AMD Ryzen 7 4800U vs Intel Core i3-12100T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results between the Intel Core i3-12100T and the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U are split evenly, with each processor claiming three wins across the recorded tests. The most dramatic swing comes in the Geekbench single-core test, where the Intel part scores 1957 against AMD's 1436, a commanding 36.3% advantage. This is the largest delta in either direction among all head-to-head comparisons, and it highlights a fundamental strength of the Alder Lake architecture in lightly threaded workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 7 4800U counters decisively in the Cinebench R15 suite. In the multicore test, the AMD chip scores 1411 versus Intel's 1057, a 25.1% lead. The single-core R15 test also favors AMD, with a score of 183 against Intel's 149, an 18.6% margin. These results suggest that in the older Cinebench R15 workload, the Ryzen 7's higher core count and boost clock of 4.20 GHz give it a clear edge, even though the Intel part's boost clock is only 0.10 GHz lower.

The picture flips entirely when looking at Cinebench R23, which is a more modern and demanding benchmark. The Intel Core i3-12100T delivers a multicore score of 10490, while the Ryzen 7 4800U manages 8376. That is a 25.2% advantage for Intel, nearly matching the margin AMD enjoyed in R15 multicore. In the R23 single-core test, Intel again leads, scoring 1481 against AMD's 1235, a 19.9% difference. This pattern indicates that the i3-12100T scales much better under the sustained, AVX-heavy load of R23, while the Ryzen 7 4800U performs relatively better in the older R15 test.

The Geekbench multicore result adds another wrinkle. Here, AMD wins with 6669 against Intel's 6055, a 9.2% margin. This is a smaller gap than the other multicore tests, but it still shows that the Ryzen 7's eight cores and sixteen threads can outpace the i3-12100T's four cores and eight threads in certain parallel workloads. The overall average benchmark scores reinforce the closeness of this matchup: the Intel part averages 3277 across all tests, while the AMD part averages 3218. Both processors sit at the 53rd percentile against all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy the same tier of overall performance.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i3-12100T is built on Alder Lake architecture using a 10 nm process node at Intel's own foundry. Its die size is 163 mm², and it uses a monolithic design with four physical cores and eight threads. The AMD Ryzen 7 4800U uses Zen 2 architecture on a 7 nm process node fabricated by TSMC, with a die size of 156 mm². AMD's chip packs eight cores and sixteen threads into that slightly smaller die, and it integrates 9,800 million transistors, a figure that Intel does not disclose for its part.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Intel processor allocates 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 12 MB L3 cache. The AMD processor uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and only 8 MB of shared L3. The Intel part's larger L2 and L3 allocations likely contribute to its strong single-core performance, especially in the Geekbench test where the 36.3% gap is most pronounced. The AMD chip compensates with more cores, but its smaller per-core caches and shared L3 may limit performance in latency-sensitive workloads.

Memory support also diverges. The Intel i3-12100T supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U supports DDR4 and LPDDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but AMD lists a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, a figure not provided for Intel. The PCIe implementation differs as well: Intel offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while AMD sticks with Gen 3. The Intel part connects via Socket 1700, while the AMD part uses AMD Socket FP6, reflecting their respective desktop and mobile market segments.

The integrated graphics also set them apart. Intel includes UHD Graphics 730, while AMD ships the Radeon RX Vega 8. Both processors have locked multipliers, and neither supports ECC memory. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $122, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD chip. The AMD Ryzen 7 4800U was released on 2020-01-05, while the Intel part's release date is not listed in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100T wins decisively. It scores 1957 in Geekbench single-core versus AMD's 1436, a 36.3% lead, and 1481 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 1235, a 19.9% lead.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U ever beat the Intel part in multicore tests?

A: Yes. The AMD chip wins Cinebench R15 multicore with 1411 against Intel's 1057, a 25.1% margin, and Geekbench multicore with 6669 against 6055, a 9.2% margin.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4800U has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i3-12100T has 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite half the cores, the Intel part still wins R23 multicore by 25.2%.

Q: What is the difference in process technology?

A: The Intel part uses a 10 nm process at Intel's foundry, while the AMD part uses a 7 nm process at TSMC. The AMD chip also packs 9,800 million transistors into a 156 mm² die, versus Intel's 163 mm² die with no transistor count listed.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100T has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U has only 8 MB. The Intel part also has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Intel part supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD part supports DDR4 and LPDDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses, and AMD lists a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-12100T | AMD Ryzen 7 4800U |

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

| Cores | 4 | 8 |

| Threads | 8 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.20 GHz | 1800.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | AMD Socket FP6 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Zen 2 |

| Codename | Alder Lake-S | Renoir |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not listed | 9,800 million |

| Die Size | 163 mm² | 156 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4, LPDDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 51.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3 |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | Radeon RX Vega 8 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | Not listed | 2020-01-05 |

| Launch MSRP | $122 | Not listed |

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload type. The Intel Core i3-12100T is the stronger choice for single-threaded and modern multicore tasks. Its Geekbench single-core lead of 36.3% and Cinebench R23 multicore lead of 25.2% demonstrate that Alder Lake's newer architecture, larger caches, and higher memory bandwidth potential deliver tangible gains in current software. The 12 MB shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB per-core L2 cache give it a significant latency advantage that shows up directly in the benchmark scores.

The AMD Ryzen 7 4800U, however, remains competitive in older workloads and in certain parallel scenarios. Its Cinebench R15 multicore win of 25.1% and Geekbench multicore win of 9.2% indicate that the sheer core and thread count (8 cores, 16 threads versus 4 cores, 8 threads) still matters in less optimized software. The lower 15 W TDP also makes it an attractive option for thin-and-light mobile designs, whereas the Intel part's 35 W TDP and desktop socket suggest a different intended use case.

The average benchmark scores are nearly identical: 3277 for Intel versus 3218 for AMD, a difference of less than 2%. Both sit at the 53rd percentile among all CPUs. This means that for a user who primarily runs a mix of modern and legacy applications, the choice will hinge on specific software behavior rather than overall capability. The Intel part is the better buy for users focused on single-core responsiveness and current-generation rendering engines, while the AMD part holds an edge in heavily threaded legacy workloads and mobile platforms. The benchmark data does not declare an outright winner, but it does show that the Intel Core i3-12100T's architectural advantages in cache size and process maturity give it the more future-proof profile.