AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT vs Intel Core 3 201E Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor delivers the higher overall benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT posts an average benchmark score of 50,718, placing it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 3 201E averages 19,056, which lands in the 73rd percentile.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap between the two?

A: The recorded data shows the Ryzen 9 5900XT leads by 196.3% in Cinebench R23 multi-core, with scores of 37,373 against 12,613. The PassMark multithread test shows a 195.2% advantage for the AMD part.

Q: Does the Intel Core 3 201E win any benchmark at all?

A: Yes, the Intel chip wins the PassMark single-thread test by a narrow 0.2% margin, scoring 3,482 versus the AMD's 3,474. This is the only category where the Intel part takes the lead across all head-to-head tests.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 3 201E has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which processor supports faster PCIe and memory standards?

A: The Intel Core 3 201E supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes and both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes and DDR4 memory only.

Q: What are the thermal design power ratings?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT is rated at 105W TDP, while the Intel Core 3 201E is rated at 60W TDP.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT uses the Zen 3 architecture under the Vermeer codename, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC with 8,300 million transistors across a dual-die layout of 2x 74 mm². The Intel Core 3 201E uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm Intel process with a single 163 mm² die. These are fundamentally different design approaches: AMD's chip is a high-core-count part from the 5000 series, while Intel's Core 3 is a compact 4-core part.

Cache configurations differ sharply. The AMD part provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a 64 MB L3 pool. The Intel part uses 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The AMD's 64 MB L3 is five times larger than the Intel's shared 12 MB, which matters in workloads that repeatedly access large datasets.

Both chips run the same 4.80 GHz boost clock, but the base clocks differ: the AMD starts at 3.30 GHz and the Intel at 3.60 GHz. The AMD has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel's multiplier is locked. The AMD uses AMD Socket AM4, and the Intel uses Intel Socket 1700, meaning they require different motherboards entirely.

Memory support diverges as well. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel access and a theoretical bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The AMD part supports only DDR4, also dual-channel, at 51.2 GB/s. That gives the Intel chip a higher memory bandwidth ceiling, though the AMD chip's larger cache may compensate in certain workloads. Both support ECC memory.

The integrated graphics situation is one-sided. The Intel Core 3 201E includes UHD Graphics 730, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has no integrated graphics at all. Buyers using the AMD part must pair it with a discrete GPU. The Intel part can serve in systems without a dedicated graphics card.

PCIe support also differs. The Intel chip provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD chip provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The Intel part offers a newer PCIe generation, but the AMD part offers more total lanes.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT wins 15 of the 17 recorded head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The scale of the wins varies widely by workload type. In Cinebench testing, the AMD part dominates across the board. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 196.4% lead (3,767 versus 1,271), and single-core shows a 196.6% lead (531 versus 179). Cinebench R20 multi-core is nearly identical in margin at 196.3% (15,696 versus 5,297), with single-core at 196.5% (2,215 versus 747). Cinebench R23 multi-core repeats the pattern at 196.3% (37,373 versus 12,613), and single-core at 196.4% (5,276 versus 1,780).

PassMark tests reveal even larger gaps in some categories. The biggest margin comes in data encryption, where the AMD leads by 323.4% (37,814 versus 8,931). Integer math shows a 304.5% advantage (177,566 versus 43,894). Data compression follows at 264.2% (597,862 versus 164,160). Find prime numbers shows a 259.6% lead (205 versus 57). Extended instructions show 254.7% (39,141 versus 11,035). Random string sorting shows 251.7% (62,537 versus 17,783). Floating point math shows 198.9% (99,398 versus 33,260). PassMark multithread shows 195.2% (43,810 versus 14,839).

The narrowest AMD win is in PassMark physics, where the lead is 50.3% (1,715 versus 1,141). That is still a decisive margin, but it is far smaller than the other tests. Physics workloads often scale with a mix of single-thread and multi-thread performance, and the Intel part's higher base clock may help it close some of the gap.

The only Intel wins are the two PassMark single-thread entries, which are the same test recorded under two names. Both show the Intel at 3,482 against the AMD at 3,474, a 0.2% lead. This is statistically a tie in practical terms, but the recorded data gives the Intel part the win in this category. It is the sole bright spot for the Intel chip in the entire benchmark set.

The overall picture is one of complete AMD dominance in multi-threaded and most single-threaded workloads. The Intel part manages a marginal single-thread edge, but the AMD part's 16-core, 32-thread configuration produces roughly triple the throughput in most compute-heavy tests.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split in intended use cases. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT is the choice for workloads that use many threads. Its 16 cores and 32 threads produce leads of roughly 195% to 323% across Cinebench and PassMark multi-thread tests. The 90th percentile ranking and an average score of 50,718 place it in the same performance class as mobile and desktop parts like the Intel Core i7-13850HX (50,761, 0.1% faster) and the Intel Core i9-14900T (51,015, 0.6% faster). It also sits ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 (50,448, 0.5% slower) and the Intel Core i9-13980HX (50,398, 0.6% slower).

The Intel Core 3 201E is a different kind of product. Its 4 cores and 8 threads target light desktop workloads, and its 73rd percentile ranking reflects that positioning. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (19,047, 0% delta), the Intel Core i5-12400F (19,039, 0.1% delta), the Intel Core i5-1335U (18,982, 0.4% delta), and the AMD EPYC 7773X (18,979, 0.4% delta). The Intel part essentially ties those chips in average score.

Users who need integrated graphics and lower power draw may prefer the Intel Core 3 201E. It includes UHD Graphics 730, runs at 60W TDP, and supports DDR5 memory with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. It also carries a higher base clock of 3.60 GHz and a 4.80 GHz boost, matching the AMD's boost speed. The Intel part wins the PassMark single-thread test by a hair, so lightly threaded applications may see parity or a slight edge.

Users who need maximum throughput in rendering, compression, encryption, or any parallel workload should select the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT. The benchmark results show no contest in those areas. The AMD part also offers more PCIe lanes at 20 versus 16, though at Gen 4 instead of Gen 5. Its 64 MB L3 cache is a major advantage for data-heavy tasks.

The Intel Core 3 201E makes sense only for systems that do not require heavy compute, where its 60W TDP, integrated graphics, and DDR5 support are useful. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT is the performance leader by every meaningful margin in the recorded benchmarks, with 15 wins out of 17 head-to-head tests.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT | Intel Core 3 201E |

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

| Cores | 16 | 4 |

| Threads | 32 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.30 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.80 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 105W | 60W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Codename | Vermeer | Bartlett Lake |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | 2x 74 mm² | 163 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 64 MB | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 76.8 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | N/A | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $349 | $134 |

| Release Date | 2024-07-30 | 2025-01-12 |

| Transistors | 8,300 million | Not recorded |

| Part Number | 100-000001581 | SRVTR |

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. The AMD part has four times the cores and threads of the Intel part. The Intel part has a higher base clock, lower TDP, larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, and support for both DDR4 and DDR5. The AMD part has a much larger L3 cache, more PCIe lanes, an unlocked multiplier, and a smaller process node. The Intel part is the only one with integrated graphics. Both support ECC memory and run at the same 4.80 GHz boost clock.