Buying a CPU for your budget PC/Laptop is a difficult job to do. With the overall cost of all hardware components skyrocketing; the overall cost to build a PC or a laptop has increased significantly. AMD Ryzen 3 and Intel Core i3 and the two CPU options that provide an overall balance of price and performance.
While both the CPUs are priced under Rs. 15,000 there are some significant differences between the two. And here in this article let’s compare AMD Ryzen 3 vs Intel Core i3 and see which one is the better pick.
Also read: Intel Processor: A Complete Buying Guide
AMD Ryzen 3 vs Intel Core i3
Intel i3 processor is one of the most popular processors released over the last decade. It has become the standard choice for most budget laptops or PC. But how do the Intel Core i3 processors compare with other popular processors like the AMD Ryzen 3? Now, let’s compare the on-paper specifications and see which one is better.
AMD Ryzen 3 vs Intel Core i3: Specifications
| Ryzen 3 3300X | Core i3-12100F | |
| Physical cores | 4 (Quad-Core) | 4 (Quad-Core) |
| Threads | 8 | 8 |
| Base clock speed | 3.8 GHz | 3.3 GHz |
| Boost clock speed | 4.3 GHz | 4.3 GHz |
| L1 cache | 96K (per core) | 80K (per core) |
| L2 cache | 512K (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |
| L3 cache | 16 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |
| Chip lithography | 7 nm | Intel 7 nm |
| Die size | 74 mm2 | 163 mm2 |
| Maximum case temperature (TCase) | 95 °C | no data |
| Number of transistors | 3,800 million | no data |
| 64-bit support | + | – |
AMD Ryzen 3 vs Intel Core i3: Architecture
AMD Ryzen 3 is built on the Zen Microarchitecture which promises improved performance and more power efficiency. This is the architecture that brings Simultaneous Multi-Threading to AMD’s CPU line-up. For instance, the latest AMD Ryzen 3 3300X is built on Zen 2 architecture. This consists of up to two Core Complex Die (CCD), each housing eight 7nm cores, that are tied to a 12nm central I/O Die (IOD) via the Infinity Fabric.
On the other hand, the latest 12th gen Intel Core i3 (12100/F) is built with Alder Lake architecture with the Intel 7 process. This is built on 10nm Enhanced SuperFin technology and this is the 2nd gen of Intel’s 10nm process. The new alder lake architecture brings a hybrid x86 design. The Intel Core i3 12100F has four Golden Cove P-Cores active and focuses more on traditional design than having hybrid architecture.
Moreover, before we compare the actual performance of these two processors there are some fundamental differences between them. First of all the Intel Alder Lake processors for Core i3 comes with integrated graphics processing circuitry. This is what allows the Intel Core i3 processors to have the ability to run an output display without having a dedicated graphics card. A secondary Maximum Turbo Power (MTP) parameter was also introduced to show the peak power level during boost activity.
On the other hand, the AMD Ryzen 3 processors simply do not have such kind of graphics processing integrated on-chip and therefore they lack such capabilities. So if you have in mind to use another display on your system you will need to factor in the capabilities of both before you make your purchase decision. This is also the reason why the final cost of building your system using the AMD processors can significantly increase. This is because you would need some kind of dedicated GPU to be able to run an external display. So let’s take a look at the performance of the Ryzen 3 processors compared to the Intel counterparts.
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AMD Ryzen 3 vs Intel Core i3: Performance
| Benchmark Report | Intel Core-i3 12100f | AMD Ryzen 3 3300X |
| Cinebench R23 (Single-Core) | 1660 | 1295 |
| Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core) | 8049 | 6730 |
| Passmark CPU (Single-Core) | 3543 | 2670 |
| Passmark CPU (Multi-Core) | 14602 | 12672 |
| Geekbench 5 (Single-Core) | 1633 | 1298 |
| Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core) | 6325 | 5386 |
As evident from the benchmark report above the Intel Core i3 processors are the clear winner in terms of performance. This is because they have more cores and most of the Ryzen 3 processors coming out today include only entry-level specs. So in general you will get better performance to power ratio if you are going to opt for Intel.
Overall the Intel Core i3-12100 provided a much better 28.8% higher performance than the single-core score of AMD Ryzen 3 in Cinebench R23. Even in multi-core scores, the scales tipped in favour of Intel with 26% better performance than the Ryzen 3 3300X.
Where AMD Ryzen 3 shines is the multithreaded performance that it provides using all of its four threads. It has provided some benchmark scores that can go either toward core i5 or Core i3 depending on the type of optimizations. Primarily we can say that AMD has vastly improved its single-threaded performance since they launched FX-8350. As it has a strong single-threaded performance it also provides a stronger multithreaded performance which stands quite well against the Intel Core i3.
Also Read: AMD Ryzen 5 vs Intel Core i5: The Mid-Range CPU Faceoff
AMD Ryzen 3 vs Intel Core i3: Gaming
Many of the gaming benchmarks in terms gaming indicate that Ryzen 3 loses against the Intel Core i5 but performs significantly better against the Core i3. We compared both the processors in several modern games at 1080p resolutions.
| Processor | Cyberpunk 2077 (1080, Ultra) | Cyberpunk 2077 (1080, Ultra + DLSS) | Cyberpunk 2077 (1080, Ultra+ RT + DLSS) | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (4K, High) |
| Core i3-12100 | 80 | 145 | 110 | 256 |
| Ryzen 3 3300X | 80 | 126 | 93 | 236 |
The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X processor managed to hold in most of the intensive games at 60fps. On the other hand in some of the games where having more cores is advantageous the AMD Ryzen 3 was only 10% ahead of the Intel i3. This is not much of a difference between these two. This is what we found from our comparison with other CPUs that have higher IPC. In those cases, the Intel CPUs were able to beat the AMD Ryzen 3 lineup with up to 30% better performance.
We also compared the temperature change between both the processors while gaming. It was interesting to see the difference between both quad-core and dual cores processors. It seems logical that as AMD Ryzen 3 has more cores in its CPUs it will obviously have higher temperatures, but that is not the case. Despite having only two cores the temperature for Intel Core i3 was significantly higher. This is the result of poor thermal management and the poor materials used by Intel. This is a problem that has been noticed more in the newer Intel CPUs.
Moreover, on the other hand, the AMD Ryzen 3 performed better in terms of heat dissipation and the credit goes to its use of a metal interface. It has also improved the current heat sink fan design so the processor can remove the heat faster and in a better way. So in the past, many users complained that the AMD processors are often hot and can’t provide good performance, that is not the case now. The times have changed and the AMD processors are now more power-efficient and run much cooler compared to the Intel chips.
Also read: AMD Vs Intel: Who’s The Showstopper?
AMD Ryzen 3 vs Intel Core i3: Pricing and Availability
When it comes to availability the AMD Ryzen 3 processors are available from Rs. 12,299 for the base version and goes up as you need more power and cores. On the other hand, the Intel Core i3 12th Gen processors start from Rs.16,600. Both the processors offer on-par performance but if you want the best you can also opt for the latest Intel Core i3 12300 processors which are a bit expensive. But you will have the latest new Laminar RM1 cooler, compatible memory, and other things to consider. Lastly, you can always get the latest laptops from AMD or Intel to get more value for money.
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Conclusion
With the release of Ryzen 3 processors, AMD is particularly targeting budget gaming audiences who don’t have a lot of money to build expensive systems. Buyers can get more performance in terms of multithreaded applications compared to the Intel Core i3 processors. But those buyers who only require a basic system that can be used for day-to-day tasks will be better suited with the Core i3 processors as they have an integrated GPU that AMD fails to offer.
But you should keep in mind that while the Intel CPUs do come with an integrated GPU you can’t expect a great 1080p performance out of the Core i3. In that case, AMD still offers better quad-core performance for a lesser price tag. The more attractive choice for budget gamers will obviously be AMD instead of the Intel Core i3 CPUs.
This is what AMD has been doing with its latest launch of Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 processors. The company has standardized all of its CPU configurations so that buyers can easily compare the performances between all three line-ups. Moreover, this is how AMD with its Ryzen 3 provides better overall performance and rises as a competitor for the Core i3 processors.
But if you have got cash in your pocket and don’t mind spending it then the overall better choice would be the Intel Core i3 processors which offer integrated graphic cards. Not to say AMD Ryzen 3 are not capable those processors are good options if you are looking to save some money and also want some solid performance.
Also Read: Guide To Buy the Right Graphics Card For PC
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