AMD Athlon PRO 300U vs Intel Core i5-3570S Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a clear picture: the Intel Core i5-3570S wins every shared benchmark in the comparison, and it does so with remarkable consistency. Across five head-to-head tests, the Intel part claims victory each time, with the same approximate margin of victory appearing repeatedly.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel Core i5-3570S scores 402 against the AMD Athlon PRO 300U's 349, a lead of 15.2%. That margin becomes the template for the rest of the comparison. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 1676 versus 1456, again a 15.1% advantage for Intel. The single-core results tell the same story: Cinebench R20 single-core has Intel at 236 and AMD at 205, a 15.1% gap, while Cinebench R23 single-core has Intel at 563 and AMD at 489, once more 15.1% ahead.

The pattern is almost eerily uniform. Whether the workload scales across all cores or stresses a single thread, the Intel Core i5-3570S holds roughly a 15% performance advantage in every shared test. The largest percentage win is in Cinebench R15 multicore at 15.2%, while the other four tests are all locked at 15.1%. This consistency suggests that the advantage is not workload-specific but reflects a fundamental throughput difference between the two processors.

It is worth remembering the AMD Athlon PRO 300U has no benchmark wins in this head-to-head set. The wins tally stands at 5 for Intel and 0 for AMD. Yet the average benchmark scores tell a slightly different story: the Intel part averages 1169 across all recorded tests, while the AMD part averages 1193. This apparent contradiction arises because the AMD chip has recorded scores in additional tests not shared with the Intel part, and those extra data points pull its average higher. The head-to-head comparisons, however, only consider tests where both processors have recorded scores.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-3570S wins in every category where both processors have comparable measurements. In multi-threaded workloads, the Intel part's four physical cores give it a structural edge. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 3991 for Intel versus 3468 for AMD, a 15.1% margin that reflects sustained throughput across all cores. The R15 multicore test shows a similar picture with 402 versus 349.

Single-threaded performance also favors Intel. The R23 single-core score of 563 versus 489 represents a 15.1% lead, and the R20 single-core result of 236 versus 205 confirms that the Intel architecture delivers more work per clock cycle in lightly threaded scenarios. This matters for applications that rely on a single dominant thread, such as older games or certain productivity tools that have not been optimized for parallel execution.

The AMD Athlon PRO 300U does not win any shared benchmark, but its profile is not without merit. Its average benchmark score of 1193 across all recorded tests actually exceeds the Intel part's 1169 average, driven by its performance in tests where the Intel processor has no recorded data. The AMD chip also carries far lower power requirements, with a 15 watt TDP compared to Intel's 65 watts, which positions it for different thermal and power-constrained environments. In the database's percentile ranking, both processors sit at the 33rd percentile versus all CPUs, indicating that neither is a high-flyer in absolute terms, but both occupy a similar tier of overall performance.

The use case split is therefore about context rather than raw benchmark wins. The Intel part wins where performance is the sole criterion. The AMD part becomes relevant where power efficiency and mobility take priority, as its mobile segment designation and 15 watt TDP suggest.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies separated by roughly seven years of development. The Intel Core i5-3570S uses the Ivy Bridge architecture, built on a 22 nm process at Intel's own foundry. It features four cores and four threads, with a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The cache hierarchy starts with 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 6 MB L3 cache. The die size is 133 mm², and the processor fits the Intel Socket 1155.

The AMD Athlon PRO 300U uses the Zen architecture under the Raven Ridge 2 codename, manufactured by GlobalFoundries on a 14 nm process. It has two cores and four threads, reflecting simultaneous multithreading that the Intel part lacks. Base clock is 2.40 GHz with a boost of 3.30 GHz. Cache amounts are larger per core: 128 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, but the shared L3 cache is smaller at 4 MB. The AMD chip uses the AMD Socket FP5, which is a mobile platform socket.

Memory support differs as well. The Intel processor uses DDR3 with a dual-channel memory bus, while the AMD processor uses DDR4, also dual-channel. Neither supports ECC memory. Integrated graphics differ: Intel pairs with HD 2500, while AMD includes Radeon Vega 3. The PCIe configuration is specified only for the Intel part, which offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU; the AMD part's PCIe details are not recorded in the database.

The release dates show the generational gap: the Intel processor launched on May 31, 2012, while the AMD processor arrived on April 7, 2019. The AMD part is listed as Active in production status, while the Intel part's status is not recorded. The Intel processor is a desktop part, and the AMD processor is a mobile part, which explains the TDP disparity: 65 watts versus 15 watts.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-3570S has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, both higher than the AMD Athlon PRO 300U's 2.40 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The Intel Core i5-3570S has 4 cores and 4 threads. The AMD Athlon PRO 300U has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which processor wins in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-3570S wins in every shared single-core test. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 563 against the AMD's 489, a 15.1% advantage.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i5-3570S has a TDP of 65 watts, while the AMD Athlon PRO 300U has a TDP of 15 watts.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The AMD Athlon PRO 300U supports DDR4 memory. The Intel Core i5-3570S supports DDR3.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: Yes. The Intel Core i5-3570S includes Intel HD 2500, and the AMD Athlon PRO 300U includes Radeon Vega 3.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i5-3570S | AMD Athlon PRO 300U |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.10 GHz | 2.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | AMD Socket FP5 |

| Architecture | Ivy Bridge | Zen |

| Codename | Ivy Bridge | Raven Ridge 2 |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Die Size | 133 mm² | Not recorded |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 128 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Not recorded |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 2500 | Radeon Vega 3 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Production Status | Not recorded | Active |

| Release Date | 2012-05-31 | 2019-04-07 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |

| Part Number | SR0T9 | Not recorded |

The Verdict

The data directs a straightforward choice for raw compute performance: the Intel Core i5-3570S. It wins every head-to-head benchmark by a margin of approximately 15%, and that advantage holds across both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. The four physical cores and higher clock speeds deliver consistently more work per unit time than the AMD Athlon PRO 300U in every shared test.

The AMD Athlon PRO 300U, however, is not without its own logic. Its 15 watt TDP against Intel's 65 watts represents a dramatically lower power envelope, and its mobile segment designation suggests it is intended for systems where power draw and heat dissipation are primary constraints. The larger per-core L1 and L2 caches indicate a different cache strategy, and the DDR4 memory support brings it in line with modern platform expectations. Its average benchmark score of 1193 across all recorded tests also exceeds the Intel part's 1169, though this is driven by tests where the Intel processor has no recorded data.

For a desktop user prioritizing maximum performance in shared workloads, the Intel Core i5-3570S is the clear selection from the recorded benchmarks. For a mobile or power-sensitive deployment where the 15 watt TDP and DDR4 support matter more than raw throughput, the AMD Athlon PRO 300U presents the more fitting profile. The percentile ranking places both at 33rd versus all CPUs, so neither stands out in the broader landscape. The choice comes down to whether the workload demands the Intel part's consistent 15% performance edge or the AMD part's dramatically lower power draw and newer memory standard.