AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300GE vs Intel Core i5-12400 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-12400 and AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300GE occupy the same performance percentile, but they achieve it through fundamentally different approaches. The Intel part leans on six full performance cores with twelve threads, while the AMD part counters with a smaller, faster-clocked Zen 4 design that draws far less power. The benchmark data shows a clear split: the i5-12400 dominates almost every multi-threaded and compute-heavy workload, while the Ryzen 3 PRO takes a narrow single-threaded crown in one specific test suite.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the majority of head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 wins 15 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300GE taking only 2 wins. The Intel part's victories include every Cinebench test and nearly all PassMark workloads, with deltas ranging from 11.1% in random string sorting to a massive 80.1% in floating point math.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300GE outperforms the Intel Core i5-12400?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300GE wins the PassMark single-thread test with a score of 3828 against the Intel's 3456, a delta of 9.7% in favor of AMD. This same result appears in both the `passmark_single_thread` and `passmark_singlethread` entries, giving AMD two listed wins from the same underlying test.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 scores 15989 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300GE scores 12511. This represents a 27.8% advantage for Intel, a consistent margin that repeats across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core variants.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two processors in any single benchmark?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark floating point math, where the Intel Core i5-12400 scores 45494 against the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300GE's 25258. That is an 80.1% lead for Intel, far exceeding the next largest gap of 44.7% in integer math.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 18683, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300GE averages 18505. Both processors sit at the 72nd percentile against all CPUs, and each has nearest rivals within about 1% of their average score.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types and PCIe generations?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-12400 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory with PCIe Gen 5 (16 CPU lanes), while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300GE supports only DDR5 with PCIe Gen 4 (14 CPU lanes). The AMD part does support ECC memory, which the Intel part does not.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i5-12400 is built on Intel's Alder Lake architecture using a 10 nm process from Intel's own foundry. It packs 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The die size is 163 mm², and the cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. It uses the Intel Socket 1700 platform and carries a 65 W TDP.

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300GE takes a different route with Zen 4 architecture on TSMC's 4 nm process. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, but runs at a higher base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The die is smaller at 137 mm², though it packs 20,900 million transistors. Its cache is leaner: 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. It uses AMD Socket AM5 with a 35 W TDP.

The process node gap is significant: 10 nm Intel versus 4 nm TSMC. This explains how AMD achieves higher clocks on fewer cores while drawing only 35 W against Intel's 65 W. The AMD part also integrates a Radeon 740M GPU, while Intel offers UHD Graphics 730. Memory support diverges sharply: Intel accepts both DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD is DDR5-only. AMD adds ECC memory support, a feature absent on the Intel part, and its memory bandwidth is rated at 83.2 GB/s, a figure not listed for the Intel chip.

The core count difference is the other major architectural split. Intel's 6-core/12-thread configuration provides 50% more cores and threads than AMD's 4-core/8-thread setup. That structural advantage shows up directly in multi-threaded workloads, where Intel wins every Cinebench multi-core test by roughly 28%.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite tells a consistent story. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 15989 versus AMD's 12511, a 27.8% lead. The single-core R23 result follows the same pattern: 2257 for Intel against 1766 for AMD, again 27.8% ahead. This exact delta repeats across R15 and R20 in both single-core and multi-core tests, suggesting a uniform clock-for-clock performance advantage for Intel's Alder Lake architecture in this workload.

PassMark results show wider variation. The largest gap is in floating point math, where Intel's 45494 crushes AMD's 25258 by 80.1%. Integer math is also lopsided at 44.7% in Intel's favor (58366 versus 40348). Data compression favors Intel by 39.5% (226908 versus 162623), and multithread tests show a 30.2% Intel lead (18747 versus 14403). Prime number finding goes to Intel by 30.8% (68 versus 52), physics by 28.9% (1105 versus 857), and extended instructions by 25.1% (15399 versus 12313). Data encryption is closer but still Intel-favored at 23.8% (11418 versus 9224). Random string sorting shows the smallest Intel win at 11.1% (22366 versus 20134).

The single AMD victory is in PassMark single-thread performance, where the Ryzen 3 PRO 8300GE scores 3828 against Intel's 3456. That 9.7% edge reflects the AMD part's higher 4.90 GHz boost clock and newer architecture. It is the only category where AMD's higher clock speed and smaller core count translate into a win.

The overall benchmark average tells a nuanced story. Intel's average score of 18683 is just 0.96% higher than AMD's 18505, despite Intel winning 15 of 17 individual tests. This is because the AMD part's single-thread win comes in a heavily weighted PassMark category, and both processors land at the same 72nd percentile overall.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice for multi-threaded and compute-heavy workloads: the Intel Core i5-12400. Its 27.8% lead across every Cinebench test and 80.1% advantage in floating point math are decisive. Anyone running rendering, scientific computing, or heavy data processing should pick Intel based on these numbers. The 6-core/12-thread configuration provides a structural advantage that AMD's 4-core/8-thread design cannot overcome.

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300GE makes sense for single-threaded performance. Its 9.7% win in PassMark single-thread is the only benchmark category where it leads, but that comes with a 35 W TDP versus Intel's 65 W. For power-constrained systems, AMD offers competitive average performance (18505 versus 18683) at roughly half the TDP. The AMD part also brings ECC memory support and a smaller 137 mm² die, which could matter for specific embedded or reliability-focused builds.

The overall average scores are nearly identical, and both sit at the 72nd percentile. The decision hinges on workload type: Intel for parallel compute, AMD for single-threaded tasks and power efficiency. Neither processor is wrong; they just serve different priorities.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-12400 | AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300GE |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 4 |

| Threads | 12 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | AMD Socket AM5 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Zen 4 |

| Codename | Alder Lake-S | Phoenix2 |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 4 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die Size | 163 mm² | 137 mm² |

| Transistors | Not listed | 20,900 million |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 18 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 83.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 14 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | Radeon 740M |

| Release Date | 2022-01-03 | 2024-04-15 |

| Launch MSRP | $199 | Not listed |