AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS vs Intel Core 5 320 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS and Intel Core 5 320 serve different performance segments within the mobile market. Benchmark data shows a clear split: the AMD processor dominates multi-threaded and compute-heavy tasks, while the Intel chip takes narrow wins in two specific single-threaded workloads. The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS wins 14 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons, with the Intel Core 5 320 claiming 3, but the nature of those wins reveals distinct application priorities.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is the decisive winner in rendering, content creation, and general productivity workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 25165 against 6197 for the Intel Core 5 320, a massive 306.1% advantage. That margin is the largest in the entire head-to-head set, indicating that heavily threaded workloads scale far better on the AMD part. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a 93.5% lead (10569 vs 5462), and R15 multi-core a 140.6% lead (2536 vs 1054). PassMark integer math also heavily favors AMD: 103390 vs 32323, a 219.9% difference. Data compression follows with 368884 vs 148779, a 147.9% gap, and random string sorting delivers 44668 vs 18038, a 147.6% gap. These results confirm the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS as the choice for sustained, multi-core processing.

The Intel Core 5 320 wins in two specific areas. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 4045 versus 3920, a 3.1% margin. The identical result applies to the PassMark singlethread test, which records the same scores. It also wins PassMark find prime numbers with 110 vs 91, a 17.3% advantage. These wins point to a lighter single-thread efficiency advantage in certain algorithmic tasks, but the margin is small in the single-thread case and the prime number workload is a narrow specialty. For floating-point math, AMD leads 63490 vs 42440, a 49.6% gap. Physics simulation also goes to AMD, 1430 vs 1221, a 17.1% lead. The Intel part has no multi-core wins at all; every Cinebench multi-core test and every PassMark multithread result goes to AMD, including PassMark multithread at 30378 vs 15450, a 96.6% gap.

Architecture Differences

The two processors use fundamentally different designs. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is built on TSMC's 4 nm process with Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Hawk Point. It belongs to the 8000 series and the Ryzen 9 generation. The Intel Core 5 320 uses Intel's 3 nm process with Wildcat Lake architecture, and it is listed as a Core 5 generation part. The process node difference is small, 4 nm vs 3 nm, but the architectural choices diverge sharply.

Core and thread counts explain much of the performance split. The AMD chip has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel chip has 6 cores and 6 threads. That means the Intel Core 5 320 has no hyper-threading equivalent; it processes one thread per core. The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS doubles its thread count over its core count. This structural difference directly drives the multi-core benchmark gaps. Cache configurations also differ. The AMD part allocates 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel part lists 192 KB of L1 total, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD processor has a larger aggregate cache hierarchy, which supports its higher sustained throughput in compression and sorting workloads.

Memory support diverges as well. The AMD processor uses DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel processor supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X but only over a single-channel bus, yielding 59.7 GB/s. That bandwidth gap of roughly 30 GB/s favors AMD in memory-sensitive tasks. ECC memory is supported on the AMD part but not on the Intel part. PCIe connectivity also differs: AMD provides Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes, while Intel provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ: AMD uses Radeon 780M, Intel uses Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The AMD processor carries a TDP of 45 watts, while the Intel part is rated at 15 watts, a 30-watt difference that reflects the AMD chip's higher power envelope for performance and the Intel chip's efficiency orientation.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 320 boosts to 4.60 GHz.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 320 support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Core 5 320 does not support ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS does.

Q: How does the Intel Core 5 320 compare in single-threaded PassMark performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 320 scores 4045 in PassMark single-thread, which is 3.1% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS's 3920.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS has 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth over a dual-channel bus, while the Intel Core 5 320 has 59.7 GB/s over a single-channel bus.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core 5 320 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

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 PRO 8945HS leads by 306.1% with a score of 25165 versus 6197.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS uses 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 5 320 uses 6 cores and 6 threads. Base clocks differ substantially: the AMD part runs at 4.00 GHz, the Intel part at 1.50 GHz. Boost clocks also differ, with AMD at 5.20 GHz and Intel at 4.60 GHz. TDP ratings show a 45 watt design for AMD and a 15 watt design for Intel. Sockets are incompatible: AMD uses AMD Socket FP7, Intel uses Intel BGA 1516. The AMD architecture is Zen 4 with the Hawk Point codename, while the Intel architecture is Wildcat Lake with no listed base architecture. Process nodes differ by 1 nm: AMD uses TSMC's 4 nm process, Intel uses Intel's 3 nm process. Transistor count is listed only for AMD at 25,000 million, and die size only for AMD at 178 mm². Cache layouts diverge: AMD lists 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3; Intel lists 192 KB L1 total, 2.5 MB L2 total, and 6 MB shared L3. Memory support differs with AMD supporting DDR5 only and Intel supporting DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The memory bus is dual-channel for AMD and single-channel for Intel. Memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s for AMD and 59.7 GB/s for Intel. ECC support is present on AMD, absent on Intel. PCIe lanes differ: AMD provides 20 Gen 4 lanes, Intel provides 6 Gen 4 lanes. Integrated graphics differ: Radeon 780M for AMD, Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores for Intel. The Intel Core 5 320 has a launch MSRP of $340. Release dates differ by two years, with AMD listed as 2024-04-15 and Intel as 2026-04-15. The AMD part number is listed as 100-000001314(FP7r2) and 100-000001386(FP7), while the Intel part number is SAE3H.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS with overwhelming multi-core superiority. Cinebench R23 multi-core delivers the largest gap: 25165 vs 6197, a 306.1% lead. That result is the standout in the entire comparison. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 2536 vs 1054, a 140.6% lead, and Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 10569 vs 5462, a 93.5% lead. Single-core Cinebench results also favor AMD, though by smaller margins. R23 single-core gives 3552 vs 1926, an 84.4% lead. R20 single-core gives 1491 vs 771, a 93.4% lead. R15 single-core gives 357 vs 276, a 29.3% lead. The single-core Cinebench gaps are notable because they suggest the AMD architecture holds a per-thread advantage in rendering workloads, not just a core-count advantage.

PassMark results reinforce the AMD dominance in compute-heavy categories. Integer math shows 103390 vs 32323, a 219.9% lead. Data compression shows 368884 vs 148779, a 147.9% lead. Random string sorting shows 44668 vs 18038, a 147.6% lead. Extended instructions show 27714 vs 13262, a 109% lead. Data encryption shows 21820 vs 10984, a 98.7% lead. PassMark multithread shows 30378 vs 15450, a 96.6% lead. Floating-point math shows 63490 vs 42440, a 49.6% lead. Physics shows 1430 vs 1221, a 17.1% lead. The Intel Core 5 320 takes the two PassMark single-thread tests at 4045 vs 3920, a 3.1% edge each, and the find prime numbers test at 110 vs 91, a 17.3% edge. Those three wins are the only benchmarks where the Intel processor appears ahead, and two of them are effectively the same test listed under two names. The overall average benchmark score reflects the gap: the AMD processor averages 41963, while the Intel processor averages 18023. The AMD part sits at the 88th percentile of all CPUs, the Intel part at the 72nd percentile. Nearest rival data places the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS within 0.1% of the Intel Core i7-14700T and within 0.4% of the Intel Core i7-12850HX, while the Intel Core 5 320 sits within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 and within 0.7% of the Intel Core 5 120U.