AMD Ryzen 7 3750H vs Intel Core i7-3770K Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 3750H and Intel Core i7-3770K are separated by seven years and entirely different design philosophies, yet their aggregate benchmark scores land within a hair of each other. The data shows the Ryzen 7 3750H edges out a 0.1% lead in average benchmark score (1690 vs. 1688), placing both at the 40th percentile of all CPUs. That near-parity vanishes the moment individual workloads are examined, where each processor carves out distinct territories defined by architecture and generation.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result in the entire comparison comes from the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H posts a 144 score against the Intel Core i7-3770K’s 78. That is a staggering 84.6% advantage for AMD, a gap that dwarfs every other benchmark delta. The R15 multi-core test shows a similar, though less extreme, pattern: AMD wins 734 to 558, a 31.5% lead. These R15 results paint the 3750H as the clear victor in legacy rendering workloads.

The story flips dramatically in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel Core i7-3770K takes its only win of the comparison. Intel scores 5542 against AMD’s 3897, a 29.7% margin in favor of the older desktop chip. This is the single largest absolute score difference in the dataset, and it shows that the 3770K can still flex its muscle in modern all-core rendering. Notably, the single-core R23 test favors AMD again, with the 3750H scoring 971 versus 782, a 24.2% advantage.

Geekbench results continue the AMD trend, though with narrower margins. The 3750H wins multi-core 3446 to 3027, a 13.8% improvement, and single-core 950 to 860, a 10.5% edge. Across the six head-to-head benchmarks, AMD claims five victories. The only Intel win comes in the R23 multi-core test, but that single result is decisive enough to keep the overall aggregate scores nearly identical. The 0.1% delta in average score between the two chips (1690 vs. 1688) is statistically negligible, yet the individual benchmark swings—ranging from 10.5% to 84.6%—reveal fundamentally different performance profiles.

Architecture Differences

The foundational split begins with the manufacturing process. The AMD Ryzen 7 3750H uses a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries, while the Intel Core i7-3770K relies on Intel’s 22 nm node. Transistor counts reflect this generational gap: AMD packs 4,940 million transistors into a 210 mm² die, whereas Intel fits 1,400 million into a smaller 160 mm² die. Both processors feature four cores and eight threads, but their cache hierarchies diverge significantly. AMD allocates 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, plus 4 MB of shared L3. Intel counters with 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but doubles the shared L3 to 8 MB. That extra L3 capacity on the 3770K likely contributes to its strong R23 multi-core showing.

Clock speeds tell another story. The Intel chip runs at a 3.50 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost, while the AMD part starts lower at 2.30 GHz base but boosts higher to 4.00 GHz. Despite the higher boost clock, AMD’s power envelope is dramatically lower: 35W TDP versus Intel’s 77W. This reflects their market segments—the 3750H is a mobile processor on AMD Socket FP5, while the 3770K is a desktop chip on Intel Socket 1155. The 3770K also carries an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, whereas the 3750H is locked.

Memory support differs by generation: AMD uses DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration, while Intel uses DDR3 with a listed memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. Both lack ECC support and use PCIe Gen 3, though Intel specifies 16 lanes (CPU only) while AMD does not list lane counts. Integrated graphics also diverge: AMD pairs its CPU with Radeon Vega 10, while Intel includes HD 4000. The release dates are far apart—the 3770K launched in April 2012 with a launch MSRP of $313, while the 3750H arrived in January 2019. AMD’s part remains in active production, while Intel’s is end-of-life.

The Verdict

The data supports a straightforward split decision. The AMD Ryzen 7 3750H is the superior choice for anyone prioritizing single-threaded performance and legacy rendering workloads. Its 84.6% R15 single-core advantage and 24.2% R23 single-core margin are not subtle; they represent a generational leap in per-core efficiency. The 3750H also wins Geekbench by 13.8% multi-core and 10.5% single-core, making it the all-around better performer in four of the five modern benchmark categories. Its 35W TDP compared to Intel’s 77W further cements its position for mobile or power-constrained scenarios.

The Intel Core i7-3770K, despite being nearly a decade older, remains relevant solely because of its Cinebench R23 multi-core dominance. A 29.7% lead in that specific test—5542 versus 3897—shows that the 8 MB of shared L3 cache and higher sustained all-core clocks can still deliver competitive modern rendering throughput. However, this single victory comes at the cost of far higher power consumption, an end-of-life production status, and a 10.5% to 84.6% deficit in every other benchmark. Desktop users with heavy all-core rendering workloads might find the 3770K’s R23 score appealing, but the aggregate data—where AMD leads 1690 to 1688—does not justify choosing Intel unless that one benchmark is the sole priority.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3750H boosts to 4.00 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-3770K boosts to 3.90 GHz.

Q: How much larger is the Intel chip’s L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-3770K has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, which is double the 4 MB found on the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3750H is rated at 35W, while the Intel Core i7-3770K is rated at 77W.

Q: Which processor wins in Geekbench multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3750H wins 3446 to 3027, a 13.8% advantage over the Intel Core i7-3770K.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 7 3750H has an active production status, while the Intel Core i7-3770K is end-of-life.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3750H averages 1690, and the Intel Core i7-3770K averages 1688, a 0.1% difference.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 3750H wins in five of the six head-to-head benchmarks, making it the default pick for most workloads. Its largest victories come in Cinebench R15: an 84.6% margin in single-core and a 31.5% margin in multi-core. These results indicate a massive advantage in older software optimized for earlier Cinebench versions. The 3750H also wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 24.2% and both Geekbench tests (13.8% multi-core, 10.5% single-core), demonstrating consistent superiority across single-threaded and general-purpose multi-threaded tasks. The mobile design, with its 35W TDP, makes it the obvious choice for laptops or any scenario where power draw matters.

The Intel Core i7-3770K wins exactly one benchmark, but it is a meaningful one: Cinebench R23 multi-core. A 5542 score versus 3897 gives Intel a 29.7% lead that is larger than any AMD margin except the R15 single-core blowout. This suggests the 3770K’s 8 MB L3 cache and desktop-class power budget allow it to sustain heavy all-core loads better than the mobile-oriented AMD part. For users running modern rendering software that scales across all threads, the 3770K offers a tangible performance advantage. However, that edge is isolated to a single test, and the chip’s 77W TDP and end-of-life status limit its practical appeal. The data shows a clear trade-off: AMD wins the breadth of benchmarks, while Intel wins the one test that matters most for all-core rendering throughput.