AMD Ryzen 7 170 vs Intel Core 3 304 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a clear overall winner in the AMD Ryzen 7 170, which claims 8 of the 11 recorded head-to-head wins. The most dramatic margin appears in passmark_integer_math, where the AMD part scores 79738 against 24640 for the Intel Core 3 304, a 223.6% advantage. This is the single largest delta in the entire comparison and indicates a fundamental throughput gap in basic integer operations.

The Ryzen 7 170 also dominates in data compression, scoring 265920 versus 114775, a 131.7% lead. Random string sorting follows a similar pattern, with the AMD chip at 27804 and the Intel chip at 13659, a 103.6% difference. These two workloads are heavily dependent on memory subsystem behavior and core count, and the AMD processor's 16 threads versus 5 threads helps explain the magnitude of the gap.

Data encryption shows an 89.1% advantage for the AMD part, with scores of 16078 and 8501 respectively. Extended instructions follow at 86.9% (18107 versus 9686). The multithread benchmark, which is often a representative aggregate for parallel workloads, shows the AMD Ryzen 7 170 at 20760 versus 11625, a 78.6% win. Floating point math is less lopsided but still favors AMD: 44979 versus 29722, a 51.3% delta.

The physics benchmark is the closest contest in the entire data set, with the AMD chip at 890 and the Intel chip at 868, a mere 2.5% difference. This suggests that in this particular workload, the architectural differences largely cancel out, and the result is nearly a tie.

The Intel Core 3 304 wins three benchmarks, all of them related to single-thread or prime number processing. The passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread tests both record 3614 for Intel versus 3128 for AMD, a 13.4% advantage. Prime number finding is the other Intel win, with a score of 68 against 49, a 27.9% lead for the Intel part. This is noteworthy because it shows that despite having far fewer cores, the Intel processor's per-core performance is superior in certain scalar workloads.

However, the overall average benchmark scores put the AMD Ryzen 7 170 at 43689, which places it in the 88th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel Core 3 304 averages 13745, placing it in the 68th percentile. The delta between the two average scores is substantial, and the percentile gap of 20 points reflects the AMD part's broader dominance across the benchmark suite.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 uses the Zen 3+ architecture with the Rembrandt-R codename, fabricated on a 6 nm process by TSMC. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.75 GHz. The Intel Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, fabricated on a 3 nm process by Intel, with 5 cores and 5 threads, a base clock of 1.50 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz.

The core and thread disparity is the most consequential architectural difference. The AMD chip has 8 cores and 16 threads, meaning it supports simultaneous multithreading. The Intel chip has 5 cores and 5 threads, with no multithreading capability. This directly explains the large margins in multithreaded and parallel workloads.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The AMD processor allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, with 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel processor has 192 KB of L1 cache total, 2.5 MB of L2 cache total, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip's larger L3 cache, combined with its higher core count, supports its dominance in data-heavy workloads.

Memory support also diverges. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, with a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s and ECC support. The Intel Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus, with a memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s and no ECC support. The dual-channel configuration gives the AMD part a 28.6% bandwidth advantage, which shows up in memory-sensitive benchmarks.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The AMD chip provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics also differ: the AMD part uses Radeon 680M, while the Intel part uses Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe).

The thermal design power is another point of separation. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 is rated at 35 W, while the Intel Core 3 304 is rated at 15 W. This means the Intel part operates at a lower power envelope, which is relevant for fanless or ultra-portable designs, though it does not appear in the benchmark scores directly.

The release dates differ by roughly half a year, with the AMD part released on 2025-09-30 and the Intel part on 2026-04-15. Both are listed as Active in production status. The AMD part uses part number 100-000000989 and the Intel part uses SAE3K.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread score?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 scores 3614 in passmark_single_thread versus 3128 for the AMD Ryzen 7 170, a 13.4% advantage for Intel.

Q: How large is the multithread performance gap?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 170 scores 20760 in passmark_multithread versus 11625 for the Intel Core 3 304, a 78.6% difference in favor of AMD.

Q: What is the biggest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest delta is in passmark_integer_math, where the AMD Ryzen 7 170 scores 79738 against 24640, a 223.6% lead.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core 3 304 does not.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 170 has a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s over a dual-channel bus. The Intel Core 3 304 has a memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s over a single-channel bus.

Q: Which processor has the better percentile ranking in the database?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 170 is in the 88th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Core 3 304 is in the 68th percentile.

Specification Differences

• Cores: AMD Ryzen 7 170 has 8 cores; Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores.
• Threads: AMD Ryzen 7 170 has 16 threads; Intel Core 3 304 has 5 threads.
• Base clock: AMD Ryzen 7 170 runs at 3.20 GHz; Intel Core 3 304 runs at 1.50 GHz.
• Boost clock: AMD Ryzen 7 170 boosts to 4.75 GHz; Intel Core 3 304 boosts to 4.30 GHz.
• TDP: AMD Ryzen 7 170 is rated at 35 W; Intel Core 3 304 is rated at 15 W.
• Socket: AMD Ryzen 7 170 uses AMD Socket FP7; Intel Core 3 304 uses Intel BGA 1516.
• Architecture: AMD Ryzen 7 170 uses Zen 3+; Intel Core 3 304 has no listed architecture.
• Codename: AMD Ryzen 7 170 uses Rembrandt-R; Intel Core 3 304 uses Wildcat Lake.
• Process node: AMD Ryzen 7 170 uses 6 nm (TSMC); Intel Core 3 304 uses 3 nm (Intel).
• Die size: AMD Ryzen 7 170 has a die size of 210 mm²; Intel Core 3 304 has no listed die size.
• L1 cache: AMD Ryzen 7 170 has 64 KB per core; Intel Core 3 304 has 192 KB total.
• L2 cache: AMD Ryzen 7 170 has 512 KB per core; Intel Core 3 304 has 2.5 MB total.
• L3 cache: AMD Ryzen 7 170 has 16 MB shared; Intel Core 3 304 has 6 MB shared.
• Memory support: AMD Ryzen 7 170 supports DDR5; Intel Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X.
• Memory bus: AMD Ryzen 7 170 is dual-channel; Intel Core 3 304 is single-channel.
• Memory bandwidth: AMD Ryzen 7 170 has 76.8 GB/s; Intel Core 3 304 has 59.7 GB/s.
• ECC memory: AMD Ryzen 7 170 supports ECC; Intel Core 3 304 does not.
• PCIe: AMD Ryzen 7 170 has Gen 4 with 20 lanes; Intel Core 3 304 has Gen 4 with 6 lanes.
• Integrated graphics: AMD Ryzen 7 170 uses Radeon 680M; Intel Core 3 304 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe).
• Release date: AMD Ryzen 7 170 released 2025-09-30; Intel Core 3 304 released 2026-04-15.
• Part number: AMD Ryzen 7 170 is 100-000000989; Intel Core 3 304 is SAE3K.
• Launch MSRP: Intel Core 3 304 carries a launch MSRP of $309. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 has no listed launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 170 wins in every multithreaded and data-intensive category. Its 16 threads and dual-channel memory give it decisive advantages in integer math (223.6% lead), data compression (131.7%), random string sorting (103.6%), data encryption (89.1%), extended instructions (86.9%), multithread (78.6%), floating point math (51.3%), and physics (2.5%). For any workload that scales with core count or benefits from high memory bandwidth, the AMD part is the clear choice.

The Intel Core 3 304 wins in single-thread performance and prime number finding. Its passmark_single_thread score of 3614 is 13.4% higher than the AMD chip's 3128, and its prime number score of 68 is 27.9% higher than the AMD chip's 49. These wins point to workloads that are latency-bound or depend on per-core instruction efficiency rather than parallel throughput. The Intel part also operates at a lower TDP of 15 W, which makes it suitable for power-constrained mobile designs.

The physics benchmark is essentially a tie, with the AMD part ahead by only 2.5% (890 versus 868). This is the one workload where neither architecture demonstrates a meaningful advantage.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports a straightforward division of use cases. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 is the stronger processor for parallel computation, data processing, and memory-heavy tasks. Its 16 threads, dual-channel DDR5 support with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth, and 16 MB of L3 cache deliver large margins across most of the benchmark suite. Its average benchmark score of 43689 and 88th percentile ranking place it well above the Intel part in overall performance.

The Intel Core 3 304 is the better choice for single-threaded responsiveness and power efficiency. Its 13.4% single-thread advantage and 27.9% lead in prime number finding show that it handles scalar workloads more efficiently. Its 15 W TDP and 3 nm process node indicate a design focused on low power consumption and compact mobile systems. Its average benchmark score of 13745 and 68th percentile ranking reflect its narrower performance profile.

The choice between the two depends on workload type. Applications that use many threads or large data sets will favor the AMD Ryzen 7 170. Applications that rely on per-core speed or require minimal power draw will favor the Intel Core 3 304. The benchmark data does not support a single universal winner, but the AMD part wins the majority of tests and holds the higher overall percentile ranking.