AMD Ryzen 5 3600 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 115U Comparison

The Intel Core Ultra 5 115U and AMD Ryzen 5 3600 represent two very different philosophies: a low-power mobile chip versus a desktop part from a previous generation. The benchmark data shows a clear split between single-threaded efficiency and raw multi-threaded throughput, with the outcome depending heavily on the workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 dominates the multi-core and productivity workloads, often by a significant margin. In Cinebench testing, the results are consistent across all three versions. The Ryzen 5 3600 scores 1516 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, a 27.8% lead over the Ultra 5 115U’s 1094. The gap persists in R20, with the AMD chip at 6318 versus 4559, again a 27.8% difference. In the more demanding Cinebench R23 multi-core test, the Ryzen 5 3600 posts 15045, which is 27.8% higher than the Intel’s 10855. This pattern is a direct consequence of the Ryzen’s higher thread count and desktop-class power envelope.

Single-core performance tells a different story. While the Ryzen 5 3600 wins in Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 2124 against 1532, a 27.9% advantage, the Intel chip strikes back in PassMark’s single-thread tests. The Ultra 5 115U scores 3057 in PassMark single-thread, a 19.3% improvement over the Ryzen 5 3600’s 2562. This suggests the Intel architecture has a higher peak frequency efficiency in certain integer tasks, despite the older AMD chip’s higher base clock.

The PassMark suite reveals the most nuanced picture. The Ryzen 5 3600 wins decisively in data compression (219774 vs 141945, a 35.4% lead), data encryption (13953 vs 8606, a 38.3% lead), and extended instructions (14442 vs 8620, a 40.3% lead). The gap is largest in prime number finding, where the AMD chip scores 108 versus the Intel’s 53, a 50.9% difference. However, the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U wins one notable PassMark test: floating point math. Here, the Intel scores 30538, a 6.8% advantage over the Ryzen’s 28607. This indicates the Intel’s integrated graphics or newer processing blocks might assist in certain vectorized floating operations.

On the multi-threaded front, the Ryzen 5 3600’s 12 threads give it a clear edge. It scores 17700 in PassMark multi-thread versus 13024, a 26.4% lead. In integer math, the AMD chip scores 48607, a 15.6% lead over the Intel’s 41043. The Ryzen also wins in physics (1152 vs 898, a 22% lead) and random string sorting (23707 vs 15124, a 36.2% lead). The final tally is lopsided: the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 wins 14 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, with the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U taking only 3.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous for users seeking maximum multi-threaded performance: the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is the superior choice. It offers a 27.8% average lead across all Cinebench multi-core tests and a 26.4% lead in PassMark multi-thread. For rendering, video encoding, or any heavily threaded productivity task, the Ryzen 5 3600 is clearly faster, despite being an older design. Its 14 wins out of 17 benchmarks underscore its dominance in general processing.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 115U is not without merit, but its strengths are narrow. It wins in PassMark single-thread (3057 vs 2562) and floating point math (30538 vs 28607). This makes it a reasonable pick for lightly threaded applications where single-core speed matters most, such as certain legacy software or specific simulation tasks. However, the Ryzen 5 3600 also wins in Cinebench single-core tests, making the Intel’s single-thread advantage inconsistent across different benchmark suites.

The choice comes down to workload prioritization. If the priority is raw compute throughput for multi-threaded tasks, the Ryzen 5 3600 is the clear winner, as its 71st percentile ranking versus the Intel’s 70th confirms a slightly higher average benchmark score (17035 vs 16753). If the priority is a low-power mobile chip with a specific edge in floating-point math, the Intel Ultra 5 115U is the pick, but it will lose most multi-core comparisons by a wide margin. The Ryzen 5 3600 is the better overall processor for a desktop user.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 has an average benchmark score of 17035, compared to the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U’s 16753.

Q: How large is the performance gap in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 scores 15045, which is 27.8% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U’s 10855.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes, the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U wins in PassMark single-thread (3057 vs 2562) and PassMark floating point math (30538 vs 28607).

Q: What is the difference in thread count?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 has 12 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U has 10 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 has a base clock of 3.60 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U has a base clock of 1.50 GHz.

Q: What is the total L3 cache difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 has 32 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U has 10 MB of shared L3 cache.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in almost every fundamental specification. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is a desktop part with 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U is a mobile chip with 8 cores and 10 threads. The AMD chip has a much higher base clock at 3.60 GHz versus 1.50 GHz, though both boost to 4.20 GHz. The thermal design power differs significantly: the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 has a 65W TDP, whereas the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U is rated at just 15W.

Memory support is also divergent. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 supports DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The Intel Core Ultra 5 115U supports DDR5 (depending on motherboard) with a dual-channel bus and a higher memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The PCIe configuration differs, with the AMD chip offering Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip offers Gen 4 with 12 lanes (CPU only). The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U does not. Their sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket AM4 versus Intel BGA 2049. The AMD chip has a launch MSRP of $199.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is stark. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is built on the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Matisse, and is part of the Ryzen 5 generation. It uses a 7 nm process node fabricated by TSMC. The Intel Core Ultra 5 115U uses the Meteor Lake architecture, part of the Core Ultra Series 1, and is also on a 7 nm node, but fabricated by Intel.

Cache layouts differ significantly. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a large 32 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 5 115U has 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a smaller 10 MB shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has a transistor count of 3,800 million and a die size of 74 mm², while the Intel chip’s transistor count and die size are not listed.

The most notable feature difference is the integrated graphics. The Intel Core Ultra 5 115U includes an Arc Xe-LPG 48EU integrated GPU, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 has no integrated graphics at all. This makes the Intel chip capable of running a display without a discrete GPU, a critical distinction for a mobile platform. The AMD chip is a desktop processor that requires a separate graphics card. The Intel chip also has a higher memory bandwidth (89.6 GB/s) despite its lower TDP, which is a result of its newer DDR5 support.