabricated on a 4 nm process by TSMC. It integrates 8,315 million transistors on a 70.6 mm² die. The Intel Core 3 201E uses the Bartlett Lake codename, built on a 10 nm process by Intel, with a die size of 163 mm² and no transistor count recorded in the database.

Core configurations differ sharply. The Ryzen 5 9600X offers 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Core 3 201E provides 4 cores and 8 threads. This two-core, four-thread deficit directly explains much of the multi-core benchmark gap. Clock speeds also favor AMD: the Ryzen 5 9600X has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost of 5.40 GHz, versus 3.60 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost for the Intel part.

Cache layouts reflect different design philosophies. Both use 80 KB L1 per core, but the Ryzen 5 9600X has 1 MB L2 per core versus 1.25 MB per core on the Intel. The L3 cache shows a major divergence: 32 MB shared on the AMD versus 12 MB shared on the Intel. This 20 MB difference in L3 capacity likely contributes to the AMD part's strength in data-heavy workloads like compression and sorting.

Memory support also separates them. The Ryzen 5 9600X supports only DDR5 with dual-channel access and a recorded bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Core 3 201E supports both DDR4 and DDR5, dual-channel, with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory. PCIe lanes differ as well: the AMD provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes, while the Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes.

The integrated graphics differ: Radeon Graphics on the AMD versus UHD Graphics 730 on the Intel. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Intel is locked. The AMD uses Socket AM5, the Intel uses Socket 1700.

Where Each One Wins

Given the 15-0 sweep in head-to-head tests, the Ryzen 5 9600X wins in every measured category. The data shows no benchmark where the Core 3 201E comes out ahead. That said, the relative margins suggest where the Intel part is less disadvantaged.

The Core 3 201E comes closest in cinebench_r23_singlecore, trailing by only 22.7%. This indicates that in short, lightly threaded bursts, the Intel architecture can narrow the gap, though it still loses. Similarly, the 31.2% delta in passmark single-threaded tests shows a smaller deficit than in most multi-threaded workloads.

Conversely, the Ryzen 5 9600X is most dominant in prime number finding (308.8% lead), extended instructions (153.9%), and data compression (107.7%). These are workloads that reward large caches, high core counts, and efficient instruction decoding. For any task that scales across threads, the AMD part's 6-core, 12-thread configuration combined with 32 MB L3 provides a clear structural advantage.

The Intel part's best performance relative to the AMD comes in its own architecture's strengths: moderate single-thread efficiency and a smaller physical footprint on the platform (lower TDP of 60 watts versus 65 watts). However, the benchmark data does not show any workload where this translates into a win.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X has an average benchmark score of 29,713, while the Intel Core 3 201E averages 19,056. The AMD part sits in the 81st percentile of all CPUs, the Intel in the 73rd.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap?

A: In cinebench_r23_multicore, the Ryzen 5 9600X scores 17,528.5 versus 12,613 for the Core 3 201E, a 39% lead. The cinebench_r15_multicore gap is much larger at 111.7% (2691 vs 1271).

Q: Does the Intel processor win any benchmark?

A: No. Across all fifteen head-to-head tests, the Intel Core 3 201E records zero wins. The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X wins all fifteen.

Q: What is the single-threaded score difference?

A: In cinebench_r23_singlecore, the AMD scores 2183.5 versus 1780 for the Intel, a 22.7% advantage. Passmark single_thread shows 4570 versus 3482, a 31.2% delta.

Q: Which processor has more cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X has 32 MB shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core 3 201E has 12 MB shared L3. The Intel has slightly more L2 per core (1.25 MB versus 1 MB).

Q: What memory types does each support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X supports DDR5 only. The Intel Core 3 201E supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 9600X | Intel Core 3 201E |

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

| Cores | 6 | 4 |

| Threads | 12 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.90 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.40 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 60 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | 70.6 mm² | 163 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 32 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 76.8 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 24 Lanes | Gen 5, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $279 | $134 |

The Verdict

The benchmark data offers no ambiguity. The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X outperforms the Intel Core 3 201E in every measured test, often by substantial margins. The 6-core, 12-thread configuration, larger L3 cache, higher clocks, and newer 4 nm process combine to deliver between 22.7% and 308.8% better results depending on the workload.

The Ryzen 5 9600X also ranks in the 81st percentile of all CPUs, versus the 73rd for the Core 3 201E. Its average benchmark score of 29,713 places it near rivals like the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H (29,868, a 0.5% difference) and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT (29,879, a 0.6% difference). The Intel part's average of 19,056 aligns closely with the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (19,047) and Intel Core i5-12400F (19,039), both within 0.1%.

For anyone choosing based on recorded performance data, the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is the clear selection. The Intel Core 3 201E offers lower power consumption (60 W versus 65 W TDP) and a lower launch MSRP, but the benchmark results show no performance category where it takes the lead. The data indicates that the Ryzen 5 9600X is suited for users who prioritize raw throughput across single and multi-threaded tasks, while the Core 3 201E may appeal to those constrained by platform costs or power budgets, provided they accept the measured performance deficit.