AMD FX-8350 vs Intel Core i3-8300T Comparison

The Intel Core i3-8300T and the AMD FX-8350 represent two very different approaches to desktop computing, separated by nearly six years of design philosophy. The Intel part is a low-power, modern quad-core built on a 14 nm process, while the AMD chip is an eight-core, high-power design on 32 nm silicon. The benchmark data in the database shows a clear, decisive winner, but the reasons behind that result are rooted in architecture, memory support, and feature sets.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database includes two direct head-to-head comparisons between these processors, both using the Geekbench suite. These results are unambiguous, with the Intel Core i3-8300T winning both tests.

In the Geekbench multicore test, the Intel Core i3-8300T scores 3436 against the AMD FX-8350’s 2551. That is a delta of 34.7% in favor of Intel. The AMD chip has twice the core count and twice the thread count, but the Intel part still manages to outpace it by more than a third in a workload designed to exploit parallelism. This is a striking result, because it shows that the architectural efficiency of the Intel design compensates for its lower core count.

The single-core test is even more lopsided. The Intel Core i3-8300T scores 1171, while the AMD FX-8350 scores 563. The delta here is 108%, meaning Intel’s chip is more than twice as fast in single-threaded performance. That is not a marginal gap; it is a generational leap. Single-core performance drives responsiveness in everyday tasks, legacy applications, and many games, and the FX-8350’s Piledriver cores are simply outclassed by Intel’s Coffee Lake architecture.

Looking at the broader benchmark averages, the Intel part has an average score of 1586 across all recorded tests, while the AMD part sits at 1557. That difference is small, roughly 1.9%, but the distribution of those scores matters. The Intel chip has a wide spread of results across Cinebench R15, R20, R23, and Geekbench, while the AMD chip only has Geekbench measurements in the database. The head-to-head data confirms that the Intel processor is faster in every recorded comparison.

The percentile rankings tell an interesting story. Both processors sit at the 39th percentile when compared against all CPUs in the database. That means they are statistically similar in overall standing, but the head-to-head deltas show that the Intel part is the stronger of the two in direct competition. The average scores of their nearest rivals reinforce this: the Intel Core i3-8300T is within 1.4% of the Intel Core i3-8300 (its non-T variant) and within 1.2% of the Intel Core i3-9100E, while the AMD FX-8350 is within 0.2% of the Intel Core i3-9300. These are close groupings, but the direct comparison favors Intel.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-8300T wins every recorded benchmark, so the use-case split is heavily skewed toward the modern part. The Geekbench single-core score of 1171 versus 563 indicates that the Intel chip is the clear choice for any workload that relies on per-core speed. This includes web browsing, office productivity, single-threaded legacy software, and most gaming scenarios where the primary thread dominates. The 108% delta means the Intel part will feel snappier in everyday interaction, even if the AMD chip has more cores to throw at multi-threaded tasks.

The multicore Geekbench result of 3436 versus 2551, a 34.7% advantage, shows that the Intel chip also holds the lead in parallel workloads, despite having only 4 cores and 4 threads versus the AMD’s 8 cores and 8 threads. This is a significant finding, because it suggests that the AMD FX-8350’s high core count is not an effective counter to the Intel architecture’s superior instruction handling and cache design. For video encoding, 3D rendering, or compilation tasks, the Intel part is still the faster option according to the data.

The AMD FX-8350 does have one clear advantage in the feature set: its multiplier is unlocked, meaning it can be overclocked. The database lists this as a hardware capability, and while no overclocking results are recorded, the potential for manual tuning exists. The Intel Core i3-8300T has a locked multiplier, so its clock speed is fixed. That said, the base clock of the AMD part is 4.00 GHz with a boost of 4.20 GHz, while the Intel part runs at a fixed 3.20 GHz with no boost clock listed. Despite the lower clock speed, Intel’s chip wins all benchmarks, so clock frequency alone does not determine performance.

The AMD FX-8350 also supports ECC memory, but only on certain motherboard configurations, while the Intel Core i3-8300T has ECC support enabled by default. For users building a home server or a workstation that requires error-correcting memory, the Intel part offers that capability without additional platform requirements. The AMD chip’s ECC support is listed as false in the database, so the Intel part has a clear edge in this niche.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is enormous. The Intel Core i3-8300T is built on a 14 nm process at Intel’s foundry, while the AMD FX-8350 uses a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The smaller process node gives Intel a significant efficiency advantage, and this shows in the thermal design power: the Intel chip has a TDP of 35 watts, while the AMD chip has a TDP of 125 watts. That is a difference of 90 watts, meaning the Intel part consumes far less power and generates far less heat under load.

The die size reflects the process difference. The Intel chip has a die size of 126 mm², while the AMD chip has a die size of 315 mm². The AMD part also has a transistor count of 1,200 million, while the Intel chip’s transistor count is not listed in the database. Despite being physically larger and having more transistors, the AMD chip delivers less performance per watt and per square millimeter.

Cache configurations are also starkly different. The Intel Core i3-8300T has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD FX-8350 has 384 KB of total L1 cache, 8 MB of L2 cache, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel design allocates cache per core, which is more efficient for single-threaded access, while the AMD design pools its L2 cache across the module structure. The L3 cache sizes are equal at 8 MB, but the Intel chip’s per-core L1 and L2 allocations give it faster access to frequently used data.

Memory support diverges completely. The Intel part uses DDR4 memory with dual-channel support and a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The AMD part uses DDR3 memory with dual-channel support and a bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. The newer DDR4 standard offers higher bandwidth and lower latency, which directly benefits the Intel chip in memory-sensitive workloads. The 8.5 GB/s bandwidth difference is a measurable advantage that contributes to the Intel chip’s multicore lead.

PCIe support also favors Intel. The Intel Core i3-8300T has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD FX-8350 has PCIe Gen 2. The older standard caps transfer speeds, which can bottleneck high-bandwidth devices such as modern graphics cards or NVMe storage. The Intel chip’s Gen 3 support is a forward-looking feature that the AMD chip lacks.

Integrated graphics are present on the Intel chip, with UHD Graphics 630 built into the processor. The AMD FX-8350 has no integrated graphics, relying on a chipset feature on certain motherboards. For users who do not want a discrete GPU, the Intel part provides a complete solution out of the box. The AMD chip requires a separate graphics card for any display output.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-8300T scores 1171 in Geekbench single-core, while the AMD FX-8350 scores 563. That is a 108% delta in favor of Intel.

Q: Does the AMD FX-8350’s higher core count help in multicore workloads?

A: No. The Intel Core i3-8300T scores 3436 in Geekbench multicore, while the AMD FX-8350 scores 2551. Despite having 8 cores versus 4, the AMD chip is 34.7% slower in this test.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The Intel Core i3-8300T has a TDP of 35 watts, while the AMD FX-8350 has a TDP of 125 watts. The Intel part uses far less power.

Q: Can either processor be overclocked?

A: The AMD FX-8350 has an unlocked multiplier, allowing manual overclocking. The Intel Core i3-8300T has a locked multiplier, so its 3.20 GHz clock speed is fixed.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i3-8300T has ECC memory support enabled. The AMD FX-8350 does not support ECC memory according to the database.

Q: What memory types do these processors use?

A: The Intel Core i3-8300T uses DDR4 memory with dual-channel support and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD FX-8350 uses DDR3 memory with dual-channel support and 29.9 GB/s bandwidth.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is conclusive. The Intel Core i3-8300T outperforms the AMD FX-8350 in every recorded test, and the margins are substantial. The single-core delta of 108% is a generational gap, and the multicore delta of 34.7% shows that the Intel chip’s architectural efficiency more than compensates for its lower core count.

For users building a new system, the Intel Core i3-8300T is the only reasonable choice based on performance. It wins in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads, consumes less power, supports newer DDR4 memory, has PCIe Gen 3, includes integrated graphics, and offers ECC support. The AMD FX-8350’s only advantages are its unlocked multiplier and its higher base clock, but neither translates into a benchmark win.

The AMD FX-8350 might appeal to a user who already owns an AM3+ motherboard and DDR3 memory, or who wants to overclock an older platform for hobby purposes. But for any new purchase, the data shows that the Intel chip is faster, more efficient, and better equipped for modern computing. The 35-watt TDP makes it suitable for compact systems, while the 125-watt TDP of the AMD part requires substantial cooling and power delivery.

The production status of both parts is end-of-life, so neither is a current-generation product. The release dates confirm this: the Intel chip launched in April 2018, and the AMD chip launched in October 2012. The Intel part is the newer design by nearly six years, and the benchmark results reflect that age gap. The Intel Core i3-8300T is the clear winner, and the database leaves no room for ambiguity.