AMD Ryzen 7 2700U vs Intel Core i7-3820 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-3820 and AMD Ryzen 7 2700U are both 4-core, 8-thread processors, but they target completely different segments and eras. The i7-3820 is a 130W desktop part from the Sandy Bridge-E generation, while the 2700U is a 15W mobile chip from the Zen architecture. Benchmark data shows they land at nearly identical average scores (1424 vs 1415), placing both in the 37th percentile of all CPUs. However, their performance profiles diverge sharply: the Ryzen wins three of four head-to-head tests, including a massive single-core advantage, while the Intel part takes one multi-core victory in the newer Cinebench R23 workload.

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 7 2700U is the better choice for anyone prioritizing modern single-core performance and efficiency. It beats the i7-3820 by 51.9% in Cinebench R15 single-core (143.5 vs 69) and by 21.6% in Cinebench R23 single-core (886 vs 695). Its 15W TDP versus 130W makes it far more suitable for laptops and compact systems. The 2700U also includes integrated Radeon RX Vega 10 graphics, which the i7-3820 lacks entirely. If you need a processor for everyday tasks, light gaming, or any workload that benefits from strong per-thread performance, the Ryzen is the clear pick.

The Intel Core i7-3820 only wins one benchmark: Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 4923 versus 3603, a 36.6% margin. This suggests that in heavily threaded, sustained workloads using modern instruction sets, the older Intel chip can still outperform the mobile AMD part. However, this comes at a massive power cost (130W vs 15W) and requires a desktop platform with a Socket 2011 motherboard. The i7-3820 also supports quad-channel DDR3 memory with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, which could benefit memory-intensive applications. If you have an existing LGA 2011 system and need raw multi-threaded throughput, the i7-3820 has a niche advantage.

For new builds, the 2700U is the more practical option. Its active production status, 14nm process, and DDR4 support make it a more modern foundation. The i7-3820 is end-of-life and was launched at $305 MSRP, but the data does not suggest any reason to choose it over the Ryzen unless you specifically need that R23 multi-core performance and already own the platform.

Architecture Differences

The i7-3820 uses Intel's Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32nm process node, manufactured by Intel with 1,270 million transistors on a 294 mm² die. The 2700U uses AMD's Zen architecture on a 14nm process from GlobalFoundries, packing 4,950 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. This node advantage gives the Ryzen significantly better efficiency and transistor density.

Cache configurations differ notably. The i7-3820 has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, plus 10 MB of shared L3 cache. The 2700U has 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, but only 4 MB of shared L3. The Intel part's larger L3 cache likely helps in some multi-threaded scenarios, while the AMD's larger per-core L1 and L2 caches support its single-core strength.

Memory support is a major differentiator. The i7-3820 uses DDR3 with a quad-channel memory bus delivering 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The 2700U uses DDR4 with a dual-channel bus at 38.4 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Intel part provides Gen 2 with 40 CPU lanes, while the AMD provides Gen 3 with only 8 CPU lanes.

The 2700U integrates Radeon RX Vega 10 graphics, while the i7-3820 has no integrated graphics. The i7-3820 has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the 2700U does not. The Intel part's socket is LGA 2011, and the AMD uses Socket FP5. The i7-3820 was released in February 2012, while the 2700U came in October 2017.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: Both have a 3.80 GHz boost clock. The i7-3820 has a 3.60 GHz base clock, while the 2700U has a 2.20 GHz base clock.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 7 2700U have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it features Radeon RX Vega 10. The Intel Core i7-3820 does not have integrated graphics.

Q: Which CPU is more power efficient?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 2700U has a 15W TDP compared to the Intel Core i7-3820's 130W TDP. The 2700U consumes significantly less power.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Intel Core i7-3820 provides 40 PCIe Gen 2 lanes, while the AMD Ryzen 7 2700U provides 8 PCIe Gen 3 lanes.

Q: What memory types do these CPUs support?

A: The Intel Core i7-3820 supports DDR3 with a quad-channel bus. The AMD Ryzen 7 2700U supports DDR4 with a dual-channel bus.

Q: Which CPU wins in Cinebench R23 single-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 2700U wins with a score of 886, which is 21.6% higher than the Intel Core i7-3820's 695.

Specification Differences

• Base Clock: 3.60 GHz (Intel) vs 2.20 GHz (AMD)
• Boost Clock: 3.80 GHz (both)
• TDP: 130W (Intel) vs 15W (AMD)
• Socket: Intel Socket 2011 vs AMD Socket FP5
• Architecture: Sandy Bridge vs Zen
• Process Node: 32 nm vs 14 nm
• Transistors: 1,270 million vs 4,950 million
• Die Size: 294 mm² vs 210 mm²
• L1 Cache: 64 KB per core vs 96 KB per core
• L2 Cache: 256 KB per core vs 512 KB per core
• L3 Cache: 10 MB shared vs 4 MB shared
• Memory Support: DDR3 vs DDR4
• Memory Bus: Quad-channel vs Dual-channel
• Memory Bandwidth: 51.2 GB/s vs 38.4 GB/s
• PCIe: Gen 2, 40 lanes vs Gen 3, 8 lanes
• Integrated Graphics: None vs Radeon RX Vega 10
• Market Segment: Desktop vs Mobile
• Production Status: End-of-life vs Active
• Release Date: 2012-02-12 vs 2017-10-25
• Multiplier Unlocked: Yes vs No
• Part Number: SR0LD vs YM2700C4T4MFB

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 7 2700U dominates the older Intel chip in single-core performance across both Cinebench versions. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the 2700U scores 143.5 versus 69 for the i7-3820, a 51.9% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the gap narrows but remains substantial: 886 versus 695, a 21.6% lead. These results reflect the architectural improvements in Zen over Sandy Bridge, particularly in instructions-per-clock and clock-for-clock efficiency.

The 2700U also wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core, scoring 644 versus 496, a 23% margin. This is surprising given the i7-3820's much higher TDP and desktop design, but the Ryzen's newer architecture and higher effective IPC compensate for its lower base clock.

The Intel Core i7-3820 takes one victory in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 4923 versus 3603, a 36.6% lead. This is the largest margin in either direction across all tests. The R23 workload likely benefits from the Intel chip's larger 10 MB L3 cache and quad-channel memory bandwidth, which help in sustained multi-threaded rendering tasks. The i7-3820's older architecture appears to scale better with heavily threaded workloads that are less sensitive to single-thread speed.

Overall, the 2700U wins three of four head-to-head tests. However, the i7-3820's single win is by a wide margin, suggesting that its strong suit is precisely the kind of multi-core rendering workload that Cinebench R23 represents.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 2700U wins in all single-threaded scenarios. Its 51.9% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core and 21.6% lead in R23 single-core indicate it is the better choice for everyday applications, web browsing, office productivity, and any software that relies primarily on one or two cores. The 2700U also wins in the older R15 multi-core test, showing it can handle moderate multi-threading efficiently. Its 15W TDP makes it ideal for laptops, ultrabooks, and compact systems where power draw is a primary concern. The integrated Radeon RX Vega 10 graphics provide a complete solution without needing a discrete GPU.

The Intel Core i7-3820 wins specifically in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it outperforms the 2700U by 36.6%. This suggests it excels at modern, heavily multi-threaded workloads like video rendering and 3D modeling that can utilize all eight threads and benefit from the larger 10 MB L3 cache and 51.2 GB/s quad-channel memory bandwidth. Its 40 PCIe Gen 2 lanes provide extensive connectivity options for multiple GPUs or expansion cards. The unlocked multiplier allows for overclocking, which could further improve its multi-core performance. However, these advantages come with a 130W TDP and require a desktop platform with an LGA 2011 motherboard.

For most users, the 2700U is the more versatile processor. Its single-core wins are more relevant to typical usage patterns, and its efficiency and integrated graphics make it a complete package. The i7-3820's multi-core victory in R23 is noteworthy but niche, appealing mainly to those running specific rendering workloads on an existing desktop system. The data clearly favors the Ryzen for general-purpose computing, with the Intel part reserved for specialized multi-threaded tasks where its cache and memory bandwidth advantages come into play.