CPU Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a fascinating generational clash. The Intel Core 3 305 and AMD Ryzen 5 2600E are separated by nearly eight years of silicon evolution, yet their average benchmark scores are almost identical. The Intel part averages 18,302 points, while the AMD chip sits at 18,230, a delta of just 0.4% in favor of the Intel part. Both land in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. The overall averages, however, obscure a deeply polarized performance profile.

The most striking pattern is Intel's dominance in nearly every Cinebench iteration. Across all three versions, R15, R20, and R23, the Intel Core 3 305 wins by a remarkably consistent margin of roughly 25%. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 13,123 against AMD's 10,494, a 25.1% advantage. The single-core results tell the same story: Intel's 1,852 in R23 single-core beats AMD's 1,481 by 25.1%. This consistency across rendering workloads suggests a fundamental architectural edge rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The gap widens dramatically in certain PassMark sub-tests. The most lopsided result is in prime number finding, where Intel scores 115 versus AMD's 32, a 259.4% blowout. Floating-point math shows a 101.6% Intel advantage (42,284 vs 20,970), and extended instruction throughput favors Intel by 108.1% (13,543 vs 6,509). These are not marginal wins; they represent outright dominance in computation-heavy tasks. The physics test also goes decisively to Intel, 1,233 versus 752, a 64% margin.

Yet the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E is far from a pushover. It wins four of the seventeen head-to-head comparisons, and its victories are concentrated in areas where its dual-channel memory and 12 threads provide tangible benefits. The largest AMD win comes in integer math: 39,781 versus 32,295, an 18.8% advantage for AMD. Data compression also favors AMD, 173,653 versus 146,857, a 15.4% edge. Random string sorting goes to AMD by 15.8% (20,918 vs 17,623), and data encryption shows a smaller but still clear 9.3% AMD win (12,146 vs 11,019). These wins suggest that AMD's 12-thread configuration and dual-channel memory bus meaningfully accelerate certain parallel integer and memory-latency-sensitive tasks.

The overall PassMark multi-thread score, however, still favors Intel: 15,439 versus 12,346, a 25.1% margin. This is surprising given AMD's thread advantage, and it underscores how much single-core efficiency contributes to aggregate throughput. In fact, the single-thread PassMark result is one of the most decisive data points: Intel scores 3,977 versus AMD's 2,297, a 73.1% advantage. This single-core superiority is the through-line connecting most of Intel's wins.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 3 305 has an average benchmark score of 18,302, compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E's 18,230. This represents a 0.4% delta in Intel's favor, placing both CPUs in the 72nd percentile of all processors.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E's 12 threads beat the Intel Core 3 305's 6 threads in all multi-threaded workloads?

A: No. While AMD wins in integer math, data compression, random string sorting, and data encryption, the Intel chip wins the PassMark multi-thread score by 25.1% (15,439 vs 12,346) and wins every Cinebench multi-core test by approximately 25%. Thread count alone does not determine multi-threaded performance.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap?

A: The gap is substantial. In PassMark single-thread testing, Intel scores 3,977 versus AMD's 2,297, a 73.1% advantage. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 25.1% Intel lead (1,852 vs 1,481).

Q: In which tasks does the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E outperform the Intel Core 3 305?

A: AMD wins four head-to-head tests: integer math (39,781 vs 32,295, an 18.8% edge), data compression (173,653 vs 146,857, a 15.4% edge), random string sorting (20,918 vs 17,623, a 15.8% edge), and data encryption (12,146 vs 11,019, a 9.3% edge).

Q: What is the most lopsided benchmark result between the two?

A: The PassMark find-prime-numbers test shows the largest delta. Intel scores 115 against AMD's 32, a 259.4% advantage. This is followed by Intel's 108.1% win in extended instructions and 101.6% win in floating-point math.

Q: Are these CPUs comparable in overall performance despite their different architectures?

A: Yes, their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with less than a 1% difference. However, the distribution of wins is stark: Intel wins 13 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, while AMD wins 4. The overall averages mask a highly divergent performance profile.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gulf between these two processors is vast, and the benchmark data reflects it clearly. The Intel Core 3 305 is built on a 3 nm process node at Intel's own foundry, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E uses GlobalFoundries' 12 nm process. This process node advantage likely underpins Intel's massive single-core lead, as the 3 nm node enables higher clock speeds at dramatically lower power.

The two chips also differ fundamentally in their core philosophy. Intel runs 6 cores and 6 threads, no simultaneous multithreading, while AMD runs 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite having half the thread count, Intel wins the multi-threaded PassMark score by 25.1%. The codenames tell the story: Intel's Wildcat Lake architecture is designed for efficiency and high-frequency operation, while AMD's Zen (Pinnacle Ridge) architecture from the 2000 series prioritizes throughput via multithreading.

Cache configurations further differentiate the two. Intel has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. AMD provides 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a larger 16 MB of shared L3. Despite AMD's larger L3 pool, Intel's smaller-but-faster cache hierarchy seems better suited to the bursty, latency-sensitive workloads represented in the single-core tests.

Memory architecture is another key divergence. Intel supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory over a single-channel bus, delivering 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. AMD supports DDR4 over a dual-channel bus, with no bandwidth figure provided in the data. AMD's dual-channel configuration likely contributes to its wins in memory-intensive tasks like data compression and random string sorting, where higher effective bandwidth can compensate for older architecture.

The Intel chip also integrates graphics, Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core, while the AMD part has no integrated graphics. This matters for system builders who want a fully functional CPU without a discrete GPU. Furthermore, the Intel part supports PCIe Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes, while AMD's PCIe support is not listed. Both CPUs lack ECC memory support and unlocked multipliers, though their market segments differ: Intel targets mobile, AMD targets desktop.

Specification Differences

The specification table reveals stark contrasts across nearly every field. The Intel Core 3 305 has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E runs at 3.10 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost. Intel's lower base but higher boost suggests a more aggressive turbo strategy enabled by the efficient 3 nm node.

Power consumption diverges sharply: Intel's TDP is 15 watts, while AMD's is 65 watts. This 50-watt gap is enormous and explains why Intel targets mobile while AMD targets desktop. The socket difference is equally decisive: Intel uses BGA 1516 (soldered), while AMD uses Socket AM4 (socketed).

Memory support differs by generation and channel count. Intel pairs with DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single channel, achieving 59.7 GB/s. AMD pairs with DDR4 over dual channels, with no bandwidth figure listed. The process node gap is 3 nm versus 12 nm, and Intel's foundry is Intel itself while AMD uses GlobalFoundries.

Transistor count and die size are only listed for AMD: 4,800 million transistors on a 192 mm² die. Intel's figures are not provided. The release dates are separated by over seven years: AMD launched on 2018-09-18, Intel on 2026-04-15. Intel has a launch MSRP of $309; AMD has no listed launch MSRP. The Intel part number is SAE3L; AMD has none listed.

The Verdict

The data paints an unambiguous picture for most workloads: the Intel Core 3 305 is the faster processor. It wins 13 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, including every Cinebench test and the aggregate PassMark multi-thread score. Its single-core performance is transformative, 73.1% ahead in PassMark single-thread, and it extends that dominance to floating-point math, extended instructions, prime number finding, and physics. For any buyer prioritizing raw compute speed, rendering, or general responsiveness, the Intel part is the clear choice.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600E, however, wins in four specific domains: integer math, data compression, random string sorting, and data encryption. These are tasks where its 12 threads and dual-channel memory architecture provide a genuine advantage. The margins are meaningful, between 9.3% and 18.8%, and they suggest that AMD's older chip still holds value in data-oriented workloads that parallelize well and benefit from memory bandwidth.

The specification differences reinforce the performance split. Intel's 15-watt TDP versus AMD's 65-watt TDP is a massive efficiency gap. The Intel chip delivers superior performance while consuming one-quarter the power, a direct consequence of the 3 nm versus 12 nm process node. For mobile or power-constrained environments, there is no contest. For desktop users with a compatible AM4 motherboard and DDR4 memory, the AMD chip offers a lower-cost upgrade path, though the data does not include pricing for AMD.

The verdict from the benchmarks is clear: choose Intel for single-threaded speed, rendering, floating-point math, and efficiency. Choose AMD for integer-heavy, data-compression, and encryption workloads where its thread count and dual-channel memory shine.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core 3 305 wins in: all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests (multi-core and single-core), PassMark multi-thread, single-thread, physics, floating-point math, extended instructions, and prime number finding. The margins range from 24.8% to 259.4%. This CPU is the choice for rendering, scientific computing, general productivity, and any workload that rewards high clock speeds and modern instruction efficiency. Its 15-watt TDP also makes it the pick for laptops, ultrabooks, and other power-sensitive designs. The integrated Xe3 Graphics means a discrete GPU is optional.

AMD Ryzen 5 2600E wins in: PassMark integer math, data compression, random string sorting, and data encryption. The margins range from 9.3% to 18.8%. This CPU is the choice for data processing pipelines, compression workloads, encryption tasks, and integer-heavy number crunching. Its 12 threads and dual-channel DDR4 memory give it an edge in parallel data manipulation. For desktop users with existing AM4 motherboards, it offers a socket-compatible option, though the data shows it loses the aggregate performance battle decisively.

The 17 head-to-head results ultimately favor Intel 13 to 4. But the four AMD wins are not trivial, they represent real-world tasks where the older architecture still outperforms the newer one. The benchmark database shows two CPUs at the same percentile, with the same average score, yet with almost completely opposite performance personalities. The choice depends entirely on which benchmarks matter most to the user.