Core i3-1215U vs Ryzen Z2
Core i3-1215U
Ryzen Z2
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i3-1215U is positioned at rank 606 and the Ryzen Z2 is on rank 115, so the Ryzen Z2 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-1215U
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen Z2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-1215U | Ryzen Z2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-U (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) / 4 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-1215U | Ryzen Z2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-1215U and Ryzen Z2
Core i3-1215U
The Core i3-1215U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 February 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 10,281 points. Launch price was $149.
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.
Processing Power
The Core i3-1215U packs 6 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen Z2 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen Z2 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i3-1215U versus 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen Z2 — a 14.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen Z2 (base: 1.2 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i3-1215U uses the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen Z2 uses Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-1215U scores 10,281 against the Ryzen Z2's 10,106 — a 1.7% lead for the Core i3-1215U. L3 cache: 10 MB (total) on the Core i3-1215U vs 16 MB on the Ryzen Z2.
| Feature | Core i3-1215U | Ryzen Z2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 8 | 8 / 16+33% |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz | 5.1 GHz+16% |
| Base Clock | 1.2 GHz | 3.3 GHz+175% |
| L3 Cache | 10 MB (total) | 16 MB+60% |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 8 MB+540% |
| Process | Intel 7 nm | 4 nm-43% |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-U (2022) | Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) |
| PassMark | 10,281+2% | 10,106 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,079 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-1215U uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen Z2 uses FP7/FP7r2/FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-1215U | Ryzen Z2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1744 | FP7/FP7r2/FP8 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+25% | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5-5200 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-1215U) / not specified (Ryzen Z2). The Core i3-1215U includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics for 12th Gen (64 EU)), while the Ryzen Z2 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-1215U targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-1215U rivals Ryzen 3 5425U.
| Feature | Core i3-1215U | Ryzen Z2 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics for 12th Gen (64 EU) | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Mainstream Laptop | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i3-1215U and Ryzen Z2
