AMD Ryzen 5 2600H vs Intel Core i3-10300 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H across all six Cinebench comparisons, though the margins are consistently narrow. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD part scores 685 against the Intel Core i3-10300's 673, a difference of 1.8%. The single-core R15 test tells a similar story: 96 versus 95, a 1.1% edge. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Ryzen 5 2600H posts 2856 in multicore versus 2808 for the Intel chip, again a 1.7% lead, while single-core shows 403 against 396, a 1.8% advantage. The newest workload in the set, Cinebench R23, repeats the pattern: 6801 versus 6687 in multicore (1.7%), and 960 versus 944 in single-core (1.7%). The database records six wins for the AMD processor and zero for the Intel part in direct head-to-head comparisons.

The magnitude of these deltas is worth emphasizing. A 1.7% or 1.8% margin in any given test is small enough that real-world application performance could vary depending on cooling, power delivery, or workload characteristics. However, the consistency across three different Cinebench versions, both single-threaded and multi-threaded, suggests the AMD chip holds a slight but repeatable performance advantage in this benchmark family. The average benchmark score reinforces this: the Ryzen 5 2600H sits at 1967, while the Core i3-10300 averages 1934. That difference places the AMD part at the 44th percentile of all CPUs in the database, with the Intel chip just behind at the 43rd percentile.

Context from nearest rivals helps frame these numbers. The Ryzen 5 2600H's closest competitors in the database include the AMD Ryzen 3 2300X at 1968 (0.1% higher), the Intel Xeon D-2712T at 1964 (0.2% lower), and the Intel Core i7-10810U at 1971 (0.2% lower from the rival's perspective). The Intel Core i3-10300, meanwhile, sits near the AMD Opteron 6348 and Intel Core i7-1180G7, both at 1930 (0.2% higher than the i3), and just below the Intel Core i7-7820HQ at 1940 (0.3% lower). Neither processor is far from a cluster of similarly performing parts, which underscores how close this particular matchup is despite the AMD sweep.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design lineages. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H uses the Zen architecture, codenamed Raven Ridge, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It belongs to the 2000 series and is classified as a mobile part. The Intel Core i3-10300 uses the Comet Lake architecture, also on a 14 nm process but fabricated by Intel, and is a desktop part from the Core 10th Gen family. Both chips have the same core and thread configuration: 4 cores and 8 threads. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory.

Cache layouts differ noticeably. The AMD processor allocates 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 4 MB of shared L3. The Intel processor uses 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, but doubles the shared L3 to 8 MB. That larger last-level cache could benefit the Intel part in workloads with high cache reuse, though the benchmark data does not isolate this effect. The transistor and die size fields for the Intel chip are not recorded in the database, while the AMD part lists 4,950 million transistors on a 210 mm² die.

Clock speeds favor Intel on paper. The Core i3-10300 has a 3.70 GHz base clock and a 4.40 GHz boost clock, compared to 3.20 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost for the Ryzen 5 2600H. Despite the higher clocks, the Intel part does not convert that into a win in the Cinebench results. Thermal design power also differs: the AMD chip is rated at 45 watts, the Intel at 62 watts. The higher TDP gives the Intel processor more headroom for sustained power draw, yet the measured scores still favor the AMD part.

Memory bandwidth figures go the other way. The Ryzen 5 2600H lists 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the Core i3-10300 lists 42.7 GB/s. Both support DDR4 in dual-channel mode. PCIe connectivity differs in lane count: the AMD processor provides Gen 3 with 8 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel part provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics also differ: the AMD chip carries Radeon Vega 8, the Intel chip carries UHD Graphics 630. Market positioning is split, with the Ryzen 5 2600H aimed at mobile and the Core i3-10300 at desktop, which explains the socket difference: AMD Socket FP5 versus Intel Socket 1200.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H as the faster processor in this head-to-head, but only by a slim margin. Across all six Cinebench comparisons, the AMD chip wins by between 1.1% and 1.8%. That is a consistent result, not a statistical fluke, but it is also not a transformative performance gap. Anyone choosing between these two strictly on the basis of the recorded benchmark scores should expect the Ryzen 5 2600H to deliver slightly higher Cinebench performance in both single-threaded and multi-threaded tests.

The Intel Core i3-10300 is not without justification. It has a higher base clock (3.70 GHz versus 3.20 GHz) and a higher boost clock (4.40 GHz versus 3.60 GHz), double the shared L3 cache (8 MB versus 4 MB), and double the PCIe lanes (16 versus 8). For workloads that depend heavily on cache capacity or PCIe bandwidth, the Intel part could plausibly close or reverse the gap seen in Cinebench, though no such data appears in the recorded comparisons. Its 62 watt TDP also suggests more power headroom, but that comes with higher power draw.

The AMD processor counters with a lower TDP of 45 watts, higher memory bandwidth at 51.2 GB/s, and a mobile form factor that suits compact or power-conscious systems. Its 4 MB of shared L3 and 512 KB of L2 per core are smaller than the Intel cache, but the benchmark results show that cache disadvantage did not hurt it in Cinebench. The Ryzen 5 2600H also posts a slightly better average benchmark score (1967 versus 1934) and a marginally higher percentile ranking (44 versus 43).

For a user prioritizing the measured Cinebench performance in the database, the Ryzen 5 2600H is the pick. For a user building a desktop system where PCIe lane count, higher clock speeds, or larger L3 cache matter more, the Core i3-10300 has structural advantages that the Cinebench suite does not capture. The data supports the AMD chip as the benchmark winner, but the margins are small enough that the choice should hinge on platform and workload rather than raw score dominance.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 2600H | Intel Core i3-10300 |

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

| Series | 2000 series | Core 10th Gen |

| Manufacturer | AMD | Intel |

| Base clock | 3.20 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.60 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 62 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP5 | Intel Socket 1200 |

| Architecture | Zen | Comet Lake |

| Codename | Raven Ridge | Comet Lake |

| Generation | Ryzen 5 (Zen (Raven Ridge)) | Core i3 (Comet Lake) |

| Process node | 14 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 4,950 million | Not recorded |

| Die size | 210 mm² | Not recorded |

| L1 cache | 96 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 512 KB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 4 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 8 lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon Vega 8 | UHD Graphics 630 |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release date | 2018-09-09 | 2020-04-29 |

| Part number | YM2600C3T4MFB | SRH3J |

Note that cores (4 each), threads (8 each), memory support (DDR4), memory bus (dual-channel), ECC support (false for both), and multiplier unlock (false for both) are identical and therefore excluded from this table. The database does not record a launch MSRP for either processor.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H wins all six recorded head-to-head Cinebench comparisons. The Intel Core i3-10300 wins none.

Q: What is the largest performance margin in the head-to-head results?

A: The largest margins are 1.8%, recorded in Cinebench R15 multicore, Cinebench R20 single-core, and Cinebench R23 multicore. The smallest margin is 1.1% in Cinebench R15 single-core.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes. Both the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H and the Intel Core i3-10300 have 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H has an average benchmark score of 1967, while the Intel Core i3-10300 has an average score of 1934. The AMD chip also ranks at the 44th percentile of all CPUs, versus the 43rd percentile for Intel.

Q: Which processor has the higher clock speeds?

A: The Intel Core i3-10300 has higher clock speeds, with a 3.70 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost, compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H's 3.20 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H is rated at 45 watts, while the Intel Core i3-10300 is rated at 62 watts.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i3-10300 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, double the 4 MB of shared L3 cache on the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H.