AMD Ryzen 3 2300U vs Intel Core i5-5300U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive performance gap between the Intel Core i5-5300U and the AMD Ryzen 3 2300U, with the AMD part taking two of the three shared benchmark comparisons. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the Ryzen 3 2300U scores 422.5 against the Intel chip's 230, a 45.6% advantage for AMD. This is the largest margin in the head-to-head set, and it reflects the fundamental difference in core count: the Ryzen 3 2300U brings four physical cores to the table, while the Core i5-5300U is a dual-core part with Hyper-Threading. The multi-core Geekbench result reinforces the same story, with the AMD processor scoring 2234 versus 1540 for Intel, a 31.1% lead. That is a substantial gap in any workload that scales across threads, from content creation to compilation tasks.

The single-core comparison is much tighter, and it is the one place where the older Intel design comes out ahead. In Geekbench single-core, the Core i5-5300U scores 791, edging the Ryzen 3 2300U's 783 by a mere 1%. This near-parity is notable because the Intel part has a lower boost clock of 2.90 GHz compared to the Ryzen's 3.40 GHz, yet it still manages to hold a slight edge in this specific test. That speaks to the per-core efficiency of Intel's Broadwell architecture, which was designed for low-power mobile systems and still delivers competitive single-threaded performance despite its age. The Ryzen 3 2300U, by contrast, uses a higher clock speed to close the gap but cannot fully overcome the Intel design's advantage in this narrow metric.

Looking at the broader benchmark database, the Intel Core i5-5300U holds an average benchmark score of 895 across all recorded tests, placing it at the 24th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 3 2300U averages 880, putting it at the 23rd percentile. These aggregate scores are almost identical, which is a useful sanity check: the two chips are broadly comparable in overall compute capability, but the distribution of performance differs sharply. The Intel part leans on single-threaded strength, while the AMD part leverages its extra cores for multi-threaded tasks. The head-to-head data captures exactly this split, with the Ryzen 3 2300U winning the two multi-threaded tests and the Core i5-5300U taking the single-threaded test.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 2300U wins in both shared multi-core tests. It scores 422.5 in Cinebench R15 multi-core versus 230 for the Intel Core i5-5300U, a 45.6% advantage, and 2234 in Geekbench multi-core versus 1540, a 31.1% lead.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-5300U is slightly ahead, scoring 791 in Geekbench single-core against 783 for the AMD Ryzen 3 2300U, a 1% difference. The database does not include a Cinebench R15 single-core score for the Intel part, but the AMD chip records 79 in that test.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 2300U has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i5-5300U has 2 cores and 4 threads, meaning it relies on Hyper-Threading to reach the same thread count as the AMD part's physical cores.

Q: Which processor is older, and when was each released?

A: The Intel Core i5-5300U was released on 2015-02-28 and is marked as end-of-life. The AMD Ryzen 3 2300U was released on 2018-01-07 and is still active in production.

Q: What is the difference in memory support between the two?

A: The Intel Core i5-5300U supports DDR3 memory with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The AMD Ryzen 3 2300U supports DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, which is 50% higher.

Q: Which chip has the larger cache configuration?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 2300U has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core i5-5300U has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design lineages. The Intel Core i5-5300U is built on the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-U codename, and fabricated on Intel's 14 nm process node. It packs 1,300 million transistors into an 82 mm² die. The AMD Ryzen 3 2300U uses the Zen architecture under the Raven Ridge codename, also on a 14 nm process, but manufactured by GlobalFoundries. Its die is much larger at 210 mm² and contains 4,950 million transistors, roughly 3.8 times the transistor count of the Intel part.

The core layouts differ as well. Intel's chip has 2 physical cores with 4 threads, while AMD's has 4 physical cores with 4 threads. This means the AMD part does not use simultaneous multithreading; each of its four cores runs a single thread. The cache hierarchy reflects these design choices. The Intel chip allocates 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, with a 3 MB shared L3 cache. The AMD chip provides 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, plus a larger 4 MB shared L3 cache. These larger per-core caches help feed the Zen architecture's wider execution resources.

Memory support is another major architectural split. The Intel Core i5-5300U is paired with DDR3 memory over a dual-channel bus, delivering 25.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD Ryzen 3 2300U uses DDR4 memory, also dual-channel, but achieves 38.4 GB/s. That bandwidth advantage matters for integrated graphics and memory-intensive workloads. PCIe connectivity differs too: Intel provides Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only), while AMD provides Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The newer PCIe standard on the AMD side offers higher per-lane throughput, even with fewer lanes.

The integrated graphics solutions are also from different eras. Intel pairs the Core i5-5300U with Intel HD 5500, a GPU designed for Broadwell-era ultrabooks. AMD equips the Ryzen 3 2300U with Radeon Vega 6, which is part of the Raven Ridge accelerated processing unit design that combines Zen CPU cores with Vega graphics on the same die. Both are aimed at mobile systems, but the AMD implementation benefits from the larger die and newer memory interface.

Specification Differences

The table below highlights the fields where the two chips differ, based on the recorded database entries.

| Specification | Intel Core i5-5300U | AMD Ryzen 3 2300U |

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

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.30 GHz | 2000.00 MHz (2.00 GHz) |

| Boost Clock | 2.90 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1168 | AMD Socket FP5 |

| Architecture | Broadwell | Zen |

| Codename | Broadwell-U | Raven Ridge |

| Generation | Core i5 (Broadwell-U) | Ryzen 3 (Zen (Raven Ridge)) |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 1,300 million | 4,950 million |

| Die Size | 82 mm² | 210 mm² |

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

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

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

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | 38.4 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 2, 12 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 5500 | Radeon Vega 6 |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2015-02-28 | 2018-01-07 |

| Launch MSRP | $315 | null |

| Part Number | SR23X | YM2300C4T4MFB |

Both processors share a 15 W TDP, dual-channel memory buses, and the absence of ECC memory support. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The market segment for both is mobile, and both are soldered to their respective sockets.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 2300U is the clear choice for multi-threaded workloads. Its 45.6% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 31.1% advantage in Geekbench multi-core show that any task that can use more than two cores will favor the AMD part. This includes video encoding, 3D rendering, software compilation, and multitasking across many applications. The four physical cores provide a solid foundation for these scenarios, and the DDR4 memory interface with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth helps feed data to both the CPU and the Radeon Vega 6 integrated graphics. The AMD chip is also still in active production, meaning it remains a viable option for new systems.

The Intel Core i5-5300U wins the single-core comparison, albeit by a slim 1% margin in Geekbench. This gives it a small edge in lightly threaded applications such as web browsing, office productivity, and older software that does not scale well across cores. Its advantage in single-threaded efficiency is notable given its lower boost clock of 2.90 GHz versus 3.40 GHz for the AMD part. The Intel chip also offers more PCIe lanes at Gen 2, which could matter for certain expansion configurations, although the older standard limits per-lane throughput. For users who prioritize single-threaded responsiveness, the Core i5-5300U remains competitive despite being end-of-life.

The aggregate benchmark scores tell a nuanced story. The Intel part averages 895 across all tests, while the AMD part averages 880, placing them within 1.7% of each other overall. But the distribution of performance is what separates them: the AMD Ryzen 3 2300U is a multi-core specialist, while the Intel Core i5-5300U is a single-core specialist. In a mixed workload environment, the choice depends on the software mix. Multi-threaded applications heavily favor the Ryzen 3 2300U, while single-threaded applications slightly favor the Core i5-5300U. The recorded data supports this split clearly, with the head-to-head results showing two decisive wins for AMD and one narrow win for Intel.