AMD Ryzen 5 5500 vs Intel Core i5-1345U Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and Intel Core i5-1345U represent two fundamentally different approaches to processor design, one aimed at desktop performance and the other at mobile efficiency. The data shows a decisive overall victory for the AMD part, which wins 14 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the Intel chip claims only three wins. Despite this, the Intel processor demonstrates a distinct advantage in single-threaded workloads, making the choice between them highly dependent on the intended use case.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is the clear choice for any multi-threaded or compute-intensive workload. Its benchmark results are dominant across the board, with particularly large margins in rendering and data processing tasks. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD part scores 16429 against the Intel’s 7724, a massive 112.7% advantage. Similarly, in PassMark data compression, the AMD processor achieves 245533 points versus 164005 for Intel, a 49.7% lead. The pattern continues in data encryption (14851 vs 10288, a 44.4% delta), extended instructions (17236 vs 9178, an 87.8% delta), and integer math (65001 vs 52847, a 23% delta). For users running video rendering, software compilation, or scientific simulations, the Ryzen 5 5500 is the superior part.

The Intel Core i5-1345U wins in only three specific areas, but they are significant. It takes the PassMark single-thread test with a score of 3415 versus 3058 for AMD, a 10.5% advantage. It also edges ahead in Cinebench R15 single-core (240 vs 233, a 2.9% delta). These wins indicate that for lightly-threaded applications like web browsing, office productivity, or legacy software that relies on a single core, the Intel chip provides a snappier experience. The third win is in Cinebench R15 single-core as well, which is redundant, meaning the Intel processor’s real advantage is confined to single-threaded performance.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on entirely different foundations. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 uses the Zen 3 architecture, code-named Cezanne, fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It features 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The chip has 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of L3 cache.

The Intel Core i5-1345U employs the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-U, built on Intel’s 10 nm process. It has 10 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 1600 MHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The cache layout is different: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Intel part also integrates Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 has no integrated graphics. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, whereas the AMD part only supports DDR4. The AMD processor uses PCIe Gen 3, while Intel moves to Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU.

The TDP figures highlight their divergent design goals: the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 draws 65 W, while the Intel Core i5-1345U is rated at 15 W. This 50 W difference reflects the desktop versus mobile positioning of the two parts.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is significantly faster. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 16429 versus 7724 for the Intel Core i5-1345U, a 112.7% advantage. The AMD part also leads in Cinebench R20 multi-core by 39.6% (6900 vs 4942) and R15 multi-core by 26.3% (1656 vs 1311).

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-1345U have any advantages over the AMD Ryzen 5 5500?

A: Yes, in single-threaded benchmarks. The Intel chip scores 3415 in PassMark single-thread versus 3058 for AMD, a 10.5% difference. It also wins Cinebench R15 single-core with 240 points versus 233, a 2.9% lead. This suggests better performance in lightly-threaded applications.

Q: What are the memory support differences between these two CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 supports only DDR4 memory, while the Intel Core i5-1345U supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use a dual-channel memory bus, but the AMD part has a specified memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the Intel chip’s bandwidth is not listed.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-1345U includes Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 does not have any integrated graphics, meaning a discrete GPU is required for display output.

Q: How do the core counts and clock speeds compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-1345U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel chip has a higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz versus 4.20 GHz for AMD, but a much lower base clock of 1600 MHz versus 3.60 GHz.

Q: Which processor is better for a desktop PC build?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is designed for desktop use with an AMD Socket AM4. It has a 65 W TDP and is unlocked for overclocking. The Intel Core i5-1345U uses Intel BGA 1744, a mobile socket, and has a 15 W TDP, making it unsuitable for standard desktop motherboards.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 5500 | Intel Core i5-1345U |

|----------------|------------------|---------------------|

| Architecture | Zen 3 | Raptor Lake |

| Codename | Cezanne | Raptor Lake-U |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Cores | 6 | 10 |

| Threads | 12 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 1600 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.20 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 15 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel BGA 1744 |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | Not specified |

| PCIe Version | Gen 3 | Gen 4, 8 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Iris Xe Graphics 80EU |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $159 | $309 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the entire comparison is the Cinebench R23 multi-core test. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 scores 16429, more than double the Intel Core i5-1345U’s 7724, representing a 112.7% delta. This is the largest margin in any benchmark between the two, and it underscores the AMD part’s immense advantage in heavily threaded rendering workloads. The gap is also substantial in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where AMD leads 6900 to 4942, a 39.6% difference.

In PassMark extended instructions, the AMD processor scores 17236 versus 9178 for Intel, an 87.8% advantage. This indicates a major difference in performance for workloads that use advanced CPU instruction sets, such as cryptography or multimedia encoding. Similarly, PassMark data compression shows AMD’s 245533 against Intel’s 164005, a 49.7% lead, while data encryption results in a 44.4% advantage for AMD (14851 vs 10288).

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 also wins PassMark multi-thread with 19330 points versus 14511, a 33.2% delta, and PassMark integer math with 65001 versus 52847, a 23% lead. PassMark random string sorting goes to AMD by 31.1% (24757 vs 18888), and PassMark find prime numbers shows a 19.1% advantage (56 vs 47). Even in floating-point math, where the delta is smallest, AMD still wins with 36815 versus 35939, a 2.4% edge.

The Intel Core i5-1345U’s wins are confined to single-threaded tests. It wins PassMark single-thread with 3415 points versus 3058 for AMD, a 10.5% advantage. In Cinebench R15 single-core, Intel scores 240 versus 233, a 2.9% lead. The third win in the head-to-head list is the duplicate PassMark single-thread result, which reinforces the same point. The Intel chip’s higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz, compared to 4.20 GHz for AMD, likely contributes to this single-thread advantage.

It is importantly despite the Intel chip’s higher boost clock and 10 cores, the AMD part’s higher base clock of 3.60 GHz versus 1600 MHz and its more efficient architecture deliver vastly superior multi-core performance. The Intel Core i5-1345U’s 15 W TDP suggests it is designed for sustained efficiency in thin-and-light laptops, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500’s 65 W TDP reflects its desktop-oriented design. The average benchmark scores confirm the overall picture: AMD Ryzen 5 5500 posts an average of 19593, while Intel Core i5-1345U averages 19411. The nearest rivals for the AMD part include the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 at 19617 and Intel Core i5-12500 at 19668, indicating the Ryzen 5 5500 sits in a competitive segment. For the Intel chip, its nearest rivals are Intel Core Ultra 5 226V at 19368 and AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS at 19364, showing it performs in line with its mobile peers.