AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE vs Intel Core i7-8700B Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE and the Intel Core i7-8700B is remarkably one-sided. Across every Cinebench test recorded in the database, the AMD part takes the win, and the margins are consistent enough to show a clear generational advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Starting with multi-core performance, the Ryzen 3 5300GE posts 1101 points in Cinebench R15 multi-core, which is 9.6% ahead of the Intel chip's 1005 points. That pattern repeats in R20 multi-core, where AMD scores 4589 versus Intel's 4190, a 9.5% lead. In R23 multi-core, the gap holds at 9.5%, with AMD at 10927 and Intel at 9977. The consistency of that ~9.5% delta across three generations of the Cinebench test suggests the advantage is structural, not test-specific.

Single-core results tell the same story. In Cinebench R15 single-core, AMD scores 155 against Intel's 141, a 9.9% margin. R20 single-core shows 647 versus 591, a 9.5% lead. R23 single-core rounds out the sweep at 1542 versus 1408, again 9.5%. The fact that the single-core advantage is nearly identical to the multi-core advantage is telling: the Ryzen 3 5300GE is not winning because of extra cores, since it actually has fewer cores than the i7-8700B. It is winning because its architecture delivers more performance per clock and per thread.

The average benchmark score in the database reinforces this. The Ryzen 3 5300GE sits at 3160 average, while the i7-8700B sits at 3086. That is a 2.4% gap in the aggregate, though the head-to-head Cinebench results show a much larger per-test advantage. The difference between the aggregate and the head-to-head numbers comes from the Intel part having additional Geekbench results in the database, which are not mirrored for the AMD chip. The direct Cinebench comparison is the cleaner apples-to-apples measurement.

Percentile placement is close: the Ryzen 3 5300GE ranks at the 53rd percentile among all CPUs, while the i7-8700B ranks at the 52nd. Both are mid-pack parts, but the AMD chip sits slightly higher despite having two fewer cores and four fewer threads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE is built on Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Cezanne, and belongs to the 5000 series. It uses a 7 nm process from TSMC. The Intel Core i7-8700B is built on Coffee Lake architecture and uses Intel's 14 nm process. That process gap alone explains much of the efficiency and performance-per-watt difference.

Core counts favor Intel on paper. The i7-8700B has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Ryzen 3 5300GE has 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite that 50% core-count disadvantage in raw thread count, the AMD part still wins every Cinebench multi-core test. That is a direct reflection of Zen 3's higher instructions-per-clock and the much newer manufacturing node.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Ryzen 3 5300GE has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-8700B has the same 64 KB of L1 per core but only 256 KB of L2 per core, with 12 MB of shared L3. Intel's larger L3 pool does not compensate for the older architecture in the benchmark results.

Clock speeds also favor Intel on paper. The i7-8700B has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The Ryzen 3 5300GE has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. Intel boosts 400 MHz higher, yet still loses single-core tests by about 9.5%. The AMD chip's lower boost clock but higher base clock and superior architecture deliver better actual performance.

Power envelopes are dramatically different. The Ryzen 3 5300GE has a TDP of 35 watts, while the i7-8700B has a TDP of 65 watts. The AMD part wins every benchmark while drawing roughly half the rated power. That is the most striking efficiency result in the entire comparison.

The process node difference is substantial: 7 nm TSMC versus 14 nm Intel. Die size tells part of the story, with the AMD chip at 180 mm² and the Intel chip at 154 mm². The AMD chip also packs 10,700 million transistors, while the Intel die size is smaller and the transistor count is not recorded in the database.

Memory bandwidth favors AMD as well. Both support DDR4 in dual-channel configuration, but the Ryzen 3 5300GE offers 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth versus 42.7 GB/s for the i7-8700B. That is a 20% bandwidth advantage for the AMD part.

Socket and platform differ completely. The Ryzen 3 5300GE uses AMD Socket AM4, while the i7-8700B uses Intel BGA 1440, meaning it is soldered rather than socketed. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part does not. The AMD chip is still in active production, while the Intel chip is end-of-life.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Ryzen 3 5300GE carries Radeon Vega 6, while the i7-8700B carries UHD Graphics 630. Both are paired with PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, so expansion capability is equal on that front.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 3 5300GE wins every single benchmark category recorded in the head-to-head comparison. That includes all three generations of Cinebench multi-core and all three generations of Cinebench single-core. There is no test in the database where the i7-8700B comes out ahead.

For multi-threaded workloads like video rendering, 3D scene compilation, or batch photo processing, the Ryzen 3 5300GE delivers a consistent 9.5% advantage over the i7-8700B. That is noteworthy because the Intel part has 6 cores and 12 threads, versus 4 cores and 8 threads for the AMD chip. The AMD part wins multi-core tests despite having fewer threads, which means the per-thread efficiency advantage is even larger than the headline percentage suggests.

For single-threaded workloads, which include everyday responsiveness, office applications, web browsing, and lightly threaded games, the Ryzen 3 5300GE is again ahead by roughly 9.5%. The single-core margin is nearly identical to the multi-core margin, so there is no workload class where the Intel chip's higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz overcomes the AMD architecture's efficiency.

The i7-8700B does have one structural advantage: more cores and threads. In an idealized scenario where software scales perfectly across 12 threads and the AMD part's 8 threads are fully saturated, the Intel chip could theoretically catch up. But the recorded benchmarks do not show that happening. The Cinebench multi-core tests are heavily threaded and they still favor AMD.

The efficiency story is also one-sided. At 35 watts TDP versus 65 watts, the Ryzen 3 5300GE uses roughly half the rated power budget while delivering higher performance. For compact systems, small-form-factor builds, or any scenario where heat and power draw matter, that is a decisive advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE wins every single-core Cinebench test. It scores 155 versus 141 in R15, 647 versus 591 in R20, and 1542 versus 1408 in R23, with margins between 9.5% and 9.9%.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-8700B win in multi-core because it has more cores?

A: No. Despite having 6 cores and 12 threads versus 4 cores and 8 threads for the AMD chip, the i7-8700B loses all three multi-core Cinebench tests by about 9.5%.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE has a TDP of 35 watts, while the Intel Core i7-8700B has a TDP of 65 watts. The AMD chip delivers higher benchmark scores at a lower rated power draw.

Q: Are these CPUs still in production?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE is listed as active in production, while the Intel Core i7-8700B is listed as end-of-life.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: Both support DDR4 in dual-channel configuration, but the AMD chip has higher memory bandwidth at 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s for the Intel part.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-8700B has a higher boost clock at 4.60 GHz, compared to 4.20 GHz for the AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE. Despite that, the AMD part wins all single-core benchmark tests.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. Core and thread counts favor Intel: 6 cores and 12 threads versus 4 cores and 8 threads for AMD. Clock speeds split the difference, with Intel having a higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz versus 4.20 GHz, but AMD having a higher base clock of 3.60 GHz versus 3.20 GHz.

TDP is a major differentiator: AMD at 35 watts versus Intel at 65 watts. The process node also differs substantially, with AMD on 7 nm from TSMC and Intel on 14 nm from its own foundry. Die size favors Intel at 154 mm² versus AMD at 180 mm², though the AMD chip carries 10,700 million transistors while Intel's count is not recorded.

Cache layouts differ. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core, but AMD has 512 KB of L2 per core versus 256 KB for Intel. L3 cache favors Intel at 12 MB shared versus 8 MB for AMD. Memory bandwidth favors AMD at 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s.

The socket and platform are entirely different: AMD Socket AM4 versus Intel BGA 1440. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, the Intel part does not. Integrated graphics differ, with Radeon Vega 6 on the AMD side and UHD Graphics 630 on the Intel side. Production status differs as well, with AMD active and Intel end-of-life. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $303, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD part.

The Verdict

The data points to one clear conclusion: the AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE is the better processor in every measured category. It wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, holds a higher average benchmark score of 3160 versus 3086, ranks at a higher percentile among all CPUs, and does so at a 35 watt TDP versus 65 watts.

The Intel Core i7-8700B does have advantages that matter in specific contexts. It offers more cores and threads, a higher boost clock, more L3 cache, and a lower die size. But none of those advantages translate into benchmark wins in the recorded data. The 14 nm process and older Coffee Lake architecture cannot keep pace with Zen 3 on the 7 nm node, even when the Intel chip has a 50% thread-count advantage.

For builders choosing between these two, the decision depends on platform context. The Ryzen 3 5300GE is a socketed AM4 part with an unlocked multiplier, active production status, and superior efficiency. The i7-8700B is a soldered BGA 1440 part that is end-of-life, with no unlocked multiplier. The AMD chip is the stronger choice for new builds, compact systems, and anyone who values efficiency and performance per watt. The Intel chip's only path to relevance would be a scenario where its extra cores and threads matter more than the recorded benchmarks suggest, but the Cinebench multi-core results directly contradict that possibility.