AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 vs Intel Core 5 320 Comparison

AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and Intel Core 5 320 are both mobile processors aimed at different segments of the laptop market. The recorded data shows a clear performance hierarchy, with the AMD part holding a dominant lead across nearly every benchmark while the Intel chip counters with a single-threaded advantage. The following analysis breaks down the benchmark results, architectural differences, and practical implications for system builders.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 wins 13 of the 15 head-to-head benchmarks in the database. Its decisive victories are in multi-threaded workloads, where the core count and simultaneous multithreading provide a massive throughput advantage. The largest deltas appear in integer math (276.7% ahead), Cinebench R23 multi-core (252% ahead), and Cinebench R15 multi-core (216.3% ahead). These results confirm the AMD part is the choice for rendering, compilation, and other heavily parallel tasks.

The Intel Core 5 320 wins exactly 2 benchmarks, both being the PassMark single-thread test (scoring 4045 versus 3867, a 4.4% advantage). This single-threaded lead is modest but consistent, appearing in both the "single_thread" and "singlethread" entries. It suggests that the Intel part holds a slight edge in lightly threaded applications that rely on burst performance, such as some legacy productivity software or UI responsiveness.

For tasks involving data compression, encryption, extended instructions, floating point math, and random string sorting, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 dominates with deltas ranging from 49% (physics) to 172.2% (data compression). The Intel chip has no other benchmark win in the recorded set.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different manufacturing and design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 uses the Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, with the Strix Point codename. It belongs to the Ryzen AI 300 generation, which combines Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. The chip has 12 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. Its thermal envelope is 28 W TDP, and it uses the AMD Socket FP8.

The Intel Core 5 320 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, a 3 nm Intel process, and belongs to the Core 5 generation. It has 6 cores and 6 threads (no hyperthreading), with a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its TDP is 15 W, and it uses Intel BGA 1516. The Intel part's process node is one step smaller (3 nm versus 4 nm), but the core configuration is far less dense.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The AMD part has 80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB L3. The Intel part has 192 KB L1 total, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB L3 shared. The AMD chip also carries a larger die at 233 mm², while the Intel die size is not recorded. Memory support differs: both support DDR5 and LPDDR5X, but the AMD chip uses a dual-channel memory bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel uses a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s.

Integrated graphics also differ. The AMD part uses Radeon 890M; the Intel part uses Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. PCIe lane counts differ: AMD provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), Intel provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only). Neither chip has ECC memory support or an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a consistent pattern: the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 is overwhelmingly faster in every multi-threaded test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD scores 21812 against Intel's 6197, a 252% difference. The R15 multi-core test shows 3334 versus 1054, a 216.3% gap. These Cinebench results are the most dramatic, indicating the AMD part delivers roughly three times the multi-threaded rendering performance.

PassMark integer math shows the largest relative gap: 121754 for AMD versus 32323 for Intel, a 276.7% delta. Data compression follows at 172.2% (404918 versus 148779), and random string sorting shows a 147% difference (44552 versus 18038). Extended instructions see a 120.7% delta (29269 versus 13262), and multithread performance shows 113% (32916 versus 15450). Data encryption is 89.4% ahead for AMD (20802 versus 10984), and floating point math is 77.1% ahead (75153 versus 42440).

The single-threaded results are much closer. In Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD scores 1988 versus Intel's 1926, a 3.2% lead. Cinebench R15 single-core shows AMD at 301 versus Intel at 276, a 9.1% lead. The only Intel wins come in PassMark single-thread: 4045 versus 3867, a 4.4% advantage for Intel. The physics test shows AMD at 1819 versus Intel at 1221, a 49% lead. Prime number finding shows a smaller gap at 10.9% (122 versus 110).

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, by a wide margin. It leads by 252% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (21812 versus 6197) and by 216.3% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (3334 versus 1054).

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 320 win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins the PassMark single-thread test with a score of 4045 versus AMD's 3867, a 4.4% advantage. This appears in both the "single_thread" and "singlethread" entries.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

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

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 has a 28 W TDP, while the Intel Core 5 320 has a 15 W TDP.

Q: Which CPU has higher boost clock?

A: The AMD part boosts to 5.10 GHz, while the Intel part boosts to 4.60 GHz. The Intel part has a lower base clock at 1.50 GHz versus AMD's 2.00 GHz.

Q: How does memory bandwidth compare?

A: The AMD part uses dual-channel memory with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part uses single-channel memory with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth.

The Verdict

The benchmark data shows the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 as the overwhelmingly faster processor for multi-threaded tasks. Its 12-core, 24-thread configuration with SMT delivers between 49% and 276.7% higher scores across all parallel workloads in the database. For users running renderers, compilers, virtual machines, or data processing, the AMD part is the clear choice based on recorded performance.

The Intel Core 5 320 offers a narrow single-threaded win in PassMark (4.4%) but falls behind in Cinebench single-core tests (3.2% and 9.1% deltas against AMD). Its 15 W TDP and 6-core, 6-thread design suit it for lower-power chassis, but the database shows it performs closer to older desktop chips like the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 or Intel Core 5 120U in average score, while the AMD part sits near the Intel Core i9-13900HX.

For a system that prioritizes multi-threaded throughput, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 is the only rational pick from these numbers. For a system that values the single-threaded PassMark lead and lower TDP, the Intel Core 5 320 has a narrow niche, but the overall performance gap is too large to recommend it for general compute work. The average benchmark score difference is stark: 46030 for AMD versus 18023 for Intel, with percentile rankings of 89 versus 72.

Specification Differences

| Field | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 | 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 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Not recorded |

| 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 recorded |

| 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 Support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Single-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 59.7 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | No |

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

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

| Market Segment | Mobile | Mobile |

| Production Status | Active | Active |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $340 |

The Intel Core 5 320 has a launch MSRP of $340, recorded in the database. The AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP.