AMD Ryzen 7 3750H vs Intel Core i7-990X Comparison

The Intel Core i7-990X and AMD Ryzen 7 3750H represent two vastly different eras of processor design, yet their aggregate benchmark scores place them within striking distance of one another. The data shows a 6-core desktop flagship from 2011 facing a 4-core mobile part from 2019, with the AMD chip winning five of six head-to-head comparisons, but the Intel chip securing the most decisive victory in the most demanding workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most significant performance gap in this comparison appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel Core i7-990X posts a score of 6071 against the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H’s 3897. This translates to a 55.8% advantage for the Intel part, a massive margin that underscores the value of its two additional physical cores and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. In this test, the older architecture’s raw multi-threaded throughput simply overwhelms the newer chip’s efficiency-focused design. It is the only benchmark in the entire data set where Intel comes out ahead, but it is a decisive one.

Every other benchmark tells a different story. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 7 3750H scores 734 versus the i7-990X’s 611, a 16.8% lead. The single-core results are even more lopsided. The AMD part achieves 144 in Cinebench R15 single-core, which is 40.3% higher than the Intel’s 86. That pattern repeats in Geekbench single-core, where the Ryzen 7 3750H posts 950 against the i7-990X’s 556, a 41.5% delta. Even in Geekbench multi-core—a test where the Intel’s extra cores might be expected to help—the AMD chip scores 3446 versus 2612, a 24.2% margin. The Cinebench R23 single-core result is closer, with the Ryzen 7 3750H scoring 971 to the i7-990X’s 857, an 11.7% advantage.

The overall win count is 5-1 in favor of the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H, but the benchmark averages tell a nuanced story. The Intel part’s average benchmark score is 1713, while the AMD part’s is 1690. Both chips sit at the 40th percentile among all CPUs, and their nearest rivals are remarkably similar. The i7-990X is within 0.2% of the Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3 and Intel Xeon E3-1265L v4, while the Ryzen 7 3750H is within 0.1% of the Intel Core i7-3770K and 0.5% of the Core i5-4690K. This suggests that while their workload-specific strengths differ sharply, their overall compute capability is nearly equivalent.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different foundations. The Intel Core i7-990X uses the Westmere architecture, specifically the Gulftown codename, fabricated on Intel’s 32 nm process node. It contains 1,170 million transistors on a 239 mm² die. The AMD Ryzen 7 3750H uses the Zen+ architecture with the Picasso codename, built on GlobalFoundries’ 12 nm process. Its transistor count is substantially higher at 4,940 million, packed into a 210 mm² die.

Core configurations diverge significantly. The Intel part offers 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD part provides 4 cores and 8 threads. Clock speeds reflect their different design philosophies: the i7-990X has a base clock of 3.47 GHz and a boost clock of 3.73 GHz, whereas the Ryzen 7 3750H starts at 2.30 GHz but boosts to 4.00 GHz. The Intel’s higher base clock helps in sustained workloads, but the AMD’s higher boost ceiling gives it a clear edge in bursty, single-threaded tasks.

Cache hierarchies are also distinct. The Intel chip features 64 KB of L1 cache and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, alongside 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip offers 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, but only 4 MB of shared L3. This means the Intel processor has three times the L3 capacity, which partially explains its strong Cinebench R23 multi-core showing. Memory support differs as well: the i7-990X uses DDR3 with a triple-channel memory bus, while the Ryzen 7 3750H uses DDR4 with a dual-channel bus. PCIe generation also differs, with the Intel part supporting Gen 2 and the AMD part supporting Gen 3.

The platform and packaging are completely different. The Intel chip uses Socket 1366, is marked as a desktop part, and is now end-of-life. The AMD chip uses Socket FP5, targets the mobile segment, and remains in active production. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD part does not. The AMD chip includes integrated Radeon Vega 10 graphics; the Intel chip has no integrated graphics at all. Thermal design power is another major divide: the Intel part is rated at 130 W, while the AMD part draws only 35 W.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-990X has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H has 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD chip wins the majority of head-to-head benchmarks.

Q: Why does the Intel chip win Cinebench R23 multi-core by such a large margin?

A: The Intel Core i7-990X scores 6071 in that test versus 3897 for the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H, a 55.8% advantage. Its 12 MB of shared L3 cache and higher base clock of 3.47 GHz contribute to this result, as does its additional pair of physical cores.

Q: How do the overall benchmark averages compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-990X has an average benchmark score of 1713, while the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H has an average of 1690. Both processors sit at the 40th percentile among all CPUs, indicating nearly identical aggregate performance.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference between these two chips?

A: The Intel Core i7-990X is rated at 130 W TDP, while the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H is rated at just 35 W. This makes the AMD part far more suitable for thin and light mobile systems.

Q: Do these processors support the same memory type?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-990X supports DDR3 memory with a triple-channel bus, whereas the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus. The AMD chip also supports PCIe Gen 3, while the Intel chip is limited to Gen 2.

Q: Which chip is still in production?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3750H is listed as active in production, while the Intel Core i7-990X is marked as end-of-life. The Intel part was released in 2011, and the AMD part in 2019.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i7-990X | AMD Ryzen 7 3750H |

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

| Cores | 6 | 4 |

| Threads | 12 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.47 GHz | 2.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.73 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| TDP | 130 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1366 | AMD Socket FP5 |

| Architecture | Westmere | Zen+ |

| Codename | Gulftown | Picasso |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 12 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 1,170 million | 4,940 million |

| Die Size | 239 mm² | 210 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Triple-channel | Dual-channel |

| PCIe | Gen 2 | Gen 3 |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Radeon Vega 10 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

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

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-990X is the clear choice for heavily threaded, long-running compute tasks. Its 55.8% victory in Cinebench R23 multi-core demonstrates that its six physical cores and 12 MB of L3 cache provide substantial sustained throughput that the four-core AMD chip cannot match. The data suggests this processor excels in rendering, content creation, or any workload that scales across many threads for extended periods. Its higher base clock of 3.47 GHz also means it maintains performance without relying on boost states. However, it comes with a 130 W TDP, which requires a substantial cooling solution.

The AMD Ryzen 7 3750H is the winner in nearly every other scenario. Its single-core performance is dramatically better, with leads of 40.3% in Cinebench R15 single-core, 41.5% in Geekbench single-core, and 11.7% in Cinebench R23 single-core. This makes it the superior part for everyday responsiveness, web browsing, office applications, and lightly threaded software. Its advantage in Geekbench multi-core (24.2%) also suggests better efficiency in mixed workloads that don’t fully saturate all cores. The AMD chip’s 4.00 GHz boost clock and more modern Zen+ architecture give it a decisive edge in latency-sensitive tasks. Its 35 W TDP and integrated Radeon Vega 10 graphics make it a self-contained mobile solution, ideal for laptops where power consumption and space are at a premium. For users who prioritize single-thread speed, portability, and lower power draw, the Ryzen 7 3750H is the clear winner. For those who need raw multi-core muscle and can accommodate a desktop platform with higher power requirements, the Intel Core i7-990X retains a specific, if narrow, advantage.