AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT vs Intel Core i7-10870H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT across all ten shared benchmark tests, with the Intel Core i7-10870H failing to secure a single win. The magnitude of the victories varies significantly by workload, and the pattern is instructive: the AMD part's advantage grows as thread counts scale up.

In multi-threaded workloads, the Ryzen 7 3800XT dominates. The Cinebench R15 multicore test delivers the largest margin of the entire comparison, with AMD scoring 2230 against Intel's 1194, a massive 86.8% advantage. This is the outlier result in the dataset, but it is not isolated. The 3DMark 16-thread test shows AMD at 6307 versus Intel's 5163, a 22.2% lead. The 3DMark max-thread result follows the same pattern: 6294 versus 5178, a 21.6% gap. Geekbench multicore puts AMD at 8561 and Intel at 7357, a 16.4% edge.

The 8-thread and 4-thread 3DMark results reinforce the trend. AMD scores 4743 against Intel's 4013 in the 8-thread test, an 18.2% lead, and 2795 versus 2462 in the 4-thread test, a 13.5% advantage. Even the 2-thread test shows AMD ahead at 1475 versus 1347, a 9.5% margin. The single-thread results are closer but still favor AMD. In 3DMark single-thread, AMD scores 748 against 720, a modest 3.9% lead. Cinebench R15 single-core shows a larger gap: 219 versus 168, a 30.4% difference. Geekbench single-core lands at 1773 for AMD and 1443 for Intel, a 22.9% edge.

The average benchmark score tells the same story at a glance. The AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT posts an average of 3515, while the Intel Core i7-10870H averages 3446. The percentile rankings are nearly identical, with AMD at the 55th percentile and Intel at the 54th percentile of all CPUs, which underscores how closely matched they are in the broader market despite the head-to-head sweep. The nearest rivals for AMD include the Intel Xeon E-2176G at 3502 (0.4% behind) and the Intel Xeon W-2135 at 3530 (0.4% ahead), showing the 3800XT sits in a tight cluster. Intel's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS at 3447 (0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS at 3444 (0.1% behind), placing the 10870H in an equally dense neighborhood.

What the numbers indicate is that the Ryzen 7 3800XT is not marginally faster; it is decisively faster in every recorded metric. The smallest gap is the 3.9% single-thread 3DMark result, and even that favors AMD. The largest gap, the Cinebench R15 multicore result, is a blowout that suggests a fundamental difference in sustained multi-thread performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmarks in the head-to-head data?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT wins all ten recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel Core i7-10870H has zero wins in the shared benchmark set.

Q: How large is the AMD advantage in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The margins range from 16.4% in Geekbench multicore to 86.8% in Cinebench R15 multicore. The 3DMark 16-thread test shows a 22.2% lead, and the max-thread test shows a 21.6% lead.

Q: Is the Intel part competitive in single-thread performance?

A: Not according to the data. AMD wins every single-thread test, though the margins vary. The 3DMark single-thread gap is just 3.9%, but Geekbench single-core shows a 22.9% difference and Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 30.4% difference.

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall average score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT averages 3515 across its benchmark suite, while the Intel Core i7-10870H averages 3446. Their percentile rankings are close: 55th for AMD and 54th for Intel.

Q: What are the closest rivals to each processor according to the database?

A: For the AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT, the nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon E-2176G (0.4% behind) and the Intel Xeon W-2135 (0.4% ahead). For the Intel Core i7-10870H, the nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS (0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS (0.1% behind).

Q: Does the Intel chip have any benchmark category where it outperforms AMD?

A: No. In the ten shared head-to-head tests, the Intel Core i7-10870H does not win a single category.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT is built on the Zen 2 architecture with the codename Matisse 2, part of the Ryzen 7 generation. It uses a 7 nm process node manufactured by TSMC, with 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-10870H uses the Comet Lake architecture with the codename Comet Lake-H, part of the Core 10th Gen family. It is built on a 14 nm process node from Intel's own foundry, with no transistor count or die size recorded in the database.

Cache configurations differ in structure. Both processors have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache differs: AMD provides 512 KB per core, while Intel provides 256 KB per core. The L3 cache shows a larger divergence. The AMD chip has 32 MB of L3 cache, while the Intel chip has 16 MB shared. This doubling of L3 cache on the AMD side likely contributes to its strong multi-thread performance in the recorded benchmarks.

The process node gap is significant. A 7 nm process versus a 14 nm process represents a generational difference in manufacturing technology, which partially explains the efficiency and performance characteristics visible in the data. The AMD part also supports PCIe Gen 4, while the Intel part is limited to PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Intel chip includes integrated UHD Graphics, while the AMD part has no integrated graphics recorded.

The platform targets are also distinct. The AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT is a desktop processor on AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel Core i7-10870H is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1440. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the Intel chip's multiplier is locked. The AMD part's TDP is 105 watts, the Intel part's is 45 watts, reflecting their different market segments.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are identical: both processors offer 8 cores and 16 threads. The similarities end there. The AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The Intel Core i7-10870H has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Intel's higher boost clock does not translate into benchmark wins, but the difference is worth noting.

The AMD processor has a TDP of 105 watts, while the Intel processor has a TDP of 45 watts. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket AM4, the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 1440. The AMD part is a desktop processor with an unlocked multiplier and part number 100-100000279WOF. The Intel part is a mobile processor with a locked multiplier and part number SRK3Y.

Memory support shows both support DDR4, but the AMD chip has a dual-channel memory bus with a recorded bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The Intel chip's memory bus and bandwidth are not recorded in the database. Neither processor supports ECC memory. The AMD part supports PCIe Gen 4, while the Intel part supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Intel chip includes integrated UHD Graphics; the AMD chip has none. The AMD processor had a launch MSRP of $399 and was released on 2020-07-06. The Intel processor has no launch MSRP recorded and was released on 2020-09-16. Both remain in active production.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT wins every recorded benchmark, so the use-case split is straightforward on the data. The largest margins come in heavily multi-threaded workloads. The Cinebench R15 multicore result, with an 86.8% lead, points to sustained rendering or compute tasks as the AMD chip's strongest territory. The 3DMark 16-thread and max-thread results, with leads of 22.2% and 21.6%, suggest that modern games and applications that scale across many threads will favor the AMD part. Geekbench multicore, a 16.4% lead, reinforces this.

The Intel Core i7-10870H has no benchmark wins, but its data profile suggests where it might be acceptable, if not superior. Its single-thread 3DMark result is only 3.9% behind AMD, which is the closest margin in the entire comparison. The Intel chip also has a higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus AMD's 4.70 GHz, which the data shows does not produce a win but does keep the single-thread gap relatively small in some tests. The Intel part is a mobile processor with a 45 watt TDP, making it suitable for laptops where power draw and thermals are constrained. The AMD part is a desktop chip with a 105 watt TDP, requiring a more substantial cooling solution and power delivery.

For a desktop builder prioritizing multi-thread performance, the AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT is the clear choice from the data. For a laptop buyer who needs 8 cores and 16 threads in a mobile form factor, the Intel Core i7-10870H is the only option of the two that fits that category. The benchmark results do not favor Intel, but the platform difference is the deciding factor for that use case.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT outperforms the Intel Core i7-10870H in every single recorded test. The average score difference, 3515 versus 3446, understates the head-to-head margins because the averages include different test suites, but the shared tests tell a consistent story of AMD dominance.

The largest gap is the Cinebench R15 multicore result at 86.8%, which is a massive difference that no amount of tuning or cooling can bridge on the Intel side. Even the smallest gap, the 3.9% single-thread 3DMark margin, favors AMD. The Intel chip's higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz does not translate into any benchmark victory.

Who should pick the AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT? Anyone building a desktop system who wants the stronger multi-thread performer, the larger 32 MB L3 cache, the 7 nm process, PCIe Gen 4 support, and an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. The 105 watt TDP means it needs a proper desktop cooler and power delivery, but the performance data justifies that requirement.

Who should pick the Intel Core i7-10870H? Anyone who needs a mobile processor with 8 cores and 16 threads in a laptop form factor. The 45 watt TDP and integrated UHD Graphics make it suitable for portable systems. The data shows it will trail the AMD desktop part in every measured workload, but it occupies a different market segment where its specifications, such as the 5.00 GHz boost clock and BGA 1440 socket, fit the mobile platform. If the choice is between these two for a desktop build, the data points decisively to the AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT.