AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE vs Intel Core i7-9700E Comparison

FAQ

Q: How close are these two processors in overall benchmark performance?

A: The data shows they are nearly identical overall. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE has an average benchmark score of 3218, while the Intel Core i7-9700E sits at 3197. Both sit at the 53rd percentile against all CPUs, and the AMD's closest rival, the Intel Core i5-1240P, is only 0.5% behind.

Q: Which processor wins in the Cinebench suite?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE wins every single Cinebench test, but by a razor-thin margin. Across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 (both single-core and multi-core), the AMD leads by exactly 1.3% each time. For example, it scores 10750 versus 10613 in Cinebench R23 multi-core.

Q: Where does the Intel Core i7-9700E take a victory?

A: The Intel wins Geekbench multi-core with a score of 5661 against AMD's 5311, a 6.2% advantage. This is the only benchmark in the head-to-head list where Intel comes out ahead, and it is a substantial one, given how close everything else is.

Q: Is the single-core performance difference significant?

A: Yes, particularly in Geekbench. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE scores 1779 in Geekbench single-core compared to the Intel's 1497, an 18.8% lead. In the Cinebench single-core tests, the AMD lead is much smaller at 1.3%.

Q: Do these CPUs have the same core and thread configuration?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i7-9700E has 8 cores and 8 threads. Despite having half the core count, the AMD matches the Intel in most tests, which points to a major architectural efficiency difference.

Q: What is the production status of each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE is listed as "Active" production, released on 2021-05-31. The Intel Core i7-9700E is marked as "End-of-life" and was released earlier on 2019-04-22.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gulf between these two desktop chips is stark. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE is built on TSMC's 7 nm process and uses the Zen 3 microarchitecture (codenamed Cezanne), part of the Ryzen 3 5000 series. The Intel Core i7-9700E, in contrast, is fabricated on Intel's 14 nm process, using the older Coffee Lake architecture (specifically Coffee Lake Refresh). This process gap is a fundamental driver of the performance-per-watt and efficiency differences seen in the benchmark data.

The transistor and die metrics tell a similar story. The AMD chip packs 10,700 million transistors into a 180 mm² die, while the Intel's transistor count is not listed but its die size is a comparable 180.3 mm². The fact that AMD fits over ten billion transistors on a similar die size as Intel's older 14 nm design highlights the density advantage of the 7 nm node.

Cache hierarchies also differ significantly. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the AMD has 512 KB of L2 per core, double the Intel's 256 KB per core. The L3 cache is organized differently: the AMD has 8 MB total, while the Intel has 12 MB (shared). Despite having a larger L3 pool, the Intel's overall cache architecture does not translate into a consistent performance lead.

The memory and I/O subsystems show further divergence. The AMD supports a dual-channel DDR4 memory bus with a theoretical bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the Intel also uses dual-channel DDR4 but with a lower 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD also supports ECC memory, which the Intel does not. Both connect via PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), so the expansion capabilities are equal on paper.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The AMD uses Radeon Vega 6, while the Intel relies on UHD Graphics 630. Neither chip is unlocked for overclocking, and both are desktop market segment parts. The AMD has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost of 4.20 GHz, whereas the Intel has a lower base of 2.60 GHz but a higher boost of 4.40 GHz. The TDP is dramatically different: 35 watts for the AMD versus 65 watts for the Intel.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a fascinating split: the AMD wins seven of the eight head-to-head tests, but the Intel's single victory is by a wide margin. The Cinebench results are remarkably consistent, with the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE beating the Intel Core i7-9700E by 1.3% in every single iteration. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the scores are 1083 versus 1069. In single-core, it is 152 versus 150. The R20 tests show 4515 versus 4457 (multi) and 637 versus 629 (single). The R23 results continue the pattern: 10750 versus 10613 (multi) and 1517 versus 1498 (single).

That 1.3% consistency across all Cinebench workloads is striking. It suggests a near-identical performance ceiling in rendering tasks, regardless of whether the workload scales across cores or stays on a single thread. The AMD's four cores with simultaneous multithreading (8 threads) essentially match the Intel's eight physical cores in these tests.

The Geekbench results break the pattern. In Geekbench single-core, the AMD surges ahead with 1779 versus 1497, an 18.8% lead. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison and shows the Zen 3 architecture's strong single-threaded execution. However, in Geekbench multi-core, the Intel flips the script, scoring 5661 against AMD's 5311, a 6.2% advantage. This is the only test where the Intel wins, and it is by a larger margin than any Cinebench delta.

What explains this divergence? The Cinebench suite appears to be less sensitive to the core count difference, possibly because the AMD's higher IPC and memory bandwidth compensate for having fewer physical cores. Geekbench multi-core, on the other hand, seems to reward the Intel's raw eight-core throughput more heavily. The data does not specify why, but the pattern is clear: Cinebench is a near-tie, Geekbench splits by workload type.

The Verdict

The data points to a simple conclusion for the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE: it wins the majority of benchmarks and does so while consuming significantly less power. The 35-watt TDP versus the Intel's 65-watt TDP means the AMD delivers comparable or better performance in most tests at half the thermal envelope. The 18.8% single-core Geekbench lead is the standout performance advantage, indicating superior responsiveness in lightly-threaded applications.

The Intel Core i7-9700E's case rests on its Geekbench multi-core win. The 6.2% margin there is real and consistent, suggesting that workloads heavily optimized for eight physical cores without hyperthreading could favor the Intel. However, this is a single data point against seven wins for the AMD. The Intel also has a higher boost clock (4.40 GHz versus 4.20 GHz), which may help in bursty workloads, but the benchmark data does not show a consistent benefit.

From a platform perspective, the AMD uses the AM4 socket and is still in active production, while the Intel uses Socket 1151 and is end-of-life. For a new system build, the data favors the AMD on performance, efficiency, and platform longevity. For someone already on an LGA 1151 platform or specifically targeting eight-core multi-threaded Geekbench workloads, the Intel remains a viable choice despite its age.

The overall average benchmark scores are nearly tied (3218 versus 3197), so neither chip is a clear winner in raw aggregate performance. The decision comes down to whether the user prioritizes the AMD's efficiency and single-core dominance or the Intel's multi-core Geekbench strength.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel has 8 cores and 8 threads. The AMD's base clock is 3.60 GHz, and its boost is 4.20 GHz; the Intel's base is 2.60 GHz, and its boost is 4.40 GHz. The TDP is a major difference: 35 watts for the AMD versus 65 watts for the Intel.

The process node is 7 nm (TSMC) for the AMD and 14 nm (Intel) for the Intel. The AMD has 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die; the Intel's transistor count is not listed, but its die is 180.3 mm². L2 cache is 512 KB per core on the AMD versus 256 KB per core on the Intel. L3 cache is 8 MB total on the AMD versus 12 MB (shared) on the Intel. L1 cache is identical at 64 KB per core.

Memory bandwidth is higher on the AMD at 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s on the Intel, though both use dual-channel DDR4. ECC memory support is present on the AMD but absent on the Intel. The integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 6 on the AMD and UHD Graphics 630 on the Intel. The sockets differ (AM4 versus Socket 1151), as do the release dates (2021-05-31 versus 2019-04-22). Production status is Active for the AMD and End-of-life for the Intel. The Intel has a launch MSRP of $323; the AMD has no listed launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE is the clear winner in single-core performance, especially in Geekbench where it leads by 18.8%. This makes it the better choice for applications that are primarily single-threaded, such as older games, certain productivity tools, and general desktop responsiveness. Its 1.3% lead across all Cinebench tests also means it is slightly better in rendering workloads, whether multi-threaded or single-threaded. The lower 35-watt TDP makes it more suitable for compact, low-power builds where heat and energy consumption are critical. Additionally, its active production status and ECC memory support appeal to users building systems that need long-term availability and data integrity.

The Intel Core i7-9700E wins in Geekbench multi-core by 6.2%, indicating a strength in workloads that scale across many physical cores without relying on hyperthreading. This could include certain video encoding tasks, scientific computing, or virtual machine hosts that prefer dedicated physical cores. The higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz may also provide a slight edge in short, bursty workloads that hit single-core turbo frequencies, although the benchmark data does not directly show this. The larger 12 MB L3 cache could benefit workloads with large working sets that fit within that pool. For users already invested in the LGA 1151 platform, the Intel offers a drop-in upgrade path without changing motherboards. Its 65-watt TDP, while higher, may be acceptable in systems with adequate cooling and a preference for Intel's eight-core design.