AMD Ryzen 3 7320C vs AMD Ryzen 5 5500U Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U and AMD Ryzen 3 7320C are both 15-watt mobile processors, but the benchmark data shows they serve very different performance niches. The Ryzen 5 5500U wins 13 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons, while the Ryzen 3 7320C wins only 2. However, those two wins are both in single-threaded PassMark tests, which points to a clear split: the 5500U is the multi-core workhorse, while the 7320C holds its own in lightly threaded tasks. The data further shows both processors sit at the 69th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they target the same mid-range mobile segment despite their divergent core counts and architectures.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 5 5500U dominates in every multi-threaded and compute-heavy workload recorded. Its largest margins come in PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 10,838 versus the 7320C’s 3,663, a 195.9% advantage. Data encryption shows a 91.2% lead (10,405 vs 5,443), and floating-point math is 85% higher (26,029 vs 14,071). These are tasks that scale with core count and thread count, and the 5500U’s 6 cores and 12 threads simply outmuscle the 7320C’s 4 cores and 8 threads. Cinebench R15 multicore also shows a 76.1% gap (1,247 vs 708), reinforcing that the 5500U is the clear choice for rendering or batch processing.

The Ryzen 3 7320C wins only in PassMark single-thread and singlethread tests, scoring 2,439 in both, versus the 5500U’s 2,419. That is a narrow 0.8% margin, but it is consistent across two identical test entries. This suggests the 7320C has a slight edge in bursty, single-core workloads like basic office responsiveness or web browsing. Notably, the 7320C also posts a higher base clock (2.40 GHz vs 2.10 GHz) and boost clock (4.10 GHz vs 4.00 GHz), which likely explains this single-thread advantage. The 7320C’s Cinebench R23 multicore score of 7,025 is surprisingly close to the 5500U’s 7,186, a mere 2.3% gap, which suggests that in some modern multi-threaded benchmarks the two are nearly equivalent despite the core count difference.

Architecture Differences

Both processors use AMD’s Zen 2 architecture, but they are implemented differently. The 5500U, codenamed Lucienne, is built on TSMC’s 7 nm process and has a die size of 156 mm² with 9,800 million transistors. The 7320C, codenamed Mendocino, uses a newer 6 nm TSMC process and a smaller 100 mm² die, though its transistor count is not listed in the data. The 6 nm node likely contributes to the 7320C’s higher clock speeds at the same 15 W TDP, but the 5500U’s larger die and transistor budget allow for more cores and cache.

Cache configuration differs significantly. The 5500U has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the 7320C has only 4 MB. Both have 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, so the per-core cache is identical, but the 5500U’s larger L3 pool is a major advantage for workloads that repeatedly access a working set of data. Memory support also diverges: the 5500U uses DDR4 with dual-channel support and a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, whereas the 7320C uses LPDDR5 with dual-channel support and a much higher 88.0 GB/s bandwidth. This means the 7320C can feed data to its cores faster, which may help close the multi-core gap in memory-bound tests.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The 5500U features Radeon Graphics with 448 shader processors, while the 7320C has a Radeon 610M. The 5500U also offers more PCIe connectivity: 12 lanes (Gen 3) versus just 4 lanes (Gen 3) on the 7320C. Both use different sockets (FP6 for the 5500U, FT6 for the 7320C), meaning they are not interchangeable in a motherboard. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not an option for either.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest win for the 5500U comes in PassMark extended instructions, where its score of 10,838 is nearly triple the 7320C’s 3,663. This test likely exercises AVX or other advanced instruction sets, and the 5500U’s extra cores and threads provide a 195.9% advantage. Data encryption follows closely at 91.2% (10,405 vs 5,443), which is a classic multi-threaded workload. Floating-point math shows an 85% gap (26,029 vs 14,071), and Cinebench R15 multicore is 76.1% higher (1,247 vs 708). These are the sort of margins that make the 5500U the obvious pick for content creation or scientific computing on a laptop.

The 5500U also wins decisively in integer math, scoring 45,258 versus 32,247, a 40.3% lead. PassMark multithread shows a 55.2% advantage (12,831 vs 8,265), and data compression is 20.8% higher (174,584 vs 144,465). Even in find prime numbers, a test that often favors clock speed, the 5500U leads by 44.4% (26 vs 18). The narrowest 5500U wins are in PassMark physics (533 vs 500, a 6.6% margin) and Cinebench R23 multicore (7,186 vs 7,025, a 2.3% margin). The R23 result is notable because it suggests that in a modern, well-optimized renderer, the 7320C’s higher clocks and faster memory bandwidth can nearly offset its two-core deficit.

The 7320C’s only wins are in PassMark single-thread and singlethread, both at 2,439 versus 2,419. That 0.8% margin is small but consistent, and it aligns with the 7320C’s higher boost clock. Cinebench R23 singlecore also shows the 5500U ahead by 18.3% (1,172 vs 991), which contradicts the PassMark result, suggesting that the 7320C’s single-thread advantage is workload-specific rather than universal. Overall, the 5500U’s wins are far larger in magnitude than the 7320C’s, making the former the stronger all-around performer.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion: the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U is the superior processor for any workload that uses more than one or two threads. Its 13 benchmark wins include massive margins in encryption, math, and compression, and even its smallest multi-core lead (2.3% in Cinebench R23) shows it holds its own. The 5500U’s 6 cores, 12 threads, and 8 MB of L3 cache provide a structural advantage that the 7320C cannot overcome, despite the latter’s faster memory and slightly higher clocks. Users running virtual machines, compiling code, or editing video should choose the 5500U without hesitation.

The Ryzen 3 7320C is not without merit. Its single-thread PassMark win, while narrow, indicates that it can handle everyday tasks like document editing or web browsing with equal or slightly better responsiveness. Its 88.0 GB/s memory bandwidth is a significant architectural feature that could benefit integrated-graphics workloads, and its 6 nm process suggests better power efficiency per transistor. However, the 7320C’s wins are limited to two identical single-thread tests, and its multi-core scores trail by 2.3% to 195.9% depending on the workload. For users who prioritize multi-threaded performance, the 5500U is the clear choice; the 7320C is only preferable for those who specifically value its marginal single-thread edge and faster memory subsystem.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark extended instructions, where the 5500U scores 10,838 versus the 7320C’s 3,663, a 195.9% advantage.

Q: Does the Ryzen 3 7320C win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins PassMark single-thread and singlethread tests, scoring 2,439 in both, which is 0.8% higher than the 5500U’s 2,419.

Q: How do their memory bandwidths compare?

A: The 7320C supports LPDDR5 with a memory bandwidth of 88.0 GB/s, while the 5500U supports DDR4 with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

Q: Which processor uses a smaller manufacturing process?

A: The 7320C is built on a 6 nm process, while the 5500U uses a 7 nm process, both from TSMC.

Q: What are their L3 cache sizes?

A: The 5500U has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the 7320C has 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 5500U | AMD Ryzen 3 7320C |

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

| Cores | 6 | 4 |

| Threads | 12 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 2.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.00 GHz | 4.10 GHz |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP6 | AMD Socket FT6 |

| Codename | Lucienne | Mendocino |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 6 nm |

| Die Size | 156 mm² | 100 mm² |

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

| Memory Support | DDR4 | LPDDR5 |

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

| PCIe Lanes | Gen 3, 12 Lanes | Gen 3, 4 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Graphics 448SP | Radeon 610M |

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

| Part Number | 100-000000375 | 100-000000774 |