AMD Athlon PRO 300U vs Intel Core i5-3550 Comparison

The AMD Athlon PRO 300U and Intel Core i5-3550 occupy different corners of the processor market. The Athlon is a low-power mobile chip built on Zen, while the Core i5 is a desktop part from the Ivy Bridge generation. In the database's head-to-head Cinebench tests, the Intel part wins every round, but the AMD chip counters with a dramatically lower TDP and a newer process node. This analysis breaks down the architecture, benchmark results, and the use cases where each processor makes sense.

The Verdict

For raw compute performance, the Intel Core i5-3550 is the clear winner. It leads the AMD Athlon PRO 300U by 14.9% in four of the five head-to-head Cinebench tests and by 15% in the Cinebench R23 single-core test. The Intel part also has a higher base clock (3.30 GHz vs. 2.40 GHz) and a higher boost clock (3.70 GHz vs. 3.30 GHz), along with four physical cores compared to the AMD's two. If the goal is maximum throughput in a desktop system, the i5-3550 is the better choice.

However, the Athlon PRO 300U is a mobile processor with a 15 W TDP, versus the Intel's 77 W. It is also still in active production, while the i5-3550 is end-of-life. The AMD chip uses a 14 nm process node, compared to Intel's 22 nm, and supports DDR4 memory instead of DDR3. For a low-power, portable system, the Athlon PRO 300U is the only one of the two that fits. The Intel Core i5-3550 had a launch MSRP of $194, but the Athlon PRO 300U has no recorded launch price. The verdict depends on the use case: performance goes to Intel, efficiency and mobility go to AMD.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The AMD Athlon PRO 300U is built on the Zen architecture, codenamed Raven Ridge 2, and fabricated on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It has 2 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The TDP is 15 W, and it uses the AMD Socket FP5. The cache hierarchy includes 128 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. It supports dual-channel DDR4 memory and integrates Radeon Vega 3 graphics. The chip is classified as a mobile part and is currently in active production, with a release date of April 2019.

The Intel Core i5-3550 is based on the Ivy Bridge architecture, also codenamed Ivy Bridge, and uses a 22 nm process from Intel. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The TDP is 77 W, and it fits the Intel Socket 1155. The cache includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. It supports dual-channel DDR3 memory with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, and it provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are Intel HD 2500. This is a desktop part, released in April 2012, and it is now end-of-life. The transistor count is 1,400 million, and the die size is 160 mm².

The architectural differences are stark. The AMD chip has a smaller process node (14 nm vs. 22 nm), a much lower TDP (15 W vs. 77 W), and a newer memory standard (DDR4 vs. DDR3). The Intel chip has more physical cores (4 vs. 2), a larger L3 cache (6 MB vs. 4 MB), and higher clock speeds. The AMD part is designed for mobility, while the Intel part is a desktop workhorse. The Intel chip also has a higher memory bandwidth figure (25.6 GB/s) recorded, though the AMD's bandwidth is not listed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database includes five Cinebench head-to-head tests, and the Intel Core i5-3550 wins all five. The results are consistent, with the AMD Athlon PRO 300U trailing by 14.9% in four tests and 15% in one.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD scores 349 against Intel's 410, a delta of -14.9%. This is a multi-threaded workload, and the Intel's four physical cores give it an advantage over the AMD's two cores with four threads. The same pattern appears in Cinebench R20 multicore: AMD 1456, Intel 1710, again -14.9%. The R20 single-core test shows AMD 205, Intel 241, also -14.9%. In Cinebench R23 multicore, AMD 3468, Intel 4073, -14.9%. The only slightly different result is Cinebench R23 single-core, where AMD 489, Intel 575, a delta of -15%.

The consistency of the margin is notable. Across all five tests, the Intel part is roughly 15% faster. This suggests that the performance gap is not workload-dependent; it holds for both single-core and multi-core tasks. The Intel's higher clock speeds and additional cores contribute to this lead. The AMD's newer architecture and lower power draw do not translate into a performance advantage in these Cinebench workloads.

The database also records average benchmark scores for each processor. The AMD Athlon PRO 300U has an average score of 1193, while the Intel Core i5-3550 has an average of 1178. This is interesting because the Intel part is lower on average, despite winning all head-to-head tests. The discrepancy arises because the average includes a broader set of benchmarks beyond the five Cinebench tests, and the AMD's scores in other workloads may be higher. However, in the direct head-to-head comparison, the Intel part is consistently ahead.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench tests?

A: The Intel Core i5-3550 wins all five head-to-head Cinebench tests, with the AMD Athlon PRO 300U trailing by 14.9% in four tests and 15% in the R23 single-core test.

Q: Which processor has lower power consumption?

A: The AMD Athlon PRO 300U has a TDP of 15 W, compared to the Intel Core i5-3550's 77 W. The AMD is designed for mobile use, while the Intel is a desktop part.

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-3550 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD Athlon PRO 300U has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which processor supports newer memory?

A: The AMD Athlon PRO 300U supports DDR4 memory, while the Intel Core i5-3550 supports DDR3. The Intel part has a recorded memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, but the AMD's bandwidth is not listed.

Q: Which processor is still in production?

A: The AMD Athlon PRO 300U is listed as active, while the Intel Core i5-3550 is end-of-life. The AMD was released in April 2019, and the Intel in April 2012.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-3550 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Athlon PRO 300U has 4 MB.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-3550 wins on raw performance. It is ahead in every Cinebench test, with a consistent 15% margin. It also has more physical cores, higher clock speeds, and a larger L3 cache. For desktop workloads that are heavily threaded or require high single-thread performance, the i5-3550 is the better choice. Its PCIe Gen 3 support with 16 lanes also makes it suitable for discrete graphics and expansion cards, though the AMD's PCIe configuration is not recorded.

The AMD Athlon PRO 300U wins on efficiency and mobility. Its 15 W TDP is a fraction of the Intel's 77 W, making it suitable for thin-and-light laptops and fanless designs. The 14 nm process node is more modern than Intel's 22 nm, and the support for DDR4 memory is a forward-looking feature. The integrated Radeon Vega 3 graphics are present, though the database does not provide a direct comparison with Intel HD 2500. The AMD chip is also still in active production, so it remains available for new designs, whereas the Intel part is end-of-life.

In terms of market segment, the AMD is a mobile processor, and the Intel is a desktop processor. The choice between them is largely dictated by the form factor. If the system is a laptop or a low-power mini PC, the Athlon PRO 300U is the only option. If the system is a desktop with a power budget that can accommodate 77 W, the Core i5-3550 delivers more performance. The database's average benchmark scores are close (1193 for AMD, 1178 for Intel), but the head-to-head results show a clear Intel advantage in the tested Cinebench workloads. For users who prioritize performance above all else, the Intel part wins. For users who prioritize power efficiency and portability, the AMD part is the logical pick.