AMD Ryzen 3 30 vs Intel Core 5 320 Comparison

The benchmark data presents a decisive picture: the Intel Core 5 320 outperforms the AMD Ryzen 3 30 across every single recorded head-to-head test. The Intel processor wins all 11 comparative benchmarks, with margins ranging from a modest 7.7% to a dominant 81.8%. The Ryzen 3 30 does not secure a single victory in the measured workload categories.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest performance gap appears in prime number finding, where the Intel Core 5 320 scores 110 against the AMD Ryzen 3 30's 20, a delta of 81.8% in Intel's favor. This test is highly sensitive to processor architecture and clock speed, and the result indicates a substantial advantage for the Intel part in this specific computational pattern.

Floating point math shows a similarly lopsided result. The Intel Core 5 320 delivers a score of 42440, while the AMD Ryzen 3 30 manages 14448. This 66% deficit for the AMD processor suggests that workloads relying heavily on floating point calculations will see a major performance uplift on the Intel side. The physics test follows the same trend, with the Intel part scoring 1221 versus 436 for the AMD, a 64.3% difference.

The extended instructions benchmark also heavily favors Intel, with a score of 13262 compared to 6075 for AMD, a 54.2% gap. This indicates that the Intel processor handles advanced instruction sets with considerably more efficiency, which can benefit modern applications that utilize these optimizations.

Encryption workloads show a 41.2% advantage for the Intel Core 5 320, scoring 10984 against AMD's 6461. Multithreaded performance follows at a 41.6% delta, with Intel scoring 15450 and AMD 9027. Single-thread performance, a critical metric for responsiveness and lightly threaded applications, shows the Intel part at 4045 versus 2465 for AMD, a 39.1% difference.

The remaining tests show closer margins but still favor Intel. Random string sorting gives Intel 18038 against AMD's 14431, a 20% lead. Data compression shows Intel at 148779 and AMD at 135834, an 8.7% advantage. Integer math results in the smallest gap of the entire comparison: Intel scores 32323, AMD scores 29846, a 7.7% difference. Even in this closest contest, the Intel processor maintains the lead.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 320 wins in every benchmark category, so the use-case split is defined by the degree of its advantage. The largest wins are in compute-intensive workloads that stress the processor's execution units. Floating point math, physics simulations, and prime number calculations are the strongest areas for Intel, with deltas of 66%, 64.3%, and 81.8% respectively. These results indicate that scientific computing, engineering simulations, and any workload with heavy mathematical processing will benefit significantly from the Intel processor.

The Intel part also demonstrates a commanding lead in encryption and extended instruction workloads, with 41.2% and 54.2% deltas. These results suggest strong performance in security-related tasks and applications that take advantage of modern processor instruction sets. Multithreaded performance, with a 41.6% advantage, points to better handling of parallel workloads despite the Intel processor having 6 threads versus the AMD processor's 8 threads.

The AMD Ryzen 3 30 shows its most competitive results in integer math and data compression, where the deltas are 7.7% and 8.7% respectively. While still losing these tests, the proximity of these scores indicates that the AMD processor is less disadvantaged in general integer operations and compression tasks. Single-thread performance shows a 39.1% gap, meaning the AMD part is not competitive in this area either.

The overall average benchmark scores reflect this hierarchy. The AMD Ryzen 3 30 has an average score of 20137 and sits at the 74th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel Core 5 320 has an average score of 18023 and sits at the 72nd percentile. The AMD processor's higher average score and percentile, despite losing every direct comparison, is explained by its nearest rivals. The AMD Ryzen 3 30 is positioned near the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U (0.6% below), the AMD EPYC 7713P (0.6% above), the Intel Core i7-9700K (0.7% below), and the Intel Core i7-11800H (0.7% above). The Intel Core 5 320, by contrast, is positioned near the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (0.2% above), the Intel Core 5 120U (0.7% above), the Intel Core i5-1334U (0.7% below), and the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT (0.7% above).

The Verdict

The recorded data supports only one conclusion: the Intel Core 5 320 is the superior processor in this comparison. It wins every head-to-head benchmark with margins that range from meaningful to overwhelming. The AMD Ryzen 3 30 does not win a single test, and its best showing is a 7.7% deficit in integer math.

Users seeking maximum processing throughput in any measured workload should select the Intel Core 5 320. The Intel processor offers a 39.1% advantage in single-thread performance and a 41.6% advantage in multithreaded performance, making it the stronger choice for both responsive everyday use and demanding parallel tasks. The processor's launch MSRP is $340.

The AMD Ryzen 3 30, while the clear loser in direct comparison, does not fall into obsolescence. Its average benchmark score of 20137 places it at the 74th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals include processors like the Intel Core i7-9700K and Intel Core i7-11800H, from which it trails by only 0.7%. This indicates that the AMD part remains competitive with a broader set of processors, even though it cannot match the Intel Core 5 320.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmarks in this comparison?

A: The Intel Core 5 320 wins all 11 head-to-head benchmarks. The AMD Ryzen 3 30 wins none.

Q: What is the largest performance difference between the two processors?

A: The largest difference is in the prime number finding test, where the Intel Core 5 320 scores 110 and the AMD Ryzen 3 30 scores 20, a delta of 81.8% in Intel's favor.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 320 scores 4045 in the single-thread benchmark, while the AMD Ryzen 3 30 scores 2465, giving Intel a 39.1% advantage.

Q: What are the closest benchmark results between the two processors?

A: The closest result is in integer math, where the Intel Core 5 320 scores 32323 and the AMD Ryzen 3 30 scores 29846, a 7.7% difference. Data compression is next closest at 8.7%.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 30 has an average benchmark score of 20137, while the Intel Core 5 320 has an average score of 18023. Despite this, the Intel processor wins every direct comparison.

Q: What is the percentile ranking of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 30 ranks at the 74th percentile of all CPUs, and the Intel Core 5 320 ranks at the 72nd percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The AMD Ryzen 3 30 uses the Zen 2 architecture with the Mendocino codename, manufactured on a 6 nm process by TSMC. The Intel Core 5 320 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, manufactured on a 3 nm process by Intel, with its architecture listed as null in the database.

Core and thread configurations differ significantly. The AMD processor has 4 cores and 8 threads, utilizing simultaneous multithreading. The Intel processor has 6 cores and 6 threads, with no multithreading. Despite having fewer cores, the Intel processor delivers superior multithreaded performance, scoring 15450 against AMD's 9027 in the multithread benchmark.

Cache hierarchies present a contrasting picture. The AMD Ryzen 3 30 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 320 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel processor's larger total cache allocations contribute to its performance advantage.

Memory support also differs. The AMD processor supports LPDDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus with 88.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel processor supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory but operates on a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD processor has higher memory bandwidth, yet this does not translate into benchmark wins. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

The integrated graphics solutions are distinct. The AMD Ryzen 3 30 uses the Radeon 610M, while the Intel Core 5 320 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. PCIe support differs as well, with AMD offering Gen 3 with 4 lanes (CPU only) and Intel offering Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only).

Specification Differences

The core counts differ, with the AMD processor offering 4 cores and the Intel processor offering 6. Thread counts also differ, with AMD at 8 threads and Intel at 6. The AMD processor has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The Intel processor has a lower base clock of 1.50 GHz but a higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz.

The process nodes differ substantially: the AMD processor uses a 6 nm process from TSMC, while the Intel processor uses a 3 nm process from Intel. The AMD processor has a die size of 100 mm², while the Intel processor's die size is not recorded in the database. Both processors have a TDP of 15 watts.

The sockets are incompatible: the AMD Ryzen 3 30 uses AMD Socket FT6, and the Intel Core 5 320 uses Intel BGA 1516. The AMD processor's architecture is recorded as Zen 2, while the Intel processor's architecture field is null. The AMD processor's codename is Mendocino; the Intel processor's codename is Wildcat Lake.

Memory support differs, with AMD supporting LPDDR5 and Intel supporting DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The memory bus is dual-channel on the AMD processor and single-channel on the Intel processor. Memory bandwidth is 88.0 GB/s for AMD and 59.7 GB/s for Intel. The Intel processor has a launch MSRP of $340, while the AMD processor has no recorded launch MSRP. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel processor's part number is SAE3H, while the AMD processor's part number is unknown.