AMD Athlon PRO 300U vs Intel Core i3-7320 Comparison

The AMD Athlon PRO 300U and the Intel Core i3-7320 are both 2-core, 4-thread processors, but they target very different market segments: the Athlon PRO 300U is a mobile part built for power efficiency, while the Core i3-7320 is a desktop chip with a much higher clock speed. The benchmark data in the database records a clear and consistent performance gap across all Cinebench tests, with the Intel part winning every single head-to-head comparison. This analysis breaks down the recorded numbers, examines the architectural differences between the two chips, and identifies the use cases where each processor holds an advantage, strictly based on the measured data.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark results are unambiguous. The Intel Core i3-7320 wins all five recorded Cinebench comparisons, and the margin is nearly identical across every test. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the AMD Athlon PRO 300U scores 349, while the Intel Core i3-7320 scores 408, giving Intel a 14.5% lead. The same 14.5% delta appears in the Cinebench R20 multi-core test, where the AMD chip scores 1456 and the Intel chip scores 1703. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows the same pattern: AMD scores 3468, Intel scores 4057, again a 14.5% difference.

The single-core results tell a similar story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the AMD Athlon PRO 300U scores 205, while the Intel Core i3-7320 scores 240, a 14.6% advantage for Intel. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD part scores 489 and the Intel part scores 572, another 14.5% gap. The consistency of these deltas, all in the 14.5% to 14.6% range, suggests that the performance difference is driven by a fundamental clock speed or architectural efficiency advantage, rather than workload-specific behavior.

Looking at the broader database context, the AMD Athlon PRO 300U has an average benchmark score of 1193, placing it in the 33rd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals, according to the recorded data, are the Intel Core i3-4170 and the Intel Core i7-8665UE, both with an identical average score of 1193, meaning a 0% delta. The AMD Opteron 3365 scores 1194, just 0.1% higher, and the AMD Opteron 6234 scores 1191, 0.2% lower. This places the Athlon PRO 300U in a tight cluster of processors with nearly identical multi-threaded performance.

The Intel Core i3-7320 has a slightly lower average benchmark score of 1173, also in the 33rd percentile. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-3635QM at 1170 (0.3% higher for the i3), the Intel Core i7-2960XM at 1169 (0.4% higher), the Intel Core i5-3570S at 1169 (0.4% higher), and the Intel Core i5-3550 at 1178 (0.4% lower). Despite having a lower average score than the AMD part, the i3-7320 wins every direct head-to-head test, which highlights a subtlety in how average scores are computed versus individual Cinebench runs. The data shows that in the specific tests recorded for this comparison, the Intel part is decisively faster.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is substantial. The AMD Athlon PRO 300U is built on the Zen architecture, specifically the Raven Ridge 2 codename, and is manufactured on a 14 nm process by GlobalFoundries. It uses the AMD Socket FP5, which is designed for mobile platforms. The Intel Core i3-7320, by contrast, uses the Kaby Lake architecture, also on a 14 nm process, but fabricated by Intel and mounted on the Intel Socket 1151 for desktop systems.

Clock speeds are a major differentiator. The AMD Athlon PRO 300U has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The Intel Core i3-7320 has a base clock of 4.10 GHz and no boost clock listed, meaning it runs at a fixed frequency. This 0.80 GHz difference in base clock, and the 0.80 GHz difference between AMD's boost and Intel's base, directly explains the consistent 14.5% performance gap in the benchmarks. The Intel chip simply operates at a much higher frequency.

Cache configurations also differ. The AMD part has 128 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and also 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has twice the L1 and L2 cache per core, yet still loses in every benchmark, which indicates that raw cache size is not the deciding factor here. The Intel chip's higher clock speed appears to be the dominant variable.

Memory support is similar on paper: both support DDR4 and use a dual-channel memory bus. However, the Intel Core i3-7320 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the AMD Athlon PRO 300U has no specific bandwidth figure listed. The Intel chip also has a PCIe Gen 3 interface with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD part has no PCIe information recorded. Integrated graphics differ as well: the AMD part features Radeon Vega 3, while the Intel part uses Intel HD 630.

The TDPs are vastly different. The AMD Athlon PRO 300U is rated at 15 watts, an ultra-low-power mobile design. The Intel Core i3-7320 is rated at 51 watts, a standard desktop power envelope. This 36-watt difference reflects their intended usage: the AMD chip is for thin-and-light laptops where battery life and thermals are critical, while the Intel chip is for desktop systems with adequate cooling. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not a feature for either.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the recorded benchmarks, the Intel Core i3-7320 wins every performance comparison. In multi-core workloads, it is 14.5% ahead in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. In single-core workloads, it is 14.5% to 14.6% ahead in Cinebench R20 and R23. This makes the Intel part the clear choice for any application that depends on raw CPU speed, whether that is single-threaded tasks like older games or lightly threaded productivity apps, or multi-threaded rendering workloads where the consistent 14.5% lead translates to meaningfully shorter completion times.

The AMD Athlon PRO 300U, while losing all five head-to-head tests, still has a legitimate place based on its design characteristics. Its 15-watt TDP is less than a third of the Intel part's 51-watt TDP. That efficiency is not directly measured in the benchmarks, but it is a recorded specification that matters for mobile deployments. The AMD chip is also paired with Radeon Vega 3 integrated graphics, which may offer different driver or feature support compared to Intel HD 630, though no graphics benchmarks are in the database to quantify this.

The average benchmark scores tell a more nuanced story. The AMD Athlon PRO 300U has an average score of 1193, which is higher than the Intel Core i3-7320's average of 1173. This seems contradictory given the head-to-head results, but it reflects the fact that the average score is computed across a different, broader set of tests than the five Cinebench runs used for the direct comparison. In the database's overall scoring, the AMD part actually edges out the Intel part by 20 points, a 1.7% difference. This suggests that in some recorded workloads not included in the head-to-head list, the AMD chip performs relatively better, likely due to its larger L1 and L2 caches or its integrated memory controller behavior.

For power-sensitive environments, the AMD Athlon PRO 300U is the only reasonable choice. A 15-watt TDP allows for fanless or low-noise designs, longer battery life in laptops, and simpler thermal management. The Intel Core i3-7320, with its 51-watt TDP, requires a more substantial cooler and higher power delivery capacity, which is fine for desktop use but impractical for mobile form factors. The database records the AMD part as "Mobile" market segment and the Intel part as "Desktop", which aligns with their physical and thermal characteristics.

The Verdict

The verdict from the recorded data is straightforward for raw performance: the Intel Core i3-7320 is the faster processor. It wins all five head-to-head benchmarks by a consistent 14.5% margin, and its higher base clock of 4.10 GHz gives it a decisive advantage in both single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests. Anyone building a desktop system where CPU throughput is the primary goal should choose the Intel part, as the data shows it will complete rendering and compute tasks roughly 14.5% faster than the AMD alternative.

However, the AMD Athlon PRO 300U should not be dismissed. Its 15-watt TDP is a massive advantage for mobile computing, and its average benchmark score of 1193 is actually higher than the Intel part's 1173, indicating that in the broader database of tests, it holds its own. The AMD chip is also newer, with a release date of April 2019, compared to January 2017 for the Intel part. For a laptop user who needs adequate performance for everyday tasks and values battery life and portability, the Athlon PRO 300U is the appropriate pick. For a desktop user who has access to standard cooling and wants the best measured Cinebench performance, the Core i3-7320 wins outright.

The two chips occupy different worlds: one is a low-power mobile processor, the other is a high-clock desktop processor. The benchmark data reflects that split perfectly. The Intel part is 14.5% faster in every measured compute test, but the AMD part consumes 36 fewer watts and is designed for a completely different physical form factor. The choice comes down to the target platform, not just the raw scores.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i3-7320 wins with a score of 4057, versus the AMD Athlon PRO 300U's score of 3468, a 14.5% difference.

Q: What is the single-core score difference in Cinebench R20?

A: The Intel Core i3-7320 scores 240, while the AMD Athlon PRO 300U scores 205, giving Intel a 14.6% lead.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both have 2 cores and 4 threads, according to the recorded specifications.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The AMD Athlon PRO 300U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Intel Core i3-7320 has a TDP of 51 watts.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Athlon PRO 300U has an average benchmark score of 1193, which is higher than the Intel Core i3-7320's average score of 1173.

Q: Are both processors manufactured on the same process node?

A: Yes, both are on a 14 nm process, but the AMD part is made by GlobalFoundries and the Intel part is made by Intel.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: Both have 4 MB of shared L3 cache, according to the data.