Core i3-9300 vs Ryzen 7 3700U
Core i3-9300
Ryzen 7 3700U
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-9300
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-9300 | Ryzen 7 3700U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($75) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) / 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-9300 | Ryzen 7 3700U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($75) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i3-9300 and Ryzen 7 3700U
Core i3-9300
The Core i3-9300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 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: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 62 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 7,105 points. Launch price was $143.
Ryzen 7 3700U
The Ryzen 7 3700U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: FP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,049 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-9300 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Ryzen 7 3700U's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i3-9300 versus 4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700U — a 7.2% clock advantage for the Core i3-9300 (base: 3.7 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i3-9300 uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 7 3700U uses Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-9300 scores 7,105 against the Ryzen 7 3700U's 7,049 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i3-9300. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,498 vs 794, a 61.4% lead for the Core i3-9300 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 4,025 vs 3,115 (25.5% advantage for the Core i3-9300). L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i3-9300 vs 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 3700U.
| Feature | Core i3-9300 | Ryzen 7 3700U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.3 GHz+7% | 4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.7 GHz+61% | 2.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total)+50% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512K (per core)+100% |
| Process | 14 nm | 12 nm-14% |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) | Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 7,105 | 7,049 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 3,826 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,498+89% | 794 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 4,025+29% | 3,115 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-9300 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 7 3700U uses FP5 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2400 memory speed. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-9300) vs 12 (Ryzen 7 3700U) — the Core i3-9300 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: LGA1151 (Core i3-9300) and FP5 (Ryzen 7 3700U).
| Feature | Core i3-9300 | Ryzen 7 3700U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | FP5 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+33% | 12 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-9300) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 7 3700U). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 630 (Core i3-9300) and Radeon RX Vega 10 (Ryzen 7 3700U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 7 3700U targets Mainstream Laptop.
| Feature | Core i3-9300 | Ryzen 7 3700U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 630 | Radeon RX Vega 10 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Mainstream Laptop |
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