AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D vs Intel Core 5 320 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data records a decisive sweep for the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D. Across all 15 head-to-head tests, the AMD processor wins outright, with no test favoring the Intel Core 5 320. The largest margin appears in PassMark integer math, where the AMD part scores 222503 against 32323, a delta of 588.4%. That result reflects the massive gap in parallel execution resources between the two chips.

Cinebench results tell the same story. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D posts 38161.5 points versus 6197 points for the Intel Core 5 320, a 515.8% advantage. The older Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a 473.3% delta, with 6042.5 points against 1054. These are not close contests; the AMD processor delivers more than five times the multi-threaded rendering throughput in the R23 test.

Single-threaded performance narrows the gap substantially, but the AMD chip still leads. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D scores 2159.5 against 1926, a 12.1% edge. Cinebench R15 single-core shows 332 versus 276, a 20.3% delta. PassMark single-thread records 4511 for AMD and 4045 for Intel, an 11.5% difference. The pattern is consistent: the AMD processor holds a solid but not overwhelming lead in per-core work, while its multi-core advantage is enormous.

Data-intensive workloads follow the same trend. PassMark data compression shows 785811 for AMD versus 148779 for Intel, a 428.2% delta. Data encryption scores 39446 against 10984, a 259.1% gap. Extended instructions hit 62813 versus 13262, a 373.6% delta. Prime number finding records 525 against 110, a 377.3% margin. Floating-point math delivers 144122 versus 42440, a 239.6% delta. Random string sorting shows 83497 against 18038, a 362.9% gap. PassMark multi-thread scores 62674 versus 15450, a 305.7% delta, and physics scores 4687 versus 1221, a 283.9% gap.

The average benchmark score reflects the overall positioning. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D averages 97453 across its recorded benchmarks, while the Intel Core 5 320 averages 18023. The AMD chip sits at the 96th percentile of all CPUs in the database, whereas the Intel part lands at the 72nd percentile.

Where Each One Wins

The data shows no benchmark category where the Intel Core 5 320 takes a win. Every recorded test favors the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D. The practical question is not which processor wins, but how large the margin is in each workload type.

For heavily parallel workloads, the AMD processor is in a different class. Cinebench multi-core tests, PassMark multi-thread, integer math, and data compression all show deltas above 300%. Rendering, compilation, and data processing tasks that scale across cores will see the largest benefit from the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D. The 16-core, 32-thread configuration simply overwhelms the 6-core, 6-thread Intel part in any workload that can use more than a handful of threads.

For single-threaded and lightly threaded tasks, the gap shrinks to roughly 11% to 20%. The Intel Core 5 320 is not uncompetitive in this space; it trails by a modest margin in Cinebench single-core and PassMark single-thread tests. Applications that rely primarily on one or two cores will still favor the AMD chip, but the difference is far less dramatic than in multi-threaded tests.

The Intel processor does hold an advantage in power characteristics, with a 15 W TDP against 55 W for the AMD part. For fanless or ultra-low-power mobile designs, the Intel chip is the only viable option in this comparison. The AMD processor also requires a different socket and platform, which may factor into system-level decisions.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D uses the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Fire Range, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It packs 16 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The chip includes 16,630 million transistors across a dual-die design with each die measuring 70.6 mm². Cache consists of 80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 128 MB L3. Memory support is DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, delivering 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. ECC memory is supported. The processor uses 28 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU and integrates a Radeon 610M GPU. It fits the AMD Socket FL1 and is unlocked for multiplier adjustment.

The Intel Core 5 320 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, built on a 3 nm process at Intel. It has 6 cores and 6 threads, with no hyper-threading. Base clock is 1.50 GHz and boost reaches 4.60 GHz. Cache configuration includes 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. Memory support covers both DDR5 and LPDDR5X, but over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. ECC is not supported. The chip provides 6 PCIe Gen 4 lanes from the CPU and integrates Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. It uses the Intel BGA 1516 socket and is not multiplier-unlocked.

The process node difference is notable: Intel's 3 nm process is smaller than AMD's 4 nm, yet the AMD chip delivers far higher performance. The transistor count difference is stark, with AMD listing 16,630 million transistors while Intel does not report a figure in the database. The cache hierarchy also diverges sharply. AMD's 128 MB L3 cache is more than 20 times larger than Intel's 6 MB shared L3, a factor that directly influences the multi-core and data-heavy benchmark results.

The AMD part is part of the 9000 series and the Ryzen 9 generation, released on 2025-01-05. The Intel Core 5 320 carries a release date of 2026-04-15, making it a later entry. The AMD processor targets the mobile segment with a 55 W TDP, while the Intel chip also targets mobile but at a much lower 15 W TDP. Both are listed as Active in production status.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 5 320 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

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

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD processor scores 38161.5 against 6197, a 515.8% advantage. In PassMark multi-thread, the gap is 305.7%, with scores of 62674 and 15450.

Q: Is the Intel processor competitive in single-threaded work?

A: It trails by a modest margin. PassMark single-thread shows 4511 for AMD and 4045 for Intel, an 11.5% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 12.1% gap, with 2159.5 versus 1926.

Q: What memory configurations do the two chips support?

A: The AMD chip supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth and ECC memory. The Intel chip supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC.

Q: Which processor is more power-efficient?

A: The Intel Core 5 320 has a 15 W TDP, while the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D has a 55 W TDP. Intel's lower TDP indicates a design target for power-constrained mobile systems.

Q: What are the socket requirements?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D uses AMD Socket FL1. The Intel Core 5 320 uses Intel BGA 1516.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D wins every single recorded comparison, and in most multi-threaded tests it wins by margins of 240% or more. The 16-core, 32-thread configuration with 128 MB L3 cache and 89.6 GB/s dual-channel memory bandwidth delivers performance that the 6-core, 6-thread Intel Core 5 320 cannot approach in parallel workloads. The AMD chip sits at the 96th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Intel part sits at the 72nd percentile.

The Intel Core 5 320 is not without purpose. Its 15 W TDP makes it suitable for systems where power draw is the primary constraint. The single-threaded gap is only 11.5% in PassMark and 12.1% in Cinebench R23, which means the Intel chip is not far behind in lightly threaded tasks. Its support for LPDDR5X memory and its 3 nm Intel process also indicate a design focused on efficiency rather than raw throughput.

For any workload that scales across cores, the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D is the clear choice based on recorded data. For ultra-low-power mobile designs where the 55 W TDP of the AMD part is prohibitive, the Intel Core 5 320 is the only option in this comparison. The average benchmark score difference, 97453 versus 18023, frames the overall performance hierarchy: the AMD processor is in a different performance tier entirely.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D | Intel Core 5 320 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 16 | 6 |

| Threads | 32 | 6 |

| Base clock | 2.50 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.40 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 15 W |

| Process node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| L1 cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB |

| L2 cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB |

| L3 cache | 128 MB | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory bus | Dual-channel | Single-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 59.7 GB/s |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 28 lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 6 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 610M | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Unlocked multiplier | Yes | No |

| Release date | 2025-01-05 | 2026-04-15 |

| Launch MSRP | None recorded | $340 |