AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE vs Intel Core 5 320 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE and Intel Core 5 320 are both six-core mobile processors aimed at compact systems, but the benchmark data reveals two distinctly different performance personalities. The AMD part wins 12 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel chip takes 5. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE posts an average benchmark score of 28054, placing it in the 80th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Core 5 320 averages 18023, landing in the 72nd percentile. These are not equivalent processors; the AMD chip is a multi-threaded powerhouse, whereas the Intel part counters with surprising single-thread efficiency in specific workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE dominates in multi-threaded and throughput-heavy applications. It crushes the Intel Core 5 320 in Cinebench R23 multi-core by 196.8%, a margin that reflects the AMD chip's 12 threads versus the Intel chip's 6 threads. The AMD part also wins heavily in integer math (95% ahead), random string sorting (73.2% ahead), and data compression (67.1% ahead). These results indicate the AMD processor is the clear choice for content creation, rendering, database work, and any workload that scales with parallel processing.

The Intel Core 5 320 wins in a smaller set of tests, but they are notable for their specificity. It takes the Cinebench R15 single-core test by 5.4%, the PassMark single-thread test by 3.4%, and the floating-point math test by 7.6%. The Intel chip also wins the prime number finding test by 24.5%, a workload that often responds well to high clock speeds and efficient integer pipelines. For users running lightly threaded applications, legacy software, or math-heavy scientific calculations that rely on floating-point performance, the Intel processor holds a measurable advantage.

The overall picture is clear: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE is built for parallel throughput, while the Intel Core 5 320 offers a more efficient single-threaded experience in a lower-power envelope. The Intel chip's 15 W TDP versus the AMD chip's 35 W TDP also suggests the Intel part is better suited for fanless or ultra-compact designs, though the AMD part's higher power budget buys substantial multi-core performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

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

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest margin is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE scores 18395 versus the Intel Core 5 320's 6197, a 196.8% difference.

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

A: Yes, it wins 5 of the 17 head-to-head tests, including PassMark single-thread, Cinebench R15 single-core, floating-point math, and prime number finding.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE averages 28054 across all recorded benchmarks, while the Intel Core 5 320 averages 18023. This puts the AMD chip in the 80th percentile of all CPUs and the Intel chip in the 72nd percentile.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE boosts up to 5.00 GHz, compared to the Intel Core 5 320's 4.60 GHz.

Q: What memory configurations do they support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE supports DDR5 on a dual-channel bus with 83.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Core 5 320 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X on a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE's most dominant win comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where its 18395 score eclipses the Intel Core 5 320's 6197 by 196.8%. This is not a marginal lead; it is a complete rout that underscores the value of simultaneous multithreading. The AMD chip also wins Cinebench R20 multi-core by 41.4% (7725 versus 5462) and Cinebench R15 multi-core by 75.9% (1854 versus 1054). In the PassMark suite, the AMD part leads integer math by 95% (63045 versus 32323), random string sorting by 73.2% (31240 versus 18038), and data compression by 67.1% (248675 versus 148779).

The Intel Core 5 320's wins are narrower but real. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 4045 versus the AMD chip's 3909, a 3.4% advantage. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Intel chip leads 276 to 261, a 5.4% margin. The floating-point math test shows the Intel part at 42440 versus 39233, a 7.6% lead. The most striking Intel win is in prime number finding, where it scores 110 versus 83, a 24.5% advantage. The PassMark physics test is nearly a tie, with the AMD chip ahead by just 1.3% (1237 versus 1221).

The overall record shows 12 wins for the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE and 5 for the Intel Core 5 320. The AMD chip's wins are often by large double-digit margins, while the Intel chip's wins are mostly single-digit. This asymmetry matters: the AMD processor's multi-threaded dominance makes it the stronger all-round performer, while the Intel chip's single-thread wins suggest it handles specific legacy or scalar workloads with better efficiency.

Specification Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE uses a base clock of 3.40 GHz and boosts to 5.00 GHz. The Intel Core 5 320 runs at a much lower 1.50 GHz base and boosts to 4.60 GHz. The AMD chip has a 35 W TDP, while the Intel chip is rated at 15 W. The AMD part uses AMD Socket AM5, whereas the Intel part uses Intel BGA 1516. Memory support differs significantly: the AMD chip uses dual-channel DDR5 with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel chip uses single-channel DDR5 and LPDDR5X with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE supports ECC memory, but the Intel Core 5 320 does not. The AMD chip offers 14 PCIe Gen 4 lanes (CPU only), compared to 6 lanes on the Intel part. The AMD processor has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel processor has 6 cores and 6 threads. The AMD chip's cache structure includes 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, and 6 MB shared L3. The AMD part's integrated graphics is Radeon 740M, while the Intel part uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The Intel Core 5 320 has a launch MSRP of $340. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE was released on 2024-04-15, while the Intel Core 5 320 was released on 2026-04-15.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE is built on TSMC's 4 nm node and uses the Zen 4 architecture with the Phoenix2 codename. It contains 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die. The Intel Core 5 320 uses Intel's 3 nm process and carries the Wildcat Lake codename, with no transistor or die size figures recorded in the database. The AMD chip's generation is listed as Ryzen 5 (Zen 4 Phoenix), while the Intel chip is listed as Core 5 (Wildcat Lake).

The AMD processor's Zen 4 architecture is a mature design with 12 threads enabled by simultaneous multithreading. The Intel Core 5 320's Wildcat Lake architecture does not support hyper-threading, which explains its 6-thread configuration. The cache hierarchies reflect different design philosophies: AMD spreads L1 and L2 per core, while Intel pools a smaller total L3 of 6 MB versus AMD's 16 MB shared L3. The AMD chip's memory controller is dual-channel, doubling the bandwidth of the Intel part's single-channel design.

Process node differences are notable: Intel's 3 nm process is smaller than AMD's 4 nm node, yet the AMD chip delivers substantially higher multi-threaded performance. The Intel chip compensates with a much lower 15 W TDP, making it a better fit for passive cooling or ultra-portable designs. The AMD chip's higher 35 W TDP allows it to sustain higher clock speeds, including a 5.00 GHz boost that exceeds the Intel part's 4.60 GHz. The AMD chip also includes ECC support and more PCIe lanes, making it more suitable for small form factor servers or reliability-focused builds. The Intel chip supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory, offering flexibility in memory type that the AMD chip does not. The database records both parts as active production with mobile market positioning.