AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U vs Intel Core i3-4160 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U and Intel Core i3-4160 are separated by nearly half a decade of silicon evolution, but benchmark data shows a single, decisive head-to-head result. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U is a mobile part built for efficiency, while the Core i3-4160 is a desktop chip from an older era. The data shows a clear winner in the shared benchmark, though each processor has distinct architectural identities that suit different use cases.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only directly comparable benchmark in the data is Cinebench R15 multi-core, and the results are lopsided. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U scores 553 points, while the Intel Core i3-4160 manages just 297 points. That is a 86.2% advantage for the AMD part, a massive gap that reflects the fundamental difference in thread count and architecture generation. The Ryzen’s 4 cores and 8 threads simply overwhelm the Core i3’s 2 cores and 4 threads in a heavily threaded workload like Cinebench.

Looking at the broader benchmark suite, the AMD chip’s average benchmark score of 1024 places it in the 28th percentile of all CPUs, with rivals like the AMD Phenom II X6 1075T at an identical 1024 (0% delta) and the Intel Core i7-975 at 1023 (0.1% delta). The Intel Core i3-4160 has a slightly lower average score of 1017, also in the 28th percentile, with its closest rival being the Intel Core i5-2300 at 1014 (0.3% delta). The delta between the two processors is small — roughly 0.7% in average score — but the Cinebench R15 result shows where the real divergence lies.

What is striking is that the Core i3-4160 has additional benchmark results not shared with the Ryzen part. It scores 1241 in Cinebench R20 multi-core, 175 in Cinebench R20 single-core, 2955 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 417 in Cinebench R23 single-core. These numbers indicate that while the Intel part is competitive in average score, it cannot match the AMD processor’s multi-threaded throughput in the older Cinebench R15 test. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U also has Geekbench scores of 2540 multi-core and 867 single-core, which are not directly compared here but further cement its position as a more modern, balanced performer.

The wins tally confirms the narrative: AMD takes 1 win in the head-to-head benchmarks, Intel takes 0. That single win is decisive in the multi-core arena, but it is worth remembering the average scores are close enough that single-threaded workloads could tell a different story — the Core i3-4160’s base clock of 3.60 GHz matches the Ryzen’s boost clock, and the Intel chip has no boost clock at all, relying entirely on its fixed frequency.

Architecture Differences

The architectural chasm between these two processors is vast. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U is built on a 14 nm process by GlobalFoundries, using the Zen architecture under the Raven Ridge codename. It features 4 cores and 8 threads, a base clock of 2000.00 MHz, and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The die size is 246 mm², and it supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 8, and the socket is AMD Socket FP5, targeting the mobile segment.

The Intel Core i3-4160, by contrast, is a desktop part from the Haswell generation, built on a 22 nm process by Intel. It has 2 cores and 4 threads, a base clock of 3.60 GHz, and no boost clock — it runs at a fixed frequency. The die size is 177 mm², with 1,400 million transistors. It supports DDR3 memory in dual-channel mode, though the data does not list a memory bandwidth figure. The integrated graphics are Intel HD 4400, and it uses Intel Socket 1150.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i3-4160 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part’s larger cache hierarchy, especially the per-core L2, is a direct benefit of its newer architecture.

Feature-wise, both processors lack ECC memory support and have locked multipliers. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U offers PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes from the CPU, while the Core i3-4160 offers PCIe Gen 3 without a specified lane count. The AMD part was released on 2019-01-07, while the Intel part dates back to 2014-07-20, explaining the process node advantage and memory type differences. The Ryzen’s TDP of 15 watts versus the Intel’s 54 watts is a critical distinction — the AMD chip is designed for thin-and-light laptops, while the Intel chip is a desktop component.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U as the superior multi-threaded performer. Its 86.2% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core is a decisive victory, and its 4-core/8-thread configuration is simply more capable than the Core i3-4160’s 2-core/4-thread layout. The Ryzen also benefits from a much newer architecture, a smaller process node, and significantly lower power consumption. For anyone running heavily threaded applications like video encoding, 3D rendering, or modern productivity suites, the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U is the clear choice from the data.

However, the Intel Core i3-4160 is not without merit. Its average benchmark score of 1017 is only slightly below the AMD’s 1024, and its fixed 3.60 GHz clock speed means it can hold its own in single-threaded tasks, where clock speed and per-core efficiency matter more than thread count. The Core i3-4160’s Cinebench R23 single-core score of 417 suggests that older Intel architectures still deliver respectable single-thread performance. If the workload is predominantly single-threaded or lightly threaded, the Core i3-4160 could be sufficient, especially given its desktop form factor.

The production status of both parts is listed as "Active," meaning neither is obsolete from a manufacturing standpoint. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U is a mobile part, so it is not a direct drop-in replacement for the Core i3-4160 in a desktop socket. The choice ultimately depends on the platform and use case: mobile efficiency and multi-core muscle favor the AMD, while a fixed-frequency desktop part with a mature ecosystem favors the Intel.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i3-4160 has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R15 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U scores 553 versus the Intel Core i3-4160’s 297, giving AMD an 86.2% lead.

Q: Which processor has a lower TDP?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U has a TDP of 15 watts, compared to the Intel Core i3-4160’s 54 watts.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U supports DDR4 memory, while the Intel Core i3-4160 supports DDR3 memory. Both use dual-channel configurations.

Q: Do either of them support ECC memory?

A: No, both the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U and the Intel Core i3-4160 have ECC memory support marked as false.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U has an average benchmark score of 1024, and the Intel Core i3-4160 has an average of 1017, both in the 28th percentile of all CPUs.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U wins in multi-threaded performance, as evidenced by its 86.2% advantage in Cinebench R15 multi-core. It also wins on power efficiency with a 15 watt TDP versus 54 watts, making it ideal for mobile devices where battery life and thermals are critical. The Ryzen’s larger cache hierarchy — 96 KB L1, 512 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB L3 — and modern DDR4 memory support give it an edge in memory-intensive workloads. Its integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics are also more capable than Intel HD 4400 for light gaming or media tasks, though the data does not include direct graphics benchmarks.

The Intel Core i3-4160 wins in the single-threaded and lightly threaded arena, thanks to its fixed 3.60 GHz clock speed that matches the Ryzen’s boost clock but is always available. Its Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core scores of 175 and 417, respectively, show that it can handle everyday tasks like web browsing, office applications, and legacy software without issue. The Intel part also benefits from a desktop platform, which typically allows for better cooling and sustained performance, and its smaller die size of 177 mm² suggests lower manufacturing complexity. For users with a Socket 1150 motherboard already in place, the Core i3-4160 is a drop-in upgrade path, whereas the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U requires a mobile platform with Socket FP5.