AMD Ryzen 5 4600U vs Intel Core i3-9320 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The direct benchmark data available for this comparison is limited to two Cinebench R15 runs, and the results are decisive. In the multi-core test, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U scores 1089 against the Intel Core i3-9320's 630, a 72.9% advantage. That is a massive gap, and it aligns with the core and thread count disparity between the two parts. The Ryzen's 6 cores and 12 threads simply outmuscle the Intel's 4 cores and 4 threads in a fully threaded workload.

The single-core result is even more lopsided on a percentage basis. The Ryzen 5 4600U posts 175.5 in Cinebench R15 single-core, while the Core i3-9320 manages only 88. That is a 99.4% delta, meaning the AMD part nearly doubles the Intel part's single-threaded score in this specific test. This is surprising given the Intel's higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz versus 4.00 GHz, but the Zen 2 architecture's instruction-per-clock efficiency appears to override the raw clock speed disadvantage.

There are no recorded wins for the Intel Core i3-9320 in the head-to-head data. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U takes both available benchmark comparisons. The database's aggregate benchmark score tells a similar story: the Ryzen averages 1832 across all tested workloads, while the Core i3-9320 averages 1808. That is a narrow overall margin of roughly 1.3%, but the Cinebench R15 results show a much wider gulf in specific workloads.

Looking at the nearest rivals for context, the Ryzen 5 4600U sits at the 42nd percentile of all CPUs, with its closest competitors being the Intel Core i5-8305G (1831 average, 0.1% delta) and the Intel Xeon E5-2608L v3 (1830 average, 0.1% delta). The Core i3-9320 also sits at the 42nd percentile, with its nearest rival being the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650U (1810 average, -0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i3-9100 (1806 average, 0.1% delta). Both CPUs occupy the same percentile tier, but the Ryzen's raw score advantage in the shared test is substantial.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental design philosophies of these two processors could not be more different. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U is built on TSMC's 7 nm process node, packing 9,800 million transistors into a 156 mm² die. The Intel Core i3-9320 uses Intel's 14 nm process with a 126 mm² die size and no transistor count listed in the database. The 7 nm node gives AMD a significant efficiency and density advantage, which directly explains the Ryzen's 15 W TDP against the Core i3-9320's 62 W TDP.

The core configurations diverge sharply. The Ryzen 5 4600U offers 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Core i3-9320 provides only 4 cores and 4 threads. The Ryzen runs on the Zen 2 architecture with the Renoir codename, part of the 4000 series. The Intel part uses the older Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake Refresh generation. This generation gap is visible in the cache layout: both share 8 MB of L3 cache, but the L2 cache differs, with the Ryzen offering 512 KB per core against the Intel's 256 KB per core. L1 cache is identical at 64 KB per core.

Memory support also separates the two. The Ryzen 5 4600U supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4 memory with dual-channel access and a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The Core i3-9320 supports only DDR4, also dual-channel, but with a lower memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel part supports ECC memory, while the Ryzen does not. Both use PCIe Gen 3, though the Intel listing specifies 16 lanes for the CPU only.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Ryzen 5 4600U carries Radeon RX Vega 6 graphics, while the Core i3-9320 uses UHD Graphics 630. The market segments are distinct: the Ryzen is a mobile part on AMD Socket FP6, while the Intel is a desktop part on Socket 1151. The production status also differs, with the Ryzen listed as active and the Intel listed as end-of-life. The Ryzen launched on 2020-01-05, while the Intel launched earlier on 2019-04-22.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core i3-9320 has 4 cores and 4 threads. This gives the Ryzen a clear advantage in multi-threaded workloads.

Q: Why does the Intel Core i3-9320 have a higher boost clock but still lose in single-core performance?

A: The Intel boosts to 4.40 GHz versus the AMD's 4.00 GHz, yet the Ryzen scores 175.5 versus 88 in Cinebench R15 single-core. The Zen 2 architecture's higher instructions-per-clock efficiency offsets the clock speed difference.

Q: What is the power consumption difference between these two CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U has a TDP of 15 W, while the Intel Core i3-9320 has a TDP of 62 W. That is a substantial difference, reflecting the 7 nm process node used by AMD versus Intel's 14 nm node.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i3-9320 supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U does not list ECC support in the database.

Q: Are these CPUs in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both sit at the 42nd percentile of all CPUs. However, the Ryzen 5 4600U has a higher average benchmark score of 1832 versus 1808 for the Core i3-9320.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U is listed as active and currently in production. The Intel Core i3-9320 is listed as end-of-life, meaning it is no longer actively produced.

The Verdict

The benchmark data clearly favors the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U in every recorded head-to-head test. The multi-core Cinebench R15 result shows a 72.9% lead, and the single-core result shows a 99.4% lead. If you are choosing purely on measured performance, the Ryzen is the stronger part. The Ryzen also offers double the threads, a more advanced 7 nm process node, higher memory bandwidth, and a dramatically lower TDP of 15 W versus 62 W.

The Intel Core i3-9320 does have some advantages worth noting. It supports ECC memory, which the Ryzen does not. Its launch MSRP was $154, though the database does not list a price for the Ryzen, so direct cost comparison is not possible from this data. The Intel also has a higher boost clock and is a desktop part, which may matter for system builders targeting Socket 1151 platforms.

For a mobile or low-power system, the Ryzen 5 4600U is the obvious choice given its 15 W TDP and superior benchmark scores. For a desktop build where ECC memory support is a requirement, the Core i3-9320 holds a specific niche. But on raw performance, the Ryzen wins both available benchmark comparisons, and the aggregate score difference, while small, still favors AMD.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U uses 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i3-9320 uses 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.10 GHz for the AMD and 3.70 GHz for the Intel, while boost clocks are 4.00 GHz and 4.40 GHz respectively. TDP is 15 W for the AMD versus 62 W for the Intel. The AMD uses AMD Socket FP6, while the Intel uses Intel Socket 1151.

The architecture is Zen 2 with the Renoir codename for AMD, versus Coffee Lake for Intel. The process node is 7 nm from TSMC for AMD, versus 14 nm from Intel. Transistor count is 9,800 million for AMD, with no listed count for Intel. Die size is 156 mm² for AMD versus 126 mm² for Intel. L2 cache is 512 KB per core for AMD versus 256 KB per core for Intel, while L3 cache is 8 MB shared for both.

Memory support differs: AMD supports DDR4 and LPDDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel supports only DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is supported on Intel but not on AMD. Integrated graphics are Radeon RX Vega 6 for AMD versus UHD Graphics 630 for Intel. The market segment is mobile for AMD and desktop for Intel. Production status is active for AMD and end-of-life for Intel. The release dates are 2020-01-05 for AMD and 2019-04-22 for Intel. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $154; the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U wins in every recorded benchmark from the database. It takes the Cinebench R15 multi-core test with a 72.9% margin and the single-core test with a 99.4% margin. The Ryzen also offers advantages in thread count, process node efficiency, memory bandwidth, and power consumption. For any workload that scales with cores or threads, such as rendering, compilation, or content creation, the Ryzen is the clear choice based on the data.

The Intel Core i3-9320 does not win any recorded benchmark, but it does have specific feature-based advantages. ECC memory support makes it suitable for workstation or server-style builds where data integrity is critical. The higher base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz may appeal to users who favor higher clock speeds, even though the benchmark data does not show a performance benefit. The desktop market segment and Socket 1151 compatibility could be relevant for those upgrading existing Intel platforms.

For a mobile or ultra-low-power system, the Ryzen 5 4600U's 15 W TDP is a decisive factor. For a desktop system requiring ECC memory, the Core i3-9320 fills that role. The database shows the Ryzen as the faster processor in both tested workloads, and the aggregate benchmark score confirms it as the stronger overall performer. The Core i3-9320's appeal rests on feature support and platform compatibility rather than measured speed.