AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U vs Intel Core i3-7100H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U and the Intel Core i3-7100H are two mobile processors aimed at different segments of the laptop market. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U is a 4-core, 8-thread part built on AMD’s Zen architecture, while the Core i3-7100H is a 2-core, 4-thread chip from Intel’s Kaby Lake-H family. Both are designed for laptops, but their performance profiles, power envelopes, and feature sets diverge significantly. The data in the database provides a clear picture of how these two CPUs compare in real-world workloads, with the AMD part taking a commanding lead in multi-threaded tasks, while the Intel chip offers higher base clocks and a more established platform. Below, we break down the benchmark results, architectural differences, and the practical implications for users.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains a direct comparison between these two processors in the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, and the results are decisive. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U scores 553 points, while the Intel Core i3-7100H manages only 295 points. This gives the AMD chip a win by a margin of 87.5 percent. That is not a small gap; it is a near doubling of performance in a heavily threaded workload. Cinebench R15 multi-core is a rendering test that scales well with additional cores and threads, so the Ryzen’s 8 threads versus the Core i3’s 4 threads explains much of the advantage. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U also carries a higher average benchmark score of 1024 across all recorded tests, compared to 1009 for the Core i3-7100H. While that overall average is closer, the head-to-head result shows where the real difference lies.

Looking at the broader benchmark suite, the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U has recorded scores in Geekbench as well. It posts 2540 points in Geekbench multi-core and 867 points in Geekbench single-core. The Core i3-7100H does not have those Geekbench entries in the database, but it does have results from newer Cinebench versions. For instance, the Core i3-7100H scores 1231 in Cinebench R20 multi-core and 173 in Cinebench R20 single-core. It also records 2932 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 414 in Cinebench R23 single-core. These numbers cannot be directly compared to the Ryzen’s R15 and Geekbench scores, but they give a sense of the Intel chip’s capabilities in more recent test suites. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U’s Cinebench R15 single-core score is 134, which is notably lower than the Core i3-7100H’s R20 single-core score of 173, though those are different test versions and not directly comparable. What the data does show is that the Ryzen part wins the only direct head-to-head test, and it does so by a substantial margin.

The percentile rankings tell a similar story. Both CPUs sit at the 28th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they are in the lower-middle range of overall performance. However, the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U achieves this with a significantly lower TDP of 15 watts, while the Core i3-7100H consumes 35 watts. That efficiency difference is crucial for mobile devices, as it means the AMD chip delivers comparable overall standing while using less than half the power budget. The Core i3-7100H does have a higher base clock of 2.80 GHz compared to the Ryzen’s 2.00 GHz, but the Ryzen can boost up to 3.60 GHz, which helps close the single-thread gap in burst workloads. The benchmark data, however, favors the AMD part in the multi-core arena, and that is where the head-to-head comparison lands.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two chips is substantial. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U is built on the Zen architecture, codenamed Raven Ridge, and manufactured on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It features 4 cores and 8 threads, a configuration that allows for simultaneous multithreading. The Intel Core i3-7100H, by contrast, uses the Kaby Lake architecture, specifically Kaby Lake-H, and is also on a 14 nm process, but fabricated by Intel. It offers only 2 cores and 4 threads, which is a major limiting factor in multi-threaded workloads.

Cache hierarchies differ as well. 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 i3-7100H has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger cache allocations on the AMD chip, especially the L2 cache, give it more headroom for data-heavy tasks. The die size also tells a story: the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U has a die size of 246 mm², while the Core i3-7100H is much smaller at 126 mm². This reflects the integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics on the AMD chip, which adds significant silicon area.

Memory support is another differentiator. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Core i3-7100H supports both DDR3 and DDR4, also in dual-channel, but the database does not list a specific memory bandwidth figure for it. Both CPUs lack ECC memory support. PCIe lanes also differ: the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U provides PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes from the CPU, while the Core i3-7100H offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. This means the Intel chip has more available lanes for discrete GPUs or other peripherals, though for typical mobile use, 8 lanes may be sufficient.

The integrated graphics are a notable point of divergence. The AMD part includes Radeon Vega 8 graphics, which are known for strong iGPU performance relative to Intel’s offerings. The Core i3-7100H has Intel HD Graphics 630. The database does not provide specific iGPU benchmark scores, but the architectural difference is clear: AMD’s Vega 8 is a more capable graphics solution on paper, with more compute units and higher memory bandwidth available. The Core i3-7100H also lacks a boost clock, with its base clock of 2.80 GHz being the maximum, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U can boost to 3.60 GHz.

Production status and release dates also differ. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U is listed as Active, with a release date of January 7, 2019. The Core i3-7100H is marked End-of-life, with a release date of January 2, 2017. This means the AMD chip is still in production, while the Intel part has been discontinued. The Core i3-7100H does have a launch MSRP of $225, which can be stated once as a reference point, but the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U has no listed launch price. Socket types are also different: the AMD chip uses AMD Socket FP5, while the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 1440.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in the only direct benchmark comparison?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U wins the Cinebench R15 multi-core test with a score of 553, compared to 295 for the Intel Core i3-7100H. That is a performance advantage of 87.5 percent for the AMD chip.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i3-7100H has 2 cores and 4 threads. The Ryzen offers double the core count and double the thread count, which directly impacts multi-threaded performance.

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Core i3-7100H has a TDP of 35 watts. Despite the higher power draw, the Intel chip does not outperform the AMD chip in the head-to-head benchmark.

Q: Is the Intel Core i3-7100H still in production?

A: No, the Core i3-7100H is listed as End-of-life in the database. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U is listed as Active, meaning it is still in production.

Q: Which processor has higher clock speeds?

A: The Intel Core i3-7100H has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and no boost clock. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U has a lower base clock of 2.00 GHz but boosts up to 3.60 GHz, giving it a higher maximum clock speed.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, neither the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U nor the Intel Core i3-7100H supports ECC memory, according to the database.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner for users who prioritize multi-threaded performance: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U. Its 87.5 percent lead in the Cinebench R15 multi-core test is a decisive margin that reflects the advantage of having 4 cores and 8 threads versus 2 cores and 4 threads. For workloads like video rendering, code compilation, or any task that scales with thread count, the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U is the better choice. Additionally, it achieves this performance at a TDP of 15 watts, which is less than half the 35-watt TDP of the Core i3-7100H. This makes the AMD chip more suitable for thin-and-light laptops where battery life and thermal management are critical.

The Intel Core i3-7100H, however, is not without merit. Its higher base clock of 2.80 GHz, with no boost, means it can maintain a consistent frequency under load, which may benefit lightly threaded applications that do not take advantage of multiple cores. The larger PCIe lane count of 16 versus 8 could also be relevant for systems that need more expansion options. But the Core i3-7100H is End-of-life, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U remains Active, so the AMD part has a longer support horizon. The Ryzen also offers a more capable integrated GPU in the Radeon Vega 8, which is a significant advantage for users who do not plan to install a discrete graphics card.

In terms of overall average benchmark scores, the two are close: the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U averages 1024, while the Core i3-7100H averages 1009. But the head-to-head result is anything but close. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U is the superior processor for multi-core tasks, offers better efficiency, and is still in production. The Core i3-7100H may appeal to niche users who need its specific base-clock behavior or PCIe lane count, but for the vast majority of mobile workloads, the AMD part is the stronger choice. Buyers looking for a current, efficient, and multi-threaded capable CPU should lean toward the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U, while those with legacy Intel platform requirements might consider the Core i3-7100H, though its end-of-life status is a concern.

Specification Differences

The table below highlights the key specification differences between the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U and the Intel Core i3-7100H, based solely on the recorded data.

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U | Intel Core i3-7100H |

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

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.00 GHz | 2.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.60 GHz | None |

| TDP | 15 W | 35 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP5 | Intel BGA 1440 |

| Architecture | Zen | Kaby Lake |

| Codename | Raven Ridge | Kaby Lake-H |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Die Size | 246 mm² | 126 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 96 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 3 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3, DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | Not listed |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 8 Lanes | Gen 3, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Vega 8 | Intel HD Graphics 630 |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | January 7, 2019 | January 2, 2017 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $225 |

The specification table confirms the architectural gap. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U offers more cores, threads, cache, and a higher boost clock, all within a lower TDP. The Core i3-7100H counters with a higher base clock and more PCIe lanes, but those advantages do not translate into benchmark wins. The database records one head-to-head test, and the AMD part wins it outright. For any user evaluating these two CPUs, the data strongly favors the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U.