Core i3-9300 vs Ryzen 7 3700U

Core i3-9300 vs Ryzen 7 3700U Performance Spectrum

Core i3-9300

4 / 4

7,105

+0.8%

7,049

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

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 i3-9300 vs Ryzen 7 3700U 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 i3-9300 vs Ryzen 7 3700U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i3-9300

2019

Why buy it

✅+88.7% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).
✅33.3% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 12) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 7 3700U.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $143 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 3700U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌313.3% higher power demand at 62W vs 15W.

Ryzen 7 3700U

2019

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 62W, a 47W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (794 vs 1,498).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (3,115 vs 4,025).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 6 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i3-9300.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-9300 better than Ryzen 7 3700U?

Yes. Core i3-9300 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 29.2% better Geekbench multi-core, and 0.8% higher PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i3-9300 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.2% 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 i3-9300 is the stronger fit. You are getting 29.2% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 4 cores and 4 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 i3-9300 is the better buy right now. Core i3-9300 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $143 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (49.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 7 3700U is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more room to grow and a better platform outlook.

Core i3-9300 vs Ryzen 7 3700U Technical Specifications

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

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.

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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

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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	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	16+33%	12

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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.