Are you looking for the best entry-level CPU in the market? Both Intel and AMD have several CPUs in the low-budget range.
Intel Core i3 may be the best shot to pick the best entry-level CPU. However, AMD isn’t too far behind, with the Ryzen 3 lineup, they are offering some extraordinary CPUs.
Keep reading this article to learn what AMD CPU is equivalent to an Intel Core i3 CPU and which one to choose.
Which AMD Processor is Equivalent to Intel Core i3?
AMD Ryzen 3 is the most equivalent to the Intel Core i3 processor series. Both of them are entry-level CPUs that are available in a great price range. Intel has improved a lot with the Core i3 12th-gen and 13th-gen processors that can easily beat the Ryzen 3 processors lineup.
Consider the following table to find out the AMD processors that are equivalent to the Intel Core i3 processors.
| Intel Core i3 | Equivalent AMD Processor |
|---|---|
| Core i3 10300, Core i3 12100 | Ryzen 3 3300X |
| Core i3 10100 | Ryzen 3 3100 |
| Core i3 8100 | Ryzen 3 1200 |
I have used the specifications and benchmarks to compare the Intel Core i3 and the Ryzen 3 processors.
Now, let’s have a look at the processor’s specifications to better understand why the Intel Core i3 CPUs are comparable with the AMD Ryzen 3 CPUs.
Here are the specifications of Intel Core i3 10300 & 12100 and Ryzen 3 3300X CPUs:
Intel Core i3 10300 & 12100 Vs. Ryzen 3 3300X
| Processor | Core i3 10300 | Core i3 12100 | Ryzen 3 3300X |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clockspeed | 3.70 GHz | 3.30 GHz | 3.8 GHz |
| Turbo Speed | 4.40 GHz | 4.30 GHz | 4.3 GHz |
| Cores | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Threads | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Cache | 8 MB | 12 MB | 16 MB(L3 Cache) |
| Max TDP | 65 W | 89 W | 65W |
| iGPU | Intel® UHD Graphics 630 | Intel® UHD Graphics 730 | N/A |
| Price | $160 | $140 | $140 |
| Architecture | Comet Lake | Alder Lake | Zen2 |
| Lithography | 14 nm | 10 nm | TSMC 7 nm |
The table above represents all the technical details of the processors. Here we can see the similarity between these processors. Along with the similarities in performance, the price range is also almost identical.
Check the specifications of Intel Core i3 10100 and Ryzen 3 3100:
Intel Core i3 10100 Vs. Ryzen 3 3100
| Processor | Core i3 10100 | Ryzen 3 3100 |
|---|---|---|
| Clockspeed | 3.60 GHz | 3.6 GHz |
| Turbo Speed | 4.30 GHz | 3.9 GHz |
| Cores | 4 | 4 |
| Threads | 8 | 8 |
| Cache | 6 MB | 16 MB (L3 Cache) |
| Max TDP | 65 W | 65 W |
| iGPU | Intel® UHD Graphics 630 | N/A |
| Price | $140 | $99 |
| Architecture | Comet Lake | Zen2 |
| Lithography | 14 nm | TSMC 7 nm |
Intel Core i3 10100 and Ryzen 3 3100 processors are almost similar with identical specs. However, Intel clearly defects to AMD with its aggressive pricing.
Go through the following table for specifications of the Core i3 8100 and Ryzen 3 1200 CPUs:
Core i3 8100 Vs. Ryzen 3 1200
| Processor | Core i3 8100 | Ryzen 3 1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Clockspeed | 3.60 GHz | 3.1 GHz |
| Turbo Speed | N/A | 3.4 GHz |
| Cores | 4 | 4 |
| Threads | 4 | 4 |
| Cache | 6 MB | 8 MB (L3 Cache) |
| Max TDP | 65 W | 65 W |
| iGPU | Intel® UHD Graphics 630 | N/A |
| Price | $117.00 | $109 |
| Architecture | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Lithography | Coffee Lake | Zen |
Here we can see the main differences between these two older processors. The Intel Core i3 8100 lacks the Turbo speed, which means you cannot overclock this processor. On the contrary, the price is also considerably lower for the AMD processor.
The specification list is not enough to determine which processor is more powerful in real-world performance. Additionally, you can enable all cores to increase processor performance. So keep reading to understand the real-world performance of each CPU.
Intel Core i3 12100, 10300, 10100, 8100 Vs. Ryzen 3 3300X, 3100, 1200—Real World Performance
Using the productivity benchmark and the gaming benchmark, you can quickly understand the real-world performance of any CPU.
Cinebench and Geekbench are the most used benchmark applications for productivity benchmarks. Along with that, I also tested Blender and Premiere Pro for better accuracy.
Productivity Benchmark
Cinebench R23
Intel i3 12th gen processor is the clear winner in the Cinebench R23 results. The Ryzen 3 3300X processor manages to show its capabilities in multicore performance. 
Geekbench 5
The Geekbench 5 benchmark result was almost similar to the Cinebench benchmark. Ryzen 3 3300X, 3100 manage to perform incredibly in multicore performance. 
Blender
I have used a custom file to render using Blender. The following image shows the result for both 4K and 1080P. Here the clear winner is Intel because of its built-in GPU supports. 
Premiere Pro
I have used the Premiere Pro CC 2019 for video encoding to get a comparable result. Consider the following image for a clear understanding. 
Gaming Benchmark
Battlefield 2042
Core i3 12100 and Ryzen 3 3300X CPUs can easily handle Battlefield 2042 with a high average FPS. Check the below images for more details. 
FAR CRY 6
Far Cry 6 is another popular game that is used as a gaming benchmark. Consider the subsequent image for average and 1% lower FPS. 
Cyberpunk 2077
Both Core i3 12100 and Ryzen 3 3300X CPUs can constantly provide a huge average FPS. For more detailed information, look at the image below. 
Ryzen 3 Vs. Intel Core i3: Which One Should You Choose?
With the productivity benchmark and the gaming benchmark in hand, the clear winner in terms of performance is the Intel Core i3 processor. The main reason behind this is the difference in the GPU integration. Besides, the Ryzen 3 processors only come with entry-level specs.
You should also consider some other aspects while choosing a suitable processor for your desktop, such as price, availability, performance, and gaming.
Consider the following discussion for a better understanding.
Quickly check our epic post how many CPU cores do I need.
Pricing and Availability
Intel was leading the CPU industry for eternity. However, the situation changes with the rise of AMD. The main selling point of AMD was a lesser price for the overall same performance compared to Intel processors.
Core i3 12th gen processors offer various great features such as a new Laminar RM1 cooler, compatible memory, and so on. Though the price is a little higher than the Ryzen 3 CPUs.
Another fact to consider is the availability of the processors. Both manufacturers have a huge supply chain that distributes the products worldwide.
Performance and Gaming
The earlier productivity benchmark clears that the winner is the Intel Core i3 processor in terms of performance. That’s because most of the entry-level AMD CPUs are lacking the built-in GPU.
On the other hand, Intel processors with an F suffix don’t include integrated graphics. For example, the Intel Core i3 10100F.
If we compare the Cinebench R23 score for the Intel Core i3-12100 and Ryzen 3 3300X, the Intel processor provides 29% better performance than the Ryzen processors.
Though AMD is better in multicore performance, the Intel Core i3-12100 still beats the Ryzen 3 3300X with 25% better performance. However, AMD Ryzen provides a better-multithreaded performance with its four threads.
With the FX-8350 series, AMD significantly improved the single-threaded performance. That also has a great impact on gaming performance.
Even though, Ryzen 3 loses against the Intel Core i3 CPUs in terms of gaming executions. The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X manages to hold 60fps without difficulty on most intensive games. While comparing overall gaming performance, Intel provides 28% better performance.
Most CPUs generate huge heat while providing maximum performance. AMD has a bad reputation for producing high heat.
AMD uses more cores in its CPUs, so it will produce high temperatures. However, AMD Ryzen 3 surprisingly managed to heat dissipation with efficiency. The metal interface used in AMD CPUs helps to achieve this great success.
Now you know which AMD processors can be swapped with Core i3 without reducing the performance. Let’s find out which AMD processors are parallel to the Intel Core i9, Core i5 and Core i7.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AMD Ryzen 5 better than i3?
Compared to the Intel Core i3, AMD Ryzen 5 provides a lot of raw performance that can easily outperform Intel. Ryzen 5 comes with more cores and threads, higher base speed, and better energy efficiency.
Which Ryzen processor is equivalent to i3 10th gen?
Ryzen 3 3100 is the most equivalent to the Intel Core i3 10100. Both of them produce almost the same performance, with similarities in the specifications.
What Intel Core processor is equal to Ryzen 5?
Intel Core i5 12500 is the most comparable processor to the Ryzen 5. Both can provide almost the same raw performance with the closest specifications.
Final Thoughts
Intel was the forerunner in the processor industry. However, AMD has managed to gather the attention of numerous tech lovers with their budget-friendly products.
Core i3 and Ryzen 3 CPUs cover only a tiny portion of the huge chipset market. Though the latest core i3 13th gen CPUs changes the battle overnight, Ryzen 3 3300X is still considered good for its pricing.
Do you have any additional queries regarding this topic? Then comment below for further discussion.
