Ryzen 3 5300U vs Ryzen 7 3700X

AMD

Ryzen 3 5300U

4 Cores8 Thrd15 WWMax: 3.8 GHz2021
Ryzen family
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VS
AMD

Ryzen 7 3700X

8 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2019
Ryzen family
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Ryzen 3 5300U vs Ryzen 7 3700X Performance Spectrum

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 5300U vs Ryzen 7 3700X 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 5300U vs Ryzen 7 3700X: 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 5300U

2021

Why buy it

  • Draws 15W instead of 65W, a 50W reduction.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Vega 6, while Ryzen 7 3700X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 3700X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (9,453 vs 22,430).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 32 MB).

Ryzen 7 3700X

2019

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +71.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • +700% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 4 MB).
  • 100% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 12) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $329 MSRP, while Ryzen 3 5300U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 333.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 15W.
  • No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 3 5300U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 3700X better than Ryzen 3 5300U?
Yes. Ryzen 7 3700X is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 71.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 137.3% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 7 3700X is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 71.0% 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 7 3700X is the stronger fit. You are getting 137.3% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 700% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 4 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen 7 3700X is the better buy right now. Ryzen 7 3700X comes in at an unclear MSRP at $329 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 71.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (68.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 3 5300U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2019). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Ryzen 3 5300U vs Ryzen 7 3700X Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Ryzen 3 5300U

The Ryzen 3 5300U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 January 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,453 points. Launch price was $149.

AMD

Ryzen 7 3700X

The Ryzen 7 3700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 22,430 points. Launch price was $329.

Processing Power

The Ryzen 3 5300U packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 3700X has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Ryzen 3 5300U versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X — a 14.6% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 3700X (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Ryzen 3 5300U uses the Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021) architecture (7 nm), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 3 5300U scores 9,453 against the Ryzen 7 3700X's 22,430 — a 81.4% lead for the Ryzen 7 3700X. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 5300U vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X.

FeatureRyzen 3 5300URyzen 7 3700X
Cores / Threads
4 / 8
8 / 16+100%
Boost Clock
3.8 GHz
4.4 GHz+16%
Base Clock
2.6 GHz
3.6 GHz+38%
L3 Cache
4 MB (total)
32 MB+700%
L2 Cache
512K (per core)
512K (per core)
Process
7 nm
7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture
Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021)
Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)
PassMark
9,453
22,430+137%
Cinebench R23 Multi
5,522
Geekbench 6 Single
1,457
Geekbench 6 Multi
3,526
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 3 5300U uses the FP6 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Ryzen 7 3700X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Ryzen 3 5300U) vs 24 (Ryzen 7 3700X) — the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (Ryzen 3 5300U) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 7 3700X).

FeatureRyzen 3 5300URyzen 7 3700X
Socket
FP6
AM4
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-3200
DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity
64 GB
128 GB+100%
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
Yes
PCIe Lanes
12
24+100%
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: Yes (Ryzen 3 5300U) / not specified (Ryzen 7 3700X). The Ryzen 3 5300U includes integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 6), while the Ryzen 7 3700X requires a dedicated GPU.

FeatureRyzen 3 5300URyzen 7 3700X
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
Radeon Vega 6
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
Yes