AMD Ryzen 3 8300G vs Intel Core 5 315 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results paint a surprisingly lopsided picture. The Intel Core 5 315 wins 14 of 17 benchmark comparisons, with the AMD Ryzen 3 8300G taking only 3. The most dramatic victories for Intel come in workloads that stress raw computational throughput. In the `passmark_find_prime_numbers` test, Intel delivers a score of 112 against AMD's 47, a staggering 138.3% advantage. This suggests a fundamental edge in integer-heavy, branch-predictor-sensitive workloads that is difficult to overstate.

Floating-point performance tells a similar story, if slightly less extreme. The Intel part scores 42441 in `passmark_floating_point_math`, compared to 25336 for AMD, a 67.5% lead. The `passmark_physics` test also heavily favors Intel, with a score of 1163 versus 755, a 54% margin. These are not marginal wins; they indicate that for scientific computing, physics simulation, and any workload that leverages SIMD floating-point units, the Intel Core 5 315 is in a different class entirely.

The Cinebench suite shows consistent, if more moderate, Intel superiority. Across R15, R20, and R23, both multi-core and single-core tests show Intel leading by roughly 6.2% to 6.4%. For instance, in `cinebench_r23_multicore`, Intel scores 12981 against AMD's 12217, a 6.3% delta. Single-core scores follow the same pattern: 1832 versus 1724, again a 6.3% lead. This consistency across the entire Cinebench family suggests a clock-for-clock efficiency advantage, even when accounting for the different core counts and thread counts.

The `passmark_multithread` test, which often reflects real-world parallel application performance, shows Intel ahead by 8.9% (15272 versus 14018). Data encryption also favors Intel, with a 22% lead (11119 versus 9115). Even the `passmark_extended_instructions` test, which often rewards AMD's architecture, goes to Intel by 6.4% (13143 versus 12354).

Where does AMD strike back? The wins are concentrated in memory-adjacent and integer-heavy tasks. The `passmark_data_compression` test goes to AMD, scoring 158952 versus 146143, an 8.1% lead. In `passmark_integer_math`, AMD's advantage is more pronounced at 21.8% (40534 versus 31690). Finally, `passmark_random_string_sorting` favors AMD by 7.7% (19013 versus 17551). These three wins suggest that AMD's memory subsystem and integer pipeline handle specific patterns of data manipulation more efficiently, but they are isolated victories in a benchmark suite dominated by Intel.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies and process technologies. The Intel Core 5 315 is built on a 3 nm process at Intel's own foundry, while the AMD Ryzen 3 8300G uses a 4 nm process from TSMC. The Intel chip, codenamed Wildcat Lake, features 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. In contrast, the AMD part, with the Phoenix2 codename and Zen 4 architecture, offers 4 cores but 8 threads, relying on SMT to double its thread count.

This thread count difference is crucial when interpreting the benchmark results. Despite having fewer physical cores, AMD still loses most multi-threaded tests, which indicates that Intel's 6 full cores are more effective than AMD's 4 cores with 8 threads in most scenarios. However, the `passmark_integer_math` win for AMD suggests that its SMT implementation can extract more parallelism from certain integer workloads.

Cache hierarchies diverge significantly. Intel provides 192 KB of L1 cache and 2.5 MB of L2, with a shared 6 MB L3. AMD's design allocates 64 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with a shared 8 MB L3. The larger per-core L2 on AMD could explain its strength in data compression, where repeated access to smaller working sets benefits from faster cache hits. Intel's smaller total L3 (6 MB versus 8 MB) might be a bottleneck in some data-heavy tasks.

Memory support also differs. Intel supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel memory bus, yielding 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. AMD supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, providing 83.2 GB/s. This is a significant bandwidth advantage for AMD, which likely contributes to its wins in data compression and random string sorting. Interestingly, AMD also supports ECC memory, while Intel does not, a feature that may matter for specific professional use cases.

The integrated graphics differ as well. Intel integrates Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while AMD uses the Radeon 740M. The PCIe implementation also varies: Intel provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only), while AMD offers Gen 4 with 14 lanes. The AMD chip is a desktop part on Socket AM5, while Intel's is a mobile part on BGA 1516, which explains the TDP difference (15W for Intel versus 65W for AMD) and market positioning.

FAQ

Q: Why does the Intel Core 5 315 win so many more benchmarks despite having fewer threads?

A: The Intel chip has 6 physical cores versus AMD's 4, and while AMD uses SMT to reach 8 threads, the benchmark data shows Intel's 6 full cores provide better throughput in most tests. The Cinebench multi-core results show Intel ahead by 6.3%, and the `passmark_multithread` test shows an 8.9% lead, indicating that physical cores often outperform logical threads in these workloads.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 3 8300G better at any specific task?

A: Yes, the data shows AMD wins in three specific areas: data compression (158952 versus 146143, an 8.1% lead), integer math (40534 versus 31690, a 21.8% lead), and random string sorting (19013 versus 17551, a 7.7% lead). These wins suggest AMD's architecture is better optimized for certain memory-access patterns and integer operations.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare?

A: Intel leads in every single-core test. In `cinebench_r23_singlecore`, Intel scores 1832 versus AMD's 1724, a 6.3% advantage. The `passmark_single_thread` test shows Intel at 4021 versus 3778, also a 6.4% lead. This indicates Intel's cores are individually faster, which is notable given AMD's higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz versus Intel's 4.40 GHz.

Q: What role does memory bandwidth play in the results?

A: AMD has a dual-channel memory bus providing 83.2 GB/s, compared to Intel's single-channel 59.7 GB/s. This 23.5 GB/s difference likely explains AMD's wins in data compression and random string sorting, which are bandwidth-sensitive. However, it does not overcome Intel's advantages in other compute-heavy tests.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 8300G has a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, higher than the Intel Core 5 315's 4.40 GHz. Despite this, Intel wins all single-core benchmarks, suggesting that Intel's architecture achieves higher instructions-per-clock (IPC) efficiency.

Q: Are these processors comparable in terms of overall performance class?

A: Yes, the average benchmark scores are nearly identical. Intel's average is 18188, and AMD's is 18169, a difference of only 0.1%. Both sit at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, and their nearest rivals are the same processors (AMD Ryzen 7 5700U and Intel Core i7-1365U), indicating they occupy the same performance tier.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 315 | AMD Ryzen 3 8300G |

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

| Cores | 6 | 4 |

| Threads | 6 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 1.50 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 15W | 65W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1516 | AMD Socket AM5 |

| Architecture | Wildcat Lake | Zen 4 (Phoenix2) |

| Process Node | 3 nm | 4 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not specified | 20,900 million |

| Die Size | Not specified | 137 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 192 KB | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2.5 MB | 1 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Single-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 59.7 GB/s | 83.2 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 6 Lanes | Gen 4, 14 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel Xe3 (2 Xe) | Radeon 740M |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2026-04-15 | 2024-01-07 |

| Launch MSRP | $340 | $176 |

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear picture: the Intel Core 5 315 is the superior processor for the majority of compute workloads. It wins 14 out of 17 head-to-head comparisons, including all Cinebench tests, all single-thread tests, and the most demanding math and physics workloads. The 138.3% lead in prime number finding and 67.5% lead in floating-point math are not anomalies; they reflect a fundamental architectural advantage in arithmetic processing.

However, the AMD Ryzen 3 8300G is not without merit. Its 21.8% win in integer math and 8.1% win in data compression indicate that for specific data-processing tasks, it can outperform Intel. The dual-channel memory bus, providing 83.2 GB/s of bandwidth, is a tangible advantage that shows up in memory-intensive benchmarks. Also, for users requiring ECC memory support or those who need a desktop socket with more PCIe lanes (14 versus 6), AMD offers practical benefits.

The choice depends on the user's primary workloads. For general-purpose computing, rendering, physics simulation, or any task that benefits from floating-point throughput, the Intel Core 5 315 is the clear recommendation. Its lead in every Cinebench test and the `passmark_multithread` test makes it the safer choice for productivity. For users focused on data compression, integer-heavy algorithms, or memory-bandwidth-bound tasks, the AMD Ryzen 3 8300G offers specific advantages that could be decisive.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core 5 315 wins in: All Cinebench multi-core and single-core tests (R15, R20, R23), with leads ranging from 6.2% to 6.4%. The `passmark_multithread` test (8.9% lead), `passmark_physics` (54% lead), `passmark_floating_point_math` (67.5% lead), `passmark_find_prime_numbers` (138.3% lead), `passmark_data_encryption` (22% lead), `passmark_extended_instructions` (6.4% lead), and `passmark_single_thread` (6.4% lead). This makes the Intel chip the choice for scientific computing, rendering, encryption, and any workload where raw arithmetic throughput is paramount.

AMD Ryzen 3 8300G wins in: `passmark_data_compression` (8.1% lead), `passmark_integer_math` (21.8% lead), and `passmark_random_string_sorting` (7.7% lead). These wins point to AMD's strength in data manipulation tasks, where its larger L3 cache (8 MB versus 6 MB) and higher memory bandwidth (83.2 GB/s versus 59.7 GB/s) provide a tangible edge. For database workloads, file compression, or integer-heavy algorithm development, the AMD chip demonstrates measurable superiority.