AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX vs Intel Core 5 320 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a decisive performance gap between the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and the Intel Core 5 320. Across the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons, the AMD processor claims 15 wins, while the Intel chip manages 2 wins. The margin is not subtle; it is a systematic advantage that appears in nearly every workload category.

The most extreme disparity emerges in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 42,713 points, while the Intel Core 5 320 records 6,197 points. That is a 589.3% delta, the largest single margin in the entire comparison. The same test in single-core shows a 213.1% advantage for AMD, with scores of 6,030 versus 1,926. The Cinebench R20 results follow the same pattern, with AMD leading by 228.4% in both multi-core (17,939 vs. 5,462) and single-core (2,532 vs. 771). Cinebench R15 shows a 308.4% multi-core lead for AMD (4,305 vs. 1,054) and a 119.9% single-core lead (607 vs. 276).

PassMark integer math produces the second-largest gap. The AMD processor scores 195,180, against 32,323 for Intel, a 503.8% difference. Data compression shows a 355.5% lead for AMD (677,755 vs. 148,779). Random string sorting favors AMD by 336.8% (78,781 vs. 18,038). Extended instructions deliver a 275.7% advantage (49,823 vs. 13,262), while data encryption shows a 271.8% gap (40,836 vs. 10,984). PassMark multi-thread results place AMD 232.7% ahead (51,405 vs. 15,450). Floating point math gives AMD a 176.8% edge (117,453 vs. 42,440). Prime number finding shows a 138.2% advantage (262 vs. 110). Even the smallest AMD win, PassMark physics, shows a 77.6% lead (2,168 vs. 1,221).

The Intel Core 5 320 wins exactly one benchmark category, PassMark single-thread, with duplicated entries for the same result. The scores are 4,045 for Intel and 3,907 for AMD, a 3.4% margin. That is the only test where the Intel chip outperforms, and the margin is small relative to the deficits elsewhere.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the hierarchy. AMD records an average score of 76,212, while Intel sits at 18,023. The AMD chip ranks in the 95th percentile of all CPUs in the database, whereas the Intel chip ranks in the 72nd percentile. These percentile figures place the two processors in different performance tiers entirely.

Architecture Differences

The underlying designs explain the benchmark results. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX uses 16 cores and 32 threads, built on the Zen 4 architecture under the Dragon Range codename. The Intel Core 5 320 uses 6 cores and 6 threads, with the Wildcat Lake codename and no architecture designation listed. The core count difference alone, 16 versus 6, accounts for much of the multi-threaded performance gap, but the thread count difference is even starker: 32 threads versus 6 threads means AMD can process far more concurrent work.

Clock speeds also diverge significantly. The AMD processor has a 2.50 GHz base clock and a 5.40 GHz boost clock. The Intel chip has a 1.50 GHz base clock and a 4.60 GHz boost clock. The AMD chip's higher base clock contributes to sustained workload performance, while its higher boost clock provides a ceiling advantage in burst scenarios.

The manufacturing processes differ as well. AMD uses a 5 nm process from TSMC, while Intel uses a 3 nm process from its own foundry. The Intel chip's smaller process node does not translate into a performance advantage in the recorded data, likely because the core count and thread count deficits are too large to overcome.

Cache configurations are fundamentally different. The AMD processor allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and a 64 MB L3 cache. The Intel processor uses 192 KB of L1 cache total, 2.5 MB of L2 cache total, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip's 64 MB L3 cache is more than ten times larger than Intel's 6 MB, which aids in data reuse and reduces memory access latency in cache-heavy workloads. The per-core L1 and L2 allocations also give AMD a structural advantage in keeping frequently accessed data closer to the execution units.

Memory support adds another differentiator. AMD supports DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus and a theoretical bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. Intel supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X, but uses a single-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The dual-channel configuration provides AMD with substantially more memory bandwidth, which matters for data-intensive tasks like compression and encryption, where the benchmark results show large AMD leads.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. AMD provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while Intel provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only). The AMD chip's PCIe Gen 5 support and higher lane count allow for faster and more numerous peripheral connections. Integrated graphics differ: AMD includes Radeon 610M, while Intel includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores.

The power envelopes are notably different. AMD has a TDP of 55 watts, while Intel has a TDP of 15 watts. The Intel chip is designed for lower power consumption, which is consistent with its lower core count and clock speeds. The AMD chip's higher TDP reflects its larger core configuration and performance orientation.

The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier and a part number of 100-000001848. The Intel processor has a locked multiplier and a part number of SAE3H. Both are in active production and target the mobile market segment. AMD uses the AMD Socket FL1, while Intel uses Intel BGA 1516.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX wins in every multi-threaded workload category. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests all show AMD leading by margins ranging from 228.4% to 589.3%. PassMark multi-thread shows a 232.7% advantage. Data compression, encryption, extended instructions, integer math, floating point math, prime number finding, physics, and random string sorting all favor AMD with deltas between 77.6% and 503.8%. Any workload that scales with cores, threads, or cache capacity will favor the AMD chip substantially.

The AMD processor also wins in single-core Cinebench tests. The R15, R20, and R23 single-core results show AMD leading by 119.9%, 228.4%, and 213.1% respectively. These margins are surprising given that single-core performance typically depends on clock speed and IPC rather than core count. The AMD chip's higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz versus 4.60 GHz likely contributes, along with architectural efficiency in the Zen 4 design.

The Intel Core 5 320 wins in exactly one PassMark subtest: single-thread. The score of 4,045 versus 3,907 gives Intel a 3.4% advantage. This is a narrow win in a test that measures single-threaded execution without the multi-core scaling that dominates other workloads. The Intel chip's lower TDP of 15 watts suggests it may sustain this single-thread performance efficiently, though the database records only the scores, not power draw during the tests.

For use cases, the AMD processor is the clear choice for rendering, video encoding, software compilation, scientific computing, data compression, encryption, and any parallel workload. The Cinebench multi-core results indicate strong performance in 3D rendering and animation tasks. The PassMark integer and floating point results indicate broad computational strength. The data compression and encryption results point to archive management and security applications.

The Intel processor's single-thread win, while small, indicates it can handle lightly threaded tasks with comparable or slightly better speed. The 3.4% margin in PassMark single-thread suggests that basic office productivity, web browsing, and light application usage would not suffer from the Intel chip's limitations. The lower TDP also makes it a candidate for fanless or passively cooled designs, though the database does not record thermal or acoustic measurements.

The average benchmark score difference, 76,212 versus 18,023, summarizes the overall positioning. The AMD chip occupies the 95th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel chip sits at the 72nd percentile. That percentile gap places them in different performance brackets for database users comparing across processors.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX outperforms the Intel Core 5 320 in 15 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, with margins that range from 77.6% to 589.3%. The AMD chip wins all six Cinebench tests, covering both multi-core and single-core scenarios. It wins all nine PassMark subtests except single-thread, where the Intel chip takes a 3.4% edge.

For users selecting a processor for multi-threaded workloads, the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is the only rational choice based on these measurements. The 589.3% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is not a marginal improvement; it is a categorical difference in capability. The 16 cores and 32 threads, combined with 64 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel memory, provide a structural advantage that the Intel chip cannot offset despite its smaller 3 nm process node.

The Intel Core 5 320 suits scenarios where minimal power consumption is the priority. Its 15 watt TDP, compared to AMD's 55 watts, indicates a significantly lower power envelope. The single-thread win, while narrow, shows that the chip is not without merit for basic tasks. The 72nd percentile ranking places it above a majority of CPUs in the database, and its nearest rivals include chips like the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 and Intel Core 5 120U, which have comparable average scores.

The AMD chip's nearest rivals in the database are the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX with a 0.1% delta, the AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P with a -0.4% delta, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX with a -0.4% delta, and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D with a 0.6% delta. These are all high-end processors with average scores near 76,000. The Intel chip's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 with a 0.2% delta, the Intel Core 5 120U with a 0.7% delta, the Intel Core i5-1334U with a -0.7% delta, and the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT with a 0.7% delta. These are mid-range processors with average scores near 18,000. The two chips are not competing in the same performance class.

FAQ

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two processors?

A: The largest margin is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 42,713 versus 6,197 for the Intel Core 5 320, a 589.3% delta.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 320 win any benchmark against the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX?

A: Yes, the Intel chip wins PassMark single-thread with a score of 4,045 versus 3,907, a 3.4% margin. This appears twice in the head-to-head data under the test names passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 5 320 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: What are the TDP values for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has a TDP of 55 watts. The Intel Core 5 320 has a TDP of 15 watts.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache size?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has 64 MB of L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 320 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores and percentile rankings compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has an average benchmark score of 76,212 and ranks in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 5 320 has an average benchmark score of 18,023 and ranks in the 72nd percentile.