AMD Ryzen 5 3500X vs Intel Core i3-1305U Comparison

The Verdict

The database record paints a one-sided picture. The AMD Ryzen 5 3500X wins 15 of the 17 shared benchmark comparisons, while the Intel Core i3-1305U takes only 2. The average benchmark scores reinforce this: the AMD part sits at 12000 versus Intel's 11200, a gap that places the Ryzen in the 67th percentile of all CPUs and the Core i3 in the 66th. For pure compute throughput, the Ryzen 5 3500X is the clear choice. The Intel chip does have one meaningful advantage: it wins single-threaded PassMark tests decisively, and it carries integrated graphics, which the AMD desktop part lacks entirely. So the split is simple. If the workload is heavily single-threaded or requires an iGPU, the Core i3-1305U is the only option with those traits. For everything else, the Ryzen 5 3500X dominates in the recorded benchmarks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i3-1305U is a mobile part built on Intel's 10 nm process, using the Raptor Lake architecture and the Raptor Lake-U codename. It features 5 cores and 6 threads, with a base clock of 1600 MHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. Its 15 W TDP signals a power-efficient design aimed at laptops. The cache layout is unusual: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 10 MB L3. Memory support includes both DDR4 and DDR5, running dual-channel, with PCIe Gen 4 limited to 8 lanes from the CPU.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3500X is a desktop processor from the 3000 series, built on TSMC's 7 nm process using the Zen 2 architecture and the Matisse codename. It offers 6 cores and 6 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The TDP is 65 W, more than four times the Intel part's figure. The transistor count is listed at 3,800 million on a 74 mm² die. Cache amounts differ sharply: 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and a much larger 32 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 only, still dual-channel, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. PCIe is Gen 4 but with 24 lanes from the CPU, three times the Intel allocation.

The Intel chip integrates UHD Graphics 64EU, while the AMD chip has no integrated graphics at all. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel one does not. Sockets are entirely different: Intel BGA 1744 for the mobile chip, AMD Socket AM4 for the desktop chip. The release dates are also far apart, with Intel launching in January 2023 and AMD in September 2019.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkably consistent in one direction. In every Cinebench test, the Ryzen 5 3500X wins by nearly the same margin. In Cinebench R15 multicore, AMD scores 1128 against Intel's 723, a delta of -35.9% from Intel's perspective. Single-core R15 shows 159 versus 102, a -35.8% gap. R20 multicore: 4702 versus 3016, again -35.9%. R20 single-core: 663 versus 425, -35.9%. R23 multicore: 11196 versus 7183, -35.8%. R23 single-core: 1580 versus 1014, -35.8%. The consistency across all six Cinebench runs suggests a fixed architectural penalty for the Intel mobile part, not a workload-specific issue.

PassMark tests tell a similar but more varied story. The largest Intel deficit appears in find prime numbers: AMD scores 130, Intel only 36, a -72.3% gap. Extended instructions show AMD at 14053 versus Intel's 5240, a -62.7% difference. Physics tests have AMD at 1234 against Intel's 523, -57.6%. Data compression: 143701 versus 92767, -35.4%. Multithread: 13172 versus 8747, -33.6%. Random string sorting: 16263 versus 10889, -33%. Data encryption: 7276 versus 5895, -19%. Floating point math: 23095 versus 19687, -14.8%. Integer math: 32564 versus 27925, -14.2%.

The single exception is PassMark single-thread, where Intel wins 3115 to 2502, a +24.5% margin. This is the only test where the Core i3-1305U leads, and it appears twice in the head-to-head list under slightly different test names (passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread), both with identical scores and deltas. The data suggests Intel's boost clock of 4.50 GHz, combined with its newer Raptor Lake architecture, gives it a genuine edge in lightly threaded workloads. But the AMD part counters with higher base clocks and more cores, which shows up across the multicore and math-heavy tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3500X wins 15 of the 17 head-to-head tests. The Intel Core i3-1305U wins only 2, both being the PassMark single-thread test.

Q: How large is the performance gap in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3500X scores 11196, while the Intel Core i3-1305U scores 7183. That is a -35.8% difference, meaning AMD is roughly 56% faster in this specific test.

Q: Does the Intel chip have any advantage beyond single-threaded PassMark?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i3-1305U includes integrated UHD Graphics 64EU. The AMD Ryzen 5 3500X has no integrated graphics at all, so a discrete GPU is required with the AMD part.

Q: What is the difference in physical size and transistor count?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3500X has 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die, fabricated on TSMC's 7 nm process. The Intel Core i3-1305U uses Intel's 10 nm process, but the database does not list transistor count or die size for the Intel chip.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i3-1305U boosts to 4.50 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 5 3500X boosts to 4.10 GHz. The Intel chip also has a lower base clock of 1.60 GHz versus 3.60 GHz for AMD.

Q: Are the memory and PCIe capabilities different?

A: Yes. Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD supports DDR4 only. Both are dual-channel, but AMD lists 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth. For PCIe, Intel offers Gen 4 with 8 lanes, while AMD offers Gen 4 with 24 lanes.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 3500X is the winner in every Cinebench test, every PassMark math workload, all compression and encryption tests, physics simulation, multithread performance, and random string sorting. The margins range from -14.2% to -72.3% in Intel's favor, but the direction is always the same. The largest wins for AMD come in prime number finding, extended instructions, and physics, which are all compute-heavy or instruction-intensive workloads. The Ryzen's larger 32 MB L3 cache and 6 full cores with higher base clocks likely explain these results. The data shows this is a desktop processor designed for sustained throughput, and it delivers that in every measured category except one.

The Intel Core i3-1305U wins only the PassMark single-thread test, by a substantial 24.5% margin. This makes it the better choice for workloads that are strictly single-threaded and latency-sensitive, where the 4.50 GHz boost clock can shine. The integrated UHD Graphics 64EU also gives it a functional advantage for systems that need display output without a discrete GPU, which is a common requirement for mobile or compact designs. The 15 W TDP suggests it is intended for power-constrained environments, though the database does not include wattage figures for comparison.

For users building a desktop system with a dedicated GPU, the Ryzen 5 3500X is the obvious pick from the recorded data. For laptop users or those needing integrated graphics, the Core i3-1305U has a clear role. The benchmark scores do not show a single scenario where AMD loses outside of single-thread PassMark, so the use-case split is stark.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in nearly every specification field. The Intel Core i3-1305U has 5 cores and 6 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3500X has 6 cores and 6 threads. Base clocks are 1.60 GHz versus 3.60 GHz, and boost clocks are 4.50 GHz versus 4.10 GHz. TDP is 15 W versus 65 W. Sockets are Intel BGA 1744 versus AMD Socket AM4. Architecture is Raptor Lake versus Zen 2, with codenames Raptor Lake-U and Matisse. Process nodes are 10 nm (Intel foundry) versus 7 nm (TSMC). Transistor count and die size are listed only for AMD: 3,800 million and 74 mm².

Cache layouts differ: L1 is 80 KB per core on Intel versus 64 KB per core on AMD; L2 is 1.25 MB per core versus 512 KB per core; L3 is 10 MB shared versus 32 MB shared. Memory support is DDR4 and DDR5 for Intel, DDR4 only for AMD. Memory bandwidth is not listed for Intel, but AMD records 51.2 GB/s. PCIe lanes are 8 for Intel versus 24 for AMD, both Gen 4. Integrated graphics are present on Intel (UHD Graphics 64EU) and absent on AMD. The market segment is Mobile for Intel and Desktop for AMD. Release dates are January 2023 versus September 2019. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $309, while the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP. The multiplier is unlocked on AMD only. Part numbers are SRMLT for Intel and 100-000000158 for AMD.