AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs Intel Core 3 305 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U and Intel Core 3 305 are both 15-watt mobile processors aimed at thin-and-light laptops, but the benchmark data shows they are not close competitors. The Intel part wins every single recorded head-to-head test, and in several workloads the margin is enormous. The database records 11 wins for the Intel Core 3 305 and zero for the AMD part. The average benchmark score tells the same story: the Core 3 305 sits at 18,302, while the Ryzen 5 3501U sits at 14,320. That is a 27.8% gap in overall average score, and the Intel chip also places higher in the percentile ranking, at the 72nd percentile versus the 69th percentile for AMD.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result is in the prime number search test. The Intel Core 3 305 scores 115, the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U scores 21. That is an 81.7% deficit for the AMD part. The extended instructions test is nearly as brutal: Intel scores 13,543, AMD scores 3,274, a 75.8% gap. Floating point math shows a 69.9% difference, with Intel at 42,284 and AMD at 12,707. These three workloads are heavily dependent on instruction-level efficiency and clock speed, and the Intel part simply overwhelms the older AMD design.

The multithreaded PassMark test shows Intel at 15,439 versus AMD at 7,071, a 54.2% lead for Intel. Physics simulation follows a similar pattern: Intel 1,233, AMD 483, a 60.8% gap. Data encryption goes to Intel 11,019 versus 5,580, a 49.4% margin. Single-thread performance is also decisively Intel: 3,977 versus 2,136, a 46.3% difference. That single-thread result matters for everyday responsiveness, since many applications still rely on one or two cores.

The closest contest is integer math. Intel scores 32,295, AMD scores 26,321, which leaves Intel ahead by 18.5%. Data compression shows Intel at 146,857 versus AMD at 87,380, a 40.5% gap. Random string sorting goes to Intel 17,623 versus 10,414, a 40.9% margin. Even in the least favorable comparison for Intel, the Core 3 305 still holds a solid double-digit lead. No recorded test shows the AMD processor winning or even coming close.

The average benchmark scores from the rival lists confirm the positioning. The Ryzen 5 3501U sits near the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546, which averages 14,336, a difference of only 0.1%. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320C averages 14,277, just 0.3% lower. The Intel Core 3 305, by contrast, sits near the Intel Core i3-14100 at 18,318, a 0.1% difference, and the Intel Core 5 330 at 18,345, a 0.2% difference. The two processors occupy different performance neighborhoods entirely.

Architecture Differences

The manufacturing process is the most obvious divider. The Intel Core 3 305 uses a 3 nm node from Intel, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses a 12 nm node from GlobalFoundries. That process gap explains much of the efficiency and clock behavior. The Intel part boosts to 4.30 GHz from a 1.50 GHz base clock. The AMD part boosts to 3.70 GHz from a 2.10 GHz base clock. Intel has a higher ceiling despite a lower floor.

Core counts also differ. The Intel Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads. Neither chip uses simultaneous multithreading, so thread count equals core count for both. The Intel part has two additional physical cores, which contributes to its multithreaded wins.

Cache layout is different as well. The AMD part uses a per-core L1 of 96 KB, per-core L2 of 512 KB, and a shared 4 MB L3. The Intel part lists 192 KB of L1 cache total, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip has more total L3 cache, 6 MB versus 4 MB. The AMD chip reports per-core numbers, while Intel reports aggregate numbers for L1 and L2, so direct comparison is not straightforward, but the L3 advantage belongs to Intel.

Memory support diverges sharply. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 with a dual-channel memory bus and a recorded bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus but a higher recorded bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The Intel part moves more data despite using one channel, a result of newer memory standards.

PCIe generation also differs. AMD uses PCIe Gen 3. Intel uses PCIe Gen 4 with 6 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics are different as well: AMD pairs its CPU with Radeon Vega 8, while Intel uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core. Neither chip has ECC memory support. Both are mobile parts with a 15-watt TDP and both have locked multipliers.

The Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $309. The AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP. Release dates differ too, with Intel listed as 2026-04-15 and AMD as 2026-05-31, though both are currently active in production. The AMD part uses an AMD Socket FP5, while Intel uses Intel BGA 1516. The AMD codename is Picasso from the Zen+ generation, and Intel uses Wildcat Lake for its Core 3 generation.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 3 305 boosts to 4.30 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U boosts to 3.70 GHz. Intel also has a lower base clock at 1.50 GHz versus 2.10 GHz for AMD.

Q: How much faster is the Intel part in multithreaded workloads?

A: In the PassMark multithread test, Intel scores 15,439 versus AMD's 7,071, which is a 54.2% lead. The Intel part has 6 cores and 6 threads, while AMD has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core 3 305 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 MB of shared L3 cache. Intel has 2 MB more.

Q: What is the process node for each chip?

A: The Intel Core 3 305 is built on a 3 nm process from Intel. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is built on a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U and the Intel Core 3 305 report no ECC memory support.

The Verdict

The data points one direction. The Intel Core 3 305 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head set, and it does so by wide margins in most cases. The average score gap of 3,982 points, or 27.8%, is substantial for two processors in the same 15-watt class. The Intel part also has a higher percentile ranking, 72 versus 69, meaning it sits above a larger share of all recorded CPUs.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is not without merit in isolation. Its average score of 14,320 places it near the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546, which scores 14,336, a difference of only 0.1%. The Ryzen 3 7320C scores 14,277, just 0.3% lower. Against those peers, the AMD part is competitive. But against the Intel Core 3 305, it is outclassed in every recorded workload. The nearest rivals for Intel, the Core i3-14100 at 18,318 and Core 5 330 at 18,345, are separated by less than 0.4%, which shows how close the Core 3 305 is to those stronger desktop-oriented parts.

For general mobile computing, the Intel part delivers higher single-thread performance, 3,977 versus 2,136, which translates to snappier application response. The multithreaded advantage, 15,439 versus 7,071, makes the Intel chip better suited for parallel tasks. The AMD part, with its older 12 nm process and lower clock ceiling, cannot close the gap in any measured area.

The choice is clear from the recorded results. The Intel Core 3 305 is the faster processor in every benchmark category available. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U remains a functional mobile chip, but its performance profile places it in a lower tier.

Specification Differences

• Cores: AMD 4, Intel 6
• Threads: AMD 4, Intel 6
• Base clock: AMD 2.10 GHz, Intel 1.50 GHz
• Boost clock: AMD 3.70 GHz, Intel 4.30 GHz
• Process node: AMD 12 nm, Intel 3 nm
• Foundry: AMD GlobalFoundries, Intel Intel
• Codename: AMD Picasso, Intel Wildcat Lake
• L1 cache: AMD 96 KB per core, Intel 192 KB total
• L2 cache: AMD 512 KB per core, Intel 2.5 MB total
• L3 cache: AMD 4 MB shared, Intel 6 MB shared
• Memory support: AMD DDR4, Intel DDR5 and LPDDR5X
• Memory bus: AMD dual-channel, Intel single-channel
• Memory bandwidth: AMD 38.4 GB/s, Intel 59.7 GB/s
• PCIe: AMD Gen 3, Intel Gen 4 with 6 lanes from CPU
• Integrated graphics: AMD Radeon Vega 8, Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core
• Socket: AMD Socket FP5, Intel BGA 1516
• Transistor count: AMD 4,940 million, Intel not recorded
• Die size: AMD 210 mm², Intel not recorded
• Launch MSRP: AMD not recorded, Intel $309
• Release date: AMD 2026-05-31, Intel 2026-04-15

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 3 305 wins every recorded workload. There is no single benchmark in the head-to-head set where the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U comes out ahead. The largest Intel margins are in prime number search, extended instructions, and floating point math, where the lead ranges from 69.9% to 81.7%. These are compute-heavy tasks that reward the newer process node, higher boost clock, and additional cores.

The smallest Intel margin is in integer math, at 18.5%. That workload is the closest contest, but it still favors Intel by a comfortable amount. Data compression and random string sorting show Intel leads around 40%, and encryption is just under 50%. Single-thread performance favors Intel by 46.3%, which covers most everyday applications that run on one or two threads.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has no recorded wins in this comparison. Its strengths, such as a dual-channel memory bus and a larger per-core L1 and L2 cache structure, do not translate into benchmark victories against the Intel part. The AMD chip also has a lower boost clock and half the core count of Intel, which limits its ceiling in both single-threaded and multithreaded tests. The only area where AMD holds a specification advantage is the dual-channel memory interface, but the Intel chip compensates with a higher total memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s.

For a user selecting between these two, the Intel Core 3 305 is the performant choice across the board. The AMD part may appeal in systems where DDR4 memory is already available or where the Picasso platform is preferred, but the recorded data does not show a workload where AMD wins. The 15-watt class is shared, but the results are not.