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

The Intel Core i5-6500TE and AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U are both quad-core, four-thread processors, but they target entirely different platforms and use cases. The recorded benchmark data shows a consistent performance advantage for the AMD part across all tested workloads, despite its lower thermal design power. The i5-6500TE, an end-of-life desktop chip from Intel's Skylake generation, trails the active mobile Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U in every Cinebench iteration, with the AMD processor delivering nearly 11% higher scores in both single-core and multi-core tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably uniform. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U wins all six recorded comparisons, with delta percentages hovering around negative 10.8% for the Intel part. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD scores 480 against Intel's 428, a 10.8% deficit for the i5-6500TE. The single-core R15 test shows a similar gap: AMD at 67, Intel at 60, which is a 10.4% difference. This pattern continues in Cinebench R20, where the AMD chip posts 2002 multi-core and 282 single-core, versus Intel's 1787 and 252, respectively. The deltas here are 10.7% and 10.6% in AMD's favor.

The most recent Cinebench R23 results reinforce this trend. AMD scores 4769 in multi-core and 673 in single-core. Intel manages 4255 and 600. Both deltas sit at 10.8%. The consistency of these margins across three different Cinebench versions suggests a stable architectural efficiency difference rather than a workload-specific quirk. The AMD part's boost clock of 3.40 GHz versus Intel's 3.30 GHz contributes to the single-core edge, but the multi-core advantage is more telling given both chips have four cores and four threads. The Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U's higher base clock of 2000.00 MHz compared to Intel's 2.30 GHz base likely explains part of the sustained multi-core performance gap.

Geekbench results are available only for the Intel part, which scores 2749 multi-core and 1062 single-core. No direct comparison exists for this test, but the Intel chip's average benchmark score of 1399 places it at the 37th percentile among all CPUs. The AMD part's average score is 1379, which puts it at the 36th percentile. These aggregate numbers are nearly identical, with the Intel chip holding a slim 20-point edge in average score. However, the head-to-head Cinebench data paints a different picture, where AMD leads in every instance. The discrepancy between average score and direct comparison suggests the Intel chip benefits from its Geekbench results, which are not mirrored in the Cinebench suite.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U wins every benchmark category where both processors have recorded data. Its advantages span both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD part is 514 points ahead, a 12.1% improvement over Intel. This makes it the stronger choice for rendering, video encoding, and any CPU-bound productivity task that scales across cores. The single-core wins are smaller in absolute terms but consistent: 673 versus 600 in R23, 282 versus 252 in R20, and 67 versus 60 in R15. These results indicate better per-thread performance, which benefits legacy applications, web browsing, and lightly threaded games.

The Intel Core i5-6500TE has no benchmark wins in the recorded head-to-head data. Its only comparative strength appears in the aggregate average benchmark score, where it reaches 1399 versus AMD's 1379, a 1.4% margin. This is driven entirely by its Geekbench scores, which are not part of the head-to-head table. The Intel chip also holds a higher base clock of 2.30 GHz, but this does not translate into any measured performance advantage. For users prioritizing raw Cinebench performance, the AMD part is clearly superior. For those relying on Geekbench as their primary metric, the Intel chip offers a marginal edge, but this is not corroborated by any other test.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-6500TE uses the Skylake architecture, built on a 14 nm process at Intel's own foundry. Its die size is 122 mm², and it features a 6 MB shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U uses the Zen architecture with the Raven Ridge codename, also on a 14 nm process but manufactured by GlobalFoundries. This chip has a much larger die at 210 mm² and integrates 4,950 million transistors. The larger die and transistor count reflect the AMD processor's integrated Radeon Vega 6 graphics, which is a more substantial GPU block than Intel's HD Graphics 530.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. Intel allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, totaling 6 MB of shared L3. AMD provides 96 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, but only 4 MB of shared L3. The AMD design has larger per-core caches for L1 and L2, which helps with low-latency data access, while Intel's larger L3 pool benefits workloads with larger working sets. Memory support also diverges: Intel supports both DDR3 and DDR4, while AMD supports DDR4 only. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but AMD's peak memory bandwidth is higher at 38.4 GB/s versus Intel's 34.1 GB/s.

PCI Express connectivity is another differentiator. Intel provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while AMD offers Gen 3 with only 8 lanes. This makes the Intel chip more suitable for desktop configurations with multiple discrete GPUs or high-bandwidth expansion cards. The AMD part is designed for mobile, using the AMD Socket FP5, while Intel uses Socket 1151 for desktop. The AMD processor belongs to the 2000 series and the Ryzen 3 (Zen, Raven Ridge) generation, while Intel is part of the Core i5 Skylake generation. Both chips are not multiplier-unlocked, meaning overclocking is not supported on either platform.

Specification Differences

The most obvious specification gap is thermal design power. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Intel Core i5-6500TE draws 35 watts. This 20-watt difference is substantial for mobile applications, making the AMD part significantly more power-efficient per unit of performance. The base clocks differ: Intel runs at 2.30 GHz, AMD at 2000.00 MHz. Boost clocks are closer, with AMD at 3.40 GHz and Intel at 3.30 GHz. The AMD chip's lower base clock but higher boost clock suggests a more aggressive turbo behavior under load.

Socket compatibility is completely different, as expected for desktop versus mobile parts. The Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1151, while AMD uses AMD Socket FP5. The integrated graphics differ as well: Intel includes HD Graphics 530, AMD includes Radeon Vega 6. The AMD GPU is generally considered more capable for light gaming, but no benchmark data is provided for graphics performance. Production status also separates them: Intel is end-of-life, while AMD remains active. Release dates show Intel launched on 2015-10-10, while AMD followed on 2019-01-07. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $192, while AMD has no recorded launch MSRP. Process nodes are identical at 14 nm, but the foundry differs: Intel for the i5-6500TE, GlobalFoundries for the Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U scores 4769 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 10.8% higher than the Intel Core i5-6500TE's score of 4255.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare between the two CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U leads in all single-core tests. In Cinebench R23, it scores 673 versus Intel's 600, a 10.8% advantage. In R20, the scores are 282 and 252, and in R15 they are 67 and 60.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference between these processors?

A: The Intel Core i5-6500TE has a TDP of 35 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U has a TDP of 15 watts. This makes the AMD part more power-efficient, especially for mobile or compact systems.

Q: Are both processors based on the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes, both use a 14 nm process. However, Intel fabricates its chip at its own foundry, while AMD uses GlobalFoundries for the Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U.

Q: Which CPU has more PCI Express lanes?

A: The Intel Core i5-6500TE provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U offers Gen 3 with only 8 lanes. Intel's configuration is better suited for desktop expansion.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the Intel chip outperforms the AMD chip?

A: In the recorded head-to-head Cinebench tests, no. The AMD chip wins all six comparisons. However, the Intel chip has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 1399 versus AMD's 1379, driven by its Geekbench results of 2749 multi-core and 1062 single-core, which are not available for the AMD part.