AMD Ryzen 5 1500X vs Intel Core i3-N305 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X and the Intel Core i3-N305 occupy very different corners of the processor market, yet their average benchmark scores land nearly on top of each other. The Ryzen 5 1500X, a desktop chip from the 1000 series, posts an average benchmark score of 1992, while the mobile-oriented Core i3-N305 averages 1979. Despite this overall parity, the data reveals a clear split in performance characteristics: the Intel part wins four of the six head-to-head tests, while the AMD part wins the two Geekbench tests. This makes the choice between them less about raw aggregate performance and more about which specific workloads and platform constraints matter most.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-N305 is the victor in the Cinebench suite, which stresses sustained multi-threaded and single-threaded rendering workloads. It wins Cinebench R15 multicore with a score of 829 against 805, and Cinebench R23 multicore with 5092 against 4597. Its single-thread advantage is consistent, taking Cinebench R15 single-core at 164.7 versus 154 and Cinebench R23 single-core at 995 versus 947. This indicates that for rendering tasks measured by Cinebench, the N305’s eight Gracemont cores provide a measurable edge over the Ryzen’s four Zen cores, even though the Ryzen has simultaneous multithreading (SMT) for eight threads.

The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X, conversely, dominates the Geekbench tests. It scores 4326 in Geekbench multicore, an 11.5% lead over the N305’s 3881, and 1122 in Geekbench single-core, a 7% lead over 1049. Geekbench’s workload mix, which includes encryption, image processing, and machine learning tasks, clearly favors the Ryzen’s architecture. Therefore, if the target applications are more general-purpose productivity or tasks similar to Geekbench’s suite, the 1500X is the stronger performer. The data suggests a use-case split: the N305 for rendering-centric workloads and the 1500X for broader, Geekbench-type tasks.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental divergence is core count and threading. The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X has 4 cores and 8 threads, leveraging SMT to process two threads per core. The Intel Core i3-N305 has 8 cores and 8 threads, with no SMT, relying on physical core count alone. The N305’s base clock is listed as 100.00, which is an unusual figure in the data, but its boost clock reaches 3.80 GHz, slightly higher than the Ryzen’s 3.70 GHz boost. The Ryzen’s base clock is 3.50 GHz.

Process technology and node are starkly different. The Ryzen 5 1500X is built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with a die size of 213 mm² and 4,800 million transistors. The Core i3-N305 uses Intel’s 10 nm process, with no transistor or die size data available. The Ryzen is based on the Zen architecture (codename Summit Ridge), while the N305 uses the Gracemont architecture, part of the Alder Lake-N generation. Cache hierarchies also differ: both have 96 KB L1 per core, but the Ryzen has 512 KB L2 per core and a 16 MB shared L3, whereas the N305 has 2 MB L2 per module and only 6 MB shared L3.

Platform and memory support create further separation. The Ryzen 5 1500X uses AMD Socket AM4, supports dual-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, and includes ECC memory support. The Core i3-N305 is a mobile BGA 1264 part, supports both DDR4 and DDR5 but only in single-channel mode, with a lower memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, and lacks ECC support. The Ryzen offers 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the N305 provides only 9 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. The N305 includes integrated UHD Graphics 770, whereas the Ryzen has no integrated graphics listed. The Ryzen has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable, and is a desktop part, while the N305 is locked and mobile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest margin in the head-to-head data belongs to the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X in Geekbench multicore. The Ryzen scores 4326 against the N305’s 3881, a delta of 11.5% in favor of AMD. This is a substantial gap, showing that in this specific test, the older desktop chip outperforms the newer mobile chip by a wide margin. The Ryzen also takes Geekbench single-core with 1122 versus 1049, a 7% advantage, which is notable because single-core performance is often a strong point for Intel’s Gracemont cores.

Conversely, the Intel Core i3-N305’s biggest win is in Cinebench R23 multicore. The N305 scores 5092 versus the Ryzen’s 4597, a 9.7% lead. This is the largest Cinebench delta and suggests that the N305’s eight cores scale better in this rendering workload. The N305 also wins Cinebench R15 multicore by 2.9% (829 vs 805), Cinebench R15 single-core by 6.5% (164.7 vs 154), and Cinebench R23 single-core by 4.8% (995 vs 947). It is worth remembering the N305’s Cinebench R15 multicore score of 829 is only slightly higher than the Ryzen’s 805, indicating a close race in that legacy test, while the newer R23 test shows a wider gap.

The pattern is consistent: Intel wins all four Cinebench tests, and AMD wins both Geekbench tests. The overall average benchmark scores are close (1992 vs 1979), meaning the two chips are statistically peers in aggregate, but the distribution of wins is lopsided. For synthetic render loops, the N305 is the clear pick; for Geekbench-style integer and floating-point workloads, the 1500X is ahead.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X has an average benchmark score of 1992, while the Intel Core i3-N305 has a score of 1979. The difference is small, with the Ryzen leading by 0.7%.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-N305 outperform the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X in all benchmarks?

A: No. The N305 wins in all four Cinebench tests, but the Ryzen 5 1500X wins in both Geekbench tests, including an 11.5% margin in Geekbench multicore.

Q: What is the core and thread configuration of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core i3-N305 has 8 cores and 8 threads, with no simultaneous multithreading.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i3-N305 does not support ECC memory.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for these two chips?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Intel Core i3-N305 has a TDP of 15 watts, reflecting the N305’s mobile design versus the Ryzen’s desktop design.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-N305 have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i3-N305 includes UHD Graphics 770. The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X has no integrated graphics listed in the data.

Specification Differences

The following table highlights the key fields where the two processors differ, based solely on the provided data.

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 1500X | Intel Core i3-N305 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 8 |

| Threads | 8 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 100.00 |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 15 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel BGA 1264 |

| Architecture | Zen | Gracemont |

| Codename | Zen | Gracemont |

| Generation | Ryzen 5 (Zen (Summit Ridge)) | Core i3 (Alder Lake-N) |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 4,800 million | Not specified |

| Die Size | 213 mm² | Not specified |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 2 MB (per module) |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Single-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | 38.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe Lanes | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 9 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Not specified | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Launch MSRP | $189 | $309 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

The Ryzen 5 1500X offers a higher TDP, more PCIe lanes, dual-channel memory, ECC support, and an unlocked multiplier. The Core i3-N305 counters with more cores, a smaller process node, a higher boost clock, integrated graphics, and support for DDR5 memory, albeit in single-channel mode.