AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300GE vs Intel Core i7-8700 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300GE and the Intel Core i7-8700 represent two very different eras of desktop computing, yet the recorded data shows them occupying a similar overall performance tier. The AMD chip, built on a modern 4 nm process, and the Intel processor, a 14 nm design from the Coffee Lake generation, both land at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs in the database. Their average benchmark scores are close, with the AMD part at 18505 and the Intel part at 18223, a difference of roughly 1.5%. However, the distribution of wins across individual tests tells a clear story about their respective strengths.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results split the two processors into distinct use-case categories. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300GE dominates in single-threaded and lightly threaded workloads, while the Intel Core i7-8700 holds advantages in several multi-threaded integer and memory-intensive tasks. Out of 17 head-to-head comparisons, the AMD chip wins 12, while the Intel chip takes 5.

The AMD processor is the clear choice for workloads that depend on raw per-core speed. It wins every Cinebench single-core test, including a 45.6% lead in PassMark single-thread performance, with scores of 3828 versus 2629 for the Intel chip. The same pattern appears in the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 single-core tests, where the AMD part leads by margins between 15.6% and 15.7%. For users running applications that rely on a few fast cores, such as older games or lightly threaded productivity tools, the data consistently favors the AMD chip.

The Intel Core i7-8700, with its two additional physical cores, wins the multi-threaded workloads that are not purely dependent on core count. It leads in PassMark data compression by 13%, scoring 187009 against 162623. It also wins floating-point math by 9.3%, integer math by 10.1%, and random string sorting by 16%. These results indicate that for tasks like file compression, number crunching, or sorting large datasets, the Intel part's extra cores and larger shared cache provide a measurable advantage.

The AMD processor also wins the PassMark multithread test by 12.9%, with scores of 14403 versus 12756, which shows that its architectural efficiency can overcome the core count deficit in some parallel workloads. The Cinebench multi-core tests all go to the AMD chip by 15.5% margins, indicating that rendering workloads favor the newer architecture despite fewer cores.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different designs. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300GE uses the Zen 4 architecture with the Phoenix2 codename, manufactured by TSMC on a 4 nm process. The Intel Core i7-8700 uses the Coffee Lake architecture, manufactured by Intel on a 14 nm process. This process node difference, 4 nm versus 14 nm, explains much of the performance-per-watt gap between the two.

The core configurations differ significantly. The AMD chip has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel chip has 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD chip achieves higher clock speeds: a base clock of 3.40 GHz with a boost of 4.90 GHz, compared to the Intel chip's 3.20 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost. The AMD chip also has a much lower thermal design power of 35 watts versus 65 watts for the Intel chip.

Cache layouts reflect the different design philosophies. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 cache and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, with 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but only 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger L3 cache on the Intel chip likely contributes to its wins in data compression and sorting tasks, where larger working sets can be held on-chip.

Memory support also differs. The AMD chip uses DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and a theoretical bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The Intel chip uses DDR4 memory, also dual-channel, with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The AMD chip supports ECC memory, while the Intel chip does not. The AMD chip also uses PCIe Gen 4 with 14 lanes, while the Intel chip uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The integrated graphics differ as well, with the AMD chip featuring a Radeon 740M and the Intel chip featuring UHD Graphics 630.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the head-to-head data is the PassMark data encryption test. The AMD chip scores 9224, which is 105.5% ahead of the Intel chip's 4488. This is the largest single margin in the entire comparison, suggesting that the Zen 4 architecture's cryptographic instructions are far more efficient than those in the older Coffee Lake design. Similarly, the PassMark find prime numbers test shows a 48.6% lead for the AMD chip, with scores of 52 versus 35.

The Cinebench suite shows consistent AMD dominance across the board. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 1260 against 1091, a 15.5% lead. The single-core version shows a 15.7% lead, with scores of 177 versus 153. In Cinebench R20, the multi-core scores are 5254 versus 4548, again a 15.5% lead, and the single-core scores are 741 versus 641, a 15.6% lead. Cinebench R23 follows the same pattern: multi-core scores of 12511 versus 10829, a 15.5% lead, and single-core scores of 1766 versus 1528, a 15.6% lead. These results demonstrate that the AMD chip's architectural efficiency translates into consistent performance gains across rendering generations.

The PassMark physics test shows an AMD win of 17.1%, with scores of 857 versus 732. The PassMark multithread test shows a 12.9% AMD lead, with scores of 14403 versus 12756. In contrast, the Intel chip's wins are concentrated in specific math operations. The data compression test shows a 13% Intel lead, the floating-point math test shows a 9.3% lead, the integer math test shows a 10.1% lead, and the random string sorting test shows a 16% lead. The extended instructions test is nearly a tie, with the Intel chip winning by just 1%, scoring 12432 against 12313.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better single-thread performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300GE wins every single-threaded benchmark. It leads in Cinebench R15 single-core by 15.7%, in R20 by 15.6%, in R23 by 15.6%, and in PassMark single-thread by 45.6%, with scores of 3828 versus 2629.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-8700 win any multi-threaded benchmarks?

A: Yes, the Intel chip wins several PassMark math and data tests. It leads in data compression by 13%, floating-point math by 9.3%, integer math by 10.1%, and random string sorting by 16%. However, the AMD chip wins the PassMark multithread test by 12.9% and all Cinebench multi-core tests by 15.5%.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-8700 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300GE has 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD chip wins more benchmark comparisons overall, 12 wins versus 5.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD chip supports DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, while the Intel chip supports DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The AMD chip also supports ECC memory, which the Intel chip does not.

Q: Which processor has a lower power draw?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300GE has a thermal design power of 35 watts, compared to 65 watts for the Intel Core i7-8700. This makes the AMD chip more power-efficient, likely due to its 4 nm process node versus the Intel chip's 14 nm node.

Q: What is the largest performance margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in the PassMark data encryption test, where the AMD chip scores 9224, a 105.5% lead over the Intel chip's 4488. The second-largest margin is in PassMark single-thread performance, where the AMD chip leads by 45.6%.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear split in workload suitability. For users prioritizing single-threaded responsiveness, encryption, and rendering performance, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300GE is the stronger option. Its Cinebench wins across all versions, combined with a 45.6% lead in PassMark single-thread and a 105.5% lead in data encryption, make it the better choice for everyday desktop use, light content creation, and security-related tasks. The 17.1% lead in PassMark physics also suggests an advantage in simulation workloads.

For users dealing with large datasets, heavy number crunching, or file compression, the Intel Core i7-8700 remains competitive. Its wins in data compression, floating-point math, integer math, and random string sorting indicate that its two extra cores and larger 12 MB shared L3 cache provide tangible benefits in these specific areas. The Intel chip also has a slightly higher average benchmark score in its nearest rival group, with a delta of 0.2% over the Intel Core 5 315.

The overall average benchmark scores are close: the AMD chip at 18505 and the Intel chip at 18223. The AMD chip's nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-13420H, scores 18511, a delta of 0%, while the Intel chip's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E, scores 18230, also a delta of 0%. Both processors sit at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, meaning they are statistically similar in overall performance. The choice comes down to the specific workload: the AMD chip for modern efficiency and single-core speed, the Intel chip for multi-threaded math and data tasks.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300GE uses the Zen 4 architecture with a 4 nm process from TSMC, while the Intel Core i7-8700 uses the Coffee Lake architecture with a 14 nm process from Intel. The AMD chip has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel chip has 6 cores and 12 threads. The AMD chip has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost of 4.90 GHz, while the Intel chip has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost of 4.60 GHz.

The thermal design power is 35 watts for the AMD chip and 65 watts for the Intel chip. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket AM5, while the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1151. The cache configurations differ: the AMD chip has 1 MB of L2 cache per core and 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel chip has 256 KB of L2 cache per core and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support differs, with the AMD chip using DDR5 and the Intel chip using DDR4. The AMD chip has a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, while the Intel chip has 42.7 GB/s. The AMD chip supports ECC memory, while the Intel chip does not. PCIe support differs: the AMD chip has Gen 4 with 14 lanes, while the Intel chip has Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The integrated graphics are the Radeon 740M on the AMD chip and UHD Graphics 630 on the Intel chip. The AMD chip is active in production, while the Intel chip is end-of-life. The Intel chip had a launch MSRP of $303.