Ryzen 3 3100 vs Ryzen 3 8440U

Ryzen 3 3100 vs Ryzen 3 8440U Performance Spectrum

Ryzen 3 3100

4 / 8

11,928

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Ryzen 3 8440U

4 / 8

11,957

+0.2%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

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.

Ryzen 3 3100 vs Ryzen 3 8440U 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.

Ryzen 3 3100 vs Ryzen 3 8440U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Ryzen 3 3100

2020

Why buy it

✅+100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (11,928 vs 11,957).
❌Launch MSRP is still $99 MSRP, while Ryzen 3 8440U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Ryzen 3 8440U moves to FP7 and DDR5.

Ryzen 3 8440U

2023

Why buy it

✅Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP7 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 16 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 3 8440U better than Ryzen 3 3100?

Yes. Ryzen 3 8440U is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.2% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 3 8440U is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.2% 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, Ryzen 3 8440U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Ryzen 3 8440U is still the better call for a fresh build. Ryzen 3 8440U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $99 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 3 3100 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is so cheap, but its absolute performance tier is too low to be the better recommendation now. At roughly 11,928 PassMark with 4 cores and 8 threads, it only really makes sense as a bare-minimum stopgap or a very constrained existing-platform upgrade.

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

Ryzen 3 8440U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2020), a healthier platform with FP7 and DDR5 instead of AM4, and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 4/8. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Ryzen 3 3100 vs Ryzen 3 8440U Technical Specifications

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

Ryzen 3 3100

The Ryzen 3 3100 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 24 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 11,928 points. Launch price was $99.

Ryzen 3 8440U

The Ryzen 3 8440U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point-U (Zen 4 + Zen 4c) (2023−2025) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP7. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 11,957 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Ryzen 3 3100 and Ryzen 3 8440U share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Ryzen 3 3100 versus 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 3 8440U — a 18.6% clock advantage for the Ryzen 3 8440U (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Ryzen 3 3100 uses the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm), while the Ryzen 3 8440U uses Hawk Point-U (Zen 4 + Zen 4c) (2023−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 3 3100 scores 11,928 against the Ryzen 3 8440U's 11,957 — a 0.2% lead for the Ryzen 3 8440U. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 3100 vs 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 8440U.

Feature	Ryzen 3 3100	Ryzen 3 8440U
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.9 GHz	4.7 GHz+21%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+20%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)+100%	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512K (per core)+51100%	1 MB (per core)
Process	7 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)	Hawk Point-U (Zen 4 + Zen 4c) (2023−2025)
PassMark	11,928	11,957

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 3 3100 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 3 8440U uses FP7 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.