AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE vs Intel Core i5-1240P Comparison

The Intel Core i5-1240P and AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE are both 53rd-percentile performers, but they achieve that status through radically different designs. The Intel part is a 12-core mobile processor with a 28 W TDP, while the AMD chip is a 4-core desktop part with a 35 W TDP. Benchmark results show a split personality: the i5-1240P dominates in older Cinebench versions and single-threaded tests, yet the Ryzen 3 5300GE turns the tables in the most demanding multi-core workload. This comparison reveals how workload selection and architectural philosophy dictate which processor comes out ahead.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-1240P is the clear winner in legacy and single-threaded workloads. Across the Cinebench R15 and R20 suites, it takes every test by a substantial margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-1240P scores 1566.5 against the Ryzen’s 1101, a 42.3% advantage. The single-core gap is even more pronounced: 226 versus 155 in R15, a 45.8% lead. The R20 results narrow the gap but still favor Intel heavily, with a 22.7% multi-core win (5632 vs 4589) and a 22.9% single-core win (795 vs 647). This suggests the i5-1240P’s higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz, compared to the Ryzen’s 4.20 GHz, gives it an edge in lightly-threaded and older benchmark scenarios.

The AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE stakes its claim in the most modern and demanding test: Cinebench R23 multi-core. Here, the Ryzen scores 10927, decisively beating the Intel’s 9392 by 14%. This is a remarkable reversal, given that the Ryzen has only 4 cores and 8 threads versus the Intel’s 12 cores and 16 threads. The Zen 3 architecture’s efficiency shines through in sustained all-core loads. However, the Ryzen’s single-core victory is narrow at best; it loses R23 single-core to Intel, 1542 vs 1600, a 3.8% deficit. So, while the Ryzen wins the headline multi-core race, it cedes the single-thread crown.

For users running older software or applications optimized for single-thread speed, the i5-1240P is the stronger choice. For modern multi-threaded rendering or encoding tasks that scale well, the Ryzen 3 5300GE proves that core count isn’t everything. The data shows a 5-to-1 win split in favor of Intel across the head-to-head tests, but the magnitude of AMD’s single victory is substantial enough to flip the narrative for specific use cases.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from opposite ends of the design spectrum. The Intel Core i5-1240P is built on Alder Lake architecture, using a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel. It features a hybrid design with 12 cores and 16 threads, arranged in a configuration that includes performance and efficiency cores. The die size is 217 mm². Its L1 cache is 80 KB per core, L2 is 1.25 MB per core, and it has 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-1240P supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with PCIe Gen 4 (20 lanes from the CPU). Its integrated graphics are Iris Xe with 80 execution units.

The AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE uses the Zen 3 architecture (codename Cezanne), built on a 7 nm process by TSMC. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, with a die size of 180 mm² and 10,700 million transistors. Its cache hierarchy is smaller per core: 64 KB L1, 512 KB L2, and 8 MB total L3. Memory support is limited to DDR4, but it offers a specified memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, a figure absent for the Intel part. The Ryzen uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. Its integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 6. Notably, the Ryzen has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part does not, making the AMD chip the overclocking-friendly option.

The process node difference is significant: 7 nm (TSMC) versus 10 nm (Intel). The Ryzen’s smaller node and larger transistor count (10.7 billion) contribute to its efficiency. The i5-1240P compensates with more physical cores and a higher boost clock. The socket platforms also differ completely: Intel BGA 1744 (mobile) versus AMD Socket AM4 (desktop). This dictates their market segments: the i5-1240P is a mobile processor, while the Ryzen 3 5300GE is a desktop part. Both lack ECC memory support.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-1240P has 12 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE ever beat the Intel Core i5-1240P in benchmarks?

A: Yes. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen 3 5300GE scores 10927 versus the Intel’s 9392, a 14% advantage for AMD.

Q: What is the difference in their process nodes?

A: The Intel Core i5-1240P uses a 10 nm process from Intel, while the AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE uses a 7 nm process from TSMC.

Q: Which processor supports newer PCIe technology?

A: The Intel Core i5-1240P supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE has an unlocked multiplier, but the Intel Core i5-1240P does not.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The Intel Core i5-1240P supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE supports only DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every measurable specification. The core and thread counts are the most obvious split: Intel offers 12 cores and 16 threads, while AMD offers 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks differ significantly: the Ryzen starts higher at 3.60 GHz versus Intel’s 1.70 GHz. Boost clocks are closer, with the Intel at 4.40 GHz and the AMD at 4.20 GHz. TDP differs, with Intel rated at 28 W and AMD at 35 W.

The sockets are incompatible: Intel uses BGA 1744, while AMD uses Socket AM4. Architecture and process node also differ, with Intel on Alder Lake (10 nm) and AMD on Zen 3 (7 nm). Cache sizes vary per core and total: Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3; AMD has 64 KB L1, 512 KB L2, and 8 MB L3. Memory support differs, as Intel accepts DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD only supports DDR4. The AMD part has a specified memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, which is not listed for Intel. PCIe support is newer on Intel (Gen 4, 20 lanes) versus AMD (Gen 3, 16 lanes). Integrated graphics are Iris Xe 80EU on Intel and Radeon Vega 6 on AMD. The market segments are mobile versus desktop. Finally, the Ryzen has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part is locked.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark suite reveals a clear pattern of Intel dominance in most tests, with a single, critical AMD exception. Starting with Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-1240P scores 1566.5, a 42.3% lead over the Ryzen's 1101. The R15 single-core test shows an even larger gap: 226 versus 155, a 45.8% difference. These are the biggest margins in the entire comparison, indicating that the Intel part’s boost clock advantage is most potent in this older benchmark.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the margins compress but remain firmly in Intel’s favor. In multi-core, the i5-1240P scores 5632 versus 4589 for the Ryzen, a 22.7% win. The single-core test shows a similar 22.9% edge, with scores of 795 and 647. This suggests that as the workload becomes more demanding, the Ryzen’s Zen 3 cores begin to close the gap, but the Intel’s core count still provides a decisive advantage.

The script flips completely in Cinebench R23 multi-core. Here, the Ryzen 3 5300GE scores 10927, beating the Intel’s 9392 by 14%. This is a stunning result, given that the Ryzen has one-third the cores and half the threads. It indicates that the Ryzen’s architecture scales more efficiently under sustained, heavy multi-threaded loads. However, in R23 single-core, Intel reclaims the lead, albeit narrowly: 1600 versus 1542, a 3.8% win.

The data suggests that the i5-1240P is the stronger all-around performer for legacy workloads and single-threaded tasks. Yet, for users running the latest multi-threaded rendering workloads, the Ryzen 3 5300GE delivers a 14% performance advantage in the most relevant test. The overall win count favors Intel 5-to-1, but the magnitude of AMD’s win in R23 multi-core cannot be ignored. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical (3202 for Intel vs 3160 for AMD), confirming that these are closely matched processors with divergent strengths.