AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE vs Intel Core 5 320 Comparison

The Verdict

The data separates these two mobile processors into distinct roles. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE is the clear performance leader in the vast majority of recorded tests, winning 11 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks. Its average benchmark score of 27712 places it at the 79th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Core 5 320 manages an average of 18023, sitting at the 72nd percentile. The AMD part is also positioned competitively against desktop-class rivals: it sits within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X and within 0.5% of both the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X and Intel Core i5-12600K. The Intel Core 5 320, by contrast, trades blows with much older parts, matching the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 within 0.2% and the Intel Core 5 120U within 0.7%.

For workloads that can use many threads, the Ryzen 5 8500GE is the only rational choice. Its 12 threads versus 6 threads delivers a massive Cinebench R23 multi-core advantage of 189.5% (17940 versus 6197). The Intel part does show a genuine edge in a few narrow single-threaded scenarios, including a 7.6% win in Cinebench R15 single-core and a 3.2% win in PassMark single-thread, so it suits lightly threaded, bursty tasks. However, the AMD chip counters with a 31.5% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core (2532 versus 1926). The Intel Core 5 320 carries a launch MSRP of $340, but the analysis here is strictly on measured performance, which favors the AMD processor for almost every sustained workload. The Intel chip is a low-power part with a 15 W TDP versus 35 W for the AMD, which gives it a niche for fanless or ultra-compact designs, but that comes at a steep cost in multi-threaded throughput.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different designs. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE uses the Zen 4 architecture, specifically the Phoenix2 codename, fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It packs 20,900 million transistors into a 137 mm² die. The Intel Core 5 320 uses the Wildcat Lake codename on a 3 nm process at Intel's own foundry, though the database records no transistor count or die size for it.

Core configuration differs sharply. The AMD part provides 6 cores and 12 threads, meaning it supports simultaneous multithreading. The Intel part also has 6 physical cores but only 6 threads, so no hyper-threading. The AMD chip has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the Intel chip starts at only 1.50 GHz base but boosts to 4.60 GHz. The AMD processor is multiplier-unlocked, whereas the Intel part is locked.

Cache hierarchies are also distinct. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel Core 5 320 lists 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and only 6 MB of shared L3. That difference in L3 capacity is substantial for cache-sensitive workloads. The AMD part also supports ECC memory, while the Intel part does not.

Memory architecture is a major differentiator. The AMD chip uses dual-channel DDR5 with a recorded memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The Intel chip supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X but uses a single-channel memory bus, limiting bandwidth to 59.7 GB/s. PCIe lane counts also differ, with the AMD part offering Gen 4 with 14 CPU lanes versus 6 lanes for the Intel part. The integrated graphics are the Radeon 740M for AMD and Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) for Intel. Both are classified as mobile parts and both are active in production. The AMD release date is recorded as 2024-04-15, while the Intel release date is 2026-04-15.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest single win for the AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 17940 versus 6197, a 189.5% advantage. This is the dominant result in the entire comparison and reflects the combination of twice the thread count and a far larger L3 cache. Cinebench R15 multi-core also goes heavily to AMD, 1808 versus 1054, a 71.5% lead. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the AMD chip wins by 37.9% (7534 versus 5462).

The AMD processor also wins the single-core Cinebench tests despite the Intel part's higher boost clock. In Cinebench R20 single-core, AMD scores 1063 versus 771, a 37.9% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD scores 2532 versus 1926, a 31.5% margin. Notably, the Intel part wins Cinebench R15 single-core with 276 versus 255, a 7.6% edge, so the older R15 test favors Intel while the newer R20 and R23 tests favor AMD by wide margins.

Integer math is a strong AMD area. PassMark integer math shows 62666 for AMD versus 32323 for Intel, a 93.9% lead. Data compression also goes to AMD, 246397 versus 148779, a 65.6% margin. Random string sorting favors AMD by 63.5% (29501 versus 18038). Extended instructions go to AMD by 35.4% (17962 versus 13262). Data encryption favors AMD by 29.3% (14197 versus 10984). PassMark multi-thread shows AMD ahead by 36.8% (21135 versus 15450).

The Intel Core 5 320 wins six tests, and they cluster around specific arithmetic and physics workloads. PassMark find prime numbers goes to Intel, 110 versus 79, a 28.2% margin. Floating point math favors Intel, 42440 versus 39065, an 8% lead. PassMark physics goes to Intel, 1221 versus 1150, a 5.8% edge. PassMark single-thread (both the singular and plural spellings in the database) show Intel at 4045 versus AMD at 3914, a 3.2% lead. The R15 single-core win of 7.6% rounds out the Intel tally. These wins are real but narrow, and they do not offset the AMD dominance in multi-core and integer-heavy tests.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification field. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE uses 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core 5 320 uses 6 cores and 6 threads. Base clock is 3.40 GHz for AMD versus 1.50 GHz for Intel. Boost clock is 5.00 GHz for AMD versus 4.60 GHz for Intel. TDP is 35 W for AMD versus 15 W for Intel. The AMD socket is AMD Socket AM5, the Intel socket is Intel BGA 1516. Process node is 4 nm (TSMC) for AMD versus 3 nm (Intel foundry) for Intel.

Cache figures differ: the AMD part has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. The Intel part has 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR5 for AMD versus DDR5 and LPDDR5X for Intel. Memory bus is dual-channel for AMD versus single-channel for Intel. Memory bandwidth is 83.2 GB/s for AMD versus 59.7 GB/s for Intel. ECC memory is supported on AMD but not on Intel. PCIe is Gen 4 with 14 lanes on AMD versus Gen 4 with 6 lanes on Intel. Integrated graphics are Radeon 740M for AMD versus Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) for Intel. The AMD part is multiplier-unlocked; the Intel part is not. The AMD part number is 100-000001495, the Intel part number is SAE3H. The Intel part has a recorded launch MSRP of $340, while the AMD field is null.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE has 12 threads, while the Intel Core 5 320 has 6 threads. Both have 6 cores.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE scores 17940 versus 6197 for the Intel Core 5 320, a 189.5% lead. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD chip leads by 71.5% (1808 versus 1054).

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 320 win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins 6 of 17 head-to-head tests. Its wins include PassMark find prime numbers (110 versus 79, a 28.2% lead), PassMark floating point math (42440 versus 39065, an 8% lead), PassMark physics (1221 versus 1150, a 5.8% lead), PassMark single-thread (4045 versus 3914, a 3.2% lead), and Cinebench R15 single-core (276 versus 255, a 7.6% lead).

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE has a dual-channel memory bus delivering 83.2 GB/s. The Intel Core 5 320 has a single-channel memory bus delivering 59.7 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE has 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 320 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What are the power ratings?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE has a TDP of 35 W. The Intel Core 5 320 has a TDP of 15 W.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE has an average benchmark score of 27712, placing it within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X and within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X and Intel Core i5-12600K. The Intel Core 5 320 has an average score of 18023, placing it within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 and within 0.7% of the Intel Core 5 120U.