CPU Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear split between two very different processors. The AMD Ryzen 3 8300G is a desktop part built for sustained multi-threaded workloads, while the Intel Core 5 320 is a low-power mobile chip with a strong single-thread profile. For users prioritizing multi-core rendering, the AMD wins decisively in Cinebench R23 multi-core with a 97.1% advantage over the Intel. For users needing faster single-thread responsiveness, the Intel takes every single-core test, with its largest margin being a 37.3% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core.

The overall benchmark score averages are nearly identical: the AMD scores 18169, and the Intel scores 18023, placing both in the 72nd percentile among all CPUs. However, the distribution of wins is lopsided, with the Intel winning 12 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks. The AMD wins only 5, but those wins include the most extreme swing in the entire comparison. The choice hinges on workload type: the AMD for heavy parallel tasks, the Intel for mixed single-threaded and floating-point duties.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 3 8300G uses the Zen 4 architecture on a 4 nm process from TSMC, with a die size of 137 mm² and 20,900 million transistors. It features 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The Intel Core 5 320, in contrast, uses the Wildcat Lake architecture on a 3 nm process from Intel, with 6 cores and 6 threads, base clock of 1.50 GHz and boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The Intel has no listed transistor count or die size.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The AMD provides 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. The Intel has 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. The AMD’s larger shared L3 and per-core L2 give it an edge in cache-sensitive workloads. The Intel compensates with higher clock speeds per core, as its boost clock reaches 4.60 GHz on a much lower 15 W TDP versus the AMD’s 65 W TDP.

Memory support diverges sharply. The AMD supports DDR5 with dual-channel memory and 83.2 GB/s bandwidth, plus ECC memory. The Intel supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X but only single-channel memory, with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC. PCIe lane counts also differ: the AMD provides 14 Gen 4 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel provides 6 Gen 4 lanes. The AMD integrates Radeon 740M graphics; the Intel integrates Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 8300G wins by a massive margin, scoring 12217 against the Intel’s 6197, a 97.1% difference. This is the largest performance gap in any benchmark between the two.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 320 win any single-threaded tests?

A: Yes, the Intel wins every single-thread benchmark: Cinebench R15 (276 vs 173, +37.3%), R20 (771 vs 724, +6.1%), R23 (1926 vs 1724, +10.5%), and PassMark single-thread (4045 vs 3778, +6.6%).

Q: How do the two chips compare in memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD offers higher memory bandwidth at 83.2 GB/s with dual-channel DDR5 support, while the Intel provides 59.7 GB/s with single-channel support. The AMD also supports ECC memory, which the Intel does not.

Q: Which chip has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel has more cores (6 vs 4) but fewer threads (6 vs 8), because the AMD supports simultaneous multithreading. The AMD’s 8 threads allow better parallel task scheduling despite fewer physical cores.

Q: What are the TDP values for each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 8300G has a TDP of 65 W, while the Intel Core 5 320 has a TDP of 15 W, making the Intel far more power-efficient for mobile use.

Q: In which benchmark does the Intel show its biggest single-thread advantage?

A: The Intel’s largest single-thread win is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 276 versus the AMD’s 173, a 37.3% advantage. This indicates a substantial per-core clock and IPC advantage.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel has 6 cores and 6 threads. Base clocks are 3.40 GHz for the AMD and 1.50 GHz for the Intel; boost clocks are 4.90 GHz and 4.60 GHz, respectively. TDP values are 65 W for the AMD and 15 W for the Intel. The AMD uses socket AM5, while the Intel uses BGA 1516.

Process nodes differ: the AMD is on TSMC’s 4 nm, and the Intel is on Intel’s 3 nm. The AMD’s cache layout includes 64 KB L1 per core and 1 MB L2 per core, while the Intel has 192 KB L1 and 2.5 MB L2 total. Shared L3 is 8 MB on the AMD versus 6 MB on the Intel. Memory support: the AMD uses dual-channel DDR5 with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth and ECC; the Intel uses single-channel DDR5/LPDDR5X with 59.7 GB/s and no ECC. PCIe lanes: 14 Gen 4 lanes on the AMD versus 6 Gen 4 lanes on the Intel. Integrated graphics differ: Radeon 740M versus Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe). The AMD’s launch MSRP is $176; the Intel’s is $340. Release dates are 2024-01-07 for the AMD and 2026-04-15 for the Intel.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic result is Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the AMD scores 12217 against the Intel’s 6197, a 97.1% advantage. This single benchmark demonstrates the AMD’s strength in sustained multi-threaded rendering, likely due to its higher base clock, larger L3 cache, and dual-channel memory bandwidth. In contrast, Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a smaller but still solid 16.8% AMD lead (1231 vs 1054). However, the Intel wins Cinebench R20 multi-core by 6.1% (5462 vs 5131), showing that the multi-core picture is not uniform across versions.

The Intel dominates single-thread performance across all tests. Its largest win is Cinebench R15 single-core, with a 37.3% margin (276 vs 173). In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Intel leads by 6.1% (771 vs 724). Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 10.5% Intel advantage (1926 vs 1724). PassMark single-thread shows a 6.6% lead for the Intel (4045 vs 3778).

In PassMark suite tests, the Intel wins 8 of 11. Its most striking victories are in floating-point math (42440 vs 25336, +40.3%), physics (1221 vs 755, +38.2%), and prime number finding (110 vs 47, +57.3%). The Intel also leads in data encryption (10984 vs 9115, +17%), extended instructions (13262 vs 12354, +6.8%), and multithread (15450 vs 14018, +9.3%). The AMD wins in integer math (40534 vs 32323, +25.4%), data compression (158952 vs 148779, +6.8%), and random string sorting (19013 vs 18038, +5.4%).

The data suggests that the Intel’s 6 physical cores, despite lacking hyperthreading, provide superior floating-point and physics throughput. The AMD’s 8 threads and larger cache give it an edge in integer-heavy and compression tasks. The overall average benchmark scores are within 0.8% of each other (18169 vs 18023), confirming that neither chip is categorically faster, the right choice depends entirely on the workload mix. For users who render or compile, the AMD’s Cinebench R23 multi-core lead is decisive. For users who run single-threaded applications or physics simulations, the Intel’s consistent single-thread and floating-point wins make it the better pick.