AMD Ryzen 3 5300U vs Intel Core i7-8559U Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a genuinely split decision between these two mobile processors. The Intel Core i7-8559U and AMD Ryzen 3 5300U each claim three wins in the head-to-head comparison, making a simple overall winner impossible to declare. Instead, the choice depends entirely on workload priorities.

The AMD Ryzen 3 5300U is the stronger pick for short, bursty single-thread tasks and legacy rendering workloads. It dominates the Cinebench R15 tests, posting a 22.4% advantage in multicore (906 versus 703) and a massive 41.8% lead in singlecore (170 versus 99). The Ryzen also wins the newer Cinebench R23 singlecore test by 11.6% (1115 versus 986). Users running older software, lightweight productivity apps, or anything that relies on rapid single-core response will find the AMD part clearly superior.

The Intel Core i7-8559U is the better choice for sustained multi-threaded workloads in more recent benchmark suites. It wins Cinebench R23 multicore by a substantial 30.8% (6984 versus 5341) and also takes Geekbench multicore by 6.4% (4293 versus 4035) and Geekbench singlecore by 11.3% (1384 versus 1244). The data suggests Intel holds an edge in newer, more demanding applications that scale across cores over longer durations.

For a buyer deciding today, the Ryzen 3 5300U offers superior responsiveness in everyday tasks and older software, while the Intel i7-8559U is the safer bet for modern content creation and heavy multitasking. The database shows both chips sit at nearly identical performance percentiles (47th for Intel, 46th for AMD), confirming they are peers in overall capability.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and manufacturing generations. The Intel Core i7-8559U is built on Intel's 14 nm process node, uses the Kaby Lake architecture (specifically Kaby Lake-R), and is fabricated by Intel itself. The AMD Ryzen 3 5300U, by contrast, uses the Zen 2 architecture (codename Lucienne), is built on TSMC's 7 nm node, and contains 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die. Intel's die is smaller at 123 mm² but the process node is older and larger.

Core and thread counts are identical: both have 4 cores and 8 threads. The cache layouts differ significantly. Both share 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core on the Intel side, but AMD doubles the L2 to 512 KB per core. The L3 cache tells a different story: Intel provides 8 MB shared, while AMD offers only 4 MB shared. This gives Intel a substantial L3 advantage, which likely contributes to its stronger performance in newer multi-threaded benchmarks.

Memory support is DDR4 for both, but AMD specifies a dual-channel memory bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel's memory bus and bandwidth figures are not recorded in the database. Neither chip supports ECC memory. AMD also lists PCIe Gen 3 with 12 lanes (CPU only), while Intel's PCIe configuration is unlisted.

The integrated graphics differ in naming and specification. Intel uses Iris Pro Plus, while AMD uses Radeon Graphics 384SP. Both target the mobile market segment and remain in active production. The Intel part was released on April 4, 2018, while AMD's release date is January 11, 2021, making the Ryzen nearly three years newer. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, and neither has a recorded launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 results are the most lopsided in this comparison. The AMD Ryzen 3 5300U beats the Intel Core i7-8559U by 22.4% in multicore performance (906 versus 703) and by an even larger 41.8% in singlecore (170 versus 99). These are the largest deltas in the entire head-to-head set, and they suggest the Ryzen has a decisive advantage in older rendering workloads. The Intel chip's singlecore score of 99 is notably low, indicating that the Kaby Lake architecture struggles in this particular test.

The Cinebench R23 results flip the script dramatically. The Intel Core i7-8559U surges ahead in multicore by 30.8% (6984 versus 5341), a swing of over 50 percentage points compared to the R15 multicore result. This is the single biggest win for Intel in the dataset. However, the Ryzen still wins R23 singlecore by 11.6% (1115 versus 986), showing that AMD's single-thread advantage persists even in newer benchmarks, just with a smaller margin.

The Geekbench results favor Intel across the board. In multicore, the i7-8559U scores 4293 versus the Ryzen's 4035, a 6.4% advantage. In singlecore, Intel leads 1384 versus 1244, an 11.3% edge. These are moderate but consistent wins, and they give Intel its third victory in the head-to-head tally, matching AMD's three wins exactly.

The overall average benchmark scores tell a similar story of near-parity. Intel's average is 2225, while AMD's is 2135, a difference of about 4%. The nearest rivals for each chip reinforce their performance tiers: Intel's closest competitors are desktop and server parts like the Core i7-5775C (2224 average) and Xeon E5-4648 v3 (2227), while AMD's nearest rivals include the Core i5-9400T (2136) and Ryzen 5 7520C (2127). The data shows both chips occupy the same performance class despite their architectural differences.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-8559U | AMD Ryzen 3 5300U |

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

| Base Clock | 2.70 GHz | 2.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1356 | AMD Socket FP6 |

| Architecture | Kaby Lake | Zen 2 |

| Codename | Kaby Lake-R | Lucienne |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 9,800 million |

| Die Size | 123 mm² | 156 mm² |

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

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Not recorded | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 51.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Not recorded | Gen 3, 12 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Pro Plus | Radeon Graphics 384SP |

| Release Date | April 4, 2018 | January 11, 2021 |

| Part Number | Not recorded | 100-000000376 |

The most consequential differences are the TDP and clock speeds. Intel runs at 28 W with a 4.50 GHz boost, while AMD runs at 15 W with a 3.80 GHz boost. The higher TDP gives Intel more thermal headroom, but the lower TDP makes AMD more suitable for thin-and-light designs. The base clocks are nearly identical (2.70 versus 2.60 GHz), so the boost clock gap of 0.70 GHz is the primary clock-speed differentiator.

The process node and transistor count show AMD's manufacturing advantage. TSMC's 7 nm node allows AMD to pack 9,800 million transistors into a 156 mm² die, while Intel's 14 nm node fits into 123 mm² without a transistor count being recorded. The L3 cache difference (8 MB versus 4 MB) is notable, though AMD compensates with double the L2 cache per core.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-8559U has a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 3 5300U boosts to 3.80 GHz. Intel's advantage is 0.70 GHz.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multicore performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-8559U wins by 30.8%, scoring 6984 versus the AMD Ryzen 3 5300U's 5341. This is Intel's largest victory in the head-to-head benchmarks.

Q: Which processor is better in single-core Cinebench R15?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 5300U is far ahead, scoring 170 versus Intel's 99, a 41.8% advantage. This is the biggest single-core gap in the entire comparison.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i7-8559U has a 28 W TDP, while the AMD Ryzen 3 5300U has a 15 W TDP. AMD uses 13 W less power, which can matter for battery life and thermal design.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 8 threads. They are identical in this specification.

Q: Which chip has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-8559U has 8 MB shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 3 5300U has 4 MB shared L3 cache. Intel offers double the L3 capacity.

Q: How do the Geekbench scores compare?

A: Intel wins both Geekbench tests. In multicore, Intel scores 4293 versus 4035 (6.4% ahead), and in singlecore, Intel scores 1384 versus 1244 (11.3% ahead).