AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE vs Intel Core i7-9700E Comparison

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a remarkably consistent picture: the AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE wins every single head-to-head test against the Intel Core i7-9700E, though by a narrow margin across the board. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD chip scores 1101 against Intel's 1069, a 2.9% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar story, with AMD at 155 versus Intel's 150, a 3.2% lead. These are not dramatic victories, but they are uniform — the AMD processor never loses a single benchmark in the available data.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The Ryzen 3 5300GE posts 4589 in multicore versus 4457 for the i7-9700E, again a 2.9% gap. Single-core R20 results show AMD at 647 against Intel's 629, a 2.8% difference. The trend continues into Cinebench R23, where the AMD part scores 10927 multicore and 1542 single-core, while the Intel chip manages 10613 and 1498 respectively. The delta sits at 2.9% in both R23 tests.

What makes these results striking is the core-count disparity. The Intel i7-9700E has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE has only 4 cores but 8 threads thanks to simultaneous multithreading. Despite having half the physical cores, the AMD chip still edges ahead in every multicore test. This speaks to the efficiency of the Zen 3 architecture — the Ryzen 3's 4 cores with 8 threads outperform Intel's 8 physical cores without hyper-threading. The i7-9700E, being a Coffee Lake Refresh part, lacks hyper-threading entirely, which is a significant handicap in threaded workloads.

The single-core results are equally telling. The AMD chip leads by 3.2% in R15 single-core and 2.9% in R23 single-core. This suggests that the Zen 3 core design has a meaningful per-core instruction throughput advantage over the older Coffee Lake architecture, even when clock speeds are considered. The i7-9700E boosts to 4.40 GHz while the Ryzen 3 5300GE boosts to 4.20 GHz, yet AMD still wins single-core tests. Higher clock speed does not translate to higher performance here — architectural efficiency trumps raw frequency.

In terms of overall average benchmark scores, the two processors are nearly identical. The i7-9700E averages 3197 across its benchmark suite, while the Ryzen 3 5300GE averages 3160. The Intel part sits at the 53rd percentile of all CPUs, and the AMD part also sits at the 53rd percentile. Both processors land in the same performance tier, surrounded by similar rivals. The i7-9700E's nearest rival is the Intel Core i3-13100T with a delta of 0%, while the Ryzen 3 5300GE's closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5850U at 0% delta. These percentile rankings confirm that, in aggregate, the two chips deliver nearly identical performance despite their very different internal designs.

# Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE wins everywhere in the benchmark data — all six head-to-head tests go its way. There is no benchmark category where the Intel part comes out ahead. However, the margins are slim enough that the practical difference in everyday use may be negligible. The AMD chip's largest winning margin is 3.2% in Cinebench R15 single-core, while its smallest is 2.8% in Cinebench R20 single-core. In multicore tests, the margin is consistently 2.9%. These are small but consistent advantages.

For users prioritizing single-threaded responsiveness, the Ryzen 3 5300GE offers a slight edge. The data shows it leads in all three single-core tests (R15, R20, R23) by margins between 2.8% and 3.2%. This could translate to marginally snappier application launches and better performance in lightly-threaded workloads. The Intel chip's higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz does not overcome the architectural advantage of Zen 3's newer core design.

For multi-threaded productivity, the Ryzen 3 5300GE also wins, but the story is more nuanced. The i7-9700E has 8 physical cores versus AMD's 4 physical cores, yet AMD's simultaneous multithreading allows its 4 cores to handle 8 threads. The result is that AMD leads multicore tests by 2.9% across R15, R20, and R23. This means the Ryzen 3 5300GE is the better choice for video rendering, 3D modeling, or any workload that scales across threads — even though it does so with half the physical core count.

The Intel i7-9700E has no benchmark wins in this comparison. Its only potential advantages lie outside the benchmark data — it has a larger 12 MB shared L3 cache versus AMD's 8 MB, and it supports ECC memory. However, the FACT PACK notes that ECC memory is not supported on either chip, so that is a moot point. The Intel part also has a higher memory bandwidth figure on paper (42.7 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s — wait, the AMD figure is actually higher at 51.2 GB/s). The Intel chip's 8 physical cores without hyper-threading put it at a structural disadvantage in threaded workloads, and its older Coffee Lake architecture cannot match Zen 3's per-core efficiency.

# Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and manufacturing generations. The Intel Core i7-9700E uses the Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, fabricated by Intel itself. The die size is 180.3 mm². This is a mature, well-understood design that has been refined through multiple Intel generations, but it is also an older node that limits transistor density and power efficiency.

In contrast, the AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE is built on the Zen 3 architecture (codename Cezanne) using a 7 nm process node from TSMC. The die size is 180 mm², nearly identical to the Intel chip, but AMD packs 10,700 million transistors into that space. The Intel part's transistor count is not listed in the FACT PACK, but the node difference alone suggests AMD has a significant density advantage. The 7 nm TSMC process is two generations newer than Intel's 14 nm node, which explains how AMD achieves comparable or better performance with half the physical cores.

The core configurations differ dramatically. The i7-9700E has 8 cores and 8 threads — no hyper-threading. The Ryzen 3 5300GE has 4 cores and 8 threads via simultaneous multithreading. This means the Intel chip relies entirely on physical core count, while AMD uses thread-level parallelism to double its logical core count. In the benchmark data, AMD's approach wins every time, suggesting that SMT on Zen 3 is more effective than Intel's additional physical cores in these workloads.

Cache hierarchies also differ. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache per core. The L2 cache is 256 KB per core on the Intel part versus 512 KB per core on the AMD part. The L3 cache is 12 MB shared on the i7-9700E versus 8 MB on the Ryzen 3 5300GE. The Intel chip has a larger total L3, but the AMD chip has double the L2 per core, which may contribute to its per-thread efficiency.

Memory support is similar — both use DDR4 with a dual-channel memory bus. However, the AMD chip has a higher theoretical memory bandwidth at 51.2 GB/s versus Intel's 42.7 GB/s. Both processors use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics differ: Intel uses UHD Graphics 630, while AMD uses Radeon Vega 6. The AMD part is unlocked for overclocking, while the Intel part is locked.

The manufacturing and market status also differ. The i7-9700E was released in April 2019 and is end-of-life, while the Ryzen 3 5300GE was released in April 2021 and is still active. The Intel part had a launch MSRP of $323; the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP. The Intel chip is a desktop part on Socket 1151, while the AMD chip uses Socket AM4.

# FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700E has 8 physical cores and 8 threads. The AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE has 4 physical cores but 8 threads thanks to simultaneous multithreading. Despite having half the physical cores, the AMD chip wins all multicore benchmarks.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The Intel chip has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The AMD chip has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The Intel part has the higher boost clock, but the AMD part still wins all single-core benchmarks.

Q: Which processor is more power-efficient?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE has a TDP of 35 watts, while the Intel Core i7-9700E has a TDP of 65 watts. The AMD chip delivers better benchmark scores at nearly half the power envelope, which is attributable to its 7 nm TSMC manufacturing process versus Intel's 14 nm node.

Q: Do both processors support DDR4 memory?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 memory with a dual-channel memory bus. However, the AMD chip has a higher theoretical memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s compared to the Intel chip's 42.7 GB/s. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

Q: Are these processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking. The Intel Core i7-9700E does not have an unlocked multiplier, so it cannot be overclocked in the traditional sense.

Q: What are the integrated graphics options?

A: The Intel chip includes UHD Graphics 630, while the AMD chip includes Radeon Vega 6. Both are integrated graphics solutions, but the FACT PACK does not include any graphics benchmark data for either processor.

# Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-9700E | AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE |

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

| Cores | 8 | 4 |

| Threads | 8 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.60 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Zen 3 (Cezanne) |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not listed | 10,700 million |

| Die Size | 180.3 mm² | 180 mm² |

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

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 8 MB |

| Memory Bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | Radeon Vega 6 |

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

| Release Date | April 2019 | April 2021 |

| Launch MSRP | $323 | Not listed |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

# The Verdict

The data makes a clear case for the AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE. It wins every benchmark in the comparison, from single-core to multicore, across all three versions of Cinebench. The margins are not large — consistently around 3% — but they are uniform. There is no test where the Intel Core i7-9700E comes out ahead.

The AMD chip achieves this with half the physical cores, a lower TDP, and a higher memory bandwidth. The 7 nm Zen 3 architecture is simply more efficient than Intel's 14 nm Coffee Lake design. For builders choosing between these two, the Ryzen 3 5300GE is the better performer with lower power draw and an unlocked multiplier for overclocking headroom.

The Intel i7-9700E is not without merit. It has 8 physical cores, which some workloads may prefer over SMT threads, and it has a larger 12 MB L3 cache. It also carries the Intel brand and uses the mature Socket 1151 ecosystem. However, none of these advantages translate into benchmark wins in the available data. The Intel chip is also end-of-life, while the AMD part remains active, suggesting longer-term availability for new builds.

The practical verdict is straightforward: if you are choosing between these two processors today, the AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE is the better choice based on every benchmark in the FACT PACK. It performs slightly better across the board, uses nearly half the power, and offers overclocking flexibility. The Intel chip's only claim to consideration is its higher physical core count, but the benchmark data shows that this does not result in superior performance against AMD's SMT-enabled Zen 3 cores. For anyone prioritizing raw performance per watt or per thread, the AMD part wins decisively.