AMD Ryzen 7 9700X vs Intel Core 3 201E Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and Intel Core 3 201E occupy different tiers of the desktop processor market, and the benchmark data reflects a decisive performance gap. The Ryzen 7 9700X, built on the Zen 5 architecture, is an 8-core, 16-thread processor with a 5.50 GHz boost clock and a 65 W TDP. The Intel Core 3 201E, from the Bartlett Lake family, is a 4-core, 8-thread part with a 4.80 GHz boost clock and a 60 W TDP. The recorded data shows the AMD part winning all 15 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with no wins for the Intel chip. This analysis breaks down where each processor demonstrates its strengths, the architectural differences that drive the results, and the specific performance deltas measured across various workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X wins every benchmark in the comparison set. The Intel Core 3 201E does not claim a single victory across any of the 15 recorded head-to-head tests. This means that for every workload category measured, from single-threaded tasks to heavily multithreaded rendering, the Ryzen 7 9700X delivers higher scores.

The Ryzen 7 9700X shows its largest advantages in heavily parallel workloads. In the PassMark extended instructions test, the AMD chip scores 35,318 against Intel's 11,035, a delta of 220.1%. The find prime numbers test shows a 236.8% advantage, with scores of 192 versus 57. These results indicate that the Ryzen 7 9700X is particularly strong in tasks that can utilize its additional cores and threads, such as encryption, compression, and complex mathematical calculations.

The Intel Core 3 201E, while behind in all measured metrics, still holds a position in the database's 73rd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS and Intel Core i5-12400F, with average scores of 19,047 and 19,039 respectively. This places the Core 3 201E in a competitive position within its own performance class, even though it trails the Ryzen 7 9700X by a wide margin.

Architecture Differences

The two processors use fundamentally different designs. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X is built on the Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename, manufactured on a 4 nm process by TSMC. The Intel Core 3 201E uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm process from Intel's own foundry. This process node difference is significant, as the smaller 4 nm node allows AMD to pack more transistors into a smaller area, with 8,315 million transistors on a 70.6 mm² die. The Intel chip has a larger die size of 163 mm², with no transistor count listed in the database.

Core configuration is a major differentiator. The Ryzen 7 9700X offers 8 cores and 16 threads, doubling the Intel Core 3 201E's 4 cores and 8 threads. The cache hierarchy also differs substantially. Both processors use an 80 KB L1 cache per core and a 1 MB L2 cache per core, but the Intel chip has a slightly larger 1.25 MB L2 per core. The L3 cache shows a major gap: the AMD part has 32 MB shared L3, while the Intel part has 12 MB shared L3.

Memory support differs as well. The Ryzen 7 9700X supports DDR5 memory with dual-channel architecture and a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core 3 201E supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but with a lower memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. Both processors support ECC memory. The platform interfaces diverge, with the AMD chip using AMD Socket AM5 and the Intel chip using Intel Socket 1700. The Ryzen 7 9700X provides PCIe Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Core 3 201E provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

The integrated graphics differ, with the AMD part featuring Radeon Graphics and the Intel part featuring UHD Graphics 730. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part does not. The AMD chip was released on 2024-08-07, while the Intel chip followed on 2025-01-12.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results establish the overall performance hierarchy. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Ryzen 7 9700X scores 20,485 against 12,613 for the Core 3 201E, a 62.4% advantage. This is a substantial lead for a rendering workload that scales well with core count. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, the AMD chip scores 2,211 versus 1,780, a 24.2% delta. This shows that even in lightly threaded tasks, the Zen 5 architecture holds a clear edge.

The Cinebench R15 tests show even larger relative gaps. The multicore test has the AMD part scoring 3,178 versus 1,271, a 150% delta. The singlecore test shows 346 versus 179, a 93.3% delta. These results indicate that the Ryzen 7 9700X is not just faster due to having more cores, but also delivers better per-core performance.

PassMark results cover a range of specialized workloads. In data compression, the Ryzen 7 9700X scores 437,140 against 164,160, a 166.3% advantage. Data encryption shows 21,815 versus 8,931, a 144.3% delta. Floating point math delivers 78,999 versus 33,260, a 137.5% advantage. Integer math shows 120,142 versus 43,894, a 173.7% delta. The multithread test scores 37,161 versus 14,839, a 150.4% advantage.

The single-thread PassMark results show the smallest gap, but it is still significant. The AMD processor scores 4,654 versus 3,482, a 33.7% delta. This is consistent across both the passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread tests, which record identical scores. Physics simulation shows 2,241 versus 1,141, a 96.4% delta. Random string sorting shows 46,782 versus 17,783, a 163.1% advantage.

The average benchmark score in the database reflects the overall gap. The Ryzen 7 9700X has an average score of 37,943 and sits in the 86th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-14901E with an average score of 37,911, a 0.1% delta, and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 with 37,904, also a 0.1% delta. The Intel Core 3 201E has an average score of 19,056 and sits in the 73rd percentile.

The Verdict

The benchmark data shows a clear separation between these two processors. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X wins all 15 recorded head-to-head comparisons, with deltas ranging from 24.2% in Cinebench R23 singlecore to 236.8% in PassMark find prime numbers. The average benchmark scores place the Ryzen 7 9700X at 37,943, almost exactly double the Intel Core 3 201E's 19,056. The percentile rankings confirm this, with the AMD part in the 86th percentile versus the Intel part in the 73rd percentile.

The Ryzen 7 9700X is the choice for workloads that demand high multithreaded throughput, such as rendering, compression, and encryption, based on its 150% or greater advantages in those tests. It also leads in single-threaded performance, making it suitable for everyday responsive tasks. The Intel Core 3 201E, with its 4 cores and 8 threads, is positioned in a lower performance tier, matching closely with rivals like the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS and Intel Core i5-12400F. The data does not indicate any workload category where the Intel part outperforms the AMD part.

FAQ

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core 3 201E has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X has an average benchmark score of 37,943, while the Intel Core 3 201E has an average score of 19,056.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X has 32 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core 3 201E has 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X supports DDR5 memory. The Intel Core 3 201E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory.

Q: What is the boost clock speed for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X has a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The Intel Core 3 201E has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz.

Q: In which benchmark does the AMD processor show its smallest lead?

A: The smallest lead is in the Cinebench R23 singlecore test, where the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X scores 2,211 versus 1,780, a 24.2% delta.