AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT vs Intel Core 3 304 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data delivers an unambiguous verdict: the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT is the dominant performer in nearly every measurable category. Out of 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, the AMD processor wins 15, with the Intel Core 3 304 taking only 2 wins, both in single-threaded PassMark tests. The average benchmark score gap is enormous, with the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT posting an average score of 29,879 versus 13,745 for the Intel Core 3 304, a difference of roughly 117%. The AMD part also sits at the 81st percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Intel part sits at the 68th percentile.

The data suggests two completely different usage profiles. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, is designed for heavy multi-threaded workloads. The Intel Core 3 304, with 5 cores and 5 threads, is a mobile-focused processor aimed at power efficiency, given its 15 watt TDP and integrated graphics. The record shows no scenario outside of a narrow single-threaded PassMark result where the Intel part pulls ahead. The Intel Core 3 304 does win the PassMark single-thread test with a score of 3,614 versus 3,535, a 2.2% margin, but this is a minor victory in a field dominated by AMD wins of 28% to 352%.

For buyers, the split is clear from the data. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT is the choice for desktop users running rendering, compilation, encryption, or any workload that scales with core count. The Intel Core 3 304 is positioned for mobile devices where the 15 watt TDP, integrated Intel Xe3 Graphics, and support for DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory matter more than raw compute throughput. The AMD part's launch MSRP is $249, while the Intel part's launch MSRP is $309, though the performance gap is far larger than the price gap suggests.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT uses the Zen 3 architecture under the Vermeer codename, built on a 7 nm process from TSMC with 4,150 million transistors on a 74 mm² die. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The cache hierarchy uses a per-core design: 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 32 MB L3 cache. The AMD part supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth and includes ECC memory support. It uses AMD Socket AM4 and provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes. The multiplier is unlocked, and the production status is active with a release date of July 30, 2024.

The Intel Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, built on a 3 nm process from Intel. It has 5 cores and 5 threads, meaning no hyper-threading, with a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The cache configuration is notably different: 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Intel part supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory in a single-channel configuration with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. It does not support ECC memory. The socket is Intel BGA 1516, indicating a soldered mobile design, and PCIe Gen 4 with 6 lanes. It includes integrated Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core, a feature the AMD part lacks entirely. The multiplier is locked, and the release date is April 15, 2026.

The process node difference is striking: 7 nm for AMD versus 3 nm for Intel. The Intel part uses a newer manufacturing process, but the AMD part compensates with a much larger core count and higher clocks. The AMD part's 105 watt TDP versus the Intel part's 15 watt TDP reflects the desktop versus mobile positioning. The Intel part's single-channel memory bus is a significant architectural limitation compared to AMD's dual-channel design, though the Intel part's higher memory bandwidth figure of 59.7 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s comes from the faster DDR5/LPDDR5X memory type.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT wins decisively in all multi-threaded workloads. The Cinebench results show the pattern: R15 multicore scores 2,398 versus 849, a 182.4% advantage; R20 multicore scores 9,993 versus 4,160, a 140.2% advantage; and R23 multicore scores 23,794 versus 5,263, a 352.1% advantage. The PassMark suite reinforces this with massive wins in integer math (93,942 versus 24,640, a 281.3% delta), data compression (352,002 versus 114,775, a 206.7% delta), and random string sorting (35,911 versus 13,659, a 162.9% delta). The AMD part also wins in data encryption (21,461 versus 8,501, a 152.5% delta) and extended instructions (24,270 versus 9,686, a 150.6% delta).

The Intel Core 3 304 wins only the PassMark single-thread test, scoring 3,614 versus 3,535, a 2.2% margin. This appears twice in the database as both "passmark_single_thread" and "passmark_singlethread" with identical scores. The Intel part also wins the corresponding duplicate entry, bringing its total to 2 wins. This single-threaded advantage is real but narrow, and it does not extend to Cinebench single-core tests, where the AMD part wins R15 single-core (338 versus 264, a 28% delta), R20 single-core (1,410 versus 587, a 140.2% delta), and R23 single-core (3,359 versus 1,765, a 90.3% delta).

The use-case split is therefore stark. The AMD part handles any parallel workload with overwhelming superiority. The Intel part offers a small single-threaded edge in PassMark, plus the practical benefits of integrated graphics and a 15 watt TDP for mobile applications. The Intel part's 3 nm process and support for DDR5/LPDDR5X memory make it architecturally modern, but the benchmark record shows it cannot translate those features into compute wins.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads, meaning it lacks simultaneous multi-threading entirely.

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

A: The largest delta is in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT scores 23,794 versus 5,263 for the Intel Core 3 304, a 352.1% advantage. The smallest AMD win is 28% in Cinebench R15 single-core.

Q: Does the Intel Core 3 304 beat the AMD part in any test?

A: Yes, in the PassMark single-thread test, the Intel Core 3 304 scores 3,614 versus 3,535 for the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT, a 2.2% margin. This result appears twice in the database as separate entries.

Q: What memory types do the two processors support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT supports DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and ECC memory. The Intel Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X in a single-channel configuration with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC support.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core 3 304 has integrated graphics, specifically Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT has no integrated graphics, listed as N/A in the database.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT has an average benchmark score of 29,879, while the Intel Core 3 304 has an average of 13,745. The AMD part sits at the 81st percentile of all CPUs, the Intel part at the 68th percentile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R23 multicore test provides the most dramatic separation. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT scores 23,794, while the Intel Core 3 304 scores 5,263, a 352.1% delta. This is the single largest win in the entire comparison and reflects the core count disparity: 8 cores and 16 threads versus 5 cores and 5 threads. The R23 single-core test also favors AMD, with 3,359 versus 1,765, a 90.3% delta, indicating that the AMD architecture is not only stronger in parallel work but also in single-threaded Cinebench rendering.

The PassMark integer math test shows a 281.3% delta, with AMD at 93,942 and Intel at 24,640. Data compression follows with AMD at 352,002 and Intel at 114,775, a 206.7% delta. Random string sorting shows AMD at 35,911 and Intel at 13,659, a 162.9% delta. Data encryption has AMD at 21,461 and Intel at 8,501, a 152.5% delta. Extended instructions show AMD at 24,270 and Intel at 9,686, a 150.6% delta. The PassMark multithread test has AMD at 28,053 and Intel at 11,625, a 141.3% delta, matching the Cinebench R20 multicore delta of 140.2% where AMD scores 9,993 and Intel scores 4,160.

The floating-point math test shows AMD at 53,808 and Intel at 29,722, an 81% delta. The find prime numbers test has AMD at 119 and Intel at 68, a 75% delta. Physics simulation shows AMD at 1,355 and Intel at 868, a 56.1% delta. The smallest AMD multi-core win is Cinebench R15 single-core, with AMD at 338 and Intel at 264, a 28% delta.

The only Intel wins are the PassMark single-thread tests, with scores of 3,614 versus 3,535, a 2.2% delta. This appears twice in the database. The AMD part matches this score of 3,535 in both entries, while the Intel part also scores 3,614 in both. This consistency suggests a genuine, if minor, single-threaded advantage for the Intel architecture in this specific PassMark workload, but it does not translate to Cinebench single-core results where AMD wins by 28% to 140.2%.

Specification Differences

The specification table shows clear divergences in every major category. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads. Base clocks differ substantially: 3.80 GHz for AMD versus 1.50 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are closer, with AMD at 4.80 GHz and Intel at 4.30 GHz. The TDP difference is extreme: 105 watts for AMD versus 15 watts for Intel.

The process nodes reflect different manufacturing strategies: 7 nm TSMC for AMD versus 3 nm Intel for the Intel part. The AMD part uses AMD Socket AM4, a desktop socket, while the Intel part uses Intel BGA 1516, a mobile soldered socket. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part is locked. The AMD part reports 4,150 million transistors on a 74 mm² die, while the Intel part reports no transistor count or die size in the database.

Cache configurations differ in structure and size. The AMD part uses per-core L1 and L2 (64 KB and 512 KB per core) plus 32 MB shared L3. The Intel part uses aggregate figures: 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. The AMD part supports DDR4 dual-channel with ECC, while the Intel part supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X single-channel without ECC. Memory bandwidth figures are 51.2 GB/s for AMD and 59.7 GB/s for Intel. PCIe support differs: Gen 4 with 20 lanes for AMD versus Gen 4 with 6 lanes for Intel. The AMD part has no integrated graphics, while the Intel part includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core. The market segments are Desktop for AMD and Mobile for Intel, with release dates of July 30, 2024 for AMD and April 15, 2026 for Intel. The launch MSRP is $249 for the AMD part and $309 for the Intel part.