AMD Ryzen 3 5300G vs Intel Core i3-12100T Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 3 5300G and Intel Core i3-12100T are both 4-core, 8-thread desktop processors, but they represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The data shows a clear split: AMD dominates the Cinebench suite across the board, while Intel counters with a decisive lead in Geekbench tests. The Ryzen 3 5300G holds a 54th percentile ranking among all CPUs, while the Core i3-12100T sits at the 53rd percentile, making them closely matched overall performers despite their architectural differences.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 5300G has a base clock of 4.00 GHz, compared to the Intel Core i3-12100T’s 2.20 GHz. This represents a significant 1.80 GHz advantage for AMD at the base frequency level.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 5300G scores 11,060 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core i3-12100T scores 10,490 points. This gives AMD a 5.4% lead in this specific workload.

Q: Which processor wins in Geekbench single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100T wins decisively, scoring 1,957 points versus the AMD Ryzen 3 5300G’s 1,768 points. This represents a 9.7% advantage for Intel in single-core Geekbench testing.

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 5300G has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Intel Core i3-12100T is rated at 35 watts. The Intel chip consumes significantly less power according to the specification data.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the AMD Ryzen 3 5300G and the Intel Core i3-12100T have `eccMemory: false` in their specifications. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 5300G has an average benchmark score of 3,303, while the Intel Core i3-12100T has an average score of 3,277. The difference is 26 points, or roughly 0.8% in AMD’s favor.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 3 5300G is built on TSMC’s 7 nm process node, while the Intel Core i3-12100T uses Intel’s 10 nm node. This process advantage allows AMD to pack 10,700 million transistors into a 180 mm² die, whereas Intel’s chip has a smaller 163 mm² die size with no transistor count listed. The architectural lineage also differs: AMD employs the Zen 3 architecture under the Cezanne codename, while Intel uses the Alder Lake architecture under the Alder Lake-S codename.

Cache configurations diverge significantly between the two. The AMD chip features 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, with a total 8 MB of L3 cache. Intel’s design provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, with a larger 12 MB shared L3 cache. This gives Intel a 50% advantage in L3 cache capacity, which likely contributes to its Geekbench performance.

Memory support also differs. The AMD Ryzen 3 5300G supports only DDR4 memory with dual-channel configuration and a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The Intel Core i3-12100T supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode, though no specific memory bandwidth figure is provided for Intel. This broader memory compatibility gives Intel more flexibility for future upgrades.

PCIe capabilities present another major distinction. AMD provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while Intel offers PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). This represents a two-generation jump in PCIe technology for Intel, offering substantially more bandwidth for compatible devices.

The integrated graphics differ as well. AMD includes Radeon Vega 6 graphics, while Intel incorporates UHD Graphics 730. Both are integrated solutions, but they represent different graphics architectures. The AMD chip also has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Intel chip’s multiplier is locked.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data tells a story of two very different performance profiles. In the Cinebench suite, the AMD Ryzen 3 5300G wins all six tests with remarkable consistency. The multi-core Cinebench R15 test shows AMD scoring 1,114 points against Intel’s 1,057, a 5.4% margin. The single-core R15 test follows the same pattern: AMD scores 157 to Intel’s 149, again a 5.4% lead.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the results remain consistent. AMD scores 4,645 in multi-core versus Intel’s 4,405, and 655 in single-core versus Intel’s 622. The margins are 5.4% and 5.3% respectively. Cinebench R23 continues this trend with AMD scoring 11,060 multi-core and 1,561 single-core, compared to Intel’s 10,490 and 1,481. The multi-core delta is 5.4% and single-core is 5.4% as well.

The pattern reverses dramatically in Geekbench testing. Intel wins both the multi-core test (6,055 versus 5,467) and the single-core test (1,957 versus 1,768). Both deltas are 9.7% in Intel’s favor. This is a significant reversal — Intel’s Geekbench advantage is nearly double AMD’s Cinebench advantage in percentage terms.

Overall, the head-to-head results show AMD winning 6 tests and Intel winning 2. However, the magnitude of Intel’s wins in Geekbench (9.7%) is larger than AMD’s wins in Cinebench (approximately 5.4%). The average benchmark scores reflect this mixed picture: AMD’s average is 3,303 versus Intel’s 3,277, a narrow 0.8% edge.

The Verdict

The data presents a nuanced recommendation. For users who prioritize rendering workloads, video encoding, or any application that relies on Cinebench-style multi-threaded performance, the AMD Ryzen 3 5300G is the clear choice. Its 5.4% advantage across all Cinebench tests, including both multi-core and single-core variants, demonstrates consistent superiority in this benchmark family. The chip’s higher base clock of 4.00 GHz compared to Intel’s 2.20 GHz likely contributes to this sustained performance advantage.

However, the Intel Core i3-12100T wins decisively in Geekbench, which often correlates with general productivity, web browsing, and everyday application responsiveness. Its 9.7% lead in both Geekbench multi-core and single-core tests is substantial. Additionally, Intel’s 35-watt TDP versus AMD’s 65-watt TDP makes it significantly more power-efficient, which could be critical for small form factor builds or systems where thermal management is a priority.

The Intel chip also offers architectural advantages that may matter for future-proofing. PCIe Gen 5 support with 20 lanes versus AMD’s PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes positions Intel better for next-generation storage and graphics cards. DDR5 memory support adds another layer of future compatibility, even if DDR4 remains viable. The larger 12 MB L3 cache versus AMD’s 8 MB may also benefit certain workloads.

For buyers who need maximum single-threaded performance in non-Cinebench applications, lower power consumption, and modern platform features, the Intel Core i3-12100T is the stronger recommendation. For users who run Cinebench-heavy workloads or prefer AMD’s unlocked multiplier for overclocking potential, the Ryzen 3 5300G wins. The overall benchmark scores are nearly identical — 3,303 versus 3,277 — so the decision ultimately hinges on which benchmark suite better represents the target workload.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The AMD Ryzen 3 5300G has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and boost clock of 4.20 GHz, while the Intel Core i3-12100T has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and boost clock of 4.10 GHz. AMD’s TDP is 65 watts, while Intel’s is 35 watts. The AMD chip uses the AMD Socket AM4, whereas the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1700.

Manufacturing details differ: AMD uses a 7 nm process from TSMC with 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die, while Intel uses a 10 nm process from Intel with no listed transistor count on a 163 mm² die. Cache differences are pronounced: AMD has 64 KB L1 per core and 512 KB L2 per core, while Intel has 80 KB L1 per core and 1.25 MB L2 per core. L3 cache totals 8 MB for AMD and 12 MB shared for Intel.

Memory support diverges with AMD offering only DDR4 and Intel offering DDR4 and DDR5. AMD specifies 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth; Intel does not list a bandwidth figure. PCIe capabilities differ with AMD providing Gen 3, 16 lanes and Intel providing Gen 5, 20 lanes. Integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 6 for AMD and UHD Graphics 730 for Intel.

The multiplier is unlocked on the AMD chip but locked on the Intel chip. Part numbers are 100-000000253 for AMD and SRL64 for Intel. The AMD chip has a release date of April 12, 2021, while no release date is listed for Intel. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $122.