AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D vs Intel Core 3 201E Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D has an average benchmark score of 97453, placing it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 3 201E has an average score of 19056, sitting in the 73rd percentile.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 3 201E has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache capacity?

A: The AMD processor features a 128 MB L3 cache, while the Intel processor has a 12 MB shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor supports a higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D supports 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the Intel Core 3 201E supports 76.8 GB/s.

Q: Does the Intel Core 3 201E have a launch MSRP?

A: Yes, the Intel Core 3 201E has a launch MSRP of $134. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D has a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, while the Intel Core 3 201E has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D is built on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Fire Range, and belongs to the 9000 series. It uses a 4 nm process from TSMC, with a transistor count of 16,630 million spread across a die size of 2x 70.6 mm². This is a mobile-focused chip, designed for high-end laptops, with a 55 W TDP.

The Intel Core 3 201E is based on the Bartlett Lake codename, part of the Core 3 generation. It uses a 10 nm process from Intel's own foundry, with a die size of 163 mm². It is a desktop processor with a 60 W TDP, targeting entry-level or embedded desktop workloads.

Cache configuration differs substantially. The AMD chip has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, totaling to a massive 128 MB of L3 cache. The Intel chip also has 80 KB of L1 cache per core but a larger 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, with only 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD's L3 capacity is over ten times larger, which typically benefits data-heavy workloads and gaming.

Memory support also separates them. AMD supports DDR5 only, with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but with a lower 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. Both processors support ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity differs: the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Core 3 201E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics also differ, with AMD using a Radeon 610M and Intel using UHD Graphics 730.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a complete sweep. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D wins all 15 benchmark comparisons, with no wins for the Intel Core 3 201E. The deltas are substantial across every category.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD scores 6042.5 against Intel's 1271, a 375.4% lead. The single-core R15 test shows a smaller but still decisive margin: 332 versus 179, an 85.5% advantage. Moving to Cinebench R23, the multicore result is 38161.5 versus 12613, a 202.6% delta, while single-core is 2159.5 versus 1780, a 21.3% delta.

Passmark tests reveal even wider gaps in specialized workloads. In data compression, AMD scores 785811 against Intel's 164160, a 378.7% difference. Data encryption shows 39446 versus 8931, a 341.7% lead. The extended instructions test is particularly lopsided: 62813 versus 11035, a 469.2% delta. Finding prime numbers yields 525 versus 57, an 821.1% gap, the largest single delta in the dataset.

Floating point math shows 144122 versus 33260, a 333.3% margin. Integer math is 222503 versus 43894, a 406.9% difference. Multithread performance is 62674 versus 14839, a 322.4% lead. Physics tests show 4687 versus 1141, a 310.8% gap. Random string sorting has 83497 versus 17783, a 369.5% delta. Single-thread Passmark results are the closest: 4511 versus 3482, a 29.6% advantage.

The data indicates that the AMD chip leads by the smallest margins in single-threaded tasks, and by the largest margins in prime number finding and extended instruction workloads. The Intel chip's closest relative performance is in single-core Cinebench R23, where it trails by just over a fifth.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification. Core count: AMD has 16 cores, Intel has 4. Threads: AMD has 32, Intel has 8. Base clock: AMD runs at 2.50 GHz, Intel at 3.60 GHz. Boost clock: AMD reaches 5.40 GHz, Intel reaches 4.80 GHz. TDP: AMD is rated at 55 W, Intel at 60 W.

Socket types are incompatible: AMD uses Socket FL1, Intel uses Socket 1700. The process node differs: AMD uses 4 nm TSMC, Intel uses 10 nm Intel. Die size: AMD is 2x 70.6 mm², Intel is a single 163 mm² die. Transistor count is only recorded for AMD at 16,630 million; Intel's is not listed.

Cache structure varies: AMD has 1 MB L2 per core and 128 MB L3, while Intel has 1.25 MB L2 per core and 12 MB shared L3. Both have the same 80 KB L1 per core. Memory support: AMD is DDR5 only, Intel is DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth: AMD at 89.6 GB/s, Intel at 76.8 GB/s. PCIe lanes: AMD has 28 Gen 5 lanes, Intel has 16 Gen 5 lanes.

Integrated graphics differ: AMD uses Radeon 610M, Intel uses UHD Graphics 730. Market segment: AMD is mobile, Intel is desktop. The multiplier is unlocked on AMD, locked on Intel. Release dates are close, with AMD on January 5, 2025, and Intel on January 12, 2025. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $134; AMD has none recorded.

The Verdict

The benchmark data delivers a clear separation. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D outperforms the Intel Core 3 201E in every single recorded test, with no exceptions. Its average benchmark score of 97453 places it near the top of the database, while Intel's 19056 places it in the mid-range. The AMD chip sits alongside workstation-class processors like the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX and AMD EPYC 4565P, while the Intel chip sits alongside mainstream parts like the Intel Core i5-12400F and AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS.

The closest competition for AMD is the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945, which trails by just 1.4%. The Intel Core 3 201E's closest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, which matches its average score exactly. This context shows that the Intel chip is not a low-end outlier, but rather a competent mid-range desktop processor. The AMD chip, however, is in a different performance tier entirely.

For users relying on heavy multi-threaded workloads, rendering, data compression, or encryption, the AMD chip's 16 cores and 32 threads deliver a 322.4% multithread advantage. The Intel chip's 4 cores and 8 threads are sufficient for lighter tasks but fall far behind under parallel load. The single-thread gap is narrower, at 21.3% in Cinebench R23 and 29.6% in Passmark, but still favors AMD.

The Intel chip does have a higher base clock of 3.60 GHz versus 2.50 GHz, which suggests efficiency at idle or lightly threaded tasks, but the AMD chip's higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz and larger cache ultimately win every benchmark. The Intel chip also supports DDR4 memory, which could be a practical advantage for upgrading existing systems, but that does not translate into benchmark wins.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D wins in every category measured. The largest margins appear in prime number finding (821.1%), extended instructions (469.2%), and integer math (406.9%). These results point to workloads that are strongly parallel or benefit from large caches and high thread counts. The AMD chip is the clear choice for rendering, scientific computation, data compression, encryption, and any task that scales with cores.

The Intel Core 3 201E has no recorded benchmark wins, but its closest relative performance is in single-core tasks. The Cinebench R23 single-core delta of 21.3% and Passmark single-thread delta of 29.6% are the smallest gaps. This suggests that for simple, lightly threaded applications such as basic office work, web browsing, or legacy software, the Intel chip is less disadvantaged. Its higher base clock of 3.60 GHz and support for DDR4 memory could make it a more practical choice for budget desktop builds, though the database does not record any performance advantage in those scenarios.

The Intel chip also has a lower average benchmark score, but it occupies a different market segment: desktop versus mobile. Its 12 MB L3 cache and 4 cores are suited to entry-level desktop tasks, while the AMD chip's 128 MB L3 cache and 16 cores are built for high-end mobile workstations. The data shows no scenario where the Intel chip outperforms the AMD chip, so the selection depends entirely on whether the user needs the AMD's multi-thread dominance or can accept the Intel's lower performance for simpler workloads.