AMD Ryzen 5 1500X vs Intel Core i5-8300H Comparison

The Intel Core i5-8300H and AMD Ryzen 5 1500X are both 4-core, 8-thread processors from 2017-2018, but they target different markets and deliver contrasting performance profiles. The data shows the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X wins 4 of the 6 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with a higher average benchmark score in Geekbench multicore and Cinebench R15. However, the Intel Core i5-8300H strikes back decisively in Cinebench R23 multicore with a 35.8% advantage, and it also wins Geekbench singlecore. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 2005 for the Intel versus 1992 for the AMD — placing both processors in the 44-45th percentile of all CPUs, meaning they are essentially peers in overall performance, with the choice depending on specific workload priorities.

The Verdict

The data presents a split decision based on workload generation. The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X is the superior choice for legacy benchmark scenarios and single-threaded Cinebench performance, where it leads by wide margins. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD scores 805 versus the Intel’s 629, a 21.9% gap. The singlecore R15 gap is even more stark: the AMD scores 154 against the Intel’s 88, a 42.9% difference. The AMD also wins Geekbench multicore with 4326 versus 3920, a 9.4% advantage. For users running older software or single-threaded applications that resemble these older benchmark suites, the Ryzen 5 1500X is the clear winner.

However, the Intel Core i5-8300H is the better pick for modern multi-threaded workloads. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Intel scores 6245 versus the AMD’s 4597, a massive 35.8% lead. This suggests that the Intel’s architecture scales better with newer, more demanding multi-threaded rendering tasks. The Intel also wins Geekbench singlecore with 1286 versus 1122, a 14.6% advantage. If the target application is a modern renderer or a geekbench-style single-thread test, the Intel chip is preferable. The verdict is not about overall superiority but about matching the CPU to the software generation.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X dominates in older Cinebench R15 tests, both multicore and singlecore. Its R15 multicore score of 805 is 21.9% higher than the Intel’s 629, and its R15 singlecore score of 154 is 42.9% higher than the Intel’s 88. This indicates a strong advantage for applications built around the R15 workload, which tends to favor higher base clocks and the Zen architecture’s efficient branch prediction. The AMD also wins Geekbench multicore with 4326 versus 3920, a 9.4% margin, suggesting that multi-threaded integer and floating-point tasks in that suite run better on the Ryzen.

The Intel Core i5-8300H wins the modern multi-threaded Cinebench R23 test decisively, scoring 6245 versus 4597, a 35.8% lead. This is the largest single delta in the head-to-head, indicating that the Coffee Lake architecture with its 12 MB of shared L3 cache handles the newer, more complex R23 workload far better. The Intel also wins Geekbench singlecore with 1286 versus 1122, a 14.6% edge, which is notable because single-thread performance is often a strength of the Zen architecture. This suggests the Intel’s higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz (versus the AMD’s 3.70 GHz) and its per-core L1 cache of 64 KB provide an edge in that specific test.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on the same 14 nm process node, but from different foundries: Intel fabricates the Core i5-8300H, while GlobalFoundries produces the Ryzen 5 1500X. The Intel chip uses the Coffee Lake-H architecture with a die size of 126 mm², while the AMD uses the Zen (Summit Ridge) architecture with a much larger die of 213 mm² and 4,800 million transistors. The Intel has no transistor count listed, but its smaller die suggests a denser design. Cache configurations differ significantly: the Intel has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 12 MB of shared L3, while the AMD has 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, with a larger 16 MB of shared L3. The AMD’s larger L3 cache could explain its strength in older benchmarks, but the Intel’s newer architecture wins in R23.

The Intel is a mobile processor with a 45W TDP, socketed in Intel BGA 1440, while the AMD is a desktop part with a 65W TDP on Socket AM4. The AMD supports ECC memory, has a dual-channel memory bus with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, and offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. The Intel has integrated UHD 630 graphics, which the AMD lacks entirely, making the Intel a more self-contained mobile solution. The AMD has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel does not, and the AMD is still in production with a launch MSRP of $189, whereas the Intel is end-of-life. The AMD’s base clock is higher at 3.50 GHz versus the Intel’s 2.30 GHz, but the Intel boosts higher to 3.90 GHz versus the AMD’s 3.70 GHz.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher base clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X has a base clock of 3.50 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-8300H has a base clock of 2.30 GHz.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-8300H have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i5-8300H includes integrated UHD 630 graphics, whereas the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X has 16 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i5-8300H has 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X still in production?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X has an active production status, while the Intel Core i5-8300H is end-of-life.

Q: Which CPU wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i5-8300H wins Cinebench R23 multicore with a score of 6245, which is 35.8% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X’s score of 4597.

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-8300H has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 2005, compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X’s 1992, a difference of 0.7%.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive result in this comparison is Cinebench R23 multicore, where the Intel Core i5-8300H posts a score of 6245 against the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X’s 4597, a 35.8% victory for Intel. This is the single largest win for either chip and highlights how the Intel’s Coffee Lake architecture, with its 12 MB of L3 and higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz, excels in modern multi-threaded rendering. The AMD’s larger 16 MB L3 and higher base clock of 3.50 GHz cannot compensate for the architectural efficiency Intel demonstrates in this newer workload.

The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X’s biggest win comes in Cinebench R15 singlecore, where it scores 154 versus the Intel’s 88, a 42.9% margin. This is an enormous gap and suggests that in older single-threaded tasks, the AMD’s Zen cores are significantly more efficient per clock. The AMD also wins Cinebench R15 multicore with 805 versus 629, a 21.9% lead. In Geekbench, the AMD takes the multicore test with 4326 versus 3920, a 9.4% advantage, but the Intel wins Geekbench singlecore with 1286 versus 1122, a 14.6% edge. The final head-to-head is Cinebench R23 singlecore, where the AMD wins narrowly with 947 versus 881, a 7% difference. The pattern is clear: the AMD wins older and single-threaded tests, while the Intel wins the modern multi-threaded R23 and the newer Geekbench singlecore.