Core i3-10325 vs Ryzen Z2

Core i3-10325 vs Ryzen Z2 Performance Spectrum

Core i3-10325

4 / 8

10,291

+1.8%

10,106

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3995WX

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 i3-10325 vs Ryzen Z2 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 i3-10325 vs Ryzen Z2: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i3-10325

2021

Why buy it

✅+1.8% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Z2 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $154 MSRP, while Ryzen Z2 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌712.5% higher power demand at 65W vs 8W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen Z2 moves to FP7/FP7r2/FP8 and DDR5.

Ryzen Z2

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +23.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Draws 8W instead of 65W, a 57W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP7/FP7r2/FP8 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (10,106 vs 10,291).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Z2 better than Core i3-10325?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Ryzen Z2 is ahead with a 23.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-10325 pulls ahead with 1.8% better PassMark. Ryzen Z2 also has the bigger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-10325 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.8% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Ryzen Z2 is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i3-10325 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Ryzen Z2 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $154 MSRP, and it still gives you a 23.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Core i3-10325 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 1.8% better PassMark. Core i3-10325 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (66.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen Z2 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2021), a healthier platform with FP7/FP7r2/FP8 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200, and 100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB). That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i3-10325 vs Ryzen Z2 Technical Specifications

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

Core i3-10325

The Core i3-10325 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake-R (2021) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 10,291 points. Launch price was $154.

Ryzen Z2

The Ryzen Z2 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP7/FP7r2/FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 8 MB + 16 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 10,106 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core i3-10325 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen Z2 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen Z2 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core i3-10325 versus 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen Z2 — a 8.2% clock advantage for the Ryzen Z2 (base: 3.9 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i3-10325 uses the Comet Lake-R (2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen Z2 uses Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-10325 scores 10,291 against the Ryzen Z2's 10,106 — a 1.8% lead for the Core i3-10325. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i3-10325 vs 16 MB on the Ryzen Z2.

Feature	Core i3-10325	Ryzen Z2
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	8 / 16+100%
Boost Clock	4.7 GHz	5.1 GHz+9%
Base Clock	3.9 GHz+18%	3.3 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	16 MB+100%
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	8 MB+3100%
Process	14 nm	4 nm-71%
Architecture	Comet Lake-R (2021)	Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025)
PassMark	10,291+2%	10,106

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Memory & Platform

The Core i3-10325 uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen Z2 uses FP7/FP7r2/FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.