AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D vs Intel Core 5 315 Comparison

AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D vs Intel Core 5 315 is a matchup between two mobile processors at opposite ends of the performance spectrum. The AMD part is a 16-core flagship built for maximum throughput, while the Intel chip is a low-power 6-core design aimed at efficiency. The benchmark data confirms a complete sweep for the AMD processor in every recorded test, with margins ranging from modest single-thread gains to massive multi-thread leads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result in the database is PassMark integer math, where the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D scores 222503 against the Intel Core 5 315's 31690, a 602.1% advantage. This reflects the core count difference more than anything else, as integer workloads scale almost linearly with available execution resources. Data compression shows a similar pattern: 785811 for AMD versus 146143 for Intel, a 437.7% delta. Extended instructions follow at 62813 versus 13143, a 377.9% gap, and random string sorting lands at 83497 versus 17551, a 375.7% difference.

Cinebench R23 multi-core gives the AMD chip 38161.5 points against Intel's 12981, a 194% lead. The older Cinebench R15 multi-core test is even more dramatic: 6042.5 versus 1308, a 362% margin. PassMark multi-thread shows 62674 versus 15272, a 310.4% delta, while PassMark physics reaches 4687 versus 1163, a 303% gap. Data encryption is 39446 versus 11119, a 254.8% difference, and floating point math is 144122 versus 42441, a 239.6% lead.

Find prime numbers, a test sensitive to memory latency and cache behavior, gives AMD 525 versus Intel's 112, a 368.8% advantage. Single-thread results are far closer but still favor AMD. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 2159.5 versus 1832, a 17.9% margin. PassMark single-thread is 4511 versus 4021, a 12.2% delta. Cinebench R15 single-core is 332 versus 184, an 80.4% gap. The AMD processor wins all 15 head-to-head tests in the database. There are no recorded benchmark wins for the Intel part.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D uses the Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, with the Fire Range codename. It packs 16 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The transistor count is listed at 16,630 million across a dual-die design measuring 2x 70.6 mm². Cache configuration includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a large 128 MB L3 pool. This is a 9000 series part from AMD, released on 2025-01-05.

The Intel Core 5 315 uses the Wildcat Lake codename on a 3 nm Intel process. It has 6 cores and 6 threads, with no hyper-threading support. Base clock is 1.50 GHz and boost clock is 4.40 GHz. L1 cache is 192 KB total, L2 is 2.5 MB, and L3 is 6 MB shared. The process node is smaller than AMD's, but the core count and cache resources are far more limited. Intel's part targets a much lower power envelope, with a TDP of 15 watts against AMD's 55 watts.

Memory support differs substantially. AMD uses DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth, plus ECC support. Intel supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X but only on a single-channel bus, yielding 59.7 GB/s, and it does not support ECC. PCIe connectivity also diverges: AMD offers Gen 5 with 28 lanes, while Intel provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes. Integrated graphics are present on both, with AMD using Radeon 610M and Intel using Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The AMD socket is FL1, and the Intel socket is BGA 1516. AMD's multiplier is unlocked; Intel's is locked.

The average benchmark score tells the same story. AMD sits at 97453, which places it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. Intel averages 18188, in the 72nd percentile. AMD's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX at 98504 (1.1% higher), the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 at 96083 (1.4% lower), the AMD EPYC 4565P at 95764 (1.8% lower), and the AMD EPYC 9175F at 95615 (1.9% lower). Intel's nearest rivals are the AMD EPYC 9274F at 18189 (0% difference), the Intel Core i7-9700 at 18180 (0% difference), the Intel Core i7-1365U at 18177 (0.1% higher), and the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U at 18176 (0.1% higher). Intel's score is effectively tied with those older or lower-tier parts, while AMD competes with high-end workstation and server chips.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D is in a different performance class entirely. Every single benchmark in the database shows a win for AMD, with multi-thread workloads showing the largest gaps. The 16-core, 32-thread configuration with 128 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 at 89.6 GB/s creates a massive throughput advantage. The Intel Core 5 315, with 6 cores, 6 threads, 6 MB of L3, and single-channel memory at 59.7 GB/s, cannot compete in any compute-heavy scenario measured here.

The Intel part does have a much lower TDP of 15 watts versus 55 watts, which suggests a very different use case. It also has a smaller process node at 3 nm versus 4 nm. For workloads that demand maximum processing power, the AMD processor is the clear choice based on the recorded measurements. For workloads that prioritize minimal power draw, the Intel chip's lower TDP is a relevant factor, though the benchmark data does not include any power efficiency tests. The Intel part is also the only one with a recorded launch MSRP of $340; the AMD chip has no listed launch MSRP.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification field. Core count is 16 versus 6. Thread count is 32 versus 6. Base clock is 2.50 GHz versus 1.50 GHz. Boost clock is 5.40 GHz versus 4.40 GHz. TDP is 55 watts versus 15 watts. Socket is AMD Socket FL1 versus Intel BGA 1516. Process node is 4 nm versus 3 nm. Foundry is TSMC versus Intel. L1 cache is 80 KB per core versus 192 KB total. L2 cache is 1 MB per core versus 2.5 MB total. L3 cache is 128 MB versus 6 MB shared.

Memory support is DDR5 versus DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Memory bus is dual-channel versus single-channel. Memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s versus 59.7 GB/s. ECC support is true versus false. PCIe is Gen 5 with 28 lanes versus Gen 4 with 6 lanes. Integrated graphics is Radeon 610M versus Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. Release date is 2025-01-05 versus 2026-04-15. Multiplier is unlocked versus locked. The AMD part has a listed transistor count of 16,630 million and die size of 2x 70.6 mm²; Intel has no listed transistor count or die size.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D wins all 15 head-to-head tests in the database. The Intel Core 5 315 has zero recorded wins.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, AMD scores 38161.5 against Intel's 12981, a 194% lead. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD scores 6042.5 against 1308, a 362% margin. PassMark multi-thread shows 62674 versus 15272, a 310.4% delta.

Q: Is the single-thread performance gap also large?

A: No, it is much smaller. Cinebench R23 single-core shows AMD at 2159.5 versus Intel at 1832, a 17.9% advantage. PassMark single-thread shows 4511 versus 4021, a 12.2% delta.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: How do the cache sizes compare?

A: AMD has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 128 MB of L3. Intel has 192 KB of L1 total, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: AMD uses dual-channel DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth and ECC support. Intel uses single-channel DDR5 or LPDDR5X with 59.7 GB/s and no ECC support.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D wins every measured workload category, but the margin varies by test type. The largest leads appear in integer math (602.1%), data compression (437.7%), random string sorting (375.7%), and find prime numbers (368.8%). These are heavily parallel or cache-sensitive tasks that benefit from the 16-core design and 128 MB of L3. Physics simulation shows a 303% lead, and multi-thread rendering tests show leads between 194% and 362%. Even in single-thread tests, where the Intel part is closest, AMD still leads by 12.2% in PassMark and 17.9% in Cinebench R23.

The Intel Core 5 315 has no benchmark wins in the database. Its strengths are structural rather than performance-based. It operates at 15 watts TDP versus AMD's 55 watts, which implies a substantially lower power draw for light workloads. It uses a 3 nm Intel process, smaller than AMD's 4 nm TSMC node. It supports LPDDR5X memory in addition to DDR5. It also has a listed launch MSRP of $340, while AMD has no listed launch MSRP. For scenarios where sustained multi-core throughput is the priority, the AMD processor is the only reasonable choice based on the recorded data. For scenarios where power consumption is the dominant constraint, the Intel part's lower TDP and smaller process node make it a candidate, though the database contains no efficiency benchmarks to quantify that trade-off.