AMD Ryzen 5 2600H vs Intel Core i3-N305 Comparison

# Intel Core i3-N305 vs AMD Ryzen 5 2600H

The Intel Core i3-N305 and AMD Ryzen 5 2600H occupy the same 44th percentile among all CPUs, with average benchmark scores of 1979 and 1967 respectively — a gap of only 0.6% that masks dramatic differences in workload-specific behavior. The Intel part wins five of six head-to-head tests, yet the AMD chip claims the single most important multi-threaded benchmark in the modern Cinebench R23 suite, making the choice entirely dependent on which rendering workload matters more to the user.

The Verdict

The data presents two processors with nearly identical overall scores but opposite strengths. The Intel Core i3-N305 is the correct choice for users running older Cinebench versions (R15 and R20), single-threaded tasks, or workloads that resemble Geekbench's mixed integer and floating-point patterns. Its 8 cores running at a base clock of 100.00 MHz with a 3.80 GHz boost deliver decisive wins in R15 multicore (829 vs 685, a 21% advantage) and R15 singlecore (164.7 vs 96, a 71.6% advantage). For anyone still validating against R15 or R20 baselines, the Intel part is unambiguously superior.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H is the pick for modern multi-threaded rendering. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 6801 versus the Intel's 5092 represents a 25.1% lead — the largest margin in any benchmark here. This 45W processor with 4 cores and 8 threads on a 14 nm process outperforms the 15W Intel part by a wide margin in the most demanding sustained workload tested. Users running current 3D rendering, video encoding, or other long-duration multi-threaded tasks should favor the AMD chip despite its losses elsewhere.

The overall verdict splits cleanly: the Intel Core i3-N305 for legacy benchmark compatibility and single-thread performance, the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H for modern multi-core rendering. Neither chip has a meaningful edge in the aggregate — the 1979 vs 1967 average score difference is statistically negligible, and both sit at the 44th percentile of all CPUs.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies from different eras. The Intel Core i3-N305 uses 8 Gracemont cores on a 10 nm process fabricated by Intel, supporting 8 threads with a base clock of 100.00 MHz and boost up to 3.80 GHz. Its thermal design power is 15W, fitting the Intel BGA 1264 socket. The cache hierarchy includes 96 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per module, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support covers both DDR4 and DDR5 over a single-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770, and it provides PCIe Gen 3 with 9 CPU lanes.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H, released in September 2018, uses 4 Zen cores on a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries, supporting 8 threads through simultaneous multi-threading. Its base clock is 3.20 GHz with a 3.60 GHz boost, and its 45W TDP places it in a higher power envelope. The socket is AMD FP5, and the chip uses 4,950 million transistors across a 210 mm² die. Cache amounts to 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. Memory is limited to DDR4 but runs dual-channel with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The integrated Radeon Vega 8 GPU and PCIe Gen 3 with 8 CPU lanes complete the package.

The architectural contrast is stark: Intel uses twice as many physical cores with a more efficient process node and lower power draw, while AMD relies on fewer, higher-clock cores with dual-channel memory to compensate. The Intel chip's single-channel memory bus halves theoretical bandwidth versus AMD's dual-channel configuration, a limitation that does not appear in the benchmark scores for these tests but could affect memory-sensitive workloads. The 3.2 GB/s memory bandwidth deficit (38.4 vs 51.2) is notable, yet the Intel part still wins most compute benchmarks.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-N305 dominates in legacy Cinebench tests and single-threaded workloads. Its R15 singlecore score of 164.7 versus 96 for the AMD chip represents a staggering 71.6% advantage, the largest delta in any comparison here. The R20 singlecore test shows a 17.1% lead (472 vs 403), and even the modern R23 singlecore test shows a 3.6% edge (995 vs 960). In multicore tests from the R15 and R20 era, the Intel part leads by 21% and 17.3% respectively. Geekbench results, which are only available for the Intel chip (3881 multicore, 1049 singlecore), place it in a range consistent with these wins. The Intel processor's higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz versus 3.60 GHz, combined with its newer architecture, explains these single-thread victories.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H wins exactly one benchmark: Cinebench R23 multicore, where it scores 6801 against the Intel's 5092 — a 25.1% margin. This is the most modern and demanding test in the suite, and its result flips the multicore narrative. The AMD chip's 45W TDP allows sustained operation at higher clocks under long multi-threaded loads, while the 15W Intel part appears to throttle or otherwise limit its 8 cores in this scenario. The dual-channel memory bus may also contribute, as R23's rendering workload can benefit from the 51.2 GB/s bandwidth versus the Intel's 38.4 GB/s. For users whose primary workload is current-generation multi-threaded rendering, this single win is decisive.

The practical split is clear: the Intel Core i3-N305 for legacy software validation, bursty single-threaded tasks, and older game engines that favor high clocks; the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H for modern production rendering where sustained multi-core throughput matters most.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher overall average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-N305 scores 1979 on average versus 1967 for the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H, a difference of just 0.6% — effectively a statistical tie.

Q: Why does the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H win Cinebench R23 multicore despite having fewer cores?

A: The AMD chip scores 6801 versus 5092 for the Intel part, a 25.1% advantage. Its 45W TDP, dual-channel memory at 51.2 GB/s, and ability to sustain operation at 3.60 GHz boost under load allow its 4 cores and 8 threads to outperform Intel's 8 Gracemont cores in this specific sustained workload.

Q: Is the Intel Core i3-N305 better for single-threaded performance?

A: Yes. The Intel part wins all three single-core Cinebench tests: R15 by 71.6% (164.7 vs 96), R20 by 17.1% (472 vs 403), and R23 by 3.6% (995 vs 960).

Q: What is the release timeline difference between these processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H was released in September 2018, while the Intel Core i3-N305 launched in January 2023. The Intel chip uses a 10 nm process versus AMD's 14 nm node.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i3-N305 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H has 4 cores and 8 threads. Intel uses physical cores without SMT, while AMD uses simultaneous multi-threading to reach 8 threads.

Q: How do their integrated graphics compare?

A: The Intel part features UHD Graphics 770, while the AMD chip includes Radeon Vega 8. No graphics benchmarks are provided in the data, so relative gaming or media performance cannot be determined from these results.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multicore test sets the tone for the legacy benchmarks: the Intel Core i3-N305 scores 829 against the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H's 685, a 21% victory. This is the second-largest margin in the entire comparison, and it demonstrates how effectively the Intel chip's 8 physical cores handle the older rendering workload. The R20 multicore test shows a similar pattern, with Intel scoring 3349 versus 2856, a 17.3% advantage. Both tests reward the Intel part's higher core count and newer architecture, with the 15W TDP proving sufficient for these shorter workloads.

The single-core results are where the Intel chip runs away with the comparison. The R15 singlecore score of 164.7 versus 96 produces a 71.6% delta — an enormous gap that highlights the architectural advantage of the Gracemont cores at 3.80 GHz boost versus the older Zen cores at 3.60 GHz. The R20 singlecore test narrows this to 17.1% (472 vs 403), and the R23 singlecore test brings it down to just 3.6% (995 vs 960). The trend suggests that newer benchmark versions are increasingly able to extract performance from the AMD architecture, even in single-threaded scenarios where the Intel chip's higher boost clock should dominate.

The Cinebench R23 multicore test is the outlier that changes the entire narrative. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H scores 6801, defeating the Intel Core i3-N305's 5092 by 25.1%. This is the only test the AMD chip wins, and it is the most modern and most demanding benchmark in the set. The margin is larger than any Intel victory except the R15 singlecore result. The 45W TDP and dual-channel memory configuration appear to give the AMD part a decisive advantage in this sustained multi-threaded workload, despite Intel's core count advantage. Notably, the Intel chip's R23 multicore score of 5092 is actually lower than its R20 multicore score of 3349 in absolute terms when normalized for the different scaling of each benchmark version, suggesting that the longer R23 workload exposes thermal or power limitations in the 15W design.

The Geekbench results, available only for the Intel part (3881 multicore, 1049 singlecore), cannot be directly compared but provide context for the Intel chip's overall capability. The win count stands at 5 for Intel and 1 for AMD, yet the single AMD victory carries disproportionate weight because it represents the current standard for multi-threaded rendering performance. Users choosing between these processors should weigh the R23 multicore result heavily if their work involves modern production rendering, while those validating against older R15 or R20 baselines will find the Intel part consistently ahead.