AMD Ryzen 3 4300GE vs Intel Core i7-5930K Comparison

The Intel Core i7-5930K and AMD Ryzen 3 4300GE represent two very different eras of desktop computing. The i7-5930K is a high-end Haswell-E part from 2014, while the 4300GE is a modern, efficient Zen 2 chip. Benchmark results show a clear overall winner, but the story is more nuanced when you consider the platform features each brings to the table.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data is unambiguous in compute performance: the AMD Ryzen 3 4300GE wins every single benchmark in the comparison. The margin is remarkably consistent across all tests, hovering around 7.4% to 7.9%. In the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the 4300GE scores 961 against the i7-5930K's 886, a 7.8% advantage. The single-core results tell a similar story: 135 versus 125 in R15, which is a 7.4% lead for AMD.

Moving to newer workloads, the gap remains steady. In Cinebench R20, the 4300GE posts 4006 multicore and 565 single-core, while the i7-5930K manages 3692 and 521 respectively. That is a 7.8% deficit for Intel in both metrics. The most demanding test, Cinebench R23, shows the AMD part scoring 9540 multicore and 1346 single-core. The i7-5930K trails with 8791 and 1241, marking a 7.9% difference in multicore and 7.8% in single-core.

The overall average benchmark scores reflect this dominance, but only slightly. The i7-5930K has an average score of 2775, placing it at the 51st percentile of all CPUs. The 4300GE averages 2759, which is the 50th percentile. Despite winning every head-to-head test, the AMD chip's average is marginally lower because the Intel part also has Geekbench scores included in its dataset: 5715 multicore and 1225 single-core. The 4300GE lacks Geekbench data in this comparison. The delta between their nearest rivals is also telling. The i7-5930K's closest competitor, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4350G, scores 2774, a 0% delta. The 4300GE's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 3 5400U, scores 2765, which is -0.2% relative to its average.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-threaded workloads like video rendering?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 4300GE wins all multicore benchmarks. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 9540 versus the i7-5930K's 8791, a 7.9% advantage. The R20 multicore results are similar: 4006 for AMD versus 3692 for Intel.

Q: Is the older Intel chip better in single-core performance?

A: No. The 4300GE leads in every single-core test. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 135 against 125 for the i7-5930K. The R23 single-core results show 1346 versus 1241, a 7.8% gap.

Q: Do the two CPUs have any performance areas where they are close?

A: Their overall average benchmark scores are very close. The i7-5930K averages 2775, while the 4300GE averages 2759. The i7-5930K's nearest rival, the Ryzen 3 PRO 4350G, is only 0.2% faster than it on average.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-5930K has 6 cores and 12 threads. The AMD Ryzen 3 4300GE has 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD part still wins all multi-threaded benchmarks.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 4300GE boosts up to 4.00 GHz. The Intel Core i7-5930K has a lower boost clock of 3.70 GHz. Both have the same base clock of 3.50 GHz.

Q: Is one of these CPUs still in production?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 3 4300GE is listed as active in production. The Intel Core i7-5930K is end-of-life.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-5930K uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process node, built by Intel with 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die. It is based on the Haswell-E codename and belongs to the Core i7 generation. In contrast, the AMD Ryzen 3 4300GE uses the Zen 2 architecture on a 7 nm node, fabricated by TSMC. It packs 9,800 million transistors onto a much smaller 156 mm² die. This node advantage explains how AMD achieves higher performance with much lower power consumption.

The cache configurations also differ significantly. Both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the i7-5930K has 512 KB of L2 per core on the AMD side. The L3 cache is where the gap widens: the Intel part has 15 MB of shared L3, while the 4300GE has only 4 MB shared. Despite the smaller cache, the newer architecture wins in performance.

Memory and platform features are starkly different. The i7-5930K supports quad-channel DDR4 memory with 68.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The 4300GE uses dual-channel memory with 51.2 GB/s. The Intel chip offers 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD part offers standard Gen 3 PCIe but does not specify lane count. The AMD chip includes integrated Radeon Vega 6 graphics, whereas the Intel i7-5930K has no integrated graphics listed. The AMD part also supports ECC memory, which the Intel chip does not.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the AMD Ryzen 3 4300GE for raw compute performance. It wins all six head-to-head benchmarks with margins between 7.4% and 7.9%. This is a significant result given that the i7-5930K has 6 cores and 12 threads against the 4300GE's 4 cores and 8 threads. The newer 7 nm process and higher boost clock of 4.00 GHz overcome the core deficit.

For single-threaded tasks, the choice is equally clear. The 4300GE leads by 7.4% to 7.8% across all Cinebench versions. This means faster everyday responsiveness and better performance in lightly-threaded applications. The i7-5930K's only advantage lies in platform bandwidth, offering quad-channel memory and 68.3 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s, but this does not translate into benchmark wins.

Given the 4300GE's active production status, lower 35 W TDP, and newer architecture, it is the logical choice for most builders who need a desktop CPU. The i7-5930K is end-of-life and draws 140 W. The AMD chip is simply more competitive in every measured metric. The only scenario where the i7-5930K might be considered is if the user specifically needs quad-channel memory bandwidth for niche workloads, but the benchmark data shows no performance benefit from that feature.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-5930K | AMD Ryzen 3 4300GE |

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

| Cores | 6 | 4 |

| Threads | 12 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| TDP | 140 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2011-3 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Zen 2 |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 7 nm |

| Transistors | 2,600 million | 9,800 million |

| Die Size | 356 mm² | 156 mm² |

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

| L3 Cache | 15 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 68.3 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Radeon Vega 6 |

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

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 4300GE wins in all performance categories measured. It dominates multicore scenarios like video rendering and 3D modeling, as shown by its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 9540 versus 8791. It also wins in single-core tasks such as web browsing and office applications, with a 1346 score in R23 single-core against 1241. The consistency of the 7.8% to 7.9% margins across all tests suggests a well-rounded advantage.

The Intel Core i7-5930K has no benchmark wins. However, its specification sheet offers some advantages that are not reflected in the scores. The quad-channel memory bus with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth could benefit memory-intensive workloads that the Cinebench suite does not capture. The larger 15 MB L3 cache is another feature that might help in certain server-like workloads. Still, the data shows that none of these advantages translate into a single benchmark victory.

For a practical builder, the 4300GE is the better choice for almost any task, from gaming to productivity. Its 35 W TDP makes it suitable for compact systems with modest cooling. The i7-5930K, despite its 6-core configuration, cannot match the newer architecture's efficiency or speed. The only reason to pick the Intel part would be if you need the specific platform features of the Intel Socket 2011-3, such as quad-channel memory, and you are willing to sacrifice 7.4% to 7.9% performance across the board.