AMD Ryzen 3 5300U vs Intel Core i7-1185GRE Comparison

# Intel Core i7-1185GRE vs AMD Ryzen 3 5300U

The benchmark data presents a fascinating split decision: two 15W mobile processors with identical core and thread counts, yet they win on completely different workloads. The Intel Core i7-1185GRE takes the Geekbench tests decisively and edges out the AMD Ryzen 3 5300U in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the AMD chip dominates Cinebench R15 and R23 single-core. Neither CPU is a clear overall winner—the head-to-head record is a perfect 3-3 split, and their average benchmark scores sit only 2% apart (2178 vs 2135). The choice hinges entirely on which benchmark family matters more for the target workload.

The Verdict

The data suggests the Intel Core i7-1185GRE is the pick for applications that stress modern multi-threaded rendering and general system responsiveness. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 6635 beats the Ryzen 3 5300U's 5341 by 24.2%, and its Geekbench multi-core score of 4060 narrowly tops the AMD's 4035. The Intel chip's Geekbench single-core lead is enormous—1848 vs 1244, a 48.6% advantage—which indicates superior per-thread performance in everyday applications that rely on single-threaded bursts.

The AMD Ryzen 3 5300U is the choice for legacy benchmark compatibility and raw single-core compute in Cinebench specifically. It wins Cinebench R15 multi-core (906 vs 668, a 26.3% lead) and R15 single-core (170 vs 94, a 44.7% lead), plus R23 single-core (1115 vs 936, a 16.1% lead). For users running older Cinebench versions or workloads that scale similarly, the AMD part is clearly faster.

The percentile rankings confirm they're closely matched overall: Intel sits at the 47th percentile of all CPUs, AMD at the 46th. The Intel chip's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 3400GE (0.2% delta), while the Ryzen 3 5300U's closest competitor is the Intel Core i5-9400T (0% delta). These are mid-pack mobile processors, not top-tier performers, but the Intel part's Geekbench single-core dominance suggests it may feel snappier in real-world desktop use despite similar average scores.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from fundamentally different design philosophies. Intel's Tiger Lake-U architecture uses Willow Cove cores built on Intel's 10 nm process, with a die size of 144 mm². AMD's Lucienne uses Zen 2 cores on TSMC's 7 nm process, with a larger 156 mm² die but a transistor count of 9,800 million—a figure Intel doesn't disclose in the data. The process node difference (10 nm vs 7 nm) and foundry choice (Intel vs TSMC) are the most visible architectural splits.

Cache layouts diverge significantly. The Intel chip provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. AMD counters with 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and only 4 MB of shared L3. The Intel part's triple L3 advantage (12 MB vs 4 MB) likely explains its strong Geekbench multi-core showing, as more shared cache reduces memory traffic in multi-threaded workloads.

Memory support also differs: Intel supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X, while AMD lists only DDR4. Both run dual-channel memory, but AMD's memory bandwidth is explicitly listed at 51.2 GB/s, while Intel's figure is absent from the data. ECC memory is supported by Intel but not by AMD. PCIe connectivity shows a stark contrast: Intel offers Gen 4 with 4 lanes (CPU only), while AMD provides Gen 3 with 12 lanes (CPU only). This means the AMD chip has more total PCIe lanes but at an older generation, while Intel's fewer lanes run at the faster Gen 4 standard.

Integrated graphics differ as well: Intel packs Iris Xe-LP Graphics with 96 execution units, while AMD includes Radeon Graphics with 384 shader processors. The Intel iGPU has a higher execution unit count in its architecture, but the AMD solution has more shader units—the data doesn't include graphics benchmarks, so no performance conclusion can be drawn.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The single most lopsided result is Geekbench single-core, where Intel wins 1848 vs 1244—a 48.6% margin that dwarfs every other delta. This suggests the Willow Cove cores have a substantial per-thread performance advantage over Zen 2 in this specific test, likely due to the higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz versus 3.80 GHz for AMD. The Intel chip's base clock is lower at 1800 MHz versus 2600 MHz, but the 600 MHz boost advantage appears decisive in single-threaded Geekbench workloads.

Cinebench R23 multi-core shows Intel's biggest win: 6635 vs 5341, a 24.2% margin. This is where the Intel chip's 12 MB L3 cache likely shines, as rendering workloads benefit from larger shared pools. Despite AMD's higher base clock, Intel's combination of higher boost and more cache wins in this modern rendering test.

The AMD chip's dominance in Cinebench R15 is striking. In multi-core, it scores 906 vs 668 (26.3% ahead), and in single-core it's 170 vs 94 (44.7% ahead). The R15 single-core gap is nearly as large as Intel's Geekbench single-core lead, suggesting these two benchmark families measure very different aspects of CPU performance—R15 may favor AMD's higher base clock and Zen 2 efficiency, while Geekbench responds to Intel's boost behavior and cache hierarchy.

Cinebench R23 single-core goes to AMD again: 1115 vs 936, a 16.1% margin. This is Intel's only single-core loss, and it's substantial. The pattern is consistent: AMD wins all single-core Cinebench variants, Intel wins Geekbench single-core. Geekbench multi-core is the closest race at 4060 vs 4035 (0.6% for Intel), effectively a statistical tie.

Specification Differences

The core specifications that differ between these two CPUs are numerous. Base clock: Intel runs at 1800 MHz, AMD at 2600 MHz—a 800 MHz advantage for AMD. Boost clock flips the story: Intel reaches 4.40 GHz, AMD tops out at 3.80 GHz, a 600 MHz lead for Intel. TDP is identical at 15W for both.

Process node differs: Intel uses 10 nm, AMD uses 7 nm. Foundry also differs: Intel fabricates its own chip, while AMD uses TSMC. Die size is close but not equal: 144 mm² for Intel, 156 mm² for AMD. AMD lists 9,800 million transistors; Intel doesn't provide this figure.

Cache configurations diverge across all levels. L1 per core: 80 KB (Intel) vs 64 KB (AMD). L2 per core: 1.25 MB (Intel) vs 512 KB (AMD). L3 shared: 12 MB (Intel) vs 4 MB (AMD). The Intel chip has more cache at every level, with the L3 difference being the most pronounced at 3x.

Memory support: Intel accepts DDR4 and LPDDR4X; AMD only lists DDR4. Memory bandwidth is listed for AMD at 51.2 GB/s but absent for Intel. ECC memory: supported by Intel, not by AMD. PCIe: Intel has Gen 4 with 4 lanes; AMD has Gen 3 with 12 lanes. Sockets differ: Intel BGA 1449 vs AMD Socket FP6.

Integrated graphics differ by brand and architecture: Intel's Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 EU vs AMD's Radeon Graphics with 384SP. Release dates are about four months apart: Intel launched 2020-09-01, AMD launched 2021-01-11. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $490; AMD's launch MSRP is not listed in the data.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-1185GRE boosts to 4.40 GHz, which is 600 MHz higher than the AMD Ryzen 3 5300U's 3.80 GHz boost clock.

Q: How do the multi-core Cinebench scores compare?

A: Intel wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 6635 vs 5341 (24.2% ahead), but AMD wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with 906 vs 668 (26.3% ahead). The results flip depending on the benchmark version.

Q: Which CPU has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-1185GRE has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, which is three times the 4 MB shared L3 cache found on the AMD Ryzen 3 5300U.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-1185GRE supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 3 5300U does not.

Q: What is the Geekbench single-core score difference?

A: Intel leads with 1848 vs AMD's 1244, a 48.6% advantage. This is the largest single benchmark delta between the two CPUs.

Q: Which CPU has more PCIe lanes?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 5300U offers 12 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Core i7-1185GRE provides 4 PCIe Gen 4 lanes (CPU only). AMD has more total lanes, but Intel's lanes run at the newer Gen 4 standard.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-1185GRE wins in modern rendering workloads and general system responsiveness. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core victory (6635 vs 5341) makes it the better choice for current-generation 3D rendering and video encoding tasks that scale across cores. The Geekbench single-core lead (1848 vs 1244) suggests faster application launching, quicker file operations, and snappier UI interactions in everyday use. The Geekbench multi-core win (4060 vs 4035), while narrow, confirms Intel's edge in the Geekbench test family overall. For users running Geekbench-style synthetic benchmarks or modern multi-threaded applications, the Intel chip's 12 MB L3 cache and 4.40 GHz boost clock provide measurable advantages.

The AMD Ryzen 3 5300U wins in legacy Cinebench workloads and single-core Cinebench performance. Its Cinebench R15 multi-core lead (906 vs 668) and R15 single-core lead (170 vs 94) indicate strong performance in older rendering pipelines. The R23 single-core win (1115 vs 936) shows AMD's Zen 2 architecture handles single-threaded Cinebench workloads more efficiently, likely due to its higher 2.60 GHz base clock. For users running Cinebench R15 or R23 single-core tests specifically, or applications with similar performance characteristics, the AMD chip delivers meaningfully better results—a 44.7% edge in R15 single-core is not trivial. The AMD part also offers more PCIe lanes (12 vs 4) for expansion, and its 7 nm process from TSMC represents a different manufacturing approach that may be preferable in some system designs.