AMD Ryzen 3 4300G vs Intel Core 3 304 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 4300G and Intel Core 3 304 occupy very different design philosophies, and the benchmark data reflects that split clearly. The AMD part wins 4 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while Intel wins 13. However, the distribution of those wins tells a more nuanced story than the raw tally suggests.

The Ryzen 3 4300G dominates in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 8387 against Intel's 5263, a 59.4% advantage. This is the single largest delta in either direction across the entire benchmark suite. The AMD chip also wins in PassMark data compression (137681 versus 114775, a 20% edge), integer math (29737 versus 24640, a 20.7% edge), and random string sorting (14503 versus 13659, a 6.2% edge). These are workloads that scale with thread count and sustained multi-threaded throughput.

The Intel Core 3 304, by contrast, claims every single-threaded test and most of the mixed or lightly threaded workloads. Its PassMark single-thread score is 3614 versus 2425 for AMD, a 32.9% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core it posts 1765 versus 1184, again a 32.9% gap. Intel also wins floating-point math (29722 versus 17577, a 40.9% lead), physics (868 versus 454, a 47.7% lead), and prime number finding (68 versus 20, a 70.6% lead). The data shows a classic split: AMD wins sustained multi-core throughput, Intel wins bursty single-core and lightly threaded tasks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different platforms. The AMD Ryzen 3 4300G uses the Zen 2 architecture under the Renoir codename, fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It packs 9,800 million transistors into a 156 mm² die. The Intel Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake codename on Intel's own 3 nm process. Intel does not report transistor count or die size in the database.

Core configurations differ substantially. AMD provides 4 cores and 8 threads, relying on simultaneous multithreading to double its logical thread count. Intel provides 5 physical cores and 5 threads, with no hyperthreading. This explains the multi-core dynamics: AMD's 8 threads allow it to pull ahead in heavily parallel Cinebench R23, while Intel's 5 physical cores at higher clocks handle single-thread work better.

Clock speeds and power envelopes tell the rest of the story. The AMD chip runs at a base clock of 3.80 GHz and boosts to 4.00 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The Intel part has a dramatically lower base clock of 1.50 GHz but boosts to 4.30 GHz, operating within a 15 W TDP. That low base clock combined with a high boost clock indicates a power-conscious design that can still deliver single-thread performance when needed.

Cache hierarchies also differ. AMD allocates 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. Intel uses 192 KB of L1 total, 2.5 MB of L2 total, and 6 MB of shared L3. The larger shared L3 on Intel helps in certain workloads, though the AMD part's per-core L2 is proportionally larger.

Memory support and platform positioning diverge sharply. AMD runs DDR4 on a dual-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, using the AMD Socket AM4 platform with PCIe Gen 3 (16 lanes from the CPU). Intel supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X on a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, using the Intel BGA 1516 socket and PCIe Gen 4 (6 lanes from the CPU). The Intel chip is soldered (BGA), while AMD uses a socketed AM4 design. Intel also has an unlocked multiplier disabled, while AMD's multiplier is unlocked.

Integrated graphics differ as well. AMD pairs its CPU with Radeon Vega 6 graphics. Intel includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with one Xe core. Neither benchmark suite in the database measures iGPU performance, so the comparison must remain qualitative.

The market segments diverge: AMD is a desktop part released on 2020-07-20, while Intel is a mobile part released on 2026-04-15. The Intel Core 3 304 carries a launch MSRP of $309.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows the most dramatic swings. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the two are virtually tied: Intel scores 849 against AMD's 845, a 0.5% edge. But in Cinebench R20 multi-core, Intel pulls ahead with 4160 versus 3522, a 15.3% lead. Then in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the result flips completely: AMD scores 8387 against Intel's 5263, a 59.4% margin. The progression across R15, R20, and R23 suggests that the longer the workload runs, the more AMD's 8 threads and 65 W envelope can assert themselves, while Intel's 15 W design likely hits power or thermal limits.

Single-core Cinebench results are unambiguous. Intel wins R15 single-core with 264 versus 119, a 54.9% lead. It wins R20 single-core with 587 versus 497, a 15.3% lead. And it wins R23 single-core with 1765 versus 1184, a 32.9% lead. The R15 single-core gap is particularly striking, nearly double the AMD score.

PassMark results reinforce Intel's single-thread dominance. The Intel part leads in single-thread (3614 versus 2425, 32.9% ahead), floating-point math (29722 versus 17577, 40.9% ahead), physics (868 versus 454, 47.7% ahead), and prime number finding (68 versus 20, 70.6% ahead). Intel also wins extended instructions (9686 versus 9148, a 5.6% edge) and data encryption (8501 versus 8176, a 3.8% edge).

AMD's PassMark wins are concentrated in integer-heavy and data-movement tasks. Integer math goes to AMD at 29737 versus 24640, a 20.7% margin. Data compression goes to AMD at 137681 versus 114775, a 20% margin. Random string sorting goes to AMD at 14503 versus 13659, a 6.2% margin. The PassMark multi-thread aggregate goes to Intel at 11625 versus 9849, a 15.3% lead, showing that even in a multi-threaded aggregate, Intel's higher single-thread efficiency compensates for its lower thread count.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 wins every single-threaded test in the database. Its PassMark single-thread score is 3614 versus 2425 for the AMD Ryzen 3 4300G, a 32.9% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 1765 versus 1184, also a 32.9% margin.

Q: How do the two compare in multi-threaded rendering?

A: It depends on the benchmark version. Intel wins Cinebench R20 multi-core with 4160 versus 3522, but AMD wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 8387 versus 5263, a 59.4% advantage. The R15 multi-core result is essentially tied at 849 versus 845.

Q: What explains AMD's large win in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 4300G has 4 cores and 8 threads, allowing it to process more parallel work than Intel's 5 cores and 5 threads. The AMD part also has a 65 W TDP versus Intel's 15 W, which allows sustained multi-core operation.

Q: Is the Intel Core 3 304 a desktop processor?

A: No. The database classifies it as a mobile part on the Intel BGA 1516 socket, meaning it is soldered to the board. The AMD Ryzen 3 4300G is a desktop part on the socketed AMD Socket AM4 platform.

Q: Which chip has better memory bandwidth?

A: Intel reports 59.7 GB/s from a single-channel DDR5/LPDDR5X bus. AMD reports 51.2 GB/s from a dual-channel DDR4 bus. Intel's number is higher, though the architectures handle memory access differently.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: Yes. AMD includes Radeon Vega 6 graphics, while Intel includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with one Xe core. The database does not provide benchmark scores for either integrated GPU.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports a clear use-case split. The AMD Ryzen 3 4300G is the choice for sustained multi-threaded workloads that can use its 8 threads. Its 59.4% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 20% plus leads in integer math and data compression indicate strength in rendering, compression, and integer-heavy batch tasks. The unlocked multiplier on the AM4 platform also allows for overclocking, which the data shows is possible given the 65 W envelope.

The Intel Core 3 304 is the choice for single-threaded responsiveness and power-constrained mobile use. Its 15 W TDP is dramatically lower than AMD's 65 W, yet it delivers a 32.9% single-thread lead in both PassMark and Cinebench R23. It also wins floating-point math by 40.9%, physics by 47.7%, and prime number finding by 70.6%. The 4.30 GHz boost clock, despite the 1.50 GHz base, gives it strong burst performance.

For desktop builders who need multi-core throughput and can supply adequate cooling and power, the Ryzen 3 4300G's Cinebench R23 result is decisive. For mobile users or those prioritizing single-thread speed and power efficiency, the Core 3 304's benchmark profile is equally clear. The two parts rarely compete for the same socket or system type, but where workloads overlap, the choice comes down to thread scaling versus per-thread speed.