AMD Ryzen 3 3250U vs Intel Core i5-5300U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data presents a genuinely split picture between these two 15W mobile processors. The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U and Intel Core i5-5300U trade victories across the five shared tests, with the Intel part claiming three wins to AMD's two, but the margins tell a more complex story than the raw win count suggests.

The most dramatic result belongs to AMD in Cinebench R23 single-core. The Ryzen 3 3250U scores 776, which is a 141% advantage over the Intel Core i5-5300U's 322. That is not a modest lead; it is a near-tripling of the single-threaded rendering score. Such a gap implies that for workloads relying heavily on a single thread, the AMD architecture is operating in a different performance class entirely.

AMD also dominates in Cinebench R15 multi-core, scoring 353 against Intel's 230, a 53.5% delta. This is the second-largest margin in either direction and reinforces that the Ryzen part can deliver substantially higher throughput in certain older, multi-threaded rendering workloads.

Intel's wins are narrower but consistent. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core i5-5300U scores 2287 versus AMD's 2010, a 12.1% advantage. In Geekbench multi-core, Intel leads 1540 to 1467, a 4.7% margin. The single-core Geekbench result favors Intel as well, 791 to 722, an 8.7% delta.

What stands out is the contradiction between the two Cinebench versions. AMD wins R15 multi-core by a huge 53.5%, yet loses R23 multi-core by 12.1%. The database shows these are both multi-threaded tests, so the inversion suggests that the newer R23 workload responds to something different in how each chip schedules, caches, or thermally manages sustained loads. The Intel part is older silicon, but its R23 multi-core score being higher than AMD's newer part in the same test is a notable data point.

The Geekbench results add another layer of nuance. Intel wins both Geekbench tests, single-core by 8.7% and multi-core by 4.7%, which aligns with the direction of its R23 multi-core win, though the magnitudes differ. AMD's single-core R23 win, however, is so large that it seems inconsistent with its Geekbench single-core loss. The data does not reconcile these easily, which is exactly what makes this comparison interesting.

Average benchmark scores place the two very close. The Ryzen 3 3250U has an average score of 908, while the Core i5-5300U sits at 895. That 13-point difference is small, and both chips land at the 24th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The nearest rivals for AMD include the Intel Core i3-4330T and Intel Core i3-10110Y, both at 908, a 0% delta. The AMD PRO A12-9800E is 0.3% behind, and the AMD A10-7860K is 0.4% ahead. For Intel, the Pentium G4600T and AMD PRO A10-8770E match at 895, while the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U is 0.2% ahead and the Intel Core i3-6100 is 0.7% ahead. Neither chip enjoys a meaningful overall average advantage.

Where Each One Wins

The use-case split emerges directly from which benchmark each processor wins. For single-threaded rendering, the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U is the clear choice. Its 776 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus Intel's 322 is a 141% gap, and no other test in the head-to-head data comes close to that margin. Any application that is heavily serial, such as certain legacy rendering pipelines or single-threaded scripting workloads, would favor the AMD part based on this metric.

For multi-threaded rendering in the older Cinebench R15 test, AMD also wins decisively, 353 versus 230, a 53.5% lead. This suggests that in older software that scales across cores but does not benefit from newer instruction sets or optimizations, the Ryzen 3 3250U can substantially outperform the Intel chip.

Intel's wins define a different profile. The Core i5-5300U leads in Cinebench R23 multi-core by 12.1%, and in both Geekbench tests by 8.7% (single-core) and 4.7% (multi-core). This points to Intel having an advantage in more modern multi-threaded workloads and in general-purpose computing as measured by Geekbench. The R23 result is notable because it is the newest of the Cinebench tests, and Intel wins it despite losing the older R15 version by a wide margin.

The Geekbench single-core result, where Intel leads 791 to 722, is particularly relevant for everyday responsiveness. While AMD dominates the R23 single-core test, Geekbench's single-core metric favors Intel, which complicates any simple statement about which chip is faster per thread. The data shows that the answer depends heavily on which benchmark suite is used.

For users prioritizing older software compatibility and raw single-threaded rendering, the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U appears stronger. For those running modern multi-threaded workloads or placing weight on Geekbench-style synthetic tests, the Intel Core i5-5300U holds the edge. The two chips are close in average score, so workload selection matters far more than overall capability.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design lineages. The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U uses the Zen architecture, specifically the Dali codename from the Ryzen 3 generation, and is built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Intel Core i5-5300U uses the Broadwell architecture with the Broadwell-U codename, also on a 14 nm process but fabricated by Intel. Both are 14 nm parts, but the transistor counts diverge sharply: AMD packs 3,500 million transistors into a 148 mm² die, while Intel uses 1,300 million transistors within an 82 mm² die. AMD's chip is roughly 80% larger in die area and carries nearly 2.7 times the transistor count.

Cache configurations also differ. AMD provides 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 4 MB of shared L3. Intel provides 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 3 MB of shared L3. AMD's larger cache at every level could contribute to its strong single-core R23 result, as more cache reduces latency for repeated data access.

Memory support marks another divergence. The AMD part supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel access and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel part supports DDR3, also dual-channel, but with a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. AMD's memory bandwidth is 50% higher, which may influence multi-threaded performance in memory-sensitive workloads, though Intel still wins the R23 multi-core test.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. AMD offers PCIe Gen 3, while Intel offers PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes CPU-only. The newer PCIe standard on the AMD side provides more headroom for fast storage or discrete graphics, though neither chip is positioned as a high-end solution.

Integrated graphics present a clear contrast. AMD uses Radeon Vega 3, while Intel uses HD 5500. The database does not include graphics benchmarks, so no performance comparison can be drawn, but the architectural difference is notable for anyone relying on the iGPU.

Production status separates the two significantly. The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U is listed as Active, while the Intel Core i5-5300U is End-of-life. The release dates confirm the gap: AMD launched on January 5, 2020, while Intel launched on February 28, 2015, nearly five years earlier. Both chips use 15W TDP and are mobile parts, but the AMD chip is a much newer design.

Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD part's socket is AMD Socket FP5, while Intel uses Intel BGA 1168, so they are not interchangeable in any system.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are identical: both have 2 cores and 4 threads. The key specification differences lie elsewhere. The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-5300U has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 2.90 GHz. AMD holds a 0.30 GHz base clock advantage and a 0.60 GHz boost clock advantage. These clock differences align with AMD's strong R23 single-core result, though they do not explain Intel's R23 multi-core win.

Memory support differs: AMD uses DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, Intel uses DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s. PCIe generation differs: AMD offers Gen 3, Intel offers Gen 2 with 12 lanes CPU-only. Cache differs at every level, with AMD providing 96 KB L1, 512 KB L2, and 4 MB L3, versus Intel's 64 KB L1, 256 KB L2, and 3 MB L3. Transistor count and die size differ as noted: AMD at 3,500 million transistors and 148 mm², Intel at 1,300 million and 82 mm².

The integrated graphics differ: Radeon Vega 3 for AMD, Intel HD 5500 for Intel. The socket differs: AMD Socket FP5 versus Intel BGA 1168. Production status differs: Active for AMD, End-of-life for Intel. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $315, which can be stated once as a historical reference point. The AMD part has no launch MSRP recorded. Both are dual-channel memory parts, neither supports ECC, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U scores 776 versus Intel's 322, a 141% advantage for AMD.

Q: Which processor wins the multi-core Cinebench R23 test?

A: The Intel Core i5-5300U wins with 2287 versus AMD's 2010, a 12.1% margin.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U has an average score of 908, while the Intel Core i5-5300U has 895. Both sit at the 24th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: What memory types do the two processors support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U supports DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel Core i5-5300U supports DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What are the boost clocks for each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U boosts to 3.50 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-5300U boosts to 2.90 GHz.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U is listed as Active, while the Intel Core i5-5300U is End-of-life.

The Verdict

The data does not support a single winner. The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U is the choice for anyone running older multi-threaded rendering workloads, given its 53.5% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core, and for single-threaded rendering in the R23 test, where it leads by 141%. Those are enormous margins in specific scenarios. The Intel Core i5-5300U is the choice for modern multi-threaded rendering, winning R23 multi-core by 12.1%, and for Geekbench-style workloads, where it leads in both single-core (8.7%) and multi-core (4.7%).

The average scores are nearly identical, 908 versus 895, and both chips occupy the 24th percentile. The Ryzen 3 3250U is the newer, active part with higher clocks, more cache, and greater memory bandwidth, while the Core i5-5300U is end-of-life but still competitive in specific modern tests. Buyers should match the chip to the workload: AMD for the R15-era and R23 single-core wins, Intel for R23 multi-core and Geekbench gains. The data leaves no room for a blanket recommendation, only a workload-dependent one.