AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U vs Intel Core i3-12300 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data splits the two processors evenly, with two wins apiece across the four shared benchmark tests. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U dominates the Cinebench R15 suite, while the Intel Core i3-12300 takes the newer Cinebench R23 tests by a significant margin.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U scores 1756 against the Intel Core i3-12300's 1230, a 30% advantage for the AMD chip. The single-core R15 test follows the same pattern: AMD leads 229 to 173, a 24.5% gap. These are the largest deltas in either direction across the entire comparison, and they show the Ryzen 7 PRO's eight-core, sixteen-thread configuration simply outmuscles the four-core, eight-thread Intel part in this older rendering workload.

The situation reverses completely in Cinebench R23. The Intel Core i3-12300 produces a multicore score of 12211, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U trails at 10095, giving Intel a 21% lead. The single-core R23 test shows a similar story: Intel scores 1724 versus AMD's 1441, a 19.6% advantage. This suggests the Alder Lake architecture scales better in the newer Cinebench version, despite having half the cores and threads of the Ryzen part.

The average benchmark score for the Intel Core i3-12300 sits at 3532, placing it at the 55th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U averages 3456, which puts it at the 54th percentile. These nearly identical aggregate scores, separated by only 76 points, reflect the split nature of the head-to-head results. The Intel part's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon W-1290TE (matching score of 3532, 0% delta), the Intel Core i5-10600K (3533, 0% delta), the Intel Xeon W-2135 (3530, 0.1% delta), and the Intel Core i3-12300T (3525, 0.2% delta). The AMD chip's closest competitors are the Intel Xeon E-2186G (3462, 0.2% behind), the Intel Core i7-9700F (3464, 0.2% behind), the AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS (3447, 0.3% ahead of AMD), and the Intel Core i7-10870H (3446, 0.3% ahead). Both processors land in the same performance tier, with the Intel part holding a slight aggregate edge of roughly 2% over the AMD chip's average.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i3-12300 belongs to the Alder Lake generation, built on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 163 mm². It features 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The thermal design power is 60 watts, and it uses the Intel Socket 1700 platform. Cache allocation includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support covers both DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730. It offers PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The launch MSRP is $143. This is a desktop part, and it does not support ECC memory.

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U is a mobile processor from the 7000 series, based on the Zen 3 architecture with the Barcelo-R codename. It uses TSMC's 7 nm process and contains 10,700 million transistors on a die size of 180 mm². The chip has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. Its thermal design power is just 15 watts, a quarter of the Intel part's TDP. It uses the AMD Socket FP6. Cache amounts to 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is limited to DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. ECC memory is supported. The integrated graphics are Radeon Graphics with Vega 8. PCIe support is Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The chip was released on January 3, 2023.

The core count difference is stark: the AMD chip has exactly double the cores and threads of the Intel part. The Ryzen 7 PRO also has a higher boost clock by 0.10 GHz, but a much lower base clock. The L3 cache on the AMD chip is 16 MB versus 12 MB on Intel, though Intel allocates more L2 per core. The process node advantage goes to AMD's 7 nm TSMC fabrication versus Intel's 10 nm node, and the AMD die is slightly larger at 180 mm² versus 163 mm². The TDP gap is the most dramatic architectural divergence: 60 watts for Intel versus 15 watts for AMD, reflecting the desktop versus mobile design targets.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U wins decisively in older rendering workloads. Its Cinebench R15 multicore score of 1756 beats Intel's 1230 by 30%, and its R15 single-core score of 229 beats Intel's 173 by 24.5%. This chip also brings ECC memory support and a lower power envelope at 15 watts, making it suitable for compact or battery-powered systems. The eight-core, sixteen-thread configuration provides a raw throughput advantage in the R15 test that the Intel part cannot match.

The Intel Core i3-12300 wins in newer rendering benchmarks. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 12211 beats AMD's 10095 by 21%, and its R23 single-core score of 1724 beats AMD's 1441 by 19.6%. The Intel chip also supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, whereas the AMD part is limited to DDR4. PCIe Gen 5 support on the Intel side provides a bandwidth advantage over AMD's PCIe Gen 3. The Intel part's 60-watt TDP, while higher, reflects its desktop positioning and allows for sustained performance in a full-size system.

The data shows a generational split. In the Cinebench R15 test, which reflects older workloads, the AMD architecture holds a clear edge. In the Cinebench R23 test, which represents more recent rendering workloads, the Intel Alder Lake architecture is clearly superior. Users running legacy applications may prefer the AMD chip, while those using current software should lean toward Intel based on these measurements.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded benchmark data, the choice depends on the workload and platform constraints. The Intel Core i3-12300 delivers the higher average benchmark score at 3532 versus 3456 for the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U, a difference of approximately 2%. The Intel part also holds a higher percentile ranking at 55 versus 54.

The Intel Core i3-12300 is the better choice for users running Cinebench R23 or similar modern rendering workloads. Its 21% multicore lead and 19.6% single-core lead over the AMD chip in R23 are substantial. The Intel part also offers DDR5 memory support and PCIe Gen 5 connectivity, which future-proofs a desktop build. The launch MSRP is $143.

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U is the better choice for users prioritizing power efficiency. Its 15-watt TDP is one-quarter of the Intel part's 60-watt TDP, making it suitable for laptops and compact systems where thermal headroom is limited. The AMD chip's 30% multicore lead and 24.5% single-core lead in Cinebench R15 show it excels in legacy workloads. ECC memory support adds reliability for professional applications.

For a desktop system running current software, the Intel Core i3-12300 has the edge in the newer benchmark tests and holds a slightly higher aggregate score. For a mobile or low-power system, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U offers competitive performance in older tests while consuming far less power. The two chips are closely matched overall, with the head-to-head record tied at 2 wins apiece.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i3-12300 scores 1724 in Cinebench R23 single-core, compared to 1441 for the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U, giving Intel a 19.6% advantage.

Q: How much faster is the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U in Cinebench R15 multicore?

A: The AMD chip scores 1756 versus 1230 for the Intel Core i3-12300, a 30% lead in favor of AMD.

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

A: The Intel Core i3-12300 has a TDP of 60 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U has a TDP of 15 watts, meaning the AMD part consumes one-quarter the power of the Intel part.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i3-12300 does not.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Intel Core i3-12300 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U supports only DDR4.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i3-12300 has an average benchmark score of 3532, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U averages 3456, a difference of 76 points in favor of Intel.