Core i7-1250U vs Ryzen 3 4300GE

Intel

Core i7-1250U

10 Cores12 Thrd9.5 WWMax: 4.7 GHz2022

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

Ryzen 3 4300GE

4 Cores8 Thrd35 WWMax: 4 GHz2020

Popular choices:

Performance Spectrum - CPU

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 i7-1250U

2022

Why buy it

  • +8.7% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
  • +200% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 4 MB).
  • Draws 10W instead of 35W, a 26W reduction.
  • Newer platform on FCBGA1781 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 26.5 vs 119.6 PassMark/$ ($426 MSRP vs $94 MSRP).
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 3 4300GE.

Ryzen 3 4300GE

2020

Why buy it

  • Costs $332 less on MSRP ($94 MSRP vs $426 MSRP).
  • Delivers 350.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 119.6 vs 26.5 PassMark/$ ($94 MSRP vs $426 MSRP).
  • 20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-1250U.

Trade-offs

  • Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,472 vs 1,600).
  • Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (5,800 vs 6,788).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 12 MB).
  • 268.4% higher power demand at 35W vs 9.5W.
  • Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i7-1250U moves to FCBGA1781 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-1250U better than Ryzen 3 4300GE?
Yes. Core i7-1250U is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 1.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 17% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 0.6% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Core i7-1250U is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 1.7% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-1250U is the better fit. You are getting 17% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 10 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 200% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 4 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Core i7-1250U is the smarter buy by a wide margin for a fresh build. Core i7-1250U is 353.2% more expensive on MSRP at $426 MSRP versus $94 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 3 4300GE only looks stronger on raw value math because it is so cheap, but its absolute performance tier is too low to be the smarter recommendation now. At roughly 11,239 PassMark with 4 cores and 8 threads, it only makes sense as a bare-minimum stopgap or a very constrained existing-platform upgrade.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Core i7-1250U is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2020), a healthier platform with FCBGA1781 and DDR5 instead of AM4, 200% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 4 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 12 threads instead of 4/8. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetCore i7-1250URyzen 3 4300GE
1080p
low187 FPS183 FPS
medium156 FPS146 FPS
high130 FPS118 FPS
ultra106 FPS88 FPS
1440p
low151 FPS156 FPS
medium120 FPS124 FPS
high98 FPS98 FPS
ultra81 FPS73 FPS
4K
low85 FPS69 FPS
medium73 FPS58 FPS
high59 FPS45 FPS
ultra46 FPS36 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetCore i7-1250URyzen 3 4300GE
1080p
low219 FPS263 FPS
medium182 FPS224 FPS
high164 FPS197 FPS
ultra144 FPS152 FPS
1440p
low190 FPS218 FPS
medium162 FPS190 FPS
high150 FPS168 FPS
ultra129 FPS136 FPS
4K
low148 FPS161 FPS
medium130 FPS146 FPS
high124 FPS117 FPS
ultra107 FPS89 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetCore i7-1250URyzen 3 4300GE
1080p
low283 FPS281 FPS
medium283 FPS281 FPS
high283 FPS281 FPS
ultra283 FPS281 FPS
1440p
low283 FPS281 FPS
medium283 FPS281 FPS
high283 FPS281 FPS
ultra283 FPS281 FPS
4K
low283 FPS281 FPS
medium283 FPS281 FPS
high283 FPS281 FPS
ultra283 FPS239 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetCore i7-1250URyzen 3 4300GE
1080p
low283 FPS281 FPS
medium283 FPS281 FPS
high283 FPS281 FPS
ultra283 FPS281 FPS
1440p
low283 FPS281 FPS
medium283 FPS281 FPS
high283 FPS281 FPS
ultra283 FPS281 FPS
4K
low283 FPS281 FPS
medium283 FPS281 FPS
high283 FPS281 FPS
ultra283 FPS281 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-1250U and Ryzen 3 4300GE

Intel

Core i7-1250U

The Core i7-1250U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 February 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture. It features 10 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1781. Thermal design power (TDP): 9.5 MB + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 11,305 points. Launch price was $149.

AMD

Ryzen 3 4300GE

The Ryzen 3 4300GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 July 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Renoir (2020−2023) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 11,239 points. Launch price was $149.

Processing Power

The Core i7-1250U packs 10 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 3 4300GE offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-1250U has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core i7-1250U versus 4 GHz on the Ryzen 3 4300GE — a 16.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-1250U (base: 1.1 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i7-1250U uses the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 3 4300GE uses Renoir (2020−2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-1250U scores 11,305 against the Ryzen 3 4300GE's 11,239 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i7-1250U. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 6,788 vs 5,800 (15.7% advantage for the Core i7-1250U). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,600 vs 1,472, a 8.3% lead for the Core i7-1250U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 6,500 vs 5,063 (24.9% advantage for the Core i7-1250U). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-1250U vs 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 4300GE.

FeatureCore i7-1250URyzen 3 4300GE
Cores / Threads
10 / 12+150%
4 / 8
Boost Clock
4.7 GHz+18%
4 GHz
Base Clock
1.1 GHz
3.5 GHz+218%
L3 Cache
12 MB (total)+200%
4 MB (total)
L2 Cache
1.25 MB (per core)+150%
512K (per core)
Process
Intel 7 nm
7 nm
Architecture
Alder Lake-U (2022)
Renoir (2020−2023)
PassMark
11,305
11,239
Cinebench R23 Multi
6,788+17%
5,800
Geekbench 6 Single
1,600+9%
1,472
Geekbench 6 Multi
6,500+28%
5,063
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-1250U uses the FCBGA1781 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 3 4300GE uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5200 on the Core i7-1250U versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 3 4300GE — the Core i7-1250U supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-1250U) vs 24 (Ryzen 3 4300GE) — the Ryzen 3 4300GE offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (Core i7-1250U) and A520,B450,B550,X470,X570 (Ryzen 3 4300GE).

FeatureCore i7-1250URyzen 3 4300GE
Socket
FCBGA1781
AM4
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0+67%
PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-5200+25%
DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity
64 GB
64 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
Yes
PCIe Lanes
20
24+20%
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-1250U) vs Yes (Ryzen 3 4300GE). Both include integrated graphics Intel Iris Xe Graphics (96EU) (Core i7-1250U) and Radeon Vega 6 (Ryzen 3 4300GE) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-1250U targets Thin and Light Laptop.

FeatureCore i7-1250URyzen 3 4300GE
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
IGPU Model
Intel Iris Xe Graphics (96EU)
Radeon Vega 6
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Yes
Target Use
Thin and Light Laptop
💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-1250U launched at $426 MSRP, while the Ryzen 3 4300GE debuted at $94. On MSRP ($426 vs $94), the Ryzen 3 4300GE is $332 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-1250U delivers 26.5 pts/$ vs 119.6 pts/$ for the Ryzen 3 4300GE — making the Ryzen 3 4300GE the 127.3% better value option.

FeatureCore i7-1250URyzen 3 4300GE
MSRP
$426
$94-78%
Performance per Dollar
26.5
119.6+351%
Release Date
2022
2020