AMD Ryzen 5 4600U vs Intel Core i5-8305G Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U and the Intel Core i5-8305G present a fascinating generational clash between a modern 7nm mobile processor and a higher-power 14nm part from an earlier era. While both CPUs land at the 42nd percentile among all CPUs and share a nearly identical average benchmark score (1832 vs 1831), the data reveals a dramatic divergence in performance depending on the workload. The Ryzen 5 4600U dominates the shared benchmark suite, while the Intel chip offers a richer set of test data that paints a more complex picture of its capabilities.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The direct comparisons available in the data are unequivocal. Across all four shared benchmark tests, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U emerges as the victor, with the Intel Core i5-8305G failing to secure a single win. The most striking margin appears in the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where the Ryzen 5 4600U scores 175.5 against the Intel's 81. This represents a massive 116.7% advantage for AMD, suggesting that the Zen 2 architecture's per-core efficiency is leaps and bounds ahead of the older Kaby Lake design in this specific legacy workload.

The multi-core Cinebench R15 results tell a similar story, albeit with a smaller percentage gap. The Ryzen 5 4600U scores 1089, while the Intel Core i5-8305G manages only 578, giving AMD an 88.4% lead. This substantial difference is likely attributable to the AMD chip's higher core count (6 vs 4) and thread count (12 vs 8), combined with its superior single-thread performance. The data suggests that in heavily threaded, short-duration rendering tasks, the Ryzen processor is nearly twice as fast.

Moving to Geekbench, the margins narrow but still favor AMD. In the multi-core test, the Ryzen 5 4600U scores 4715 compared to the Intel's 3536, a 33.3% advantage. This is a more holistic measure of modern workloads and indicates that while the AMD chip still leads, the Intel i5-8305G is more competitive in this environment than it was in the Cinebench R15 tests. The single-core Geekbench result shows the smallest gap, with AMD scoring 1347 against Intel's 1150, a 17.1% lead. This suggests that for lightly threaded tasks, the performance difference, while notable, is less extreme than in other benchmarks.

The average benchmark scores for both processors are nearly identical, with the Ryzen 5 4600U at 1832 and the Intel Core i5-8305G at 1831, a delta of just 0.1%. This near-parity in the overall average, despite the AMD's sweep in the head-to-head tests, is a critical data point. It implies that the Intel chip must perform significantly better in the additional benchmarks it has data for (Cinebench R20 and R23) to pull its average up to match the AMD, which lacks those scores. The Intel's Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 2410 and R23 multi-core score of 5739 are its strongest recorded results, suggesting a resilience in longer, sustained workloads that the direct comparisons do not capture.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance in the shared benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U consistently wins in single-core tests. It leads the Intel Core i5-8305G by 116.7% in Cinebench R15 single-core (175.5 vs 81) and by 17.1% in Geekbench single-core (1347 vs 1150).

Q: How do the multi-core scores compare between the two CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U wins in both shared multi-core tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 1089 versus the Intel's 578, an 88.4% lead. In Geekbench multi-core, it scores 4715 versus 3536, a 33.3% lead.

Q: Is the overall benchmark average different between the two?

A: No, the overall average benchmark scores are virtually identical. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U has an average of 1832, while the Intel Core i5-8305G has an average of 1831, a negligible 0.1% difference.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: No, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U features 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i5-8305G has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the difference in their manufacturing process?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U is built on a 7nm process at TSMC, whereas the Intel Core i5-8305G uses a 14nm process at Intel. This represents a significant generational leap in manufacturing technology for the AMD part.

Q: Which CPU has a higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-8305G has a higher base clock of 2.80 GHz compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U's base clock of 2.10 GHz. However, the AMD chip has a higher boost clock of 4.00 GHz versus the Intel's 3.80 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is vast, representing different design philosophies from different eras. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U is based on the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Renoir, and is part of the 4000 series. It is fabricated on a 7nm process node at TSMC, which is a major factor in its power efficiency and performance density. The chip contains 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-8305G, in contrast, uses the older Kaby Lake architecture, specifically codenamed Kaby Lake G. It is built on Intel's 14nm process, a mature node that requires more power to achieve comparable performance levels.

The core configurations differ significantly. The AMD processor offers 6 cores and 12 threads, providing a substantial advantage in parallel processing. The Intel part provides 4 cores and 8 threads. Cache hierarchies also diverge. Both share a 64 KB L1 cache per core, but the AMD chip has a 512 KB L2 cache per core, double the Intel's 256 KB per core. For the shared L3 cache, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U has 8 MB shared, while the Intel Core i5-8305G has 6 MB shared. These differences in core count and cache size contribute to the AMD's dominance in multi-threaded benchmarks.

The integrated graphics are another notable architectural distinction. The AMD processor features the Radeon RX Vega 6, while the Intel processor is paired with the Radeon RX Vega M GL. Despite both being mobile parts, the "M" in the Intel's GPU designation suggests a different performance tier. The memory support also differs, with the AMD chip supporting both DDR4 and LPDDR4 in a dual-channel configuration, offering a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the Intel part only lists support for DDR4 with no specified bandwidth or bus width. The AMD chip also uses PCIe Gen 3, while the Intel entry does not list a PCIe specification.

Specification Differences

Beyond the core architectural changes, several key specifications set these two processors apart. The most obvious is the TDP, where the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U is rated at 15 watts, compared to the Intel Core i5-8305G's much higher 65 watts. This 50-watt difference is critical for mobile applications, indicating the AMD chip is designed for significantly lower power consumption and heat output. The processor sockets are also incompatible: the AMD uses AMD Socket FP6, while the Intel uses Intel BGA 2270.

Clock speeds present a nuanced picture. The Intel chip has a higher base clock of 2.80 GHz compared to the AMD's 2.10 GHz. However, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U has a higher boost clock at 4.00 GHz versus the Intel's 3.80 GHz. This suggests the Intel chip may feel more responsive in short, light workloads at its base frequency, but the AMD chip can scale higher when needed. The release dates are also different, with the Intel Core i5-8305G launching on 2018-01-31 and the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U launching nearly two years later on 2020-01-05.

The cache configurations are a point of differentiation. While both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, the AMD chip has 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and the Intel chip has 256 KB. The shared L3 cache also differs, with AMD offering 8 MB and Intel offering 6 MB. The transistor count and die size are only listed for the AMD processor, with 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die, while these figures are not provided for the Intel part. The part number is also listed for the AMD chip (100-000000105), but not for the Intel processor. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear performance hierarchy. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U is the outright winner in every benchmark where both processors were tested. Its 88.4% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 116.7% lead in single-core demonstrate a massive generational leap in processing power. The Geekbench results, while closer, still show a decisive 33.3% multi-core and 17.1% single-core advantage for AMD. For any user prioritizing raw performance in the tested workloads, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U is the superior choice.

The Intel Core i5-8305G's only redeeming statistics are its higher base clock speed (2.80 GHz vs 2.10 GHz) and its additional benchmark scores in Cinebench R20 and R23, where it posts strong numbers (2410 multi-core and 5739 multi-core, respectively). These scores are not directly comparable to the AMD's data, but they suggest the Intel chip can handle sustained, demanding workloads without faltering. Its high TDP of 65 watts, compared to the AMD's 15 watts, indicates it is designed for systems with more robust cooling and power delivery, potentially allowing for more consistent performance over extended periods. However, this comes at the cost of significant power efficiency.

From a pure performance-per-watt perspective, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U is in a different league. The 7nm process and Zen 2 architecture deliver far superior performance at a fraction of the power budget. The processor choice ultimately depends on the user's priorities. The data clearly favors the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U for its benchmark victories in the shared tests, its higher core count, and its dramatically lower power consumption. The Intel chip's higher base clock and sustained workload scores do not overcome the substantial deficits seen in the direct comparison.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U wins in all categories where a direct comparison exists. It is the clear victor in Cinebench R15 multi-core and single-core, as well as in Geekbench multi-core and single-core. This indicates it is the better processor for a wide range of tasks, including general productivity, multi-threaded content creation, and even lightly-threaded applications that benefit from high single-core performance.

The Intel Core i5-8305G's "wins" are more nuanced and are not based on direct head-to-head wins. It can be considered the better choice in scenarios where its higher base clock of 2.80 GHz might provide snappier response in very short, bursty tasks that do not require boosting. Additionally, its strong performance in the Cinebench R20 and R23 benchmarks, which are not available for the AMD chip, suggests it may be more robust in sustained, long-form rendering workloads. However, this comes with the heavy caveat of its 65-watt TDP, which necessitates a more substantial cooling solution.

For a user building a thin-and-light laptop, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U is the logical choice, offering superior performance in all tested benchmarks while only drawing 15 watts of power. For a user with a larger, more power-hungry mobile workstation where sustained multi-core performance is critical and power consumption is less of a concern, the Intel Core i5-8305G's additional benchmark scores in Cinebench R20 and R23 suggest it might hold its own in extended sessions, despite losing every direct comparison. The data, however, does not provide enough evidence to recommend the Intel chip over the AMD for any specific task, as the AMD simply outperforms it in every measurable shared test.