AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT vs Intel Core 5 315 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between these two processors is lopsided but revealing. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT wins 14 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core 5 315 takes only 3. That alone suggests a clear overall victor, but the specific wins matter more than the count.

The AMD chip dominates every Cinebench test, all three versions of both single-core and multi-core workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen scores 15,776 against Intel's 12,981, a 17.7% gap. The same margin appears in R15 and R20 multi-core. Single-core Cinebench results tell the same story: the 3600XT leads by roughly 17.8% across all three versions. This is not a narrow edge, it is a consistent, repeatable advantage in rendering and CPU-intensive workloads.

The AMD processor also wins in data compression, scoring 230,645 versus 146,143, a 36.6% gap. Data encryption goes to AMD by 23.9%, integer math by 38.4%, and random string sorting by 29.7%. The extended instructions test, the physics simulation, the multithread PassMark test, and even the find prime numbers test all go to the Ryzen, though that last one is nearly a tie at 113 versus 112.

The Intel Core 5 315 wins only in floating-point math, where it posts 42,441 against AMD's 30,149, a 40.8% advantage. It also wins the PassMark single-thread test with 4,021 versus 2,752, a 46.1% margin. That single-thread result is significant, it appears twice in the data (under two test names) and represents the largest delta in either direction. For workloads that depend on a single thread and heavy floating-point arithmetic, the Intel part is the stronger choice.

Architecture Differences

These two chips come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core 5 315 uses a 3 nm process node fabricated by Intel, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT relies on TSMC's 7 nm process. The node difference alone explains some of the efficiency gap, but the transistor counts tell a fuller story. The AMD chip packs 3,800 million transistors into a 74 mm² die. The Intel part does not list a transistor count or die size in the database, so direct density comparisons are not possible.

The core topology differs sharply. Both have 6 physical cores, but the Intel part has 6 threads total, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. The AMD part has 12 threads, giving it full SMT. That doubles the thread count on paper and explains much of the multi-core benchmark advantage. Base and boost clocks also favor AMD: the 3600XT runs at 3.80 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost, while the Intel chip sits at 1.50 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost. The Ryzen's base clock is more than double, though boost clocks are close.

Cache layouts are entirely different. Intel uses 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and a shared 6 MB L3. The AMD part gives 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. That 32 MB L3 is more than five times the Intel L3 and is a major factor in the compression and encryption wins. The memory interface also diverges: Intel supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. AMD uses DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part has higher theoretical bandwidth despite the single channel, thanks to the newer memory standard.

The Intel chip integrates Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the AMD part has no integrated graphics at all. The Intel processor is a mobile segment part on BGA 1516, the AMD is a desktop part on Socket AM4. The Intel chip uses PCIe Gen 4 with 6 CPU-only lanes, the AMD uses PCIe Gen 4 without a lane count listed. Neither supports ECC memory. The Intel part has a locked multiplier, the AMD part is unlocked for overclocking.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT as the better all-around processor for most workloads. It wins 14 of 17 head-to-head tests, including every Cinebench benchmark and most PassMark subtests. The multi-thread advantage from 12 threads versus 6 is decisive in rendering, compression, encryption, and integer workloads. The 17.7% gap across all Cinebench tests is consistent and substantial. If the task involves content creation, data processing, or anything that scales with threads, the 3600XT is the clear pick.

The Intel Core 5 315 is the specialist. Its 46.1% single-thread PassMark lead and 40.8% floating-point advantage are not trivial. For workloads that are single-thread bound and floating-point heavy, the Intel part will outperform the AMD chip by a wide margin. The integrated graphics also make it viable for systems without a discrete GPU, something the AMD part cannot offer. Its mobile socket and lower TDP of 15 watts versus 95 watts suggest it belongs in thin-and-light designs where power draw matters more than raw throughput.

The percentile rankings are nearly identical: the Intel part sits at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, the AMD at the 71st. Average benchmark scores are also close, 18,188 for Intel and 17,891 for AMD. That means the overall class ranking is similar, but the workload profile is very different. The Ryzen is the jack-of-all-trades with a heavy lean toward multi-core; the Core 5 315 is a niche performer that wins in specific single-thread and floating-point scenarios.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT scores 15,776 versus 12,981 for the Intel Core 5 315, a 17.7% advantage for AMD.

Q: Is the Intel Core 5 315 better at any single test?

A: Yes, it wins PassMark floating-point math with 42,441 against 30,149, a 40.8% lead, and PassMark single-thread with 4,021 versus 2,752, a 46.1% lead.

Q: Does the Intel chip have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT has no integrated graphics.

Q: What are the thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT has 32 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to 6 MB (shared) on the Intel Core 5 315.

Q: What memory types do the two processors support?

A: The Intel Core 5 315 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel bus. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT supports DDR4 with a dual-channel bus.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results are uniform, almost suspiciously so. The AMD chip leads by 17.7% in R15 multi-core (1590 versus 1308), 17.9% in R15 single-core (224 versus 184), 17.7% in R20 multi-core (6625 versus 5452), 17.8% in R20 single-core (935 versus 769), 17.7% in R23 multi-core (15776 versus 12981), and 17.7% in R23 single-core (2227 versus 1832). The consistency of that margin suggests a fixed architectural advantage, likely the doubled thread count and the higher base clock.

The PassMark data compression test shows a much larger gap. AMD scores 230,645, Intel 146,143, a 36.6% delta. Data encryption is similarly decisive at 14,608 versus 11,119, a 23.9% gap. Integer math goes to AMD by 38.4% (51,416 versus 31,690). Random string sorting favors AMD by 29.7% (24,960 versus 17,551). These are workloads that benefit from large caches and many threads, both of which the Ryzen has in abundance.

The multithread PassMark test is a 17.7% win for AMD (18,562 versus 15,272), matching the Cinebench pattern. The physics test is closer, AMD wins by only 3.9% (1210 versus 1163). Extended instructions go to AMD by 9.9% (14,585 versus 13,143). Find prime numbers is nearly identical, 113 for AMD and 112 for Intel.

The Intel wins are concentrated but large. Floating-point math shows a 40.8% advantage (42,441 versus 30,149). Single-thread PassMark shows a 46.1% advantage (4,021 versus 2,752), appearing twice in the data under slightly different test names. These are the only tests where Intel comes out ahead, but the margins are the biggest in the entire comparison.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification category. The Intel Core 5 315 uses a 3 nm process node from Intel; the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT uses a 7 nm node from TSMC. The AMD chip lists 3,800 million transistors and a 74 mm² die size; the Intel part lists neither.

Core and thread counts are 6/6 for Intel and 6/12 for AMD. Base clocks are 1.50 GHz versus 3.80 GHz, boost clocks 4.40 GHz versus 4.50 GHz. TDP is 15 watts for Intel, 95 watts for AMD. Sockets are Intel BGA 1516 and AMD Socket AM4.

Cache: Intel has 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 32 MB shared L3. Memory support: Intel uses DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. AMD uses DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. Neither supports ECC.

PCIe: Intel has Gen 4 with 6 CPU-only lanes; AMD has Gen 4 with no lane count listed. Integrated graphics: Intel has Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores; AMD has none. Market segment: Intel is mobile, AMD is desktop. The Intel multiplier is locked; the AMD multiplier is unlocked. Release dates are 2026-04-15 for Intel and 2019-07-06 for AMD. Launch MSRP is $340 for Intel and $249 for AMD.