Core i3-8300 vs Ryzen 3 1200

CPU

GPU

Core i3-8300

4 Cores4 Thrd62 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2018

Popular choices:

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Ryzen 3 1200

4 Cores4 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2017

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i3-8300

4 / 4

6,370

0.0%

6,407

+0.6%

Athlon II X4 651

Ryzen Embedded R1606G

FX-8320E

Ryzen 3 3300U

Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

Ryzen 9 5900XT

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i3-8300

2018

Why buy it

✅+32.7% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Draws 62W instead of 65W, a 3W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen 3 1200 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (6,370 vs 6,407).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 46.2 vs 58.8 PassMark/$ ($138 MSRP vs $109 MSRP).

Ryzen 3 1200

2017

Why buy it

✅+0.6% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $29 less on MSRP ($109 MSRP vs $138 MSRP).
✅Delivers 27.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 58.8 vs 46.2 PassMark/$ ($109 MSRP vs $138 MSRP).
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,000 vs 1,327).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-8300 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i3-8300

2018

Ryzen 3 1200

2017

Why buy it

✅+32.7% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Draws 62W instead of 65W, a 3W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen 3 1200 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+0.6% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $29 less on MSRP ($109 MSRP vs $138 MSRP).
✅Delivers 27.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 58.8 vs 46.2 PassMark/$ ($109 MSRP vs $138 MSRP).
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (6,370 vs 6,407).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 46.2 vs 58.8 PassMark/$ ($138 MSRP vs $109 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,000 vs 1,327).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-8300 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 3 1200 better than Core i3-8300?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core i3-8300 is ahead with a 2.0% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 3 1200 pulls ahead with 0.6% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 3 1200 is the better fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Ryzen 3 1200 is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 3 1200 is $29 cheaper on MSRP at $109 MSRP versus $138 MSRP, and it gives you 0.6% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Core i3-8300 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 2.0% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 27.3% better value on MSRP (58.8 vs 46.2 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Ryzen 3 1200 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i3-8300 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 3 1200 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i3-8300	Ryzen 3 1200
1080p
low	159 FPS	160 FPS
medium	159 FPS	146 FPS
high	128 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	159 FPS	141 FPS
medium	137 FPS	118 FPS
high	106 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	72 FPS
4K
low	74 FPS	67 FPS
medium	63 FPS	60 FPS
high	48 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	38 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i3-8300 Open Ryzen 3 1200

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i3-8300	Ryzen 3 1200
1080p
low	159 FPS	160 FPS
medium	159 FPS	145 FPS
high	159 FPS	136 FPS
ultra	147 FPS	106 FPS
1440p
low	159 FPS	145 FPS
medium	159 FPS	125 FPS
high	158 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	130 FPS	93 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	113 FPS
medium	147 FPS	100 FPS
high	120 FPS	78 FPS
ultra	91 FPS	58 FPS

Open Core i3-8300 Open Ryzen 3 1200

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i3-8300	Ryzen 3 1200
1080p
low	159 FPS	160 FPS
medium	159 FPS	160 FPS
high	159 FPS	160 FPS
ultra	159 FPS	160 FPS
1440p
low	159 FPS	160 FPS
medium	159 FPS	160 FPS
high	159 FPS	160 FPS
ultra	159 FPS	160 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	160 FPS
medium	159 FPS	160 FPS
high	159 FPS	139 FPS
ultra	148 FPS	109 FPS

Open Core i3-8300 Open Ryzen 3 1200

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i3-8300	Ryzen 3 1200
1080p
low	159 FPS	160 FPS
medium	159 FPS	160 FPS
high	159 FPS	160 FPS
ultra	159 FPS	160 FPS
1440p
low	159 FPS	160 FPS
medium	159 FPS	160 FPS
high	159 FPS	160 FPS
ultra	159 FPS	160 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	160 FPS
medium	159 FPS	160 FPS
high	159 FPS	160 FPS
ultra	159 FPS	160 FPS

Open Core i3-8300 Open Ryzen 3 1200

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-8300 and Ryzen 3 1200

Core i3-8300

The Core i3-8300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 February 2018 (7 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 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 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: 6,370 points. Launch price was $138.

Ryzen 3 1200

The Ryzen 3 1200 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Summit Ridge (Zen) (2017) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,407 points. Launch price was $109.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i3-8300 and Ryzen 3 1200 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i3-8300 versus 3.4 GHz on the Ryzen 3 1200 — a 8.5% clock advantage for the Core i3-8300 (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core i3-8300 uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 3 1200 uses Summit Ridge (Zen) (2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-8300 scores 6,370 against the Ryzen 3 1200's 6,407 — a 0.6% lead for the Ryzen 3 1200. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,327 vs 1,000, a 28.1% lead for the Core i3-8300 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i3-8300	Ryzen 3 1200
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	3.7 GHz+9%	3.4 GHz
Base Clock	3.7 GHz+19%	3.1 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512K (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake (2017−2019)	Summit Ridge (Zen) (2017)
PassMark	6,370	6,407
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	3,013
Geekbench 6 Single	1,327+33%	1,000
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	3,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i3-8300 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 3 1200 uses AM4 (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 i3-8300) vs 24 (Ryzen 3 1200) — the Ryzen 3 1200 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H310,B360,H370,Q370,Z370,Z390 (Core i3-8300) and A320,B350,X370,B450,X470 (Ryzen 3 1200).

Feature	Core i3-8300	Ryzen 3 1200
Socket	LGA1151	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400	DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	24+50%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 3 1200 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-8300) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 3 1200). The Core i3-8300 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Ryzen 3 1200 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-8300 targets Mainstream Desktop, Ryzen 3 1200 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i3-8300 rivals Ryzen 3 2300X.

Feature	Core i3-8300	Ryzen 3 1200
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	—
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	AMD-V
Target Use	Mainstream Desktop	Budget

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i3-8300 launched at $138 MSRP, while the Ryzen 3 1200 debuted at $109. On MSRP ($138 vs $109), the Ryzen 3 1200 is $29 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-8300 delivers 46.2 pts/$ vs 58.8 pts/$ for the Ryzen 3 1200 — making the Ryzen 3 1200 the 24.1% better value option.