AMD Ryzen 3 1300X vs Intel Core i7-8665U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data splits sharply along generational lines. The AMD Ryzen 1300X wins three of the four shared benchmark comparisons, while the Intel Core i7-8665U takes one decisive victory in the most modern multi-core test.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 3 1300X scores 558 against the Intel processor's 527, a 5.9% advantage. That is a solid but not overwhelming lead in a workload that stresses all cores equally. The picture flips dramatically in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel part scores 5232 against the AMD chip's 3486, a 33.4% deficit for the Ryzen. This is the largest swing in the dataset and shows that the Intel processor's additional threads pay off substantially in the newer, more demanding render workload.

Single-core results favor the AMD part in both available comparisons. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Ryzen 3 1300X posts 152 versus 74 for the Intel, a 105.4% advantage. That is an enormous margin, more than doubling the Intel score. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD chip scores 947 against the Intel chip's 738, a 28.3% lead. While the R23 margin is far smaller than the R15 gap, the AMD processor remains clearly ahead in single-threaded performance.

The overall database averages tell a similar story of near-parity. The Ryzen 3 1300X has an average benchmark score of 1562, placing it in the 39th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core i7-8665U has an average of 1513, sitting in the 38th percentile. The nearest-rival comparisons show how tightly packed these processors are with other parts: the Ryzen sits within 0.2% of the Intel Core i3-1115G4E's average, and the Intel i7-8665U trails the Intel Core i5-4670S by 0.9%. The two CPUs are separated by less than 50 points in overall average, yet the workload-specific results vary widely depending on workload generation and threading count.

Cinebench R23 multi-core is the outlier. The Intel i7-8665U's 5232 score is its strongest benchmark result in the dataset, while the Ryzen's 3486 in the same test is its weakest recorded multi-core showing relative to the Intel. The Intel part's 8 threads versus 4 threads on the Ryzen explains the direction of this gap. In every other shared test, the Ryzen leads, with deltas ranging from 5.9% to 105.4%.

The data suggests that the Ryzen 3 1300X is the more consistent performer across the tested workloads, while the Intel i7-8665U's single major win is large enough to shift the overall average closer to parity. The 33.4% gap in Cinebench R23 multi-core is a workload-specific advantage that does not translate to the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test, where the AMD chip leads by 5.9%.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports a split recommendation based on workload priorities. For users running single-threaded applications or older multi-threaded render workloads, the AMD Ryzen 3 1300X is the clear choice. It leads by 105.4% in Cinebench R15 single-core, 28.3% in Cinebench R23 single-core, and 5.9% in Cinebench R15 multi-core. These are substantial margins across three of four shared tests.

For users running the newest generation of multi-threaded render workloads, the Intel Core i7-8665U offers a significant advantage. Its 5232 score in Cinebench R23 multi-core outpaces the Ryzen by 33.4%, a gap large enough to swing the decision toward Intel in that specific use case.

The overall percentile rankings reflect the mixed picture: the Ryzen sits at the 39th percentile and the Intel at the 38th. The Intel Core i7-8665U also includes integrated UHD Graphics 620, which the Ryzen lacks entirely, making the Intel part the only option in this comparison for users who need built-in display output. The Ryzen 3 1300X is a desktop part with an unlocked multiplier and support for ECC memory, while the Intel i7-8665U is a mobile part that is end-of-life and locked.

The data does not indicate a universal winner. It indicates two different products aimed at different segments: a desktop processor for enthusiast builds and a mobile processor for thin-and-light laptops. The Ryzen wins the majority of shared benchmarks, but the Intel's single large multi-core win in Cinebench R23, combined with its integrated graphics, makes it the more versatile package for mobile systems.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge in nearly every architectural dimension. The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X is built on the Zen architecture, specifically the Summit Ridge die, using a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Intel Core i7-8665U uses the Whiskey Lake architecture, specifically Whiskey Lake-U, also on a 14 nm process at Intel. Both use 14 nm, but the designs are otherwise distinct.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The Ryzen 3 1300X has 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. The Intel Core i7-8665U has 4 cores and 8 threads, enabling two threads per core. This threading advantage is the most likely driver of the Intel's 33.4% win in Cinebench R23 multi-core.

Clock speeds favor the Intel part on paper, though the benchmark results do not consistently reflect that. The Ryzen has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The Intel has a base clock of 1900.00 MHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The Intel's far higher boost clock does not translate to single-core wins in the recorded data, where the Ryzen leads by 105.4% and 28.3% in the two single-core tests.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The Ryzen 3 1300X has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel i7-8665U has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Ryzen has double the L1 and L2 per core, while the L3 capacity is equal at 8 MB.

Memory support varies. The Ryzen supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel configuration and a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The Intel supports both DDR3 and DDR4, also dual-channel, with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Ryzen's bandwidth advantage is 4.3 GB/s. The Ryzen also supports ECC memory, while the Intel does not.

PCI Express support is identical: both have Gen 3, 16 Lanes from the CPU. The Ryzen has no integrated graphics, while the Intel includes UHD Graphics 620. The Ryzen uses AMD Socket AM4, and the Intel uses Intel BGA 1528, reflecting the desktop versus mobile split. The Ryzen's multiplier is unlocked, and the Intel's is locked. The Ryzen die is 213 mm² with 4,800 million transistors, while the Intel die size and transistor count are not recorded in the database.

The Ryzen 3 1300X was released in 2017 and remains in active production. The Intel Core i7-8665U was released in 2018 and is marked as end-of-life. The Intel part's launch MSRP was $409. The Ryzen part's launch MSRP was $129.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core performance according to the recorded benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X wins both single-core tests in the head-to-head data. It leads the Intel Core i7-8665U by 105.4% in Cinebench R15 single-core and by 28.3% in Cinebench R23 single-core.

Q: Why does the Intel Core i7-8665U win in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel processor has 8 threads versus 4 threads on the Ryzen 3 1300X. In the recorded Cinebench R23 multi-core test, the Intel scores 5232 against the AMD part's 3486, a 33.4% advantage. The extra threads allow the Intel part to handle more parallel work in that specific workload.

Q: Do both processors have the same amount of L3 cache?

A: Yes. The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, and the Intel Core i7-8665U also has 8 MB of shared L3 cache. They differ in L1 cache, with the Ryzen having 96 KB per core versus the Intel's 64 KB per core, and L2 cache, with the Ryzen having 512 KB per core versus the Intel's 256 KB per core.

Q: Does either CPU support ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-8665U does not support ECC memory. The Intel part also supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the Ryzen supports DDR4 only.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i7-8665U includes UHD Graphics 620. The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X has no integrated graphics, so a separate graphics card is required for display output on the AMD platform.

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X has an average benchmark score of 1562, and the Intel Core i7-8665U has an average score of 1513. The Ryzen places in the 39th percentile of all CPUs, and the Intel places in the 38th percentile.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X wins in three distinct areas based on the recorded data. It dominates single-core performance, with a 105.4% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core and a 28.3% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core. It also wins in the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test by 5.9%. For users running legacy render workloads or any heavily single-threaded application, the Ryzen is the better choice according to the benchmark results. The Ryzen also offers ECC memory support and an unlocked multiplier, making it suited to desktop builds where overclocking and memory error correction matter.

The Intel Core i7-8665U wins in the newest multi-core render workload. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 5232 outpaces the Ryzen by 33.4% in that test. The Intel part also includes UHD Graphics 620, making it the only one of the two with integrated graphics. For mobile systems that need built-in display output and for users running modern multi-threaded applications, the Intel part has the recorded advantage. The Intel part is the only one with 8 threads, which aligns with its Cinebench R23 multi-core win.

The average benchmark scores place the two very close: 1562 for the Ryzen and 1513 for the Intel. The Ryzen's three head-to-head wins give it the majority of victories, but the Intel's single win is by the largest margin of the four tests. The Ryzen is the desktop enthusiast choice, with an active production status, a higher memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s, and double the L1 and L2 cache per core. The Intel is the mobile solution, with a lower 15 W TDP versus 65 W for the Ryzen, integrated graphics, and a higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz versus 3.70 GHz. The data supports selecting the Ryzen for single-threaded and legacy multi-threaded workloads, and the Intel for modern multi-threaded rendering and for users who require integrated graphics.