AMD Ryzen 3 3200U vs Intel Core i5-5300U Comparison

The Intel Core i5-5300U and AMD Ryzen 3 3200U are both 15 W mobile processors aimed at thin-and-light laptops, but they represent different design eras. The Intel chip, a Broadwell-U part from early 2015, is now end-of-life, while the AMD Raven Ridge part from early 2019 remains active. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 895 for the Intel and 893 for the AMD — placing both at the 24th percentile of all CPUs, and their overall performance is separated by just 0.2%. Yet beneath that statistical tie lies a starkly different performance profile, with each processor winning in distinct workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic split appears in Cinebench results, where the two chips trade blows with massive margins in opposite directions. In the Cinebench R23 single-core test, the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U posts a score of 765, which is 57.9% higher than the Intel Core i5-5300U's 322. That is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head set, and it reflects a fundamental single-thread advantage for the Zen architecture. The gap narrows in Geekbench single-core, where AMD leads by a smaller but still clear 3.2%, scoring 817 versus Intel's 791.

The multi-core picture is more complex. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U wins decisively with 334 points against Intel's 230, a 31.1% advantage. However, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the tables turn completely: the Intel Core i5-5300U scores 2287, which is 28.1% ahead of AMD's 1786. This reversal is unusual — typically, the more modern architecture would dominate both versions of the same benchmark. The R15 result suggests the older test favors AMD's higher boost clock and memory bandwidth, while the R23 result indicates Intel's sustained multi-threaded performance holds up better under longer, more demanding loads.

Geekbench multi-core is essentially a dead heat, with Intel edging out AMD by a razor-thin 0.9% (1540 versus 1527). This near-tie, combined with the divergent Cinebench results, reveals that the two chips have comparable aggregate throughput but achieve it through very different means. Intel's win count stands at 2 out of 5 head-to-head tests, while AMD claims 3, but the magnitude of AMD's single-core victory is far larger than any of Intel's margins. The data shows a processor pair that is roughly equivalent on average yet almost opposite in workload-specific behavior.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U is clearly faster in single-core tests. It beats the Intel Core i5-5300U by 57.9% in Cinebench R23 single-core (765 versus 322) and by 3.2% in Geekbench single-core (817 versus 791).

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core workloads?

A: It depends on the benchmark. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 31.1% (334 versus 230), while the Intel Core i5-5300U wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 28.1% (2287 versus 1786). Geekbench multi-core is nearly tied, with Intel ahead by just 0.9% (1540 versus 1527).

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The two processors are statistically equivalent. The Intel Core i5-5300U has an average benchmark score of 895, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U scores 893, a difference of only 0.2%. Both sit at the 24th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: What is the closest comparable competitor to these chips?

A: According to the nearestRivals data, the Intel Pentium G4600T and AMD PRO A10-8770E both have average scores of 895, matching the Intel Core i5-5300U exactly. The Intel Core i3-6100 trails slightly with a score of 888.

Q: Are these processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. Neither the Intel Core i5-5300U nor the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U has an unlocked multiplier, meaning both are locked for overclocking.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U has a boost clock of 3.50 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Core i5-5300U's boost clock of 2.90 GHz. The AMD chip also has a higher base clock at 2.60 GHz versus 2.30 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-5300U uses the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-U codename, built on a 14 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U uses the Zen architecture under the Raven Ridge codename, also on a 14 nm node but manufactured by GlobalFoundries. Despite the matching process node, the silicon implementations diverge sharply. Intel's die is 82 mm² and contains 1,300 million transistors, while AMD's die is far larger at 210 mm² with 4,940 million transistors — nearly four times the transistor count.

Cache hierarchies also differ significantly. The Intel chip provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with a shared 3 MB L3 pool. AMD's Zen design offers larger per-core caches: 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, plus a 4 MB shared L3 cache. These larger caches likely contribute to AMD's strong single-core benchmark results, as more data can be held closer to the cores.

Memory support marks another architectural split. Intel uses DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and 25.6 GB/s of bandwidth, while AMD supports DDR4 with dual-channel access and a higher 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory bandwidth advantage may explain AMD's Cinebench R15 win, though it does not prevent Intel from taking the R23 multi-core test. PCIe connectivity also differs: Intel offers Gen 2 with 12 lanes from the CPU, while AMD provides Gen 3 lanes. The integrated graphics are distinct as well — Intel's HD 5500 versus AMD's Radeon Vega 3 — though no graphics benchmarks are included in the data.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every core specification. The Intel Core i5-5300U has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 2.90 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U runs at 2.60 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost. Both have 2 cores and 4 threads, but AMD's clocks are notably higher. The socket is different: Intel uses BGA 1168, while AMD uses Socket FP5. Process node is identical at 14 nm, but the foundry differs — Intel versus GlobalFoundries.

Cache sizes diverge at every level: L1 is 64 KB versus 96 KB per core, L2 is 256 KB versus 512 KB per core, and L3 is 3 MB versus 4 MB shared. Memory support differs, with Intel on DDR3 and AMD on DDR4, and memory bandwidth is higher on AMD (38.4 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s). PCIe generation also differs: Intel has Gen 2 with 12 lanes, while AMD has Gen 3. The integrated graphics are different (Intel HD 5500 versus Radeon Vega 3), and the part numbers are distinct (SR23X versus YM3200C4T2OFG). Release dates are years apart — the Intel chip launched in 2015, the AMD in 2019 — and Intel lists a launch MSRP of $315, while AMD has no listed launch MSRP. Production status also differs: Intel is end-of-life, AMD is active.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U is the clear choice for single-threaded responsiveness. Its 57.9% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and 3.2% edge in Geekbench single-core indicate faster per-core execution, which translates to snappier everyday use and better performance in lightly threaded applications. The higher base and boost clocks, larger caches, and newer memory support all feed into this advantage. For users running older Cinebench R15 multi-threaded loads, AMD also wins by 31.1%, suggesting a strength in short, bursty multi-core tasks.

The Intel Core i5-5300U wins in the longer Cinebench R23 multi-core test by 28.1%, which is a substantial margin. This suggests that under sustained multi-threaded load, the Intel chip maintains higher performance, possibly due to more consistent power delivery or thermal behavior within the 15 W envelope. Intel also edges out AMD in Geekbench multi-core, though by a negligible 0.9%. The data indicates Intel is preferable for prolonged multi-threaded workloads such as video encoding or 3D rendering, despite its older architecture and lower clocks.

In terms of overall standing, both chips are evenly matched — the 0.2% average score difference is effectively noise, and both occupy the same 24th percentile. The choice between them should be driven by workload profile: AMD for single-core and short multi-core tasks, Intel for sustained multi-threaded work. The Intel chip's end-of-life status and 2015 release date make it a legacy option, while AMD's active production status and 2019 launch mean it remains a current offering. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both are locked, so overclocking is off the table for either platform.