AMD Ryzen 3 2300U vs Intel Core i5-3470T Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R15?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 2300U scores 422.5 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, compared to the Intel Core i5-3470T's 256, giving the AMD part a 65% advantage.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Geekbench single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 2300U leads with a Geekbench single-core score of 783 versus 560 for the Intel Core i5-3470T, a 39.8% difference in favor of AMD.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 2300U has an average benchmark score of 880, while the Intel Core i5-3470T averages 863.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for these two parts?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 2300U has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i5-3470T has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-3470T has a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, which is higher than the AMD Ryzen 3 2300U's 3.40 GHz boost.

Q: How does the power envelope differ between the two CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 2300U has a TDP of 15 watts, whereas the Intel Core i5-3470T has a TDP of 35 watts.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras and process technologies. The AMD Ryzen 3 2300U uses the Zen architecture, specifically the Raven Ridge codename, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Intel Core i5-3470T uses the older Ivy Bridge architecture, also its codename, manufactured on a 22 nm process at Intel. This process gap alone accounts for significant differences in power efficiency and transistor density.

The AMD chip integrates 4,950 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, while the Intel part's transistor count is not recorded but its die size is 93.6 mm². The Ryzen 3 2300U is a mobile-focused part with the AMD Socket FP5, whereas the Core i5-3470T is a desktop chip on Intel Socket 1155. The market segments are distinct: one is designed for thin-and-light laptops, the other for desktop systems.

Cache hierarchies also differ notably. The Ryzen 3 2300U has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i5-3470T has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3. In every cache level, the AMD part holds more data, which supports its stronger multi-threaded throughput.

Memory support diverges as well. The Ryzen 3 2300U uses DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a recorded bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Core i5-3470T uses DDR3, also dual-channel, but its bandwidth figure is not recorded in the database. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

Integrated graphics differ: the AMD part pairs with Radeon Vega 6, while the Intel part uses Intel HD 2500. PCIe lane allocation also varies, with the AMD chip providing 8 CPU-only lanes and the Intel chip providing 16 CPU-only lanes, both Gen 3. The release dates are far apart: the Ryzen 3 2300U launched in January 2018, while the Core i5-3470T launched in May 2012. The AMD part is still active in production, while the Intel part's production status is not recorded.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a clean sweep for the AMD Ryzen 3 2300U across every shared benchmark test. The largest margin appears in Geekbench multi-core, where the AMD part scores 2234 against the Intel part's 1102. That is a 102.7% advantage, meaning the Ryzen 3 2300U delivers more than double the multi-threaded performance in this workload. The gap is substantial even though the Intel part has Hyper-Threading, giving it 4 threads from 2 cores, while the AMD part has 4 threads from 4 physical cores.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 3 2300U scores 422.5 versus 256 for the Intel Core i5-3470T, a 65% lead. This consistent multi-core dominance suggests the AMD chip's additional physical cores and larger caches translate directly into sustained rendering performance. The Intel part's higher boost clock, 3.60 GHz versus 3.40 GHz, does not compensate for the core count deficit.

Single-core performance also favors AMD, though by a smaller margin. The Geekbench single-core score is 783 for the Ryzen 3 2300U and 560 for the Core i5-3470T, a 39.8% difference. This indicates the Zen architecture's per-core efficiency is well ahead of Ivy Bridge, despite the older Intel chip having a higher boost frequency. The Intel part has only one additional recorded single-core test, Cinebench R20 single-core at 150 and Cinebench R23 single-core at 359, but these have no direct AMD comparison in the head-to-head table.

The head-to-head results give AMD 3 wins and Intel 0 wins. The only tests the Intel part has that the AMD part lacks are Cinebench R20 and R23 variants, so a direct comparison in those workloads is not possible from the recorded data. However, the pattern across all shared benchmarks is unambiguous: the Ryzen 3 2300U is faster in every measurable comparison.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 3 2300U | Intel Core i5-3470T |

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

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.00 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.40 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 35 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP5 | Intel Socket 1155 |

| Architecture | Zen | Ivy Bridge |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 22 nm |

| L1 Cache | 96 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

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

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 3 MB (shared) |

| Memory Type | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | Not recorded |

| PCIe Lanes | Gen 3, 8 lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Vega 6 | Intel HD 2500 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2018-01-07 | 2012-05-31 |

| Production Status | Active | Not recorded |

| Die Size | 210 mm² | 93.6 mm² |

| Transistors | 4,950 million | Not recorded |

The base clock is notably higher on the Intel part, 2.90 GHz versus 2.00 GHz, and the boost clock also favors Intel, 3.60 GHz versus 3.40 GHz. Yet the AMD part wins all benchmark comparisons, which shows the architectural efficiency and core count matter more than raw clock speed in these workloads. The power draw is also starkly different: the AMD part draws 15 W versus 35 W for Intel, meaning the Ryzen 3 2300U achieves higher performance at less than half the power envelope.

The memory bandwidth advantage belongs to AMD, with 38.4 GB/s recorded versus no figure for Intel. PCIe lane count favors Intel, 16 lanes versus 8, which matters for desktop expansion but not for the mobile use case of the AMD chip. The Intel part has a smaller die, 93.6 mm² versus 210 mm², due to the older and less dense 22 nm process, but the AMD part packs far more transistors into a larger area.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 2300U wins in every recorded benchmark comparison, so its strengths are broad and decisive. For multi-threaded workloads such as video rendering, content creation, and compilation tasks, the 65% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and the 102.7% lead in Geekbench multi-core make it the clear choice. The extra two physical cores, larger L3 cache, and DDR4 memory support all contribute to this advantage. Its 15 W TDP also makes it suitable for thin-and-light mobile systems where power efficiency is critical, and the Radeon Vega 6 integrated graphics offer a stronger iGPU option than Intel HD 2500.

The Intel Core i5-3470T wins in scenarios where its higher clock speeds and desktop platform matter. With a base clock of 2.90 GHz and boost of 3.60 GHz, it can feel responsive for lightly threaded tasks such as basic office work, web browsing, or legacy software that relies on single-thread speed, although the recorded single-core Geekbench score of 560 versus 783 for AMD contradicts that expectation. Its 16 PCIe lanes make it more suitable for desktop systems with discrete GPUs or multiple expansion cards, and its Socket 1155 platform offers broad motherboard compatibility. The Intel part also has a much smaller die size, which may interest system builders targeting compact desktop builds, though its 35 W TDP is higher.

For users prioritizing raw compute performance, the database is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 3 2300U is the faster processor across all shared benchmarks. For users who need a desktop platform with more PCIe lanes and higher base clocks, the Intel Core i5-3470T retains relevance, but the performance gap in favor of AMD is too large to ignore. The Ryzen 3 2300U's active production status also suggests ongoing availability, while the Intel part's production status is not recorded, implying it may be harder to source. In terms of average benchmark score, the AMD part leads at 880 versus 863, and its percentile ranking among all CPUs is 23, the same as the Intel part, indicating both sit in a similar overall performance tier despite the head-to-head differences.