AMD Ryzen 5 8600G vs Intel Core 5 315 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G and Intel Core 5 315 occupy different corners of the processor market, and the recorded data reflects that split clearly. The AMD chip, a desktop part with a 65 W TDP, wins 14 of the 17 shared benchmark comparisons. The Intel chip, a mobile processor with a 15 W TDP, wins only 3, but those wins are concentrated in specific workloads. The data indicates the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G is the stronger choice for heavily threaded productivity and general desktop work, while the Intel Core 5 315 shows a narrow edge in single-threaded integer tasks and prime-number calculations.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G dominates multi-core and memory-bandwidth-sensitive workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 21503 against the Intel Core 5 315's 12981, a 65.6% advantage. That gap repeats across Cinebench R15, R20, and the PassMark multithread test, where the AMD part scores 25294 versus 15272, again a 65.6% delta. The AMD chip also wins decisively in PassMark integer math: 77042 versus 31690, a 143.1% lead, the largest margin in the entire comparison. Data compression shows a similar story, with the AMD part scoring 293306 against 146143, a 100.7% difference. Random string sorting goes to AMD by 99.8%, with scores of 35067 and 17551. These results point to a processor that handles parallel workloads, compression tasks, and math-heavy code with far more headroom.

The Intel Core 5 315 wins in two distinct areas: prime-number finding and single-threaded PassMark performance. In PassMark find prime numbers, the Intel chip scores 112 versus the AMD chip's 96, a 14.3% advantage. In PassMark single-thread, the Intel part scores 4021 against 3878, a 3.6% edge. These are narrow wins, and they indicate that the Intel architecture, despite its lower power envelope, can outperform in specific scalar tasks. The Intel chip also matches the AMD part in floating-point math more closely than in other workloads, scoring 42441 versus 47919, a 12.9% deficit, which is the AMD chip's smallest multi-threaded win. The overall picture is clear: AMD for throughput, Intel for isolated single-thread efficiency.

Architecture Differences

The two processors differ fundamentally in design goals. The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G uses the Zen 4 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, with a die size of 178 mm² and 25,000 million transistors. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, meaning it supports simultaneous multithreading. The Intel Core 5 315 uses the Wildcat Lake architecture on a 3 nm Intel process, with 6 cores and 6 threads, no multithreading support. That difference in thread count explains much of the multi-core performance gap.

Cache configurations also diverge. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has 192 KB of L1 total, 2.5 MB of L2 total, and 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD part's larger L3 and per-core L2 give it a substantial advantage in workloads that benefit from repeated data access. Memory support adds another layer: the AMD chip uses dual-channel DDR5 with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel chip uses single-channel DDR5 or LPDDR5X with 59.7 GB/s. The AMD part's memory bandwidth is 39.5% higher, which directly impacts multi-threaded and data-heavy tasks.

The platform differences are stark. The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G fits AMD Socket AM5, supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, and includes a Radeon 760M integrated GPU. The Intel Core 5 315 uses Intel BGA 1516, supports PCIe Gen 4 with only 6 lanes, and includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel chip does not. The AMD part is a desktop segment product released in January 2024, while the Intel part is a mobile segment product with a later release date of April 2026. The Intel chip is built on a smaller 3 nm node, but its lower TDP of 15 W versus 65 W indicates a design focused on power efficiency over raw performance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G scores 2167 against 1308, a 65.7% win. Single-core R15 sees the AMD chip at 305 versus 184, a 65.8% margin. R20 multi-core gives 9031 against 5452, a 65.6% delta, and R20 single-core gives 1274 versus 769, a 65.7% gap. R23 multi-core matches that trend at 65.6%, and R23 single-core at 65.7%. These numbers show that the AMD part's advantage is not workload-specific but structural, likely from its higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus the Intel chip's 4.40 GHz, combined with the extra threads.

PassMark results add nuance. The AMD chip wins data compression by 100.7%, data encryption by 54.5%, and extended instructions by 72%. Floating-point math goes to AMD by 12.9%, the closest multi-threaded result. Physics tests favor AMD by 24.7%, with scores of 1450 and 1163. The Intel chip's wins are isolated: find prime numbers by 14.3% and the two single-thread PassMark entries, both by 3.6%. The Intel chip's single-thread score of 4021 is its only top-tier result, and it suggests that the Wildcat Lake cores, despite lower clock speeds, have strong per-thread integer efficiency. Still, the AMD part's overall benchmark average of 24089 versus 18188 gives it a 32.4% higher average score, and it sits at the 76th percentile of all CPUs compared with the Intel chip's 72nd.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G wins every multi-core benchmark in the comparison. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 21503 against the Intel Core 5 315's 12981, a 65.6% advantage. PassMark multithread shows a similar gap: 25294 versus 15272, also a 65.6% delta.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 315 win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins 3 of 17 comparisons. It leads in PassMark find prime numbers by 14.3% (112 versus 96) and in PassMark single-thread by 3.6% (4021 versus 3878). Both single-thread entries in the data show the same Intel advantage.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: Both processors have 6 cores, but the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G has 12 threads due to simultaneous multithreading, while the Intel Core 5 315 has 6 threads. The AMD part's extra threads contribute directly to its large multi-core lead.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G supports dual-channel DDR5 with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core 5 315 supports single-channel DDR5 or LPDDR5X with 59.7 GB/s. The AMD part's bandwidth is 39.5% higher.

Q: What are the integrated graphics options?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G includes a Radeon 760M GPU. The Intel Core 5 315 includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The database does not include graphics benchmark scores for either part.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 315 boosts to 4.40 GHz. Despite the lower boost clock, the Intel part wins the PassMark single-thread test.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification field. The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G is an 8000 series desktop part with a 65 W TDP, while the Intel Core 5 315 is a mobile part with a 15 W TDP. The AMD chip uses the Zen 4 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, with 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. The Intel chip uses the Wildcat Lake architecture on a 3 nm Intel process, with no transistor count or die size recorded. The AMD part has 12 threads versus 6 on the Intel part. Base clocks differ: 4.30 GHz for AMD, 1.50 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks differ: 5.00 GHz versus 4.40 GHz.

Cache layouts are not comparable. The AMD chip has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. The Intel chip has 192 KB L1 total, 2.5 MB L2 total, and 6 MB shared L3. Memory support: AMD uses dual-channel DDR5 with 83.2 GB/s; Intel uses single-channel DDR5 or LPDDR5X with 59.7 GB/s. PCIe support: AMD provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes, Intel provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, the Intel chip does not. Sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket AM5 versus Intel BGA 1516. The AMD part has a launch MSRP of $229, while the Intel part has a launch MSRP of $340. The AMD chip was released in January 2024, the Intel chip in April 2026. Both lack ECC memory support. The AMD part's part number is 100-000001237, the Intel part's is SAEFC.