AMD Ryzen 9 9900X vs Intel Core 3 201E Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-threaded workloads according to the database?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X leads in every recorded single-thread test. In Cinebench R23 single-core it scores 2253 versus 1780 for the Intel Core 3 201E, a 26.6% advantage. PassMark single-thread shows 4672 versus 3482, a 34.2% lead.

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

A: The Ryzen 9 9900X dominates multi-threaded tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core it scores 32172 versus 12613, a 155.1% advantage. In Cinebench R15 multi-core the delta is larger still: 5008 versus 1271, a 294% difference.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each chip?

A: The Ryzen 9 9900X has an average benchmark score of 57498, while the Intel Core 3 201E averages 19056. The Ryzen 9 also sits at the 92nd percentile of all CPUs, whereas the Core 3 201E sits at the 73rd percentile.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both support ECC memory. They also both use dual-channel memory buses, but the Ryzen 9 9900X supports DDR5 only, while the Intel Core 3 201E supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Core 3 201E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Both use the Gen 5 standard, but the AMD part offers more lanes.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. The Ryzen 9 9900X has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel Core 3 201E has a locked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is built on the Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename, using a 4 nm process from TSMC. It is part of the Ryzen 9 generation within the 9000 series. The Intel Core 3 201E uses the Bartlett Lake codename and is produced on Intel's 10 nm process. The manufacturing approach differs fundamentally: AMD relies on TSMC, Intel fabricates its own silicon.

The core configuration separates these two parts clearly. The Ryzen 9 9900X has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core 3 201E has 4 cores and 8 threads. That is a 3x difference in core count and thread count. The Ryzen 9 also has a higher base clock of 4.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.60 GHz, compared with 3.60 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost for the Intel part.

Cache hierarchy also differs. Both share an 80 KB L1 per core. The Ryzen 9 uses 1 MB L2 per core and a 64 MB L3 cache. The Intel Core 3 201E uses 1.25 MB L2 per core and a 12 MB shared L3. The L3 difference is substantial: 64 MB versus 12 MB.

Memory support diverges as well. The Ryzen 9 9900X supports only DDR5 with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core 3 201E supports both DDR4 and DDR5, with a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. Both have dual-channel memory buses and ECC support.

The socket and platform differ. The Ryzen 9 9900X uses AMD Socket AM5, while the Intel Core 3 201E uses Intel Socket 1700. Integrated graphics differ too: the AMD part includes Radeon Graphics, the Intel part includes UHD Graphics 730.

The Ryzen 9 9900X has 16,630 million transistors and a die size of 2x 70.6 mm². The Intel Core 3 201E has a die size of 163 mm², with no transistor count recorded in the database. The Ryzen 9 has a TDP of 120, the Intel part has a TDP of 60.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X across all 15 head-to-head benchmarks. No test in the database favors the Intel Core 3 201E.

The largest margin appears in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Ryzen 9 scores 436 versus 57, a 664.9% advantage. This points to heavy integer math with high thread counts. PassMark extended instructions shows a 400.6% lead, with scores of 55243 versus 11035. PassMark data compression follows at 316.4%, scoring 683579 versus 164160.

Cinebench results also reflect the core-count gap. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 9 scores 5008 versus 1271, a 294% difference. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the scores are 32172 versus 12613, a 155.1% difference. The single-core Cinebench R15 test shows 353 versus 179, a 97.2% delta, while Cinebench R23 single-core shows 2253 versus 1780, a 26.6% delta.

PassMark integer math gives the Ryzen 9 a 312.5% advantage (181056 versus 43894). Floating-point math shows a 261% lead (120083 versus 33260). PassMark multithread scores 54643 versus 14839, a 268.2% delta. PassMark physics shows 3381 versus 1141, a 196.3% lead. PassMark random string sorting favors the Ryzen 9 by 305% (72013 versus 17783). PassMark data encryption shows a 274.2% delta (33421 versus 8931).

The narrowest single-thread margin is in PassMark single-thread, where the Ryzen 9 leads 4672 versus 3482, a 34.2% delta. Even in single-core tests, the Zen 5 architecture and higher boost clock maintain a clear edge.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the pattern: 57498 for the Ryzen 9 9900X versus 19056 for the Intel Core 3 201E. The Ryzen 9's nearest rivals in the database are the AMD EPYC 9015 (57555, -0.1%), AMD EPYC 7313 (57399, +0.2%), Intel Core i9-14900 (58115, -1.1%), and Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M (58323, -1.4%). The Intel Core 3 201E's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (19047, 0%), Intel Core i5-12400F (19039, +0.1%), Intel Core i5-1335U (18982, +0.4%), and AMD EPYC 7773X (18979, +0.4%). The two parts do not overlap in the performance distribution at all.

Specification Differences

The table below lists only the fields where the two processors differ.

| Field | AMD Ryzen 9 9900X | Intel Core 3 201E |

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

| Cores | 12 | 4 |

| Threads | 24 | 8 |

| Base clock | 4.40 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.60 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 120 | 60 |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Codename | Granite Ridge | Bartlett Lake |

| Process node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 16,630 million | Not recorded |

| Die size | 2x 70.6 mm² | 163 mm² |

| L2 cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

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

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 76.8 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 24 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Launch MSRP | $499 | $134 |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part number | 100-000000662 | SRVTR |

Shared fields include 80 KB L1 per core, dual-channel memory bus, ECC memory support, Desktop market segment, Active production status, and Gen 5 PCIe.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X wins every recorded benchmark in the database. There is no recorded test where the Intel Core 3 201E takes a lead. The data therefore splits by workload type only in terms of margin, not direction.

The Ryzen 9 9900X wins by the largest margins in heavily parallel integer workloads. PassMark find prime numbers shows a 664.9% lead, and PassMark extended instructions shows a 400.6% lead. Data compression and integer math also favor the Ryzen 9 by over 300%. These results reflect the 12-core, 24-thread configuration and the larger 64 MB L3 cache.

The Ryzen 9 9900X also wins single-threaded tests, though by smaller margins. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 26.6% delta, and PassMark single-thread shows a 34.2% delta. The Zen 5 architecture and 5.60 GHz boost clock deliver this advantage.

The Intel Core 3 201E cannot claim a single head-to-head win. Its role in the database is as a lower-power, lower-cost alternative. It uses a 60 TDP versus 120 for the Ryzen 9, and it supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, giving it platform flexibility. Its launch MSRP is $134, and it sits at the 73rd percentile of all CPUs, comparable to the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS and Intel Core i5-12400F.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a decisive performance hierarchy. The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X outscores the Intel Core 3 201E in every single benchmark in the database. The average benchmark score of 57498 versus 19056 represents a roughly 3x overall gap, consistent with the core and thread count differences.

The Ryzen 9 9900X is the choice for workloads that scale with cores and threads. Its 12 cores and 24 threads, combined with 64 MB L3 cache, produce leads of 294% in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 155.1% in Cinebench R23 multi-core. It also leads in single-core tests by 26.6% to 34.2%, meaning it does not sacrifice responsiveness in lightly threaded tasks.

The Intel Core 3 201E occupies a different position. With 4 cores and 8 threads, a 60 TDP, and support for both DDR4 and DDR5, it targets systems where power draw and platform flexibility matter more than peak performance. Its nearest rivals in the database are the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS and Intel Core i5-12400F, all clustered around an average score of roughly 19000. The Core 3 201E does not compete with the Ryzen 9 9900X on raw benchmark results.

The verdict from the data is straightforward. For maximum multi-threaded throughput, the Ryzen 9 9900X is the clear leader. For a lower-power desktop processor in the 73rd percentile, the Intel Core 3 201E is the relevant option. They address different segments, and the benchmark record shows no overlap in performance.