AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE vs Intel Core i7-6850K Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE across all six Cinebench comparisons, with no single test going to the Intel Core i7-6850K. The margin is remarkably consistent, hovering near 13% in every workload. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen 3 5300GE scores 10,927 against 9,672 for the Intel part, a 13% advantage. The single-core R23 result tells the same story: 1,542 versus 1,365, again a 13% lead.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The AMD chip posts 4,589 in multi-core and 647 in single-core, while the Intel chip manages 4,062 and 573 respectively. These translate to deltas of 13% and 12.9%. The oldest test in the set, Cinebench R15, shows the AMD part at 1,101 multi-core and 155 single-core, against Intel's 974 and 137. The deltas here are 13% and 13.1%. The consistency of these margins is notable: across six tests spanning three Cinebench versions, the advantage never dips below 12.9% or rises above 13.1%.

This is a decisive outcome in raw rendering workloads. The Ryzen 3 5300GE, despite having fewer cores (4 versus 6), outperforms the Core i7-6850K in every multi-threaded test. The Intel chip's two extra cores do not compensate for its older architecture and lower boost clock. In single-threaded tests, the gap is equally wide, which is expected given the AMD part boosts to 4.20 GHz versus 3.80 GHz for Intel, but the magnitude of the lead is still striking.

The aggregate benchmark score reflects this: the Ryzen 3 5300GE averages 3,160 points, placing it in the 53rd percentile of all CPUs. The Core i7-6850K averages 3,079 points, sitting at the 52nd percentile. The Intel chip is closest to the AMD Ryzen 7 1800X (3,068, delta 0.3%) and trails the AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE's nearest rivals, which include the AMD Ryzen 5 5560U (3,162, delta -0.1%) and the Intel Xeon E5-2676 v3 (3,163, delta -0.1%). The data indicates that the Ryzen 3 5300GE is positioned slightly higher in the overall performance distribution.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial and explains the benchmark outcomes. The AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE uses the Zen 3 architecture on the Cezanne codename, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It integrates 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-6850K uses the Broadwell architecture, specifically Broadwell-E, on Intel's 14 nm process. It contains 3,400 million transistors on a larger 246 mm² die. The process node difference alone, 7 nm versus 14 nm, gives AMD a significant efficiency and density advantage.

Core configurations differ sharply. The AMD part has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel part has 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite having 50% more cores, the Intel chip cannot translate that into a win. Cache hierarchies also diverge. Both share 64 KB of L1 per core, but the Ryzen 3 5300GE has 512 KB of L2 per core versus 256 KB per core on the Intel chip. The L3 cache is 8 MB on AMD versus 15 MB shared on Intel. The larger per-core L2 helps the AMD part feed its cores more efficiently.

Memory support shows both support DDR4, but the channels differ: AMD uses dual-channel with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel uses quad-channel with 76.8 GB/s. The Intel chip has a theoretical bandwidth advantage of 25.6 GB/s, yet this does not overcome its other deficits in these tests. PCIe lanes also differ significantly: the Ryzen 3 5300GE provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the Core i7-6850K provides Gen 3 with 40 lanes. This makes the Intel platform more expandable for multi-GPU setups, but it does not affect Cinebench scores.

Integrated graphics are exclusive to the AMD part, which includes Radeon Vega 6. The Intel chip has no integrated graphics at all, requiring a discrete GPU for display output. Both are unlocked for overclocking, but the power envelopes are wildly different: the Ryzen 3 5300GE has a 35 W TDP, while the Core i7-6850K draws 140 W. That is a fourfold difference in rated power, yet the lower-power part wins every benchmark in this comparison.

Production status and release timing also separate them. The Ryzen 3 5300GE launched on April 12, 2021, and remains active in production. The Core i7-6850K launched on May 30, 2016, and is end-of-life. The five-year gap in release dates explains much of the architectural disparity, as the Ryzen part benefits from years of microarchitectural improvements.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE is the faster processor in every measured Cinebench workload. It wins multi-core by 13% and single-core by roughly 13% across all three Cinebench versions. This is notable because the Intel chip has more cores, more threads, and a quad-channel memory bus with higher theoretical bandwidth. None of those advantages materialize in the recorded scores.

The Ryzen 3 5300GE achieves these results with a 35 W TDP, compared to 140 W for the Intel part. The efficiency ratio is stark. The AMD chip also includes integrated graphics, which the Intel chip lacks entirely. For a system builder prioritizing performance per watt and out-of-the-box display capability, the Ryzen 3 5300GE is the clear choice from the data.

However, the Intel Core i7-6850K is not without merit in specific scenarios. Its 40 PCIe lanes and quad-channel memory support make it a more capable platform for high-bandwidth storage or multi-GPU compute, though the database does not include benchmark results for those workloads. The Intel chip also has a larger 15 MB L3 cache, which could benefit certain cache-sensitive applications not represented in the Cinebench suite. The Intel part's launch MSRP was $617, but that figure is historical and not indicative of current market positioning.

For users whose primary workloads resemble Cinebench rendering, the AMD part wins outright. For users who need the Intel chip's platform features, namely 40 PCIe lanes and quad-channel memory, the Core i7-6850K remains a functional option, but it will lag in CPU-bound rendering tasks. The Ryzen 3 5300GE's percentile rank of 53 versus Intel's 52 confirms that the AMD part sits higher in the overall performance distribution.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE scores 10,927 versus 9,672 for the Intel Core i7-6850K, a 13% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-6850K have more cores?

A: Yes, it has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE has 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite this, the AMD part wins all multi-core tests.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE has a 35 W TDP, while the Intel Core i7-6850K has a 140 W TDP.

Q: Does either processor include integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE includes Radeon Vega 6 integrated graphics. The Intel Core i7-6850K has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE boosts to 4.20 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-6850K boosts to 3.80 GHz.

Q: What is the memory channel configuration?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE uses dual-channel memory with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core i7-6850K uses quad-channel memory with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE wins in all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, covering both single-core and multi-core tests across R15, R20, and R23. Its single-core advantage is consistent at approximately 13%, which indicates superior per-thread performance from the Zen 3 architecture. Multi-core wins are equally consistent at 13%, meaning the 4-core AMD part outperforms the 6-core Intel part in threaded workloads.

The Intel Core i7-6850K wins in no measured benchmark. Its closest points of comparison are platform-level: it offers 40 PCIe lanes versus 16 on the AMD part, and quad-channel memory with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth versus dual-channel with 51.2 GB/s. These features are absent from the benchmark suite but could matter in storage-heavy or multi-GPU configurations. The Intel chip also has 15 MB of L3 cache, which is larger than the 8 MB on the AMD part.

For rendering workloads, the AMD part is the definitive winner. For platform expansion, the Intel part offers more lanes and memory channels, but the database does not provide performance measurements for those scenarios. The AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE also wins on power efficiency by a wide margin, using 35 W versus 140 W, and it includes integrated graphics, making it a more self-contained solution.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE | Intel Core i7-6850K |

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

| Cores | 4 | 6 |

| Threads | 8 | 12 |

| Boost Clock | 4.20 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 140 W |

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

| Architecture | Zen 3 | Broadwell |

| Codename | Cezanne | Broadwell-E |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 10,700 million | 3,400 million |

| Die Size | 180 mm² | 246 mm² |

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

| L3 Cache | 8 MB | 15 MB (shared) |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 76.8 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 40 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Vega 6 | None |

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

| Release Date | 2021-04-12 | 2016-05-30 |

| Part Number | 100-000000262 | SR2PC |

The base clock is identical at 3.60 GHz for both, and both support DDR4 memory with ECC not supported. Both have unlocked multipliers. The AMD part uses a smaller 180 mm² die with more transistors (10,700 million) on a denser 7 nm process, while the Intel part uses a larger 246 mm² die with fewer transistors (3,400 million) on 14 nm. The L1 cache is the same at 64 KB per core.