AMD Ryzen 3 4300U vs Intel Core i5-6600 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-6600 and AMD Ryzen 3 4300U are both 4-core, 4-thread processors that land within 0.1% of each other in average benchmark score, yet they represent fundamentally different design philosophies: a desktop Skylake part from 2015 versus a mobile Zen 2 part from 2020. The data shows the Ryzen 3 4300U wins five of six head-to-head comparisons, but the Intel chip takes a decisive victory in one critical multi-threaded workload, making the choice heavily dependent on the specific application.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-6600 has an average benchmark score of 1744, while the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U scores 1742. The delta is 0.1% in favor of Intel, making them statistically equivalent overall.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-6600 is the clear winner here, scoring 5161 versus the Ryzen 3 4300U's 3571. This represents a 44.5% advantage for Intel in this specific workload.

Q: Does the AMD chip win any single-threaded tests?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 3 4300U wins all single-threaded comparisons. It leads by 55.5% in Cinebench R15 single-core (163.9 vs 73), by 32.2% in Cinebench R23 single-core (1074 vs 728), and by 3.3% in Geekbench single-core (1281 vs 1239).

Q: What are the process node differences between the two?

A: The Intel Core i5-6600 is built on Intel's 14 nm process with a die size of 177 mm², while the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U uses TSMC's 7 nm process with a 156 mm² die. The Ryzen integrates 9,800 million transistors compared to Intel's unspecified count.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 4300U supports 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth, which is 50% higher than the Intel Core i5-6600's 34.1 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory, but AMD supports DDR4 and LPDDR4 while Intel supports both DDR3 and DDR4.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-6600 boosts to 3.90 GHz, which is higher than the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U's 3.70 GHz boost. However, the Ryzen has a lower base clock of 2.70 GHz compared to Intel's 3.30 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors spans five years and two very different design targets. The Intel Core i5-6600 uses the Skylake architecture on a 14 nm process, fabricated by Intel itself, while the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U employs Zen 2 (Renoir) on a 7 nm process from TSMC. This process advantage allows AMD to pack 9,800 million transistors into a 156 mm² die, which is smaller than Intel's 177 mm² die despite containing significantly more transistors.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. Both share 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the Intel chip has 256 KB of L2 per core versus 512 KB per core on the AMD. In L3 cache, Intel provides 6 MB shared, while AMD offers 4 MB shared — a 2 MB deficit for the Ryzen. This cache configuration partially explains why the Intel part maintains competitiveness in certain sustained workloads despite older architecture.

The Intel Core i5-6600 is a desktop part with a 35 W TDP, using Socket 1151, while the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U is a mobile processor with a 15 W TDP on Socket FP6. The power envelope difference is substantial, yet the AMD chip still manages to outperform in most tests. The Intel part integrates UHD Graphics 530, while AMD includes Radeon Graphics with 320 SP. Both support PCIe Gen 3, though Intel specifies 16 lanes from the CPU while AMD simply lists Gen 3.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-6600 wins decisively in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 5161 versus 3571 for the AMD, a 44.5% advantage. This suggests workloads that scale with sustained multi-threaded rendering or computation over longer durations favor the Intel part, likely due to its higher sustained clocks (3.30 GHz base, 3.90 GHz boost) and larger 6 MB L3 cache. The desktop form factor and 35 W TDP allow for more consistent power delivery, which benefits extended all-core workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 3 4300U wins everywhere else, including all single-threaded tests and the other multi-threaded benchmarks. Its most dramatic victory is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 163.9 versus Intel's 73 — a 55.5% margin. This indicates vastly superior per-core IPC from the Zen 2 architecture. The Ryzen also wins the Cinebench R15 multi-core test (562.5 vs 520), Geekbench multi-core (3798 vs 3755), and Geekbench single-core (1281 vs 1239). For typical mobile workloads, short burst tasks, and general productivity, the AMD chip is clearly superior despite its lower clock speeds and smaller L3 cache.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-6600 | AMD Ryzen 3 4300U |

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

| Architecture | Skylake | Zen 2 (Renoir) |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not specified | 9,800 million |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 156 mm² |

| Base Clock | 3.30 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.90 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | AMD Socket FP6 |

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

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3, DDR4 | DDR4, LPDDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 34.1 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3 |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 530 | Radeon Graphics 320SP |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

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

| Release Date | 2015-06-30 | 2020-01-05 |

| Launch MSRP | $224 | Not specified |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data reveals a lopsided battle with a single but massive counterpoint. The AMD Ryzen 3 4300U wins five of six comparisons, yet the Intel Core i5-6600's one victory is so large it shifts the overall average benchmark score narrowly in Intel's favor.

Starting with the AMD victories, the most striking is Cinebench R15 single-core. The Ryzen 3 4300U scores 163.9 against the Core i5-6600's 73, a 55.5% delta. This is an enormous single-threaded gap that reflects the architectural leap from Skylake to Zen 2. In Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD continues its dominance with 1074 versus 728, a 32.2% advantage. Geekbench single-core shows a closer race: 1281 for AMD versus 1239 for Intel, a 3.3% margin that still favors the Ryzen.

In multi-threaded tests, the results are mixed. Cinebench R15 multi-core goes to AMD with 562.5 versus 520, a 7.6% win. Geekbench multi-core is nearly a tie, with AMD scoring 3798 against Intel's 3755, just 1.1% apart. These results suggest that in shorter multi-threaded bursts, the Ryzen's superior IPC compensates for its lower clock speeds and smaller L3 cache.

The outlier is Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel Core i5-6600 absolutely dominates with 5161 versus 3571 for the Ryzen 3 4300U — a 44.5% margin. This is a dramatic reversal from the other multi-threaded results. The disparity between Cinebench R15 and R23 multi-core scores for Intel (520 vs 5161) versus AMD (562.5 vs 3571) suggests that the Intel part scales much better with the longer, more demanding R23 workload. The 35 W desktop TDP and larger 6 MB L3 cache likely enable sustained performance that the 15 W mobile chip cannot maintain over extended rendering sessions.

The overall average benchmark scores reflect this split: Intel's 1744 average narrowly edges AMD's 1742, a 0.1% difference. Both processors sit at the 41st percentile of all CPUs, and their nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-980X (1746), Intel Core i3-10100 (1742), and Intel Core i5-8269U (1748). The data indicates that despite the architectural gulf and five-year release gap, these two processors end up in the same performance class — but with very different strengths that make them suitable for distinct use cases. For sustained all-core rendering, the Intel desktop part wins; for everything else, the AMD mobile chip is the better performer.