AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X3D vs Intel Core 3 304 Comparison

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X3D has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X3D boosts to 5.70 GHz, while the Intel Core 3 304 boosts to 4.30 GHz.

Q: What is the thermal design power (TDP) for each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X3D has a TDP of 170 watts. The Intel Core 3 304 has a TDP of 15 watts.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X3D supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core 3 304 does not.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X3D offers 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth over a dual-channel DDR5 bus. The Intel Core 3 304 offers 59.7 GB/s over a single-channel DDR5/LPDDR5X bus.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X3D has 128 MB of L3 cache. The Intel Core 3 304 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X3D belongs to the 9000 series, built on the Granite Ridge architecture with Zen 5 cores. It is manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC, using a chiplet design that incorporates two 70.6 mm² dies. The transistor count reaches 16,630 million. Its socket is AMD Socket AM5, and it includes Radeon Graphics as integrated graphics. The CPU is unlocked for multiplier adjustments, indicating enthusiast-level flexibility.

The Intel Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process at Intel. It is a mobile-market chip with a BGA 1516 socket, meaning it is soldered to the board rather than socketed. The integrated graphics is Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core. The multiplier is locked, so overclocking is not supported. The process node is smaller, but the transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The AMD chip provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, plus a large 128 MB L3 pool. The Intel chip has a total of 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. These differences reflect the AMD part’s server-class cache depth versus the Intel part’s compact mobile design.

Memory support also splits the two. AMD uses DDR5 in dual-channel mode with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. Intel supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X but only in single-channel, yielding 59.7 GB/s. ECC memory is present on the AMD side but absent on Intel. PCIe connectivity differs as well: AMD offers Gen 5 with 24 CPU lanes, while Intel offers Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes.

Production status is active for both. The AMD release date is October 6, 2025, while the Intel release date is April 15, 2026. The AMD part number is 100-000000719E, and the Intel part number is SAE3K.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X3D wins in raw throughput. With 16 cores, 32 threads, a 5.70 GHz boost, and 128 MB of L3 cache, it is positioned for heavy parallel workloads, virtualization, and compute-heavy embedded tasks. Its dual-channel memory and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth support sustained multi-threaded loads. The unlocked multiplier and AM5 socket also make it suitable for systems that require tuning.

The Intel Core 3 304 wins in power efficiency and physical footprint. Its 15 watt TDP is dramatically lower than the AMD part’s 170 watts. The BGA 1516 socket and mobile market segment indicate a design for compact, low-power devices. The single-channel memory and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth are modest, but they match the chip’s intended role in light-duty appliances, edge devices, or fanless systems. The 3 nm Intel process helps achieve the low power draw.

Benchmark data for the AMD chip is absent from the database, so no direct wins can be assigned to it. For the Intel chip, recorded scores show strength in specific PassMark subtests, such as data compression at 114,775 and floating point math at 29,722. These indicate capable integer and math performance for a 5-core part. The Intel chip also reaches a 68th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 13,745, placing it near desktop-class processors from several generations prior.

The division is clear: AMD for compute density and cache-heavy workloads, Intel for low-power mobile integration. The AMD part is a desktop-class embedded processor; the Intel part is a mobile-class chip with a minimal thermal envelope.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification field recorded.

• Cores: AMD 16, Intel 5.
• Threads: AMD 32, Intel 5.
• Base clock: AMD 4.30 GHz, Intel 1.50 GHz.
• Boost clock: AMD 5.70 GHz, Intel 4.30 GHz.
• TDP: AMD 170 watts, Intel 15 watts.
• Socket: AMD Socket AM5, Intel BGA 1516.
• Process node: AMD 4 nm (TSMC), Intel 3 nm (Intel).
• Transistors: AMD 16,630 million, Intel not recorded.
• Die size: AMD 2x 70.6 mm², Intel not recorded.
• L1 cache: AMD 80 KB per core, Intel 192 KB total.
• L2 cache: AMD 1 MB per core, Intel 2.5 MB total.
• L3 cache: AMD 128 MB, Intel 6 MB shared.
• Memory support: AMD DDR5, Intel DDR5 and LPDDR5X.
• Memory bus: AMD Dual-channel, Intel Single-channel.
• Memory bandwidth: AMD 89.6 GB/s, Intel 59.7 GB/s.
• ECC memory: AMD true, Intel false.
• PCIe: AMD Gen 5, 24 lanes, Intel Gen 4, 6 lanes.
• Integrated graphics: AMD Radeon Graphics, Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe).
• Market segment: AMD Desktop, Intel Mobile.
• Multiplier unlocked: AMD true, Intel false.
• Release date: AMD 2025-10-06, Intel 2026-04-15.
• Launch MSRP: AMD not recorded, Intel $309.

The Intel launch MSRP of $309 is the only price data available, and it is stated once here for reference.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark entries between the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X3D and the Intel Core 3 304. The AMD chip has no recorded benchmark scores, zero wins, and an average benchmark score of zero. The Intel chip has 17 recorded benchmark scores and zero wins in the head-to-head comparison.

Because the AMD side has no benchmark data, direct numerical comparison is impossible. The Intel chip’s scores stand alone. Its Cinebench R15 multicore score is 849, and single-core is 264. In Cinebench R20, the multicore score is 4,160 and single-core is 587. In Cinebench R23, the multicore score is 5,263 and single-core is 1,765. These scores show a chip that is serviceable for light multi-threaded tasks but not a high-core-count workhorse.

PassMark results for the Intel chip provide more granularity. Data compression scores 114,775, data encryption scores 8,501, extended instructions scores 9,686, find prime numbers scores 68, floating point math scores 29,722, integer math scores 24,640, multithread scores 11,625, physics scores 868, random string sorting scores 13,659, and single thread scores 3,614 (recorded twice as passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread, both identical).

The nearest rivals for the Intel chip give context. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX has an average score of 13,786, which is 0.3% higher than the Intel chip’s 13,745. The Intel Core i7-8750H scores 13,868, 0.9% higher. The Intel Core 5 120UL scores 13,594, 1.1% lower. The AMD EPYC 7443 scores 13,936, 1.4% higher. This places the Intel Core 3 304 in a narrow performance band around the 13,700 to 13,900 average score range, competitive with older high-end desktop and entry server parts despite having only 5 cores.

Without AMD benchmark data, the head-to-head section relies on the Intel chip’s absolute scores and its rival deltas. The AMD chip’s specifications, such as 16 cores and 5.70 GHz boost, imply a large performance advantage, but the database does not quantify it.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports a clear split based on workload and platform requirements. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X3D presents a high-core, high-cache design with 16 cores, 32 threads, 128 MB of L3 cache, dual-channel DDR5 at 89.6 GB/s, PCIe Gen 5 with 24 lanes, and ECC memory support. Its 170 watt TDP and AM5 socket indicate a system builder’s part for performance-oriented embedded or workstation-class applications. The lack of benchmark scores in the database prevents a measured performance claim, but the specification sheet points to substantial multi-threaded capability.

The Intel Core 3 304 is a low-power mobile part with 5 cores, 5 threads, a 15 watt TDP, single-channel memory at 59.7 GB/s, and PCIe Gen 4 with 6 lanes. Its benchmark scores place it at the 68th percentile of all CPUs, with an average score of 13,745. It trades performance for efficiency and compactness, fitting BGA 1516 boards where power draw and heat are primary constraints.

Who should pick which: choose the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9950X3D for compute-heavy embedded systems, virtualization hosts, or any application requiring large L3 cache and high memory bandwidth. Choose the Intel Core 3 304 for low-power mobile or edge devices where the 15 watt TDP and small footprint matter more than raw throughput. The data does not support a single winner; it supports two distinct roles.