Core i3-10100 vs Ryzen 3 7320U

Intel

Core i3-10100

4 Cores8 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2020
Core family
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VS
AMD

Ryzen 3 7320U

4 Cores8 Thrd15 WWMax: 4.1 GHz2022
Ryzen family
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Core i3-10100 vs Ryzen 3 7320U Performance Spectrum

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Core i3-10100 vs Ryzen 3 7320U FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i3-10100 vs Ryzen 3 7320U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i3-10100

2020

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +9.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • +50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).
  • 300% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 4) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Ryzen 3 7320U.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $122 MSRP, while Ryzen 3 7320U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 333.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 15W.
  • Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen 3 7320U moves to FT6 and DDR5.

Ryzen 3 7320U

2022

Why buy it

  • Draws 15W instead of 65W, a 50W reduction.
  • Newer platform on FT6 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i3-10100 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (4,907 vs 5,612).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 6 MB).
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i3-10100.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-10100 better than Ryzen 3 7320U?
Yes. Core i3-10100 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 9.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 14.4% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Core i3-10100 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 9.9% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-10100 is the stronger fit. You are getting 14.4% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Core i3-10100 is the better buy right now. Core i3-10100 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $122 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 9.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (69.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Ryzen 3 7320U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2020) and a healthier platform with FT6 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i3-10100 vs Ryzen 3 7320U Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Intel

Core i3-10100

The Core i3-10100 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake-S (2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 8,526 points. Launch price was $130.

AMD

Ryzen 3 7320U

The Ryzen 3 7320U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 September 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Mendocino-U (Zen 2) (2022) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FT6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 8,627 points. Launch price was $149.

Processing Power

Both the Core i3-10100 and Ryzen 3 7320U share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i3-10100 versus 4.1 GHz on the Ryzen 3 7320U — a 4.8% clock advantage for the Core i3-10100 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i3-10100 uses the Comet Lake-S (2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 3 7320U uses Mendocino-U (Zen 2) (2022) (6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-10100 scores 8,526 against the Ryzen 3 7320U's 8,627 — a 1.2% lead for the Ryzen 3 7320U. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 5,612 vs 4,907 (13.4% advantage for the Core i3-10100). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,430 vs 1,213, a 16.4% lead for the Core i3-10100 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 4,300 vs 3,589 (18% advantage for the Core i3-10100). L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i3-10100 vs 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 7320U.

FeatureCore i3-10100Ryzen 3 7320U
Cores / Threads
4 / 8
4 / 8
Boost Clock
4.3 GHz+5%
4.1 GHz
Base Clock
3.6 GHz+50%
2.4 GHz
L3 Cache
6 MB (total)+50%
4 MB (total)
L2 Cache
256K (per core)
512 kB (per core)+100%
Process
14 nm
6 nm-57%
Architecture
Comet Lake-S (2020)
Mendocino-U (Zen 2) (2022)
PassMark
8,526
8,627+1%
Cinebench R23 Multi
5,612+14%
4,907
Geekbench 6 Single
1,430+18%
1,213
Geekbench 6 Multi
4,300+20%
3,589
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i3-10100 uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 3 7320U uses FT6 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i3-10100 versus LPDDR5-5500 on the Ryzen 3 7320U — the Ryzen 3 7320U supports 106.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-10100 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB 700% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-10100) vs 4 (Ryzen 3 7320U) — the Core i3-10100 offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: 400-series,500-series (Core i3-10100) and FT6 (Ryzen 3 7320U).

FeatureCore i3-10100Ryzen 3 7320U
Socket
LGA1200
FT6
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-2666
LPDDR5-5500+106%
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB+700%
16 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
16+300%
4
🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-10100) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 3 7320U). Both include integrated graphics UHD Graphics 630 (Core i3-10100) and Radeon 610M (Ryzen 3 7320U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-10100 targets Gaming, Ryzen 3 7320U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i3-10100 rivals Ryzen 3 3300X; Ryzen 3 7320U rivals Core i3-1215U.

FeatureCore i3-10100Ryzen 3 7320U
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
IGPU Model
UHD Graphics 630
Radeon 610M
Unlocked
No
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
AMD-V
Target Use
Gaming
Budget