AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs Intel Core 3 304 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data paints a lopsided picture. The Intel Core 3 304 wins 10 of the 11 recorded comparisons, and the margins are often substantial. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U secures a single victory, and that one is narrow. This is not a close contest; the Intel part dominates across most workload types.

The largest gap appears in prime number finding. The Intel Core 3 304 scores 68 in PassMark's find prime numbers test, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U manages just 21. That is a 69.1% deficit for the AMD chip. Extended instruction workloads show a similar story: Intel scores 9686 against AMD's 3274, a 66.2% gap. Floating point math also heavily favors Intel, with 29722 versus 12707, a 57.2% difference. These are not marginal gains; the Intel processor is delivering roughly double or more the throughput in these compute-heavy tasks.

Multithreaded performance reinforces the trend. The Intel Core 3 304 posts 11625 in PassMark's multithread test, compared to 7071 for the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U, a 39.2% lead. The physics test follows suit: Intel scores 868, AMD scores 483, a 44.4% advantage. Even data compression, which often favors architectures with strong memory pipelines, goes Intel's way. The Core 3 304 scores 114775 versus 87380, a 23.9% edge. Data encryption also favors Intel by a wide margin, 8501 versus 5580, a 34.4% gap. Random string sorting is closer in relative terms but still Intel's: 13659 versus 10414, a 23.8% lead.

Single-thread performance is a decisive Intel win. The Core 3 304 scores 3614 in PassMark's single thread test, while the Ryzen 5 3501U scores 2136. That is a 40.9% advantage. This is critical for everyday responsiveness and lightly threaded applications. The AMD chip does not come close in this metric.

The one AMD victory is in integer math. The Ryzen 5 3501U scores 26321, while the Intel Core 3 304 scores 24640. That is a 6.8% edge for AMD. It is a real win, but it is the exception. In every other measured category, the Intel part is faster, often by a significant margin. The average benchmark scores reflect this: AMD's average is 14320, while Intel's is 13745, a modest overall difference that masks the extreme swings in individual tests. The percentile rankings are close, 69 for AMD and 68 for Intel, but the raw test results tell a more nuanced story of where each chip excels and where it falls behind.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is a 4-core, 4-thread chip built on the Zen+ architecture, with the codename Picasso. It is manufactured on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with a die size of 210 mm² and 4,940 million transistors. The Intel Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, from the Core 3 generation, and is built on a 3 nm process at Intel. Intel does not report transistor count or die size for this part, but the process node itself is a major differentiator. A 3 nm process versus a 12 nm process represents a massive generational leap in manufacturing density and efficiency potential.

Core and thread counts differ. AMD offers 4 cores and 4 threads. Intel offers 5 cores and 5 threads. The extra core on the Intel part is a structural advantage in multithreaded workloads, and the benchmark data reflects that. Cache hierarchies also diverge. The AMD chip has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip lists 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The larger L3 cache on Intel likely contributes to its strong performance in data compression and encryption tasks, where larger working sets benefit from on-die storage.

Memory support is another clear split. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory, but on a single-channel bus, with a recorded bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. This is a curious combination. Intel has a higher theoretical bandwidth despite the single-channel configuration, likely due to the faster memory standard. AMD's dual-channel DDR4 setup provides less bandwidth overall. This difference affects memory-bound workloads, though the benchmark results suggest Intel's bandwidth advantage outweighs AMD's channel count advantage.

PCIe support also differs. AMD uses Gen 3, while Intel uses Gen 4 with 6 lanes for CPU-attached devices. This matters for storage and peripheral throughput, though it is not directly measured in the recorded benchmarks. Integrated graphics are another divergence. AMD pairs the CPU with Radeon Vega 8 graphics. Intel includes Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core. Both are integrated solutions, but they are architecturally distinct. The release dates are close, with Intel launching on 2026-04-15 and AMD on 2026-05-31. Both parts are listed as Active in production status and target the mobile segment.

Where Each One Wins

The usage split is stark. The Intel Core 3 304 wins in nearly every category that matters for general productivity and compute-heavy tasks. Single-thread performance is 40.9% higher, which translates to faster application launches, snappier web browsing, and better responsiveness in office software. Multithreaded performance is 39.2% higher, making the Intel chip the better choice for compiling code, rendering video, or running virtual machines. The encryption win (34.4% higher) suggests better handling of VPN traffic or encrypted storage. The compression win (23.9% higher) points to faster file archiving and transfer workflows. The physics test (44.4% higher) hints at stronger simulation and gaming physics potential, though this is an integrated graphics pairing.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has a single clear strength: integer math. The 6.8% lead in that test is real but narrow. Integer math underpins general arithmetic in many business applications, database operations, and spreadsheet calculations. If a workload is purely integer-bound and does not stress memory bandwidth or floating point, the AMD chip holds a slight edge. But this is a thin slice of the overall performance pie. The AMD chip also has dual-channel memory, which may help in specific scenarios where memory interleaving matters, though the recorded bandwidth is lower than Intel's.

For a buyer choosing between these two, the data points overwhelmingly to Intel for almost any use case. The only scenario where AMD's chip is preferable is one where the exact workload is integer-heavy and the user is willing to sacrifice substantial performance in every other category. That is a narrow niche. The Intel part is the better default choice for general-purpose mobile computing, content creation, development work, and anything that benefits from higher single-thread or multithread scores.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several key specifications beyond raw performance.

• Cores: AMD has 4, Intel has 5.
• Threads: AMD has 4, Intel has 5.
• Base clock: AMD runs at 2.10 GHz, Intel at 1.50 GHz.
• Boost clock: AMD boosts to 3.70 GHz, Intel boosts to 4.30 GHz.
• Process node: AMD uses 12 nm, Intel uses 3 nm.
• Foundry: AMD uses GlobalFoundries, Intel uses its own fabs.
• Transistors: AMD reports 4,940 million; Intel does not report a figure.
• Die size: AMD reports 210 mm²; Intel does not report a figure.
• Cache L1: AMD lists 96 KB per core, Intel lists 192 KB total.
• Cache L2: AMD lists 512 KB per core, Intel lists 2.5 MB total.
• Cache L3: AMD lists 4 MB shared, Intel lists 6 MB shared.
• Memory support: AMD uses DDR4, Intel uses DDR5 and LPDDR5X.
• Memory bus: AMD is dual-channel, Intel is single-channel.
• Memory bandwidth: AMD records 38.4 GB/s, Intel records 59.7 GB/s.
• PCIe: AMD is Gen 3, Intel is Gen 4 with 6 lanes.
• Integrated graphics: AMD uses Radeon Vega 8, Intel uses Xe3 Graphics.
• Socket: AMD uses FP5, Intel uses BGA 1516.
• Codename: AMD is Picasso, Intel is Wildcat Lake.
• Generation: AMD is Ryzen 5 (Zen+), Intel is Core 3 (Wildcat Lake).
• Launch MSRP: Intel lists $309; AMD does not list a value.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 boosts to 4.30 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U boosts to 3.70 GHz.

Q: Does the AMD chip support DDR5 memory?

A: No, the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 memory only. The Intel Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X.

Q: What is the memory bus configuration for each processor?

A: The AMD chip uses dual-channel memory, while the Intel chip uses single-channel memory. Despite this, Intel records a higher memory bandwidth at 59.7 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s for AMD.

Q: Which processor wins in multithreaded performance?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 wins in the PassMark multithread test with a score of 11625, which is 39.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U's score of 7071.

Q: What is the process node for each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is fabricated on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Intel Core 3 304 is fabricated on a 3 nm process at Intel.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the AMD chip wins?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U wins in the PassMark integer math test, scoring 26321 versus 24640 for the Intel Core 3 304, a 6.8% advantage.

The Verdict

The recorded data leads to a clear conclusion. The Intel Core 3 304 is the faster processor in almost every measured workload. It wins 10 of 11 head-to-head benchmarks, with margins ranging from 23.8% to 69.1%. Its single-thread advantage of 40.9% and multithread advantage of 39.2% make it the stronger choice for general use, productivity, and compute-intensive tasks. The 3 nm process node, larger L3 cache, and higher memory bandwidth all support this performance profile.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is not without merit, but its strengths are limited. The 6.8% lead in integer math is the only benchmark win, and it is a narrow one. The AMD chip also has dual-channel memory, which is a structural feature, but the recorded bandwidth is lower than Intel's. For users who prioritize integer-heavy workloads above all else, the AMD chip holds a slight edge. For everyone else, the Intel part is the better choice.

The percentile rankings are close, 69 for AMD and 68 for Intel, but that is a broad measure. The specific benchmark results show a wide gap in most categories. The Intel Core 3 304 should be the default pick for a mobile system where performance matters. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is a reasonable alternative only if the workload is exclusively integer-bound and the user is willing to accept significant losses in every other area. The data does not support a balanced recommendation; it supports a decisive lean toward Intel.