AMD Ryzen 3 5300U vs Intel Core i3-9350KF Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 3 5300U and Intel Core i3-9350KF are both quad-core processors, but they target different segments: the 5300U is a 15W mobile part built on Zen 2, while the 9350KF is a 91W desktop chip from the Coffee Lake generation. In the database, they split their six head-to-head benchmark wins evenly, with each taking three. Their average benchmark scores are close: 2135 for the AMD and 2082 for the Intel, placing both at the 46th percentile among all CPUs.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 5300U takes the Cinebench R15 tests decisively. In multicore, it scores 906 against 640, a 41.6% lead. In singlecore, the margin is even larger: 170 versus 90, an 88.9% advantage. AMD also wins Cinebench R23 singlecore with 1115 to 896, a 24.4% edge. These results suggest the 5300U has a strong single-threaded showing in both older and newer Cinebench single-core tests, and its SMT implementation helps in R15 multicore.

Intel counters in the newer Cinebench R23 multicore test, scoring 6352 to AMD's 5341, a 15.9% lead. It also wins both Geekbench tests: multicore 4098 to 4035 (1.5% ahead) and singlecore 1534 to 1244 (18.9% ahead). So Intel's advantage lies in Geekbench and the more modern Cinebench multicore workload, while AMD dominates the older Cinebench tests and the R23 single-core run. The split is clean: AMD wins three benchmarks, Intel wins three, but the workloads that favor each are distinct.

Architecture Differences

Process technology separates the two. The AMD uses a 7nm process from TSMC, while the Intel is on Intel's 14nm node. The AMD integrates 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die; the Intel's transistor count is not listed, but its die measures 126 mm². The AMD's Zen 2 architecture (codenamed Lucienne) supports 8 threads from 4 cores, while the Intel's Coffee Lake design provides 4 threads from 4 cores. Base and boost clocks differ: the AMD runs at 2.60 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost, the Intel at 4.00 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost.

Cache layouts diverge. Both have 64 KB L1 per core, but the AMD has 512 KB L2 per core versus 256 KB on the Intel. The Intel has a larger shared L3 at 8 MB, while the AMD has 4 MB. Memory bandwidth favors the AMD at 51.2 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s, though both use dual-channel DDR4. The AMD supports PCIe Gen 3 with 12 lanes, the Intel with 16 lanes. ECC memory is supported on the Intel but not the AMD. The AMD includes integrated Radeon Graphics with 384 shader processors; the Intel has no integrated graphics. The AMD is a mobile part on Socket FP6, the Intel a desktop part on Socket 1151. The AMD is rated at 15W TDP, the Intel at 91W. The AMD was released in January 2021 and remains active; the Intel launched in January 2019 and is end-of-life. The Intel part carried a launch MSRP of $173.

The Verdict

Given the data, the choice depends on the workload. If the application relies on Cinebench R15 or single-threaded Cinebench R23, the AMD Ryzen 3 5300U is clearly ahead, with leads of 41.6%, 88.9%, and 24.4% respectively. For Geekbench and Cinebench R23 multicore, the Intel Core i3-9350KF takes the lead, with margins of 18.9%, 1.5%, and 15.9%. The AMD's higher thread count (8 vs 4) and lower TDP make it suitable for power-constrained or mobile systems, and its integrated graphics allow operation without a discrete GPU. The Intel's higher clock speeds and larger L3 cache benefit workloads that favor those characteristics, but it requires a discrete graphics card and consumes 91W. The Intel also supports ECC memory, which the AMD does not. The AMD is an active product, while the Intel is end-of-life. The database shows both at the 46th percentile, and their average scores are within 2.5% of each other (2135 vs 2082). So the verdict is a tie in overall performance, with each winning in distinct benchmark families.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 5300U has 8 threads, while the Intel Core i3-9350KF has 4 threads.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The AMD is rated at 15W, the Intel at 91W.

Q: Does the Intel support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i3-9350KF supports ECC memory; the AMD does not.

Q: Which has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel has 8 MB of shared L3, the AMD has 4 MB.

Q: Which has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD includes Radeon Graphics with 384 shader processors; the Intel has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which was released more recently?

A: The AMD launched on January 11, 2021, while the Intel launched on January 7, 2019.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single margin in the head-to-head is the Cinebench R15 singlecore test, where the AMD scores 170 against the Intel's 90, an 88.9% advantage. This is a massive gap, though the absolute scores are low. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD leads 906 to 640, a 41.6% difference. The AMD also wins Cinebench R23 singlecore with 1115 to 896, a 24.4% edge.

The Intel's biggest win is in Geekbench singlecore, where it scores 1534 to 1244, an 18.9% lead. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Intel takes 6352 to 5341, a 15.9% margin. The closest contest is Geekbench multicore: 4098 for the Intel versus 4035 for the AMD, a 1.5% difference. These results show that the AMD dominates the older Cinebench tests and the R23 single-core run, while the Intel wins the Geekbench suite and the R23 multi-core test. The overall average scores are close, with the AMD at 2135 and the Intel at 2082, a 2.5% gap in favor of the AMD.