AMD Ryzen 7 170 vs Intel Core 5 315 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database records eleven direct comparisons between the AMD Ryzen 7 170 and the Intel Core 5 315. The AMD part wins seven of those tests, while the Intel part wins four. The margins, however, are not evenly distributed, with the AMD processor delivering several dominant victories and the Intel processor countering with focused wins in specific workloads.

The largest gap appears in integer math, where the AMD Ryzen 7 170 scores 79,738 against the Intel Core 5 315's 31,690, a lead of 151.6%. This is the single biggest delta in the head-to-head set, and it reflects the AMD processor's ability to sustain high throughput on integer-heavy instruction streams. Data compression follows a similar pattern: AMD scores 265,920 versus Intel's 146,143, a 82% advantage. Random string sorting also favors AMD, with 27,804 against 17,551, a 58.4% margin.

The AMD Ryzen 7 170 also wins the multithread test, scoring 20,760 versus 15,272 for the Intel Core 5 315, a 35.9% lead. Data encryption shows AMD at 16,078 against Intel's 11,119, a 44.6% difference. Extended instructions go to AMD as well: 18,107 versus 13,143, a 37.8% gap. Floating-point math is closer, with AMD at 44,979 and Intel at 42,441, a 6% margin that still goes to AMD.

The Intel Core 5 315 counters with a decisive win in the find prime numbers test, scoring 112 against AMD's 49, a delta of -56.2% from AMD's perspective. That means Intel delivers more than twice the throughput in this specific prime-number workload. The physics test also goes to Intel, with 1,163 versus 890, a 23.5% margin. In single-thread performance, Intel scores 4,021 against AMD's 3,128, a 22.2% lead, a result that appears in both the single_thread and singlethread entries.

The average benchmark score tells a different story. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 averages 43,689 across all recorded tests, placing it in the 88th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel Core 5 315 averages 18,188, placing it in the 72nd percentile. The nearest rivals for AMD include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 at 43,704 (0% delta), the AMD Ryzen 7 260 at 43,717 (-0.1%), and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 at 43,431 (0.6%). For Intel, the nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 9274F at 18,189 (0%), the Intel Core i7-9700 at 18,180 (0%), and the Intel Core i7-1365U at 18,177 (0.1%).

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 170 dominates in workloads that scale with parallel execution across multiple cores and threads. Its 8 cores and 16 threads provide a clear advantage in integer math, data compression, random string sorting, and multithreaded throughput. These are the kinds of operations that benefit from having more execution resources available simultaneously. The multithread score of 20,760 versus 15,272 shows that the AMD processor can maintain higher aggregate throughput when all cores are engaged. The integer math result, with a 151.6% lead, is particularly pronounced and suggests that workloads with heavy integer arithmetic, such as certain compression algorithms or database operations, will favor the AMD part.

The AMD processor also wins in data encryption, scoring 16,078 versus 11,119, and in extended instructions, scoring 18,107 versus 13,143. These results indicate that the AMD Ryzen 7 170 handles cryptographic and SIMD-style workloads with more headroom. Floating-point math is nearly even, with AMD ahead by only 6%, meaning the two processors are comparable in pure floating-point throughput despite the Intel part's lower core count.

The Intel Core 5 315 wins in single-thread performance, scoring 4,021 versus 3,128, a 22.2% lead. This makes the Intel part the better choice for lightly threaded tasks where per-core speed matters more than total core count. The physics test also favors Intel, with 1,163 versus 890, a 23.5% margin, suggesting that the Intel processor handles physics simulations, which often rely on a mix of single-threaded and moderately parallel code, more efficiently. The find prime numbers test is the most lopsided win for Intel, with 112 versus 49, a -56.2% delta from AMD's side, indicating that the Intel part has a substantial edge in this specific algorithmic pattern, which is often used to measure integer-heavy single-threaded loops.

In practical terms, the AMD Ryzen 7 170 suits multi-threaded content creation, compression workloads, and any task that can leverage 16 threads. The Intel Core 5 315 suits workloads that are latency-sensitive and single-threaded, such as certain game physics, interactive applications, or legacy software that does not scale across many cores.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 170 has an average benchmark score of 43,689, while the Intel Core 5 315 has an average of 18,188. The AMD part sits in the 88th percentile of all CPUs, compared to the 72nd percentile for the Intel part.

Q: How large is the single-thread performance gap between the two?

A: The Intel Core 5 315 scores 4,021 in the single-thread test, while the AMD Ryzen 7 170 scores 3,128. This gives Intel a 22.2% lead in single-threaded performance.

Q: Which processor wins the multithread benchmark?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 170 wins the multithread test with a score of 20,760, compared to 15,272 for the Intel Core 5 315, a 35.9% advantage.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin in the head-to-head results?

A: The largest margin is in integer math, where the AMD Ryzen 7 170 scores 79,738 versus 31,690 for the Intel Core 5 315, a 151.6% lead.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 315 win any benchmark by a large margin?

A: Yes, the Intel Core 5 315 wins the find prime numbers test with a score of 112 versus 49 for AMD, a -56.2% delta from AMD's perspective, meaning Intel more than doubles AMD's result in that specific test.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 170 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Specification Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 170 and Intel Core 5 315 differ across nearly every core specification. The AMD part uses 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel part uses 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning Intel does not implement simultaneous multithreading in this model. Base clocks differ substantially: AMD lists a base clock of 3.20 GHz, while Intel lists 1.50 GHz. Boost clocks are closer, with AMD at 4.75 GHz and Intel at 4.40 GHz.

Thermal design power also diverges. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 has a TDP of 35 watts, while the Intel Core 5 315 has a TDP of 15 watts. This places the Intel part in a lower power envelope, which may be relevant for thermally constrained mobile designs.

Cache layouts differ as well. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel Core 5 315 lists 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3, with no per-core breakdown provided for L1 or L2.

Memory support shows a clear split. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 supports DDR5 memory through a dual-channel bus with a bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, and it supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 5 315 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X through a single-channel bus with a bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s, and it does not support ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The AMD part provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics also differ: AMD uses the Radeon 680M, while Intel uses the Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores.

The sockets are not interchangeable. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 uses AMD Socket FP7, while the Intel Core 5 315 uses Intel BGA 1516. Both processors are locked, with the multiplier unlock flag set to false for each.

The release dates differ by roughly half a year. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 was released on 2025-09-30, while the Intel Core 5 315 was released on 2026-04-15. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $340, which is recorded in the database. The AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP. The part numbers are also distinct: AMD lists 100-000000989, and Intel lists SAEFC.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 170 is built on the Zen 3+ architecture under the Rembrandt-R codename, using a 6 nm process from TSMC. The die size is recorded at 210 mm². The Intel Core 5 315 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, built on a 3 nm process from Intel Foundry, with no die size listed in the database.

The AMD part belongs to the Ryzen 7 generation (Zen 3+ (Rembrandt)), while the Intel part belongs to the Core 5 generation (Wildcat Lake). The manufacturing foundries differ: TSMC fabricates the AMD chip, while Intel fabricates its own chip.

The cache architecture reflects different design philosophies. AMD uses a per-core L1 of 64 KB and per-core L2 of 512 KB, with a shared 16 MB L3 pool. Intel uses a combined L1 of 192 KB and a combined L2 of 2.5 MB, with a shared 6 MB L3. The AMD L3 is more than twice the size of the Intel L3.

Memory architecture also diverges at the controller level. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 supports dual-channel DDR5 with ECC, while the Intel Core 5 315 supports single-channel DDR5 and LPDDR5X without ECC. The memory bandwidth figures follow: AMD at 76.8 GB/s and Intel at 59.7 GB/s.

The integrated graphics differ in brand and configuration. AMD pairs the Zen 3+ cores with a Radeon 680M iGPU, while Intel pairs the Wildcat Lake cores with Xe3 Graphics containing 2 Xe cores. Neither part has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not an option in the standard configuration for either processor.

The process node difference, 6 nm for AMD versus 3 nm for Intel, does not translate into a performance advantage for Intel in the aggregate data. Despite the smaller node, the Intel Core 5 315 trails the AMD Ryzen 7 170 in average benchmark score by a wide margin, and it holds the lead only in single-threaded and specific latency-sensitive tests. The architectural choices, including core count, thread count, cache capacity, and memory channel width, appear to have a stronger influence on the recorded benchmark outcomes than the manufacturing process alone.