AMD Ryzen 3 5300U vs AMD Ryzen 5 7520C Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 3 5300U and AMD Ryzen 5 7520C are both 15-watt mobile processors built on the Zen 2 architecture, but they deliver notably different performance profiles across benchmark suites. The Ryzen 3 5300U leads in three of four head-to-head tests, while the Ryzen 5 7520C takes a decisive win in multi-threaded Cinebench R23, making the choice dependent on whether the workload favors older benchmark metrics or modern multi-core scaling.

The Verdict

Benchmark results indicate that the AMD Ryzen 3 5300U is the stronger performer for legacy and single-threaded workloads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7520C excels in modern multi-threaded rendering. The Ryzen 3 5300U wins the Cinebench R15 multicore test with a score of 906 versus 741 for the Ryzen 5 7520C, a 22.3% advantage. Its single-core lead is even more pronounced in Cinebench R15, scoring 170 against 104, a 63.5% margin. The Ryzen 3 5300U also edges out the Ryzen 5 7520C in Cinebench R23 single-core, 1115 versus 1038, a 7.4% difference.

However, the Ryzen 5 7520C flips the script in Cinebench R23 multicore, scoring 7355 against 5341 for the Ryzen 3 5300U, a 27.4% advantage. This suggests that the newer processor scales better under sustained multi-threaded loads despite losing older Cinebench R15 tests. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical: the Ryzen 3 5300U averages 2135, while the Ryzen 5 7520C averages 2127, a 0.4% delta in favor of the former. Both sit at the 46th percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the same performance tier overall.

For buyers prioritizing compatibility with older software or single-thread responsiveness, the Ryzen 3 5300U is the data-backed choice. For users running modern multi-core rendering tasks, the Ryzen 5 7520C offers a clear advantage in Cinebench R23 multicore, which is often more representative of current workloads. The Ryzen 3 5300U also benefits from a wider PCIe configuration with 12 lanes versus 4 lanes on the Ryzen 5 7520C, which may matter for expandability in thin-and-light designs.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the Zen 2 architecture, but they come from different codenames and manufacturing nodes. The Ryzen 3 5300U uses the Lucienne codename and a 7 nm TSMC process node, while the Ryzen 5 7520C uses the Mendocino codename and a 6 nm TSMC process node. The die size differs significantly: the Ryzen 3 5300U measures 156 mm² with 9,800 million transistors, whereas the Ryzen 5 7520C has a smaller 100 mm² die and no transistor count is listed in the data.

Cache configurations are identical: both have 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. Core and thread counts match at 4 cores and 8 threads. The key architectural differences lie in memory support and PCIe lanes. The Ryzen 3 5300U supports DDR4 memory with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the Ryzen 5 7520C supports LPDDR5 with 88.0 GB/s bandwidth, a substantial increase in theoretical memory throughput. Both use dual-channel memory buses and do not support ECC memory.

The integrated graphics differ as well: the Ryzen 3 5300U features Radeon Graphics with 384 SP, while the Ryzen 5 7520C features a Radeon 610M. The sockets are different — AMD Socket FP6 for the Ryzen 3 5300U and AMD Socket FT6 for the Ryzen 5 7520C — meaning they are not interchangeable in the same motherboard. Both processors are active in production and have locked multipliers, with release dates of January 2021 for the Ryzen 3 5300U and May 2023 for the Ryzen 5 7520C.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7520C has a higher base clock of 2.80 GHz and a higher boost clock of 4.30 GHz, compared to the Ryzen 3 5300U’s 2.60 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost.

Q: Are these processors equivalent in multi-threaded performance?

A: No. The Ryzen 5 7520C wins Cinebench R23 multicore with 7355 points versus 5341 for the Ryzen 3 5300U, a 27.4% advantage. However, the Ryzen 3 5300U wins Cinebench R15 multicore with 906 points versus 741, a 22.3% lead.

Q: Which CPU offers better single-core performance?

A: The Ryzen 3 5300U leads in single-core tests across both Cinebench R15 and R23, with margins of 63.5% (170 versus 104) and 7.4% (1115 versus 1038), respectively.

Q: Do these processors have the same memory bandwidth?

A: No. The Ryzen 5 7520C supports LPDDR5 with 88.0 GB/s bandwidth, while the Ryzen 3 5300U supports DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What is the overall performance ranking of these CPUs?

A: Both processors sit at the 46th percentile among all CPUs. The Ryzen 3 5300U has an average benchmark score of 2135, while the Ryzen 5 7520C averages 2127, a 0.4% difference.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Ryzen 3 5300U has 12 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the Ryzen 5 7520C has 4 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only).

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 3 5300U | AMD Ryzen 5 7520C |

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

| Series | 5000 series | 7000 series |

| Base Clock | 2.60 GHz | 2.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP6 | AMD Socket FT6 |

| Codename | Lucienne | Mendocino |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 6 nm |

| Transistors | 9,800 million | Not listed |

| Die Size | 156 mm² | 100 mm² |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | LPDDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 88.0 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 12 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 4 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Graphics 384SP | Radeon 610M |

| Release Date | 2021-01-11 | 2023-05-22 |

| Part Number | 100-000000376 | 100-000000773 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data reveals a split personality in this comparison. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Ryzen 3 5300U scores 906 against 741 for the Ryzen 5 7520C, a 22.3% win. This older benchmark often rewards lower-latency memory access and simpler thread scheduling, which appears to favor the Ryzen 3 5300U’s DDR4 configuration despite the Ryzen 5 7520C’s higher clocks. The single-core result in Cinebench R15 is even more dramatic: 170 versus 104, a 63.5% margin for the Ryzen 3 5300U. This is a substantial gap that suggests the Ryzen 5 7520C’s higher boost clock does not translate into raw single-thread performance in this test.

The picture changes entirely in Cinebench R23 multicore. Here, the Ryzen 5 7520C scores 7355 versus 5341 for the Ryzen 3 5300U, a 27.4% reversal. This is the largest absolute point difference in any test, and it indicates that the Ryzen 5 7520C handles sustained multi-threaded workloads far better, likely due to its newer 6 nm process and higher sustained clocks. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ryzen 3 5300U still wins, but by a much narrower 7.4% margin (1115 versus 1038), showing that the Ryzen 5 7520C is competitive in modern single-threaded tasks.

The overall win count favors the Ryzen 3 5300U at 3 wins versus 1 for the Ryzen 5 7520C. Yet the magnitude of the Ryzen 5 7520C’s Cinebench R23 multicore victory is nearly twice the size of any single Ryzen 3 5300U win in percentage terms. The average benchmark scores are close — 2135 for the Ryzen 3 5300U and 2127 for the Ryzen 5 7520C — placing them within 0.4% of each other overall. In the nearest rival lists, the Ryzen 3 5300U sits 0.4% ahead of the Ryzen 5 7520C, while the Ryzen 5 7520C sits 0.4% behind the Ryzen 3 5300U, confirming their near-equal standing in aggregate performance. Both are bracketed by Intel Core i5-9400T (average 2136) and Intel Core i7-1160G7 (average 2124), with the Ryzen 3 3300X (2148) and Intel Atom C5125 (2122) as nearby reference points.