AMD FX-4320 vs Intel Core i5-5350U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear and consistent pattern: AMD FX-4320 wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, with all five Cinebench tests going its way. The margin is remarkably uniform, hovering just above 21% across every workload type.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the FX-4320 scores 269 against the Core i5-5350U's 221, a 21.7% advantage. That gap widens slightly in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the FX-4320 posts 1124 versus 923, a 21.8% delta. The same story repeats in Cinebench R23 multicore: 2677 for the AMD part, 2198 for the Intel part, again 21.8% apart.

Single-core results tell an identical tale. Cinebench R20 single-core shows the FX-4320 at 158 and the Core i5-5350U at 130, a 21.5% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core puts the FX-4320 at 378 and the Intel chip at 310, a 21.9% margin, the largest delta recorded in the entire comparison. The consistency of these numbers is striking; no workload in the test suite favors the Intel processor.

The average benchmark scores reflect this overall dominance. The FX-4320 averages 921 across all benchmark results, placing it at the 25th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Core i5-5350U averages 903, sitting at the 24th percentile. The FX-4320's nearest rivals include the AMD PRO A10-9700E at 919 (0.2% behind), the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G at 919 (0.2% behind), and the AMD Athlon Silver 3050U at 917 (0.4% behind). The Intel Celeron G6900TE sits slightly ahead at 925, a 0.4% margin over the FX-4320.

For the Core i5-5350U, its closest competition includes the Intel Core i7-940 at 903 (0.0% delta), the Intel Core i5-4258U at 902 (0.1% behind), the AMD A10-7860K at 904 (0.1% ahead), and the Intel Core i3-4330T at 908 (0.6% ahead). These rival clusters show both processors are firmly in the same performance tier, despite the FX-4320's consistent head-to-head victories.

Where Each One Wins

The FX-4320 wins everywhere in the recorded benchmarks, but the nature of those wins deserves closer inspection. In multicore workloads, the FX-4320's four physical cores give it a structural advantage. Cinebench R15 multicore, R20 multicore, and R23 multicore all show roughly 22% leads, which aligns with the extra two physical cores the AMD part brings to the table.

Single-core performance is where the story gets more nuanced. Despite Intel's newer 14 nm process and higher per-core efficiency, the FX-4320 still leads by about 21.5% to 21.9% in single-core Cinebench tests. The FX-4320's base clock of 4.00 GHz and boost clock of 4.20 GHz are substantially higher than the Core i5-5350U's 1.80 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost. Clock speed advantage appears to outweigh architectural efficiency in these specific workloads.

The Core i5-5350U does not win any recorded benchmark. However, its profile suggests different strengths that the data only partially captures. It carries integrated Intel HD 6000 graphics, while the FX-4320 relies on chipset-level graphics on certain motherboards. The Intel part also has a 15 W TDP against the FX-4320's 95 W, making it far more suitable for thermally constrained environments. The database records the Core i5-5350U as a mobile part with a BGA 1168 socket, while the FX-4320 is a desktop part on AMD Socket AM3+.

For users prioritizing raw compute in desktop workloads, the FX-4320 is the clear choice based on every recorded metric. For scenarios requiring integrated graphics, low power draw, or mobile form factors, the Core i5-5350U has qualitative advantages that the benchmark scores do not directly measure.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion: the AMD FX-4320 outperforms the Intel Core i5-5350U in every recorded Cinebench test, with margins between 21.5% and 21.9%. The FX-4320 wins all five head-to-head benchmarks, and its average score of 921 exceeds the Core i5-5350U's 903 by roughly 2%.

Buyers building a desktop system with an AM3+ motherboard and aftermarket cooling should choose the FX-4320 for superior multi-threaded and single-threaded compute. Its four cores at 4.00 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost deliver consistently higher Cinebench scores. The unlocked multiplier on the FX-4320 also allows overclocking, a feature the locked Core i5-5350U lacks.

Buyers needing a low-power mobile processor with integrated graphics should consider the Core i5-5350U, but not for performance reasons. Its 15 W TDP versus 95 W, integrated Intel HD 6000 graphics, and BGA 1168 socket make it a viable option for ultrabooks and compact laptops. The recorded benchmarks show it trails the FX-4320 significantly, but the Intel part occupies a different market segment entirely.

The FX-4320's nearest rivals include the AMD PRO A10-9700E and AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G, both within 0.2% of its average score. The Core i5-5350U's closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-940 at an exact 0.0% delta. Neither processor ranks highly in the overall database, sitting at the 25th and 24th percentiles respectively.

Strictly from the data, the FX-4320 is the better performer. The Core i5-5350U's advantages are qualitative: power efficiency, integrated graphics, and mobile form factor, none of which appear in the benchmark scores.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The AMD FX-4320 scores 2677 versus the Intel Core i5-5350U's 2198, a 21.8% advantage for the AMD part.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap?

A: Across Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core tests, the FX-4320 leads by 21.5% and 21.9% respectively.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory?

A: Yes, both support DDR3 memory with dual-channel configuration and a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory.

Q: What are their average benchmark scores?

A: The FX-4320 averages 921, while the Core i5-5350U averages 903. The FX-4320 sits at the 25th percentile of all CPUs, the Core i5-5350U at the 24th.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-5350U includes Intel HD 6000 graphics. The AMD FX-4320 relies on chipset features on certain motherboards for display output.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The FX-4320 has a 95 W TDP, while the Core i5-5350U has a 15 W TDP.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD FX-4320 uses the Piledriver architecture on a 32 nm process, built by GlobalFoundries. It packs 1,200 million transistors into a 315 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-5350U uses the Broadwell architecture on a 14 nm process, manufactured by Intel, with 1,900 million transistors in a much smaller 133 mm² die.

Core configuration differs significantly. The FX-4320 provides 4 physical cores with 4 threads, while the Core i5-5350U provides 2 physical cores with 4 threads via Hyper-Threading. The AMD part has 192 KB of L1 cache, 4 MB of L2 cache, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache.

Clock speeds favor the AMD part heavily. The FX-4320 runs at 4.00 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost, while the Core i5-5350U runs at 1.80 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost. The FX-4320 also has an unlocked multiplier, allowing user overclocking, whereas the Core i5-5350U is locked.

Process technology favors Intel. The 14 nm node versus 32 nm allows the Core i5-5350U to pack more transistors (1,900 million versus 1,200 million) into less than half the die area (133 mm² versus 315 mm²). This explains the massive TDP difference: 15 W for the Intel part versus 95 W for the AMD part.

Both processors use PCIe Gen 2, though the Core i5-5350U specifies 12 lanes (CPU only). The FX-4320 does not specify lane count in the recorded data. Both support DDR3 memory with dual-channel configuration and 29.9 GB/s bandwidth.

Market positioning differs completely. The FX-4320 is a desktop part on AMD Socket AM3+, released in October 2012, part number FD4320WMW4KHK. The Core i5-5350U is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1168, released in February 2015, part number SR268, with a launch MSRP of $315. Both are end-of-life products. The FX-4320 belongs to the Vishera generation, while the Core i5-5350U belongs to the Broadwell-U generation.