AMD Ryzen 3 1300X vs Intel Core i3-8300 Comparison

The Intel Core i3-8300 and AMD Ryzen 3 1300X are both 4-core, 4-thread desktop processors from the same 14 nm era, yet benchmark data reveals a split personality: the Ryzen dominates older Cinebench R15 tests, while the Intel chip wins decisively in the newer Cinebench R23 multi-core workload. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 1564 for Intel versus 1562 for AMD — placing both at the 39th percentile of all CPUs, with head-to-head results showing three wins for AMD and one for Intel.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i3-8300 runs at a base clock of 3.70 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 3 1300X starts at 3.40 GHz. However, the Ryzen 3 1300X has a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, matching the Intel chip's maximum speed.

Q: How do the two chips compare in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test?

A: The Intel Core i3-8300 scores 5408 versus 3486 for the AMD Ryzen 3 1300X, giving Intel a 55.1% advantage. This is the largest performance gap in the head-to-head data.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i3-8300 and the AMD Ryzen 3 1300X list ECC memory support as true. Both also use dual-channel DDR4 memory.

Q: Which processor has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen 3 1300X has the multiplier unlocked (true). The Intel Core i3-8300 has the multiplier locked, meaning it is not designed for overclocking.

Q: What is the difference in integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i3-8300 includes UHD Graphics 630, while the AMD Ryzen 3 1300X has no integrated graphics at all. This means the AMD chip requires a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: What are the release dates and production statuses of these chips?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X was released on 2017-07-26 and remains Active in production, while the Intel Core i3-8300 launched on 2018-02-13 and is now End-of-life.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear trade-off between generation-specific performance and platform flexibility. The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X wins three of the four head-to-head benchmarks, including a massive 50% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core (152 versus 76) and a 19.4% edge in Cinebench R23 single-core (947 versus 763). For legacy applications and single-threaded tasks, the Ryzen is the stronger pick.

However, the Intel Core i3-8300 delivers a decisive 55.1% victory in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, scoring 5408 against the Ryzen's 3486. This suggests the Intel chip handles modern multi-threaded workloads significantly better, likely due to architectural improvements despite identical core and thread counts.

For users prioritizing current-generation multi-core performance or needing integrated graphics, the Intel Core i3-8300 is the data-backed choice. For those who value overclocking flexibility, an active production status, and superior single-core results in legacy benchmarks, the AMD Ryzen 3 1300X holds the advantage. The average scores are nearly tied — 1564 versus 1562 — so the decision hinges on which specific workloads matter most.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a stark generational split. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 3 1300X scores 558 against Intel's 545, a 2.3% margin. The single-core R15 result is far more dramatic: AMD posts 152 versus Intel's 76, a 50% advantage that effectively doubles Intel's score.

Moving to the newer Cinebench R23 suite, the tables turn. In the multi-core test, the Intel Core i3-8300 scores 5408, crushing the Ryzen's 3486 by 55.1%. This is the single largest delta in the comparison and suggests Intel's Coffee Lake architecture scales better in modern rendering workloads. However, in R23 single-core, AMD reclaims dominance with 947 against Intel's 763, a 19.4% lead.

The pattern is consistent: AMD wins all three single-core or R15-era tests, while Intel wins the one modern multi-core test by a landslide. Notably, the average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 1564 for Intel and 1562 for AMD — which explains why both chips sit at the 39th percentile of all CPUs and are listed as near-exact rivals with a deltaPct of just 0.1%.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on several key specifications. The Intel Core i3-8300 has a base clock of 3.70 GHz with no boost clock, while the AMD Ryzen 3 1300X starts at 3.40 GHz and boosts to 3.70 GHz. Thermal design power differs slightly: Intel rates 62W versus AMD's 65W.

Sockets are incompatible: Intel uses Socket 1151, while AMD uses Socket AM4. The Intel chip measures a die size of 126 mm², compared to AMD's larger 213 mm² die. AMD's processor contains 4,800 million transistors, a figure not listed for Intel.

Memory bandwidth favors AMD at 42.7 GB/s versus Intel's 38.4 GB/s, though both use dual-channel DDR4. The Intel Core i3-8300 includes integrated UHD Graphics 630, while the AMD Ryzen 3 1300X has none. The Ryzen chip has an unlocked multiplier, whereas Intel's is locked.

Release timing differs by roughly half a year: AMD launched on 2017-07-26, Intel on 2018-02-13. Production status also differs, with AMD listed as Active and Intel as End-of-life. The launch MSRP values are $129 for AMD and $138 for Intel.

Architecture Differences

Both processors use a 14 nm process node, but they come from different foundries and architectures. Intel's Core i3-8300 is built on the Coffee Lake architecture, manufactured by Intel, while AMD's Ryzen 3 1300X uses the Zen architecture (codename Summit Ridge), produced by GlobalFoundries.

Cache layouts differ notably. The Intel chip provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 8 MB of shared L3. AMD offers more generous per-core caches: 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2, also with 8 MB of shared L3. This larger per-core cache allocation may contribute to AMD's single-core advantages.

Both processors support ECC memory and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The generation labels reflect their architectural lineages: Intel lists "Core i3 (Coffee Lake)" while AMD lists "Ryzen 3 (Zen (Summit Ridge))". The AMD chip belongs to the 1000 series, a designation Intel does not use.

The integrated graphics difference is a fundamental architectural distinction: Intel integrates UHD Graphics 630 into the die, while AMD's Zen design omits integrated graphics entirely, requiring a separate GPU. The unlocked multiplier on the Ryzen 3 1300X reflects AMD's overclocking-friendly design philosophy, contrasting with Intel's locked configuration. These architectural choices explain why the two chips, despite identical core and thread counts, produce such divergent benchmark results across different workloads and test generations.