AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U vs Intel Core 5 320 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U and the Intel Core 5 320 are both mobile processors aimed at thin-and-light laptops, but the data shows they are built on fundamentally different philosophies. The AMD part leverages a higher core count and multithreading to dominate multi-threaded workloads, while the Intel chip counters with a significantly higher single-thread score in specific tests. The recorded benchmarks show the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U winning 13 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core 5 320 takes four wins. This analysis breaks down the architecture, benchmark results, and specification differences that define this matchup.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core 5 320 has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning it lacks simultaneous multithreading.

Q: Which chip has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U has a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 320 has a boost clock of 4.60 GHz.

Q: Which processor is more powerful in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U scores 20254 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 226.8% ahead of the Intel Core 5 320's score of 6197.

Q: In which benchmark does the Intel Core 5 320 outperform the AMD chip?

A: The Intel Core 5 320 wins in PassMark single-thread (4045 vs 3641), PassMark physics (1221 vs 1174), and PassMark find prime numbers (110 vs 76).

Q: What is the memory configuration difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U supports dual-channel DDR5 with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Intel Core 5 320 supports single-channel DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U has an average benchmark score of 32233, compared to 18023 for the Intel Core 5 320.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 5 320 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, built on a 3 nm process at Intel. The manufacturing process difference is notable, with Intel's process being one step smaller, but the architecture designs diverge significantly.

The AMD chip has 8 cores and 16 threads, which provides simultaneous multithreading capabilities. The Intel chip has 6 cores and 6 threads, with no multithreading. This core and thread disparity explains the massive gap in multi-threaded performance. The AMD processor also includes a larger L3 cache at 16 MB shared, while the Intel part has 6 MB shared L3. The Intel chip has a larger L2 cache per the recorded data (2.5 MB total vs 1 MB per core for AMD), while AMD's L1 cache is listed as 64 KB per core versus 192 KB for Intel.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U includes a Radeon 780M, while the Intel Core 5 320 includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. Memory support also differs: the AMD chip uses dual-channel DDR5, and the Intel chip supports single-channel DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The AMD processor offers ECC memory support, which the Intel part does not. PCIe lane counts also differ, with the AMD chip offering 20 Gen 4 lanes versus 6 Gen 4 lanes for the Intel chip.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a clear pattern: the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U wins nearly every multi-threaded test, often by a large margin. The largest delta is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the AMD chip scores 20254 versus 6197, a 226.8% advantage. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a 55.7% lead (8506 vs 5462), and Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 93.6% lead (2041 vs 1054). PassMark integer math also shows a 173.3% advantage for AMD (88339 vs 32323).

In single-core tests, the results are mixed. The AMD chip wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 4.3% (288 vs 276), Cinebench R20 single-core by 55.6% (1200 vs 771), and Cinebench R23 single-core by 48.4% (2859 vs 1926). However, the Intel Core 5 320 wins PassMark single-thread with a score of 4045 versus 3641, a 10% advantage. This is a notable inconsistency in the data, as the Intel chip shows a higher PassMark single-thread score but significantly lower Cinebench single-core scores.

The Intel Core 5 320 also wins PassMark physics (1221 vs 1174, a 3.8% lead) and PassMark find prime numbers (110 vs 76, a 30.9% lead). The AMD chip dominates other PassMark tests: data compression (272664 vs 148779, 83.3% ahead), data encryption (16441 vs 10984, 49.7% ahead), extended instructions (19132 vs 13262, 44.3% ahead), floating point math (50746 vs 42440, 19.6% ahead), multithread (23850 vs 15450, 54.4% ahead), and random string sorting (33109 vs 18038, 83.6% ahead).

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Intel Core 5 320 has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The TDP also differs significantly: the AMD chip is rated at 28 W, while the Intel chip is rated at 15 W.

The socket types are different: the AMD chip uses AMD Socket FP7, while the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 1516. The AMD processor has a die size of 178 mm² and 25,000 million transistors, while the Intel processor has no die size or transistor count recorded in the data. The memory bandwidth favors AMD at 89.6 GB/s versus 59.7 GB/s for Intel. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $340, while the AMD chip has no recorded launch MSRP.

Other differences include the process node (4 nm for AMD, 3 nm for Intel), the foundry (TSMC for AMD, Intel for the Core 5 320), and the part numbers. The AMD chip has two part numbers listed: 100-000001317 (FP7r2) and 100-000001377 (FP7), while the Intel chip has one: SAE3H. Both processors have locked multipliers and are classified as mobile market segments. The release dates differ as well, with the AMD chip released in April 2024 and the Intel chip released in April 2026.

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates that the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U is the stronger processor for the vast majority of workloads. Its 8-core, 16-thread configuration with a 5.10 GHz boost clock delivers dominant multi-core performance. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result, 226.8% ahead of the Intel part, is the most striking gap in the entire dataset. The AMD chip also holds an 83rd percentile ranking versus the Intel chip's 72nd, and its average benchmark score of 32233 is nearly double the Intel chip's 18023.

The Intel Core 5 320 does have specific wins. Its PassMark single-thread score of 4045 is 10% higher than the AMD chip's 3641, and it also wins in physics and find prime numbers tests. The Intel chip also runs at a lower 15 W TDP, which suggests better efficiency for basic tasks, but the data does not include power consumption measurements. For a user prioritizing multi-threaded performance, content creation, or data processing, the AMD chip is the clear choice. For workloads that rely on the specific PassMark single-thread or prime number calculations, the Intel chip shows its strengths.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U wins in multi-threaded rendering workloads. The Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests all show substantial leads, with the R23 delta reaching 226.8%. The AMD chip also dominates integer math, scoring 173.3% higher, which points to strong general-purpose compute performance. Data compression (83.3% lead) and random string sorting (83.6% lead) are also AMD strengths. For encryption, extended instructions, and floating point math, the AMD chip leads by margins between 19.6% and 49.7%.

The Intel Core 5 320 wins in PassMark single-thread with a 10% lead, which is the most significant of its four wins. It also takes PassMark physics by 3.8% and PassMark find prime numbers by 30.9%. These wins suggest the Intel chip has a niche in single-threaded integer tasks and specific physics calculations. The Intel chip's lower 15 W TDP also positions it as a lower-power option, though the data shows the AMD chip's 28 W TDP is paired with far higher performance in most recorded tests.