AMD Ryzen 5 2500X vs Intel Core i3-1125G4 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits cleanly into two distinct domains. The AMD Ryzen 5 2500X wins every Cinebench test, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads across three versions of the renderer. The Intel Core i3-1125G4 wins both Geekbench tests, with a particularly large margin in single-core performance.

The AMD chip's Cinebench victories are consistent but narrow. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 8036 against the Intel's 7860, a 2.2% advantage. The same 2.2% delta appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the AMD scores 810 versus 792. Single-core Cinebench results follow the same pattern: the AMD wins R23 single-core by 2.2% (1134 vs 1109) and R15 single-core by 2.6% (114 vs 111). These are not transformative leads, but they are uniform across every Cinebench iteration in the database.

The Intel chip's Geekbench wins are the opposite: decisive and large. In Geekbench multi-core, the Intel scores 4509 against the AMD's 3813, an 18.3% advantage. The single-core gap is even wider at 29.8%, with Intel scoring 1461 to AMD's 1126. This makes the Intel part the clear choice for workloads that resemble Geekbench's mixed integer, floating point, and memory patterns, while the AMD part dominates the sustained render-style loads of Cinebench.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i3-1125G4 uses the Tiger Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 144 mm². The AMD Ryzen 5 2500X uses the Zen architecture, specifically the Zen+ Pinnacle Ridge generation, built on GlobalFoundries' 12 nm process with a die size of 213 mm² and 4,800 million transistors. The process node advantage belongs to Intel, and the transistor count advantage belongs to AMD.

Both chips have 4 cores and 8 threads, so the thread counts are identical. Cache configurations differ in the lower levels. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, while the AMD chip has 96 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core. Both share 8 MB of L3 cache across the chip. The AMD part has more L1 cache, while the Intel part has more than double the L2 cache per core.

Clock speeds also differ substantially. The AMD Ryzen 5 2500X has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The Intel Core i3-1125G4 has a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The AMD chip starts 1.6 GHz higher at base and boosts 300 MHz higher, yet the Intel chip still wins Geekbench by a wide margin, which points to architectural efficiency rather than raw clock rate.

The platform differences are stark. The Intel chip is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1449, with a 15 W TDP and integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4. The AMD chip is a desktop part on AMD Socket AM4, with a 65 W TDP and no integrated graphics. The Intel chip supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X memory, while the AMD chip supports DDR4 only. Both have dual-channel memory buses, but the AMD chip's memory bandwidth is listed at 46.9 GB/s while the Intel figure is not recorded. PCIe support also differs: Intel offers Gen 4 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while AMD offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Intel multiplier is locked; the AMD multiplier is unlocked.

The Verdict

The data tells a clear story for different use cases. For render workloads and sustained multi-core compute as measured by Cinebench, the AMD Ryzen 5 2500X is the better part. It wins every Cinebench test in the database, from R15 through R23, in both single-core and multi-core modes. The margins are small, between 2.2% and 2.6%, but they are consistent and appear across every version of the benchmark. Users running Cinebench-style workloads should expect the AMD chip to finish ahead every time.

For Geekbench-style workloads, the Intel Core i3-1125G4 is the clear winner. Its 29.8% single-core advantage and 18.3% multi-core advantage over the AMD chip are far larger than any Cinebench delta. The Intel part also carries integrated graphics, a feature the AMD part lacks entirely. For a mobile platform, the 15 W TDP against the AMD's 65 W TDP means the Intel chip is designed for a completely different power envelope. The AMD chip is a desktop processor with an unlocked multiplier; the Intel chip is a locked mobile processor.

The production status also differs: the AMD Ryzen 5 2500X is listed as active, while the Intel Core i3-1125G4 is end-of-life. The Intel chip launched on 2021-03-30 with a launch MSRP of $281, while the AMD chip launched on 2018-09-09 with no recorded launch MSRP. The average benchmark scores place the Intel chip at 2451 and the AMD chip at 2361, a 90-point gap that favors Intel in the aggregate, despite the AMD chip winning more individual tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2500X wins 6 of the 8 head-to-head tests, taking every Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 result. The Intel Core i3-1125G4 wins the 2 Geekbench tests.

Q: How large is the Intel chip's Geekbench single-core advantage?

A: The Intel Core i3-1125G4 scores 1461 in Geekbench single-core against the AMD Ryzen 5 2500X's 1126, a 29.8% advantage.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption?

A: The Intel Core i3-1125G4 has a 15 W TDP, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2500X has a 65 W TDP. The Intel chip is a mobile part; the AMD chip is a desktop part.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 8 threads. They differ in cache layout, clocks, process node, and platform.

Q: Which chip has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i3-1125G4 has integrated graphics, specifically Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4. The AMD Ryzen 5 2500X has no integrated graphics.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each chip?

A: The Intel Core i3-1125G4 has an average benchmark score of 2451, and the AMD Ryzen 5 2500X has an average of 2361. Both sit at the 48th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results form a tight cluster of AMD wins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 5 2500X scores 810 against the Intel's 792, a 2.2% lead. The single-core R15 test shows the AMD at 114 versus the Intel's 111, a 2.6% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core follows with the AMD at 3375 and the Intel at 3301, again 2.2% apart. R20 single-core has the AMD at 476 against the Intel's 465, a 2.3% gap. Cinebench R23 multi-core gives the AMD an 8036 score versus 7860 for Intel, and R23 single-core gives 1134 versus 1109, both at the same 2.2% delta. Across six Cinebench tests, the AMD chip wins every time with margins between 2.2% and 2.6%.

The Geekbench results flip the script entirely. In Geekbench multi-core, the Intel Core i3-1125G4 scores 4509 versus the AMD's 3813, an 18.3% advantage. The single-core test is even more lopsided: Intel scores 1461 against AMD's 1126, a 29.8% lead. These are the two largest deltas in the entire head-to-head comparison, and they belong to Intel.

The pattern suggests workload sensitivity. In render-style workloads, the two chips are nearly equal, with the AMD part holding a small but repeatable edge. In Geekbench's broader mix of tasks, the Intel chip's architecture delivers a substantial lead. The aggregate average benchmark scores reflect this split: the Intel part's average of 2451 edges out the AMD's 2361, but the individual test results show that neither chip dominates universally.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every platform-defining specification. The Intel Core i3-1125G4 uses the Tiger Lake architecture on a 10 nm process, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2500X uses the Zen architecture on a 12 nm process. The Intel chip has a die size of 144 mm², and the AMD chip has a die size of 213 mm² with 4,800 million transistors.

Clock speeds differ: the Intel chip has a 2.00 GHz base clock and 3.70 GHz boost, while the AMD chip has a 3.60 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost. TDP differs massively: 15 W for Intel versus 65 W for AMD. The Intel chip is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1449; the AMD chip is a desktop part on AMD Socket AM4.

Cache configurations differ in L1 and L2. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core. The AMD chip has 96 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core. Both share 8 MB of L3.

Memory support differs: the Intel chip supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X, while the AMD chip supports DDR4 only. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The AMD chip's memory bandwidth is listed at 46.9 GB/s; the Intel figure is not recorded. PCIe support differs: Intel offers Gen 4 with 16 lanes, AMD offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes.

Integrated graphics are present only on the Intel chip, with Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4. The AMD chip has none. The Intel multiplier is locked; the AMD multiplier is unlocked. The production status differs: Intel is end-of-life, AMD is active. The Intel chip's launch MSRP is $281; no launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD chip.