AMD Ryzen 3 3200U vs Intel Core i5-4258U Comparison

The Intel Core i5-4258U and AMD Ryzen 3 3200U are both dual-core mobile processors with four threads, yet benchmark results show they excel in different scenarios. The data reveals a split personality: the Intel chip leads in three of the five head-to-head comparisons, while the AMD chip dominates the remaining two, often by substantial margins. Neither processor establishes overall dominance, as their average benchmark scores are nearly identical at 902 for the Intel and 893 for the AMD part, placing both at the 24th percentile among all CPUs.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U claims victory in the Cinebench R15 multi-core test and the Cinebench R23 single-core test. The R15 result is particularly decisive, with the AMD chip scoring 334 against the Intel’s 222, a gap of 33.5 percent. This suggests the Ryzen part handles older multi-threaded rendering workloads with significantly more efficiency. The R23 single-core result is even more lopsided: 765 for the AMD versus 312 for the Intel, a 59.2 percent advantage. This indicates a major architectural edge in lightly-threaded, modern workloads where single-core performance dominates.

The Intel Core i5-4258U wins the remaining three benchmarks: Cinebench R23 multi-core, Geekbench multi-core, and Geekbench single-core. The R23 multi-core win is notable, with the Intel scoring 2213 against the AMD’s 1786, a 23.9 percent lead. This reverses the R15 result, suggesting that the Intel chip scales better under the newer, more demanding Cinebench R23 workload. In Geekbench, the Intel wins both tests, albeit by smaller margins: 9 percent in multi-core (1664 vs 1527) and 3.3 percent in single-core (844 vs 817). These results point to the Intel processor being more consistent across different benchmark suites, while the AMD chip shows extreme performance swings depending on the specific test.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and manufacturing eras. The Intel Core i5-4258U uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process node, fabricated by Intel with 1,400 million transistors on a 118 mm² die. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U uses the Zen architecture (codenamed Raven Ridge) on a 14 nm process node, fabricated by GlobalFoundries with 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The AMD chip packs over three times as many transistors and nearly double the die area, reflecting its integrated graphics and larger cache design.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with a shared 3 MB L3 cache. The AMD chip offers 96 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with a larger 4 MB shared L3 cache. This additional cache likely contributes to the AMD’s strong single-core performance in Cinebench R23, as more data can be held closer to the cores. Memory support also diverges: the Intel part uses DDR3, while the AMD chip supports DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a rated bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The AMD processor also features PCIe Gen 3 connectivity, a detail not listed for the Intel part.

Clock speeds and power targets favor the AMD chip on paper. The Ryzen 3 3200U has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz, compared to the Intel’s 2.40 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost. The AMD part also has a lower TDP of 15 watts versus the Intel’s 28 watts, making it more power-efficient on paper. Integrated graphics differ as well: the Intel uses HD 5100 while the AMD features Radeon Vega 3. The AMD chip was released in January 2019 and remains in active production, whereas the Intel part launched in June 2013.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test delivers the first major surprise. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U scores 334, which is 33.5 percent higher than the Intel Core i5-4258U’s 222. This is a substantial margin for two processors with identical core and thread counts. The result indicates that in this particular workload, the AMD architecture extracts significantly more throughput from its dual-core configuration. However, this advantage does not carry over to the newer Cinebench R23 multi-core test. Here, the Intel chip reverses the outcome with a score of 2213 against the AMD’s 1786, a 23.9 percent lead. The dramatic flip-flop between R15 and R23 suggests that the Intel Haswell architecture handles the newer rendering instructions more efficiently, while the AMD Zen design was better tuned for the older test.

Single-core results are where the AMD chip builds its largest lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD scores 765 versus the Intel’s 312, a 59.2 percent advantage. This is the largest performance gap in the entire comparison, and it highlights a fundamental difference in per-core efficiency between the two designs. The AMD’s higher boost clock of 3.50 GHz compared to the Intel’s 2.90 GHz likely contributes to this result, though the architectural improvements in Zen are also a factor. The Geekbench single-core test shows a much smaller gap, with the Intel winning 844 to 817, a 3.3 percent margin. This suggests that Geekbench’s single-core workload is less sensitive to the architectural differences that cause the large Cinebench R23 divergence.

The Geekbench multi-core test gives the Intel chip its second win, with a score of 1664 against the AMD’s 1527, a 9 percent margin. This result is consistent with the Intel’s R23 multi-core win, reinforcing the pattern that the Intel chip performs better in modern multi-threaded benchmarks. The AMD chip’s wins are concentrated in one older multi-core test and one single-core test, while the Intel chip wins the two Geekbench tests and the newer R23 multi-core test. The overall win count favors the Intel at three wins to two, but the AMD’s margins in its victories are generally larger.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload type. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U is the better choice for users running older multi-threaded rendering workloads, as demonstrated by its 33.5 percent lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core. Its 59.2 percent advantage in Cinebench R23 single-core also makes it the stronger option for lightly-threaded modern tasks that rely heavily on single-core performance, such as many productivity applications. The lower TDP of 15 watts compared to the Intel’s 28 watts adds to its appeal in thin-and-light laptops where battery life is a priority.

The Intel Core i5-4258U is the steadier performer across the full benchmark suite, winning three of five tests. Its 23.9 percent lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is significant, and its 9 percent and 3.3 percent wins in Geekbench multi-core and single-core respectively show broad competence. For users who need consistent performance across a mix of modern workloads, the Intel chip offers more predictable results. The Intel also has a lower average benchmark score difference, sitting at 902 versus the AMD’s 893, with both processors at the 24th percentile overall.

The choice between these two processors hinges on whether the user values the AMD’s extreme single-core performance and lower power draw, or the Intel’s more balanced profile with wins in newer multi-core tests. The AMD chip is the clear winner in single-threaded Cinebench workloads, while the Intel chip dominates the Geekbench suite and the latest Cinebench multi-core test. Neither processor is a universal choice, and the data strongly suggests that workload characteristics should dictate the selection.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U scores 765 in Cinebench R23 single-core, compared to the Intel Core i5-4258U’s 312, giving the AMD chip a 59.2 percent lead.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any multi-core tests?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i5-4258U wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test with a score of 2213 versus the AMD’s 1786, a 23.9 percent margin, and also wins Geekbench multi-core with 1664 against 1527.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Intel Core i5-4258U has a TDP of 28 watts, making the AMD chip the lower-power option.

Q: How do the cache sizes compare?

A: The AMD chip has 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core with a 4 MB shared L3 cache, while the Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core with a 3 MB shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor is more recent and still in production?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U was released in January 2019 and has an active production status, while the Intel Core i5-4258U was released in June 2013.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-4258U has an average benchmark score of 902, and the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U has an average benchmark score of 893, with both at the 24th percentile of all CPUs.