AMD Ryzen 5 4500U vs Intel Core i3-10105T Comparison

The Intel Core i3-10105T and the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U are two very different processors that happen to land in a similar performance bracket. The data shows a clear split: the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U dominates in older and single-threaded workloads, while the Intel Core i3-10105T takes the lead in a modern multi-threaded benchmark. The Ryzen 5 4500U wins three of the four head-to-head tests, yet the Intel chip counters with a decisive victory in the most recent Cinebench version. Each processor has a distinct role, and the choice depends heavily on the intended workload and platform.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 4500U is the stronger choice for single-threaded and legacy multi-threaded tasks. In Cinebench R15, it scores 892 in multi-core against the Intel's 670, a 24.9% advantage. The single-core gap is even more pronounced: the Ryzen scores 174 versus Intel's 94, a 46% lead. This makes the Ryzen 5 4500U the better option for applications that rely on older instruction sets or where per-core speed is paramount, such as everyday productivity, web browsing, and light content creation that is not fully optimized for newer AVX-512 or multi-threading patterns.

The Intel Core i3-10105T wins in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, posting 6656 against the Ryzen's 5920, a 12.4% margin. This benchmark is more representative of modern, heavily threaded workloads, and the Intel chip's 8 threads (4 cores, 8 threads) outpace the Ryzen's 6 threads (6 cores, no SMT) in this scenario. The Intel processor is the pick for users running contemporary rendering, encoding, or compilation tasks that scale well with thread count and benefit from the newer benchmark's optimization.

The Ryzen 5 4500U also wins the only single-core test in Cinebench R23, scoring 1152 versus Intel's 939, an 18.5% lead. This reinforces its strength in lightly threaded scenarios, but the Intel part's multi-threaded win suggests that in mixed workloads, the Ryzen is better for quick, bursty tasks while Intel holds up better under sustained multi-core load.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different designs. The Intel Core i3-10105T is based on the Comet Lake architecture, specifically the Comet Lake-R codename, built on Intel's 14 nm process node. It is a desktop part that fits into Intel Socket 1200. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. Its thermal design power is 35 watts, reflecting a desktop-oriented power envelope. The cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

The AMD Ryzen 5 4500U is a mobile processor using the Zen 2 architecture with the Renoir codename, fabricated on TSMC's 7 nm process. It uses AMD Socket FP6. This chip has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading, with a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The TDP is 15 watts, which is typical for an ultraportable laptop processor. The cache setup includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core (double the Intel's per-core L2), and 8 MB of shared L3 cache (2 MB more than Intel). The Ryzen also has a higher memory bandwidth at 51.2 GB/s compared to Intel's 42.7 GB/s, and it supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4 memory.

The process node difference is significant: 14 nm for Intel versus 7 nm for AMD. This allows the Ryzen to pack 9,800 million transistors into a 156 mm² die, while the Intel chip does not have listed transistor or die size data. The Ryzen's smaller process node contributes to its lower TDP despite having two more cores. The Intel part has a PCIe Gen 3.0 implementation with 16 lanes, while the Ryzen offers 12 lanes, but both support PCIe Gen 3.0. The integrated graphics also differ: Intel uses UHD Graphics 630, while AMD uses Radeon Graphics with 384 shader processors.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a clear pattern of wins for the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U, but with one important exception. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen scores 892 versus Intel's 670, a delta of -24.9% for Intel (meaning Intel is 24.9% slower). This is a substantial lead for AMD, likely due to the higher core count and better per-core performance in that benchmark version.

In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Ryzen scores 174 versus Intel's 94, a delta of -46%. This is the largest margin in the entire comparison. The Ryzen's single-core performance is nearly double that of the Intel part in this older test. This suggests that for any workload that is not heavily multi-threaded, the Ryzen 5 4500U will feel significantly faster.

The picture changes in Cinebench R23 multi-core. Here, the Intel Core i3-10105T scores 6656 against the Ryzen's 5920, a delta of 12.4% in Intel's favor. This is a notable reversal. The Intel chip's 8 threads are better utilized in this benchmark, and its higher TDP (35 watts versus 15 watts) likely allows it to sustain higher clocks under load. The Ryzen's lack of SMT may be a disadvantage in this specific test, as it has only 6 threads to Intel's 8.

In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ryzen returns to form, scoring 1152 against Intel's 939, a delta of -18.5% for Intel. While this is a smaller gap than in R15, the Ryzen still holds a clear lead. The data shows that the Ryzen 5 4500U is consistently better in single-threaded tests, while the Intel chip can win in a well-optimized multi-threaded workload.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4500U scores 1152, while the Intel Core i3-10105T scores 939. The Ryzen leads by 18.5%.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-10105T ever beat the Ryzen 5 4500U in a benchmark?

A: Yes, the Intel chip wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 6656 versus the Ryzen's 5920, a 12.4% advantage.

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: The Intel Core i3-10105T has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U has 6 cores and 6 threads. The Intel part uses Hyper-Threading, while the Ryzen does not support SMT.

Q: How does the TDP compare between the two?

A: The Intel Core i3-10105T has a TDP of 35 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U has a TDP of 15 watts. The Ryzen is designed for mobile platforms with lower power consumption.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4500U has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i3-10105T has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen also has 512 KB of L2 per core versus Intel's 256 KB per core.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth capabilities?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4500U supports up to 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the Intel Core i3-10105T supports up to 42.7 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory, but the Ryzen also supports LPDDR4.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to different buyers for each chip. The AMD Ryzen 5 4500U is the stronger performer in single-threaded tasks and in older multi-threaded benchmarks. Its wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core (892 versus 670, a 24.9% lead) and single-core (174 versus 94, a 46% lead) make it the better choice for general productivity, web applications, and any software that does not fully exploit the latest multi-threading optimizations. The Ryzen also has a 18.5% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core, confirming its per-core strength. For users who prioritize responsiveness in day-to-day tasks and work with lighter applications, the Ryzen 5 4500U is the clear winner.

The Intel Core i3-10105T is the pick for sustained, modern multi-threaded workloads. Its 12.4% victory in Cinebench R23 multi-core (6656 versus 5920) demonstrates that in a contemporary rendering or encoding scenario, the Intel chip can outperform the Ryzen despite having fewer cores. The Intel part's 35-watt TDP allows for higher sustained clocks, and its 8 threads are better suited to heavily parallel tasks that are optimized for newer benchmark versions. The desktop platform also offers a different upgrade path, with the Intel Socket 1200 and its 16 PCIe lanes providing more expansion options.

The data does not support a single "best" processor. The Ryzen 5 4500U wins three of four head-to-head tests, but the Intel chip wins the most demanding one. The average benchmark scores are very close: the Intel chip averages 2058 and the Ryzen averages 2035, putting them within 1% of each other. The percentile ranks are also similar, with the Intel at 46 and the Ryzen at 45. This means that in a broad mix of applications, the two will perform nearly identically. The choice comes down to the specific workload: the Ryzen for single-threaded and lighter tasks, the Intel for modern multi-threaded rendering or encoding.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Intel Core i3-10105T has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U has 6 cores and 6 threads. The Intel base clock is 3.00 GHz, the Ryzen's is 2.30 GHz. The boost clocks are closer: 3.90 GHz for Intel versus 4.00 GHz for AMD. The TDP differs significantly: 35 watts for Intel versus 15 watts for AMD.

The process node is a major difference: Intel uses 14 nm, AMD uses 7 nm from TSMC. The Ryzen has 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die, while the Intel chip has no listed transistor or die size data. The L2 cache is 256 KB per core for Intel and 512 KB per core for AMD. The L3 cache is 6 MB shared for Intel and 8 MB shared for AMD.

Memory support also differs: Intel supports DDR4, while AMD supports DDR4 and LPDDR4. The memory bandwidth is 42.7 GB/s for Intel and 51.2 GB/s for AMD. The PCIe implementation is Gen 3 with 16 lanes for Intel and Gen 3 with 12 lanes for AMD. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 630 for Intel and Radeon Graphics 384SP for AMD. The socket is Intel Socket 1200 for the Intel chip and AMD Socket FP6 for the AMD chip. The Intel part is a desktop processor with a 35-watt TDP, while the AMD part is a mobile processor with a 15-watt TDP. The release dates differ as well: the Intel chip was released on March 15, 2021, while the AMD chip was released on January 5, 2020. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $134, while the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP.