AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 vs Intel Core i5-8269U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a remarkably consistent picture across all six Cinebench tests: the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 wins every single head-to-head matchup, though by margins that are surprisingly narrow given the architectural differences. The largest advantage appears in the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where AMD scores 87 against Intel's 85, a 2.4% delta. This is the only benchmark where the gap exceeds 2%, making it the standout victory for the Ryzen part.

The multi-core results tell a similar story of narrow margins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 posts 619 points versus 609 for the Intel Core i5-8269U, a 1.6% advantage. The R20 multi-core test shows 2582 against 2538, a 1.7% delta, while R23 multi-core delivers 6148 versus 6044, again 1.7%. The single-core variants of R20 and R23 follow suit: 364 to 358 (1.7%) and 868 to 853 (1.8%) respectively. The consistency is notable; every test lands between 1.6% and 2.4% in favor of the AMD processor.

What makes these numbers intriguing is the context. The Intel chip boosts to 4.20 GHz, substantially higher than the AMD's 3.70 GHz maximum, yet it cannot convert that clock advantage into a benchmark win. The AMD processor counters with a higher base clock of 3.50 GHz versus 2.60 GHz, but the Intel part's eight threads versus four should theoretically help in multi-threaded workloads. The data suggests otherwise, as the AMD chip still edges ahead in all three multi-core tests.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the pattern. The Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 holds an average score of 1778, placing it 0.1% ahead of the Intel Xeon E5-4610 v3 (1777) and 0.3% ahead of the Intel Xeon E5-2637 v3 (1773). It sits 0.5% behind the AMD Ryzen 3 3200GE (1787). The Core i5-8269U, meanwhile, averages 1748, which is 0.1% behind the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 3200GE (1750) and 0.3% behind the Intel Core i5-6600 (1744). Both chips land at the 41st percentile of all CPUs in the database, indicating they occupy the same performance tier despite their different designs.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 wins all six recorded comparisons. It takes Cinebench R15 multi-core (619 vs 609), R15 single-core (87 vs 85), R20 multi-core (2582 vs 2538), R20 single-core (364 vs 358), R23 multi-core (6148 vs 6044), and R23 single-core (868 vs 853).

Q: How large is the performance gap between the two chips?

A: The margins are narrow. The largest delta is 2.4% in Cinebench R15 single-core. The remaining five tests show deltas between 1.6% and 1.8%, all favoring the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-8269U's higher boost clock translate to better single-core performance?

A: No. Despite a 4.20 GHz boost clock versus 3.70 GHz for the AMD part, the Intel chip trails in all three single-core tests. The AMD wins R15 single-core with 87 to 85, R20 single-core with 364 to 358, and R23 single-core with 868 to 853.

Q: How do the two processors compare to their nearest rivals in the database?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300's average score of 1778 places it within 0.5% of its closest competitors, including the AMD Ryzen 3 3200GE (1787) and the Intel Xeon E5-4610 v3 (1777). The Intel Core i5-8269U's average of 1748 puts it within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U (1742) and 0.1% of the Intel Core i7-980X (1746).

Q: What percentile ranking do both chips hold in the overall database?

A: Both processors are at the 41st percentile of all CPUs, indicating they perform at essentially the same level relative to the broader market.

Q: Is there any test where the Intel Core i5-8269U comes out ahead?

A: Based on the recorded head-to-head data, no. The Intel chip loses all six benchmark comparisons, with win counts of 6 for AMD and 0 for Intel.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 is built on the Zen architecture, codenamed Summit Ridge, and belongs to the 1000 series. It is manufactured by GlobalFoundries on a 14 nm process node, using a die size of 213 mm² and integrating 4,800 million transistors. The Intel Core i5-8269U, in contrast, uses the Kaby Lake architecture, specifically the Kaby Lake-R refresh, and is built by Intel on its own 14 nm process. Its die is significantly smaller at 123 mm², and the database does not record a transistor count for it.

Cache hierarchies differ notably. The AMD chip allocates 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part provides 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD design thus offers more cache at every level, which may help explain its ability to match or beat the Intel chip despite the latter's higher clock speeds.

The memory subsystem also diverges. Both support DDR4, but the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 specifies dual-channel memory with 42.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Core i5-8269U lists DDR4 support, but the database records no memory bus configuration or bandwidth figure for it. The AMD chip also supports ECC memory, while the Intel processor does not. The Intel part includes integrated graphics with Iris Pro Plus, while the AMD chip lists no integrated graphics at all.

The market positioning could not be more different. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 is a desktop processor for AMD Socket AM4, released on 2017-06-28, with an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Core i5-8269U is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1356, released on 2018-04-04, with a locked multiplier. The AMD chip's TDP is 65 watts, while the Intel part draws 28 watts, reflecting their desktop versus mobile origins.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in every major specification category except core count and process node. Both have four cores, and both use a 14 nm manufacturing process. Beyond that, the differences are extensive.

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 runs at a 3.50 GHz base clock and 3.70 GHz boost clock, while the Intel Core i5-8269U operates at 2.60 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost. The Intel chip offers eight threads through Hyper-Threading, while the AMD part is limited to four threads. The AMD processor has a 65 watt TDP, the Intel a 28 watt TDP. The AMD uses AMD Socket AM4, the Intel uses Intel BGA 1356.

Cache configurations differ: AMD provides 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. Intel provides 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. The AMD chip's die measures 213 mm², the Intel's 123 mm². The AMD part has 4,800 million transistors, while the Intel's count is not recorded.

Memory support shows the AMD chip with dual-channel DDR4 and 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel lists DDR4 support without a recorded bus or bandwidth. ECC memory is supported on AMD only. Integrated graphics exist only on the Intel chip, as Iris Pro Plus. The AMD multiplier is unlocked, the Intel is locked. The AMD part number is YD130BBBM4KAE, while the Intel has no recorded part number. Release dates differ by roughly nine months, with AMD launching on 2017-06-28 and Intel on 2018-04-04.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear but nuanced verdict. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 wins every recorded test, from the smallest margin of 1.6% in R15 multi-core to the largest of 2.4% in R15 single-core. It achieves this despite having fewer threads (4 vs 8) and a lower boost clock (3.70 vs 4.20 GHz). The AMD chip's advantages in cache capacity, ECC support, and unlocked multiplier do not directly appear in the Cinebench scores, but the wins are consistent across all six tests.

The Intel Core i5-8269U, however, is not far behind. Its average benchmark score of 1748 trails the AMD's 1778 by only 30 points, and both sit at the 41st percentile of all CPUs. The Intel part's lower TDP (28 vs 65 watts) and integrated graphics make it a fundamentally different product, one designed for mobile systems where power efficiency matters more than raw benchmark scores.

For a desktop user prioritizing measured performance, the data points to the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300. It wins every head-to-head comparison and offers ECC memory support, a feature absent from the Intel part. For a mobile user, the Intel Core i5-8269U brings integrated graphics and a much lower power envelope, which the desktop-oriented AMD chip cannot match. The choice depends on the use case, not the benchmark scores, because the scores are so close.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 wins in every measured benchmark category. Its largest margin, 2.4%, comes in Cinebench R15 single-core, suggesting a real if modest advantage in lightly threaded workloads. The multi-core wins, ranging from 1.6% to 1.7%, indicate consistent superiority in fully threaded scenarios as well. The AMD chip also wins on features beyond benchmarks: it supports ECC memory, has a larger cache at every level, and offers an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Its desktop socket, AMD Socket AM4, is more accessible for system builders.

The Intel Core i5-8269U wins on the characteristics that benchmarks do not capture. Its 28 watt TDP is less than half of the AMD's 65 watts, making it suitable for thin and light laptops where heat and battery life are critical. It includes Iris Pro Plus integrated graphics, eliminating the need for a separate GPU in basic use. Its higher boost clock of 4.20 GHz, while not translating to benchmark wins, may help in burst workloads that the recorded Cinebench tests do not represent. Its mobile socket, Intel BGA 1356, is designed for soldered laptop installations rather than user upgrades.

The data shows two processors that score nearly identically in the database, with the AMD chip holding a slim edge in every recorded test. The real differentiators are the platform-level features: desktop versus mobile, ECC versus no ECC, unlocked versus locked multiplier, integrated graphics versus none. Users should weigh those factors alongside the benchmark results, which show a 1.6% to 2.4% performance advantage for the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 across all six Cinebench workloads.