AMD Ryzen 5 8500G vs Intel Core 3 304 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G, which records 16 wins against a single win for the Intel Core 3 304. The average benchmark score confirms the separation: the Ryzen 5 8500G sits at 20425, while the Intel Core 3 304 averages 13745, a gap of roughly 48.6 percent when calculated from the recorded figures.

The largest margin appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the AMD part scores 18368 against 5263 for the Intel chip, a delta of 249 percent. That result indicates a workload where the Ryzen 5 8500G delivers more than triple the performance. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a similar pattern, with the AMD processor at 1851 versus 849 for the Intel part, a 118 percent advantage. Cinebench R20 multi-core continues the trend: 7714 for the AMD versus 4160 for the Intel, an 85.4 percent lead.

Integer math performance also heavily favors the AMD processor. The PassMark integer math test records 63123 for the Ryzen 5 8500G and 24640 for the Core 3 304, a 156.2 percent difference. Data compression follows with 250197 versus 114775, a 118 percent margin. Random string sorting shows a 115.3 percent advantage for the AMD chip, with scores of 29407 and 13659 respectively.

The single-core picture is closer but still favors the AMD processor. PassMark single-thread scores are 3891 for the Ryzen 5 8500G and 3614 for the Intel Core 3 304, a 7.7 percent lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a larger gap: 2593 versus 1765, a 46.9 percent difference. The sole Intel win is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Core 3 304 scores 264 versus 261 for the AMD part, a narrow 1.1 percent margin.

Other tests reinforce the AMD advantage. Floating point math shows 39074 for the AMD versus 29722 for the Intel, a 31.5 percent lead. Data encryption records 14220 against 8501, a 67.3 percent margin. Extended instructions show 19098 against 9686, a 97.2 percent difference. Physics simulation scores 1318 versus 868, a 51.8 percent lead. Even the prime number test, where absolute scores are lower, favors the AMD part at 87 versus 68, a 27.9 percent edge. The overall PassMark multithread score is 21610 for the AMD and 11625 for the Intel, an 85.9 percent advantage.

In terms of database percentile rankings, the Ryzen 5 8500G sits at the 74th percentile among all CPUs, while the Core 3 304 sits at the 68th percentile. The nearest rivals for the AMD processor include the AMD EPYC 9454P with an average score of 20422 and a 0 percent delta, the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V at 20454 with a -0.1 percent delta, and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 at 20468 with a -0.2 percent delta. The Intel Core 3 304 aligns with a different performance tier, placing near the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX at 13786 with a -0.3 percent delta and the Intel Core i7-8750H at 13868 with a -0.9 percent delta.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G scores 18368, while the Intel Core 3 304 scores 5263, giving the AMD part a 249 percent advantage.

Q: Did the Intel Core 3 304 win any benchmark in the head-to-head data?

A: Yes, the Intel Core 3 304 wins Cinebench R15 single-core with a score of 264 versus 261 for the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G, a 1.1 percent margin.

Q: How do the two compare in PassMark single-thread performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G scores 3891 and the Intel Core 3 304 scores 3614, a 7.7 percent lead for the AMD processor.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G has an average benchmark score of 20425, and the Intel Core 3 304 has an average benchmark score of 13745.

Q: Which processor has a higher CPU percentile ranking in the database?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G ranks at the 74th percentile, while the Intel Core 3 304 ranks at the 68th percentile.

Q: How large is the gap in the PassMark multithread test?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G scores 21610, and the Intel Core 3 304 scores 11625, a difference of 85.9 percent.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design lineages. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Phoenix2 codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake codename with a 3 nm process at Intel. The AMD part integrates 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die, while the Intel part does not have recorded transistor or die size figures in the database.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads, meaning it lacks simultaneous multithreading. This structural difference explains much of the multi-core benchmark gap, since the AMD processor can process twice as many threads concurrently.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The AMD processor allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, with 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part lists 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger shared L3 on the AMD side provides more room for frequently accessed data across all cores.

Memory architecture differs as well. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G supports DDR5 over a dual-channel memory bus with 83.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The dual-channel configuration on the AMD part records a higher theoretical bandwidth figure. ECC memory support is present on the AMD processor but absent on the Intel processor.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G provides Gen 4 with 14 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel Core 3 304 provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics differ as well: the AMD part uses a Radeon 740M, and the Intel part uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G belongs to the 8000 series and targets the mobile market segment with a TDP of 65 watts. The Intel Core 3 304 also targets the mobile segment but carries a TDP of 15 watts. Both processors are currently marked as active in production.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 8500G | Intel Core 3 304 |

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

| Cores | 6 | 5 |

| Threads | 12 | 5 |

| Base clock | 3.50 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 15 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Process node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| L1 cache | 64 KB per core | 192 KB |

| L2 cache | 1 MB per core | 2.5 MB |

| L3 cache | 16 MB shared | 6 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory bus | Dual-channel | Single-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | 59.7 GB/s |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 14 lanes | Gen 4, 6 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 740M | Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) |

| Release date | 2024-01-07 | 2026-04-15 |

| Launch MSRP | $179 | $309 |

| Part number | 100-000001491 | SAE3K |

The base clock difference is substantial: the AMD part runs at 3.50 GHz versus 1.50 GHz for the Intel part, although boost clocks close that gap to 5.00 GHz versus 4.30 GHz. The AMD processor also uses the AM5 socket, while the Intel part uses BGA 1516. The release dates show the AMD processor appeared earlier, in January 2024, while the Intel processor is dated April 2026. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G as the stronger processor in nearly every measured workload. Its 16 head-to-head wins, including a 249 percent margin in Cinebench R23 multi-core and a 156.2 percent margin in integer math, show a processor that maintains a consistent lead across rendering, encryption, compression, and general multithreaded tasks. The average benchmark score of 20425 versus 13745 places it in a higher performance tier, and the 74th percentile ranking versus the 68th percentile for the Intel part confirms that assessment.

The Intel Core 3 304 holds one narrow win in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it edges ahead by 1.1 percent. That result, however, does not carry into other single-thread tests: the AMD part leads by 46.9 percent in Cinebench R23 single-core and by 7.7 percent in PassMark single-thread. The Intel processor also operates at a much lower TDP of 15 watts compared to 65 watts for the AMD part, which may matter for systems where thermal limits are strict.

The database nearest-rival comparisons place the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G alongside processors such as the AMD EPYC 9454P and Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, all within a 0.3 percent delta of each other. The Intel Core 3 304 sits near the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX and Intel Core i7-8750H, with deltas under 1.4 percent. These groupings show that the two processors belong to different performance classes in the recorded data.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G wins in all multithreaded rendering workloads. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests all show large AMD leads, with the R23 result reaching 249 percent. Users running CPU-bound creative workloads that scale across cores would see the widest gap between these two processors.

The AMD processor also dominates memory and data-heavy tasks. Data compression shows a 118 percent lead, random string sorting shows a 115.3 percent lead, and data encryption shows a 67.3 percent lead. Integer math, with a 156.2 percent advantage, further confirms the AMD part's strength in computation-heavy workloads. Floating point math, extended instructions, and physics simulation all favor the AMD processor by margins between 31.5 percent and 97.2 percent.

The Intel Core 3 304 wins only in Cinebench R15 single-core, and by a margin of just 1.1 percent. In every other single-thread test, the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G holds the advantage. The Intel processor's lower TDP of 15 watts is its distinguishing feature, offering a power profile that the AMD part does not match, though the database does not include power efficiency benchmarks to quantify the trade-off.

For buyers prioritizing raw performance across rendering, encryption, compression, and math workloads, the recorded data consistently favors the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G. For scenarios where the lower 15 watt power envelope of the Intel Core 3 304 is the primary constraint, that processor remains the only choice between the two, but it sacrifices significant multi-core throughput in exchange.