AMD Ryzen 3 3250U vs Intel Core i5-5350U Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U and Intel Core i5-5350U are both 15-watt mobile processors aimed at thin-and-light laptops, yet benchmark results reveal a split decision: the AMD chip dominates in raw single-core compute and older multi-core tests, while the Intel chip wins modern multi-core workloads and Geekbench across the board. With both CPUs sitting at the 24th percentile of all processors and average benchmark scores within 5 points of each other (908 vs 903), the data suggests a near-total performance parity overall, but the distribution of those wins is anything but uniform.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic margin in this matchup belongs to the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U in Cinebench R23 single-core testing. There, the AMD part scores 776 against Intel's 310, a staggering 150.3% advantage. That is not a marginal lead; it is a near-tripling of the score, indicating a fundamental difference in how the two architectures handle lightly-threaded bursts of work. Similarly, in Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD processor posts 353 points versus 221 for the Intel, a 59.7% victory. These are the headline wins for AMD, and they are decisive enough to shape any single-threaded workflow recommendation.

However, the Intel Core i5-5350U strikes back in the other three head-to-head tests. The most notable reversal comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where Intel scores 2198 against AMD's 2010, an 8.6% lead. This is particularly interesting because the R15 multi-core result favored AMD so heavily, suggesting that the two chips' relative performance shifts depending on the workload's duration and scaling behavior. Geekbench also favors Intel: the multi-core test shows Intel at 1671 versus AMD's 1467 (a 12.2% gap), and the single-core test shows Intel at 868 versus AMD's 722 (a 16.8% gap). Notably, Intel wins the Geekbench single-core test despite losing Cinebench R23 single-core by such a large margin, which points to the significant differences in how these benchmark suites stress the silicon.

Looking at the aggregate wins, Intel takes three of the five head-to-head tests, while AMD takes two. Yet the magnitude of AMD's two wins is so large that it nearly compensates for the smaller margins Intel secures elsewhere. The average benchmark score for the AMD chip is 908, and for the Intel chip it is 903, a difference of only 0.6%. This tells a clear story: on any given day, these are equivalent processors in overall capability, but their profiles are opposite in terms of where the strengths lie.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U is the clear choice for workloads that rely on high-frequency single-core performance and older multi-threaded applications. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 776, which is 150.3% above Intel's, makes it the superior option for responsiveness in lightly-threaded tasks like web browsing, office document editing, and legacy software that only uses one or two cores. The R15 multi-core win (353 vs 221) further suggests that applications built around older threading models will run noticeably faster on the AMD part. If a user's software library is dominated by older titles or utilities that do not scale well across many cores, the data unambiguously points to the Ryzen 3 3250U.

The Intel Core i5-5350U, conversely, claims victory in modern multi-core rendering and in Geekbench's synthetic workloads. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result (2198 vs 2010) indicates that recent rendering and encoding tasks that are optimized for current multi-threading paradigms will execute more quickly on the Intel chip. Its Geekbench multi-core lead (1671 vs 1467) and single-core lead (868 vs 722) also suggest that broader system benchmark scores, which simulate mixed real-world usage, favor Intel. For users whose primary applications are recent video encoders, 3D renderers, or productivity suites that leverage modern thread scheduling, the Intel i5-5350U is the safer bet based on these numbers.

It is also worth noting the production status difference: the AMD chip is listed as Active, while the Intel chip is End-of-life. This does not affect raw performance, but it does mean the AMD processor is the one with ongoing availability in the current market, whereas the Intel part is a legacy product.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on the same 14 nm process node, but they come from different foundries and use fundamentally different designs. The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U uses the Zen architecture with the codename "Dali," manufactured by GlobalFoundries, with a die size of 148 mm² and 3,500 million transistors. The Intel Core i5-5350U uses the Broadwell architecture, codenamed "Broadwell-U," built by Intel, with a smaller die size of 133 mm² and fewer transistors at 1,900 million. Despite having fewer transistors, Intel's design still manages to win several benchmarks, which highlights the efficiency of the older Broadwell microarchitecture in certain scenarios.

Core and cache configurations differ as well, even though both parts have 2 cores and 4 threads. AMD allocates 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, while Intel uses 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core. At the L3 level, AMD offers 4 MB shared, whereas Intel provides 3 MB shared. These cache differences likely contribute to the divergent single-core results, with AMD's larger caches helping in Cinebench R23 single-core but not translating to Geekbench single-core, where Intel leads.

Memory support is another key divider. The AMD chip uses DDR4 memory with dual-channel support and a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the Intel chip uses DDR3 with dual-channel support and a bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. The AMD part's higher memory bandwidth is a notable advantage for memory-intensive tasks, though Intel's Geekbench wins suggest that raw bandwidth alone does not dictate overall performance. PCIe connectivity also differs: AMD provides Gen 3, while Intel provides Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only). Finally, the integrated graphics differ, with AMD featuring Radeon Vega 3 and Intel featuring HD 6000, though no benchmark data is provided to compare their graphical performance.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U has a boost clock of 3.50 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-5350U has a boost clock of 2.90 GHz.

Q: Are both processors based on the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U and Intel Core i5-5350U are built on a 14 nm process node.

Q: Which chip performs better in Cinebench R23 single-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U scores 776, which is 150.3% higher than the Intel Core i5-5350U's score of 310.

Q: What is the total L3 cache size for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i5-5350U has 3 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-5350U support DDR4 memory?

A: No, the Intel Core i5-5350U supports DDR3 memory, whereas the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U supports DDR4.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U has an average benchmark score of 908, marginally higher than the Intel Core i5-5350U's 903, a difference of only 0.6%.

The Verdict

The data supports a scenario-based verdict rather than a blanket recommendation. For users who prioritize single-core responsiveness and older multi-threaded applications, the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U is the clear pick, given its 150.3% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and its 59.7% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core. The AMD chip also benefits from being an Active production part, meaning it is still current, whereas the Intel part is End-of-life.

For users who run modern multi-threaded workloads and value Geekbench-style synthetic performance, the Intel Core i5-5350U wins outright. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 8.6% higher, and its Geekbench multi-core and single-core scores are 12.2% and 16.8% higher, respectively. However, given that the Intel chip is End-of-life and was released in 2015, while the AMD chip was released in 2020, the practical choice for a new system leans toward the AMD processor if availability matters.

Ultimately, the two chips are statistically tied in overall average score (908 vs 903), so neither is objectively superior. The decision hinges entirely on which benchmark suite best represents the user's intended software. If the software is modern and scales well across threads, Intel leads; if the software is older or single-threaded, AMD leads by a much larger margin.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 3 3250U | Intel Core i5-5350U |

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

| Base Clock | 2.60 GHz | 1800.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.50 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP5 | Intel BGA 1168 |

| Architecture | Zen | Broadwell |

| Codename | Dali | Broadwell-U |

| Transistors | 3,500 million | 1,900 million |

| Die Size | 148 mm² | 133 mm² |

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

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

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

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 29.9 GB/s |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Vega 3 | Intel HD 6000 |

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

| Release Date | 2020-01-05 | 2015-02-28 |

| Launch MSRP | N/A | $315 |