AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 vs Intel Core 5 320 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a remarkably one-sided comparison. Across the 15 head-to-head tests recorded in the database, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 claims 13 victories, while the Intel Core 5 320 takes only 2. The scale of the AMD advantage varies dramatically by workload, ranging from a narrow 1.8% deficit in one test to a dominant 280.3% lead in another.

The largest margin appears in PassMark integer math, where AMD scores 122933 against Intel's 32323, a 280.3% advantage. This result aligns with the core count disparity: AMD fields 12 cores and 24 threads, while Intel offers 6 cores and 6 threads. The multi-threaded Cinebench results reinforce this pattern. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, AMD records 21761 versus Intel's 6197, a 251.2% lead. The older Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a similar gap at 223.5%, with scores of 3409.5 and 1054 respectively.

Data compression and random string sorting also show massive gaps. AMD's PassMark data compression score of 445719 tops Intel's 148779 by 199.6%. Random string sorting favors AMD by 170.1%, with scores of 48723 versus 18038. These workloads typically scale well with thread count, which explains the magnitude of the difference.

The encryption test shows a 102.6% advantage for AMD, scoring 22252 against 10984. Extended instruction throughput leans AMD by 138.7%, with 31653 versus 13262. Floating point math favors AMD by 81.2%, with scores of 76892 and 42440. The PassMark multi-thread aggregate shows AMD at 35148 against 15450, a 127.5% lead.

Single-threaded performance tells a different story. The Intel Core 5 320 wins both PassMark single-thread tests with a score of 4045 against AMD's 3973, a 1.8% margin. This is the only category where Intel leads, and the advantage is slim. In Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD still wins with 2018 versus 1926, a 4.8% lead. Cinebench R15 single-core likewise favors AMD at 306.5 versus 276, an 11.1% margin. The PassMark find prime numbers test shows a modest 14.5% AMD advantage, with 126 against 110.

The average benchmark scores in the database reflect the overall gap. AMD's average is 37904, placing it at the 86th percentile of all CPUs. Intel's average is 18023, at the 72nd percentile. The nearest rivals in the database put these figures in context: AMD sits within 0.3% of the Intel Core 5 211E (37829) and the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132 (37804), while Intel's Core 5 320 lands within 0.7% of the Intel Core 5 120U (17898) and 0.7% of the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT (17891).

Where Each One Wins

The data splits cleanly by workload type. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 dominates every heavily parallel workload in the benchmark suite. Rendering, compression, encryption, sorting, and math-heavy tasks all show triple-digit percentage leads. The Cinebench multi-core results, with a 251.2% gap in R23, indicate that users running CPU-bound rendering or video encoding workloads would see substantial time savings with the AMD part.

The Intel Core 5 320 wins only the PassMark single-thread tests, and by a narrow 1.8% margin. This suggests a slight advantage in lightly threaded, latency-sensitive tasks, though the Cinebench single-core results contradict that picture. In Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD leads by 4.8%, and in R15 single-core by 11.1%. The two benchmark suites disagree on which chip has the faster single core, which points to differences in how each suite exercises the CPU.

The workload split also shows in the PassMark physics test. AMD leads 1881 to 1221, a 54.1% advantage. Physics simulations often benefit from both strong single-thread performance and additional threads, and the AMD chip delivers on both fronts here.

For database-style integer operations, the AMD chip's 280.3% lead in integer math is the largest gap recorded. This result suggests the core count and simultaneous multithreading provide an outsized benefit in arithmetic-heavy, parallelizable code.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 uses the Zen 5 architecture under the Strix Point codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It is part of the Ryzen AI 300 generation, which combines Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. The die size is 233 mm². The Intel Core 5 320 uses the Wildcat Lake codename under the Core 5 generation, built on a 3 nm process at Intel's own foundry.

Core counts differ substantially. AMD provides 12 cores and 24 threads, while Intel provides 6 cores and 6 threads. Intel does not enable simultaneous multithreading on this part, which halves its thread count relative to core count. AMD's hybrid Zen 5 / Zen 5c arrangement allows it to pack more cores into the mobile power envelope.

Cache hierarchies diverge as well. AMD allocates 80 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with 16 MB of shared L3. Intel's cache figures are listed as aggregate values: 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The 16 MB L3 on AMD versus 6 MB on Intel represents a meaningful difference for workloads that repeatedly access a working set larger than 6 MB.

Clock speeds also differ. AMD's base clock is 2.00 GHz with a 5.10 GHz boost. Intel's base clock is 1.50 GHz with a 4.60 GHz boost. Despite the lower clocks, Intel manages to edge out AMD in the PassMark single-thread test, which suggests the Wildcat Lake cores have strong per-clock efficiency in that specific benchmark.

Memory configuration favors AMD. The AMD chip uses a dual-channel memory bus with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. Intel uses a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s. Both support DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory, and neither supports ECC. PCIe connectivity also differs: AMD provides Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes, while Intel provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes.

The integrated graphics differ as well. AMD pairs its CPU with the Radeon 890M, while Intel uses Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The database does not include graphics benchmarks for either chip, so the relative GPU performance cannot be assessed from this data.

Power envelopes show a notable difference. AMD has a 28 W TDP, while Intel has a 15 W TDP. The Intel chip draws less power by specification, which may matter for fanless or ultra-portable designs, though the benchmark data does not include power measurements.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 has an average benchmark score of 37904, compared to 18023 for the Intel Core 5 320. AMD sits at the 86th percentile of all CPUs, while Intel sits at the 72nd percentile.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 320 win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes. It wins both PassMark single-thread tests with a score of 4045 against AMD's 3973, a 1.8% margin. These are the only two head-to-head tests that Intel wins out of 15 recorded.

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

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, AMD scores 21761 against Intel's 6197, a 251.2% lead. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD leads 3409.5 to 1054, a 223.5% advantage.

Q: What memory bandwidth does each processor support?

A: AMD supports 89.6 GB/s over a dual-channel memory bus. Intel supports 59.7 GB/s over a single-channel memory bus. Both support DDR5 and LPDDR5X.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: AMD has 12 cores and 24 threads. Intel has 6 cores and 6 threads, with no simultaneous multithreading.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: AMD has 16 MB of shared L3 cache. Intel has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

The Verdict

The recorded data shows a clear performance hierarchy. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 wins 13 of 15 head-to-head tests, and its victories in multi-threaded workloads are decisive. The 251.2% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and the 280.3% lead in PassMark integer math indicate that this chip is in a different performance class for parallel work.

The Intel Core 5 320 has one genuine strength in the data: the PassMark single-thread score of 4045 beats AMD's 3973. This is a narrow victory, and the Cinebench single-core tests both favor AMD, so the single-thread story is mixed. The Intel chip also carries a lower 15 W TDP against AMD's 28 W, which may be relevant for systems where thermal and power budgets are the primary constraint.

The memory configuration reinforces the performance split. AMD's dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth is better suited to memory-intensive workloads than Intel's single-channel bus at 59.7 GB/s. The PCIe lane count also favors AMD, with 16 lanes versus 6.

The data does not support choosing the Intel Core 5 320 for raw compute performance. Its single-thread edge is small, and its multi-thread performance trails by margins that range from 54.1% to 280.3% depending on the test. The Intel chip's case rests on its lower TDP and its single-thread PassMark result, but the benchmark record otherwise favors AMD across the board.

For workloads that scale with thread count, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is the clear choice based on the recorded scores. For systems that prioritize the lowest power envelope and can tolerate substantially lower multi-thread throughput, the Intel Core 5 320 has a defensible position, though its performance deficits are large.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | Intel Core 5 320 |

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

| Cores | 12 | 6 |

| Threads | 24 | 6 |

| Base clock | 2.00 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.10 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 15 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP8 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Codename | Strix Point | Wildcat Lake |

| Generation | Ryzen AI 300 (Zen 5 / Zen 5c) | Core 5 (Wildcat Lake) |

| Process node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die size | 233 mm² | Not listed |

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

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

| L3 cache | 16 MB | 6 MB (shared) |

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

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

| PCIe | Gen 4, 16 lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 6 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 890M | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) |

| Release date | 2024-06-30 | 2026-04-15 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $340 |

| Average benchmark score | 37904 | 18023 |

| Percentile vs all CPUs | 86 | 72 |