AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U vs Intel Core 3 305 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive overall win for the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U, which takes 12 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Intel Core 3 305 wins only 5, but its victories are concentrated in specific compute patterns that reveal a distinct architectural personality.

The most lopsided result in the entire comparison is in Passmark integer math, where the AMD part scores 56,738 against Intel's 32,295, a 75.7% advantage. This is the single largest delta recorded in either direction and confirms the AMD processor's strength in general-purpose arithmetic workloads. Data compression also heavily favors AMD, with a score of 205,703 versus 146,857, a 40.1% lead. Random string sorting follows a similar pattern, AMD winning by 40.7% with scores of 24,797 against 17,623. These three workloads all involve substantial memory traffic and sustained multi-threaded execution, where the AMD chip's 12 threads and higher memory bandwidth give it a clear edge.

Across the Cinebench suite, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U is consistently ahead by roughly 17.8% in every test. In Cinebench R23 multicore, AMD scores 15,456 versus Intel's 13,123. In the single-core variant, AMD scores 2,182 against Intel's 1,852. The R20 results show the same margin: 6,491 versus 5,511 in multicore, and 916 versus 777 in single-core. Even in the older R15 test, the pattern holds with AMD at 1,557 versus 1,322 in multicore and 219 versus 186 in single-core. The uniformity of this 17.8% delta across all three Cinebench generations suggests a consistent per-thread efficiency advantage rather than a scaling artifact.

The Intel Core 3 305 fights back in floating-point math, scoring 42,284 against AMD's 34,865, a 17.5% win. It also dominates prime number finding with a score of 115 versus AMD's 66, a striking 42.6% margin. In physics simulation, Intel leads 1,233 to 983, a 20.3% advantage. Passmark single-thread performance also goes to Intel, 3,977 against 3,563, a 10.4% lead. These results indicate that in certain instruction patterns, particularly those involving transcendental functions or branch-heavy prime sieving, the Intel core design executes more efficiently per clock.

The data encryption test is closer, with AMD winning 12,319 to 11,019, an 11.8% margin. Extended instructions also favor AMD, 15,410 to 13,543, a 13.8% gap. The Passmark multithread test, which aggregates multiple workloads, gives AMD an 18% win, 18,218 versus 15,439.

Overall, the AMD processor's average benchmark score of 23,709 places it in the 76th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel part averages 18,302, sitting in the 72nd percentile. The nearest rival to the AMD chip is the Intel Core i5-11500 with a delta of 0%, while the Intel Core 3 305 sits closest to the Intel Core i3-14100 at a -0.1% delta.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC with 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die. The Intel Core 3 305 uses the Wildcat Lake codename on Intel's own 3 nm process, with transistor count and die size not recorded in the database.

Core configuration diverges sharply. Both have 6 physical cores, but AMD implements simultaneous multithreading, giving 12 threads, while Intel runs 6 threads with no hyperthreading. This doubling of thread count explains much of AMD's multicore dominance in Cinebench and Passmark multithread tests.

Clock speeds also differ significantly. The AMD chip has a 3.20 GHz base clock and 4.90 GHz boost clock. Intel runs at a much lower 1.50 GHz base but reaches 4.30 GHz boost. The lower base clock on the Intel part suggests a more aggressive power-saving design, consistent with its 15 W TDP versus AMD's 28 W TDP.

Cache hierarchies follow different strategies. AMD allocates 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Intel uses 192 KB of L1 total, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD part provides substantially more cache at every level, which helps explain its wins in data-heavy workloads like compression and string sorting.

Memory support diverges as well. AMD supports DDR5 only, over a dual-channel bus, delivering 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. Intel supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X, but over a single-channel bus, with bandwidth rated at 59.7 GB/s. The AMD chip offers 50% more memory bandwidth, a critical factor in the integer math and compression wins.

PCIe lane allocation also differs. AMD provides Gen 4 with 14 CPU lanes, while Intel offers Gen 4 with only 6 CPU lanes. AMD also supports ECC memory, while Intel does not. The integrated graphics are Radeon 740M on AMD and Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) on Intel.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U has 12 threads from 6 cores with simultaneous multithreading. The Intel Core 3 305 has 6 threads from 6 cores with no multithreading.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core 3 305 wins in Passmark single-thread with a score of 3,977 versus AMD's 3,563, a 10.4% lead. However, in Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD wins 2,182 to 1,852, a 17.8% margin. The results are workload-dependent.

Q: What explains the AMD chip's advantage in data compression?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U scores 205,703 versus Intel's 146,857 in Passmark data compression, a 40.1% lead. The combination of 12 threads, 16 MB of L3 cache, and 89.6 GB/s of dual-channel memory bandwidth likely drives this result.

Q: Where does the Intel Core 3 305 show clear superiority?

A: Intel wins in Passmark floating-point math by 17.5%, in prime number finding by 42.6%, in physics simulation by 20.3%, and in single-thread Passmark by 10.4%. These are the five recorded wins for the Intel part.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: AMD supports dual-channel DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. Intel supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single channel, with 59.7 GB/s.

Q: Which chip has the higher process node count?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U is fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 3 305 uses a 3 nm process at Intel.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U | Intel Core 3 305 |

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

| Cores | 6 | 6 |

| Threads | 12 | 6 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.90 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 15 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP7 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Not recorded |

| Codename | Hawk Point | Wildcat Lake |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 20,900 million | Not recorded |

| Die Size | 137 mm² | Not recorded |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB per core | 192 KB total |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB per core | 2.5 MB total |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB shared | 6 MB shared |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Single-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 59.7 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

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

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

| Release Date | 2024-04-15 | 2026-04-15 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $309 |

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U is the stronger all-round performer, winning 12 of 17 benchmarks. Its 12 threads and 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth make it the clear choice for heavily threaded productivity workloads. The 75.7% lead in integer math and 40.1% lead in data compression indicate strong performance in software compilation, spreadsheet calculations, and compression utilities. The 40.7% win in random string sorting points to advantages in database operations and text processing. The uniform 17.8% Cinebench advantage across all versions confirms consistent multi-core and single-core strength in rendering tasks. The 11.8% encryption win and 13.8% extended instructions win add security and cryptography workloads to its portfolio.

The Intel Core 3 305 wins in a narrower set of workloads but with notable margins. The 42.6% victory in prime number finding suggests superior branch prediction and integer division handling. The 17.5% floating-point win indicates an edge in scientific simulations, financial modeling, and any workload heavy on transcendental math. The 20.3% physics win points to strength in simulation engines, while the 10.4% single-thread Passmark win shows higher per-thread throughput in certain legacy or branch-heavy code paths. Its 15 W TDP, lower than AMD's 28 W, also suggests a power efficiency advantage for fanless or ultra-thin designs, though the database does not record battery life or thermal measurements.

The AMD chip's 76th percentile ranking versus Intel's 72nd, combined with its higher average benchmark score of 23,709 versus 18,302, positions it as the faster processor overall. The Intel part's nearest rivals in the database, such as the Intel Core i3-14100 at a -0.1% delta, show it fits into a lower performance tier despite its newer 3 nm process. The AMD processor's nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-11500 at a 0% delta, indicates it competes at a higher performance level in the database's ranking system.