AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U vs Intel Core i5-6500T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data is unusually one-sided. Across all six Cinebench comparisons, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U wins every single test, with margins that are remarkably consistent. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD scores 480 against the Intel Core i5-6500T's 408, a 17.6% advantage. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern: 67 versus 57, a 17.5% lead. The same story repeats in Cinebench R20, where the AMD posts 2002 multicore and 282 single-core, while the Intel manages 1702 and 240 respectively. Those are again 17.6% and 17.5% gaps.

Moving to Cinebench R23, the most demanding workload in the set, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U scores 4769 multicore and 673 single-core. The Intel Core i5-6500T trails at 4054 and 572. The multicore delta is 17.6%, and the single-core delta is 17.7%, the largest margin of any test in the comparison. The database also shows a Geekbench entry for the Intel only, with 2843 multicore and 1016 single-core; no corresponding Geekbench score exists for the AMD in the recorded data, so that test cannot be compared head-to-head.

What is notable is the consistency of the margins. Whether the workload is lightly threaded or fully loaded, the AMD maintains roughly a 17.5% to 17.7% edge. This suggests the advantage is not workload-specific but rather a general performance characteristic. The Intel's higher base clock of 2.50 GHz does not translate into a win, nor does its larger 6 MB shared L3 cache. The AMD's boost clock of 3.40 GHz is higher than the Intel's 3.10 GHz, but the margins are larger than the raw clock delta alone would imply. The data indicates the Zen architecture in the Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U simply executes more instructions per cycle in these Cinebench workloads.

The aggregate benchmark score tells a similar story. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U holds an average benchmark score of 1379, placing it in the 36th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core i5-6500T averages 1362, also in the 36th percentile. The difference is small, but the AMD edges ahead in the aggregate. The AMD's nearest rivals include the AMD Opteron 6366 HE and AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200, both at exactly 1379, and the Intel Core i7-3740QM at 1378, a 0.1% delta. The Intel's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-8365UE at 1362, the Intel Core i7-3820QM at 1366, and the Intel Xeon D-1521 at 1367. The AMD sits just above the Intel in the overall rankings, but both are in the same percentile band.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multicore performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U scores 4769, while the Intel Core i5-6500T scores 4054. The AMD leads by 17.6%.

Q: Is the single-core performance advantage the same as the multicore advantage?

A: Almost exactly. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD scores 673 versus the Intel's 572, a 17.7% lead. The R20 single-core margin is 17.5% (282 versus 240), and the R15 single-core margin is 17.5% (67 versus 57).

Q: How do the aggregate benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U has an average benchmark score of 1379, and the Intel Core i5-6500T averages 1362. Both processors sit in the 36th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Does the Intel processor have any benchmark win at all?

A: In the head-to-head comparison data, the Intel Core i5-6500T records zero wins. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U wins all six recorded Cinebench tests.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U boosts to 3.40 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-6500T boosts to 3.10 GHz. The AMD also has a lower base clock at 2.00 GHz versus the Intel's 2.50 GHz.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U is listed as Active, while the Intel Core i5-6500T is listed as End-of-life.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous for Cinebench workloads: the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U is the faster processor. It wins every single test in the head-to-head comparison, with margins between 17.5% and 17.7%. If the task is rendering, video encoding, or any workload that scales with Cinebench-style multithreaded performance, the AMD is the clear choice from the recorded measurements.

However, the Intel Core i5-6500T is not without its own context. It is a desktop part with a 35 W TDP, while the AMD is a mobile part with a 15 W TDP. The Intel also has a higher base clock of 2.50 GHz versus the AMD's 2.00 GHz, yet it still loses. This indicates the AMD's architecture is more efficient in these tests, delivering more performance despite a lower base clock and a much lower power envelope.

For a builder selecting between these two, the decision hinges on the platform. The AMD uses Socket FP5 and is a mobile processor, while the Intel uses Socket 1151 and is a desktop processor. They are not directly interchangeable in a system. But in terms of raw benchmark performance, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U is the superior part. The Intel Core i5-6500T, being end-of-life and slower in every recorded Cinebench test, offers no performance advantage in the data. The AMD also has a higher average benchmark score, 1379 versus 1362, reinforcing the same conclusion.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications beyond their benchmark scores. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U has a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. The Intel Core i5-6500T has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.10 GHz. The AMD runs at a 15 W TDP, while the Intel runs at 35 W. The AMD uses the AMD Socket FP5, and the Intel uses the Intel Socket 1151.

Memory support differs as well. The AMD supports DDR4 only, with dual-channel memory and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel supports both DDR3 and DDR4, also dual-channel, but with a lower memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. Neither processor supports ECC memory. PCIe lane counts also differ: the AMD provides 8 CPU PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the Intel provides 16 CPU PCIe Gen 3 lanes.

The integrated graphics differ: the AMD pairs with Radeon Vega 6, while the Intel has HD Graphics 530. The market segment also differs, with the AMD listed as Mobile and the Intel as Desktop. The production status is Active for the AMD and End-of-life for the Intel. The release dates also differ, with the Intel released in 2015 and the AMD released in 2019.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is significant. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U uses the Zen architecture, codenamed Raven Ridge, and is part of the Ryzen 3 generation. It is built on a 14 nm process by GlobalFoundries, with 4,950 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-6500T uses the Skylake architecture, also on a 14 nm process, but fabricated by Intel, with a die size of 122 mm². The Intel transistor count is not recorded in the database.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The AMD provides 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD has more L1 and L2 per core, while the Intel has a larger L3 cache. This cache configuration likely contributes to the AMD's performance consistency across the Cinebench tests.

Both processors have 4 cores and 4 threads, so the thread count is identical. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD belongs to the 2000 series, while the Intel has no series designation. The AMD's integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 6, and the Intel's are HD Graphics 530. The AMD is a mobile part, and the Intel is a desktop part, which is reflected in the socket and TDP differences.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U wins in every recorded Cinebench test. That includes both single-core and multicore variants of Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. For any workload that resembles these rendering benchmarks, the AMD is ahead. The margins are consistent, so the AMD is not just faster in one niche but across the board in this benchmark suite.

The Intel Core i5-6500T has no benchmark wins in the head-to-head data. However, it does have one notable advantage in the specification sheet: PCIe lanes. With 16 CPU PCIe Gen 3 lanes versus the AMD's 8, the Intel offers more expansion bandwidth for discrete GPUs or other PCIe devices. For a desktop build with a dedicated graphics card and multiple NVMe drives, the Intel's PCIe lane count could be a practical consideration.

The Intel also supports DDR3 memory in addition to DDR4, which could matter for builders reusing older memory modules. The AMD only supports DDR4. The Intel's higher base clock of 2.50 GHz might also be preferable for lightly threaded tasks that rely on sustained base frequency, though the benchmark data shows the AMD still wins single-core tests anyway.

For a mobile or low-power system, the AMD is the clear choice: it delivers more performance at 15 W versus the Intel's 35 W. For a desktop system with heavy PCIe expansion needs, the Intel offers more lanes and a wider memory compatibility window, but the benchmark data gives the performance crown to the AMD. The production status also favors the AMD, as it remains Active while the Intel is End-of-life. The aggregate scores, 1379 for the AMD and 1362 for the Intel, confirm that the AMD is the stronger overall performer in the recorded data.