AMD Ryzen 5 5500U vs Intel Core i3-10320 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U and Intel Core i3-10320 are closely matched overall, both landing in the 69th percentile of all CPUs, but they achieve that status through very different performance profiles. The Ryzen 5 5500U wins the majority of the head-to-head benchmarks, 9 out of 15, leveraging its six cores and twelve threads. However, the Intel Core i3-10320 posts decisive victories in several key tests, including the more modern Cinebench R23 multi-core workload, making the choice between them highly dependent on the specific application.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel Core i3-10320 scores 8486, which is 18.1% higher than the Ryzen 5 5500U's 7186. This is a major win for Intel, as it suggests the desktop chip's higher power envelope and sustained clock speeds are more effective in this rendering workload than the AMD's two additional cores. This single result flips the expected narrative of core-count dominance.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U, however, dominates the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test, scoring 1247 against Intel's 855, a 31.4% advantage. The Ryzen also wins in single-core performance in R15, scoring 177 versus 120, a 32.2% lead. This discrepancy between benchmark versions is notable, indicating that the Ryzen's architecture is optimized for the older test's threading model, while the Intel chip excels in the newer, more demanding R23 workload.

In the PassMark suite, the Ryzen 5 5500U shows its strength in data-intensive tasks. It performs 66.8% better in data encryption (10405 vs 3458) and 31.3% better in integer math (45258 vs 31071). The floating-point math test also goes to AMD, with a 25.1% advantage (26029 vs 19483). The Ryzen's lead extends to data compression, where it scores 174584, a 19.7% improvement over the Intel's 140255, and to multithreaded performance overall, winning by 22.2% (12831 vs 9982).

The Intel Core i3-10320 counters with a strong showing in PassMark's single-thread test, scoring 2841, which is 17.4% higher than the AMD's 2419. It also wins the physics test decisively, scoring 689 against 533, a 29.3% margin. In the prime number finding test, Intel scores 32 versus 26, a 23.1% lead, and edges out a 2.2% win in Cinebench R23 single-core (1198 vs 1172). The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U wins the random string sorting test by a smaller 6.4% margin (19035 vs 17821).

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-10320 is the clear winner for physics simulations and prime number calculations, suggesting an edge in workloads that are sensitive to raw single-thread speed and certain mathematical operations. Its 17.4% lead in PassMark single-thread performance reinforces this, making it a better fit for older, less parallelized applications that rely on one or two fast cores. The 18.1% victory in Cinebench R23 multi-core is a significant outlier, indicating that Intel's architecture also has the capability to win in specific modern, heavily threaded rendering scenarios.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U is the superior choice for security and data processing. Its 66.8% lead in encryption is a massive advantage, and the 31.3% lead in integer math makes it ideal for database operations, financial modeling, and general productivity. The 25.1% win in floating-point math points to strengths in scientific computing and 3D rendering, while the 19.7% advantage in data compression benefits file archiving and backup tasks. The 22.2% win in PassMark multithread suggests it handles concurrent heavy loads better in most everyday scenarios.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i3-10320 wins, scoring 1198 compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U's 1172, a 2.2% difference.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U always faster in multi-core workloads?

A: No. While it wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 31.4% and PassMark multithread by 22.2%, the Intel Core i3-10320 wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by a significant 18.1% margin.

Q: How large is the performance gap in data encryption?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U is substantially faster, scoring 10405 versus the Intel's 3458, which is a 66.8% advantage.

Q: Which CPU has the better average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-10320 has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 14852, compared to the AMD's 14589. However, both are rated in the 69th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-10320 win any PassMark tests?

A: Yes, it wins the PassMark single-thread test (2841 vs 2419), the physics test (689 vs 533), and the find prime numbers test (32 vs 26).

Q: In which tests does the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U have its biggest win?

A: Its largest win is in PassMark data encryption, where it is 66.8% ahead of the Intel processor.

Specification Differences

The fundamental difference is the market segment. The Intel Core i3-10320 is a desktop processor with a 91 TDP, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U is a mobile processor with a 15 TDP. This explains the core count disparity: the AMD has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel has 4 cores and 8 threads. Clock speeds also differ, with the Intel having a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost of 4.60 GHz, compared to the AMD's lower 2.10 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost.

The memory bandwidth is higher on the AMD, rated at 51.2 GB/s versus Intel's 42.7 GB/s. PCIe support also differs, with the Intel offering Gen 3 with 16 lanes and the AMD offering Gen 3 with 12 lanes. The integrated graphics are different, with Intel featuring UHD Graphics 630 and AMD featuring Radeon Graphics 448SP. Finally, the release dates show the Intel launched in 2020-04-29, while the AMD launched later in 2021-01-11.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i3-10320 is built on the Comet Lake architecture and codename, using a 14 nm process node manufactured by Intel. In contrast, the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U uses the Zen 2 architecture under the codename Lucienne, built on a much smaller 7 nm process node from TSMC. The AMD chip has 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die, while the Intel's transistor count and die size are not specified.

Cache configurations are similar in size but differ in layout. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The key difference is in L2 cache, where the AMD has 512 KB per core, double the Intel's 256 KB per core. This larger L2 cache likely contributes to the AMD's strong performance in data-heavy tasks like encryption. The AMD also has a different generation classification, being part of the 5000 series, compared to Intel's Core 10th Gen.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear choice based on workload. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U is the better pick for general-purpose productivity and security-focused tasks. It wins the majority of tests and shows overwhelming advantages in encryption (66.8%), integer math (31.3%), and floating-point math (25.1%). Its 6-core, 12-thread design is more versatile for parallel workloads like data compression and multi-threaded applications, making it the better all-rounder for most users.

The Intel Core i3-10320 is the better pick for users whose primary applications are sensitive to single-thread performance and specific physics calculations. Its wins in PassMark single-thread (17.4%), physics (29.3%), and prime numbers (23.1%) show a distinct edge in these areas. The unexpected 18.1% victory in Cinebench R23 multi-core is a strong signal for rendering workloads that use that benchmark's engine. However, the Intel's wins are fewer and more specialized, meaning the AMD offers a more broadly applicable performance profile despite its lower average benchmark score. For a user needing raw speed in a narrow set of tasks, Intel wins; for everything else, AMD takes the crown.