AMD Ryzen 3 8300GE vs AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 3 8300GE and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE are both 35-watt, 4-core/8-thread desktop processors aimed at compact and commercial systems. The data shows a clear generational shift: the 8300GE, built on the newer Zen 4 architecture, wins 15 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the older Zen 3-based PRO 5355GE manages only two victories. However, the margins are not uniform, and the specific nature of those two losses reveals that the older chip is not entirely obsolete for every workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern across the benchmark suite is the consistency of the 8300GE’s lead in general processing tasks. In Cinebench tests, which are heavily reliant on raw CPU core performance, the 8300GE holds a nearly uniform advantage. In Cinebench R15, the 8300GE scores 1179 versus 1093 for the PRO 5355GE, a 7.9% lead in multi-core. That same 7.9% delta appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where scores are 4916 and 4555, and again in Cinebench R23 multi-core, with 11705 and 10846. Single-core results are equally lopsided, with the 8300GE winning R15, R20, and R23 by 7.8%, 7.8%, and 7.9%, respectively. This uniformity suggests the architectural advantage is fundamental rather than workload-specific.

The single-core gap becomes more pronounced in PassMark’s single-thread test, where the 8300GE scores 3644 against 3089, a full 18% advantage. This is the largest single-core delta in the entire comparison and points directly to the boost clock difference: the 8300GE boosts to 4.90 GHz while the PRO 5355GE peaks at 4.20 GHz. The 8300GE also shows a massive 41.9% lead in the PassMark find prime numbers test, scoring 44 versus 31, and a 35.9% lead in physics, with 750 versus 552. Extended instruction performance favors the 8300GE by 15%, with scores of 11923 and 10368.

The PRO 5355GE does strike back in two specific computational areas. In PassMark data encryption, the older chip wins decisively with a score of 9564 against 8603, a 10% advantage. Even more significant is the PassMark integer math test, where the PRO 5355GE scores 44665 versus 39163, a 12.3% win for the Zen 3 part. These two wins are not trivial, as they indicate that the PRO 5355GE’s architecture is better optimized for certain integer-heavy and cryptographic workloads, despite its lower clock speeds and older node.

Other results are closer. In data compression, the 8300GE wins with 155164 against 152885, a slim 1.5% margin. Floating point math is also close, with the 8300GE at 24681 versus 24115, a 2.3% edge. Random string sorting shows a 4.4% win for the 8300GE, with scores of 18010 and 17255. The overall PassMark multithread score favors the 8300GE by 5.8%, with 13507 versus 12761.

Where Each One Wins

Looking at the data, the Ryzen 3 8300GE is the clear winner for any task that benefits from high clock speeds or modern instruction sets. The 18% lead in PassMark single-thread and the 15% lead in extended instructions make it the better choice for general desktop responsiveness, office applications, and lightly-threaded software. The 41.9% advantage in prime number finding and the 35.9% lead in physics also suggest it is superior for scientific and simulation workloads that are not heavily integer-oriented. For all Cinebench rendering tests, the 8300GE is the pick, as it holds a consistent 7.9% lead in both single and multi-core scenarios.

The Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE’s wins are narrow but specific. Its 12.3% lead in integer math is the standout, meaning that for tasks like database operations, financial calculations, or any workload that processes large amounts of discrete whole numbers, the older chip is actually faster. The 10% lead in data encryption is also noteworthy, making the PRO 5355GE the better option for disk encryption, secure communications, or any cryptographic processing. These are not synthetic edge cases; they represent real-world server and professional use cases. However, outside of these two domains, the PRO 5355GE trails by single digits in compression and floating point, and by double digits in most other areas.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent distinct generations of AMD design. The Ryzen 3 8300GE is based on the Zen 4 architecture, with the codename Phoenix2, and is manufactured on a 4 nm process by TSMC. It uses the AMD Socket AM5 platform. In contrast, the Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE uses the older Zen 3 architecture, codename Cezanne, built on a 7 nm process, also by TSMC, and fits the AMD Socket AM4. The process shrink from 7 nm to 4 nm is a fundamental difference, allowing the 8300GE to pack 20,900 million transistors onto a 137 mm² die, while the PRO 5355GE has only 10,700 million transistors on a larger 180 mm² die.

Cache configurations are also different. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the 8300GE has 1 MB of L2 cache per core, while the PRO 5355GE has 512 KB per core. Both share 8 MB of L3 cache, but the 8300GE’s L3 is listed as shared, whereas the PRO 5355GE has a simpler 8 MB allocation. This doubling of L2 cache is likely a factor in the 8300GE’s better performance in many single-threaded and latency-sensitive tasks.

Memory support is a major divergence. The 8300GE supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The PRO 5355GE is limited to DDR4, also dual-channel, with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. This 32 GB/s difference is substantial and explains the 8300GE’s lead in bandwidth-hungry applications. PCIe support also differs, with the 8300GE offering Gen 4 with 14 lanes (CPU only) versus the PRO 5355GE’s Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The integrated graphics differ as well, with the 8300GE featuring a Radeon 740M and the PRO 5355GE using a Radeon Vega 6. The 8300GE is also physically newer, released on 2024-04-15, while the PRO 5355GE was released on 2024-09-04, making it a later but older-designed part.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 8300GE has a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE has a boost clock of 4.20 GHz.

Q: Are these two CPUs compatible with the same motherboard socket?

A: No. The 8300GE uses AMD Socket AM5, while the PRO 5355GE uses AMD Socket AM4. They are not interchangeable.

Q: Which processor is better for Cinebench R23 multi-core rendering?

A: The 8300GE wins this benchmark with a score of 11705, compared to the PRO 5355GE’s 10846, giving the 8300GE a 7.9% advantage.

Q: Does the older PRO 5355GE win any benchmarks against the 8300GE?

A: Yes, the PRO 5355GE wins two benchmarks: PassMark data encryption (9564 versus 8603, a 10% lead) and PassMark integer math (44665 versus 39163, a 12.3% lead).

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two?

A: The 8300GE supports DDR5 with a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, while the PRO 5355GE supports DDR4 with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

Q: Are both CPUs locked or unlocked for overclocking?

A: Both the 8300GE and the PRO 5355GE have their multiplier locked, indicating they are not unlocked for overclocking.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion for most users: the AMD Ryzen 3 8300GE is the superior processor for the vast majority of tasks. It wins 15 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, including all Cinebench tests, and offers a massive 18% single-thread advantage. The 4 nm process, doubled L2 cache, and much higher memory bandwidth provide tangible benefits in almost every measured workload. If you are building a new system on the AM5 platform with DDR5 memory, the 8300GE is the clear choice.

However, the verdict is not universal. The Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE is not a bad chip; it is simply more specialized. Its wins in integer math and encryption are significant for specific professional and server roles. If you are on an existing AM4 platform with DDR4 memory and your primary workloads are cryptographic or heavily integer-based, the PRO 5355GE offers a 10-12% performance advantage in those areas. But for general computing, content creation, or any task that uses floating point or single-threaded performance, the 8300GE is the better buy. The overall average benchmark scores confirm this: the 8300GE has an average score of 17614, while the PRO 5355GE sits at 17482, with the 8300GE ranking 0.8% higher in direct comparison. Choose the 8300GE for future-proofing and broad performance; choose the PRO 5355GE only if you specifically need its integer and encryption strengths.

Specification Differences

• Architecture: Zen 4 (Phoenix2) versus Zen 3 (Cezanne)
• Process Node: 4 nm versus 7 nm
• Transistors: 20,900 million versus 10,700 million
• Die Size: 137 mm² versus 180 mm²
• Base Clock: 3.50 GHz versus 3.60 GHz
• Boost Clock: 4.90 GHz versus 4.20 GHz
• L2 Cache: 1 MB (per core) versus 512 KB (per core)
• L3 Cache: 8 MB (shared) versus 8 MB
• Memory Support: DDR5 versus DDR4
• Memory Bandwidth: 83.2 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s
• PCIe: Gen 4, 14 Lanes (CPU only) versus Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only)
• Integrated Graphics: Radeon 740M versus Radeon Vega 6
• Socket: AMD Socket AM5 versus AMD Socket AM4
• Part Number: 100-000001496 versus 100-000001751
• Release Date: 2024-04-15 versus 2024-09-04