AMD Ryzen 5 40 vs Intel Core 3 304 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two mobile processors along clear functional lines. The AMD Ryzen 5 40 takes three wins, all in Passmark workloads that benefit from its 8 threads and shared cache arrangement. The Intel Core 3 304 dominates the remaining twelve tests, particularly in single-threaded and floating-point intensive tasks.

The AMD side wins in data compression (141533 vs 114775, a 23.3% margin), integer math (31598 vs 24640, a 28.2% margin), and random string sorting (15124 vs 13659, a 10.7% margin). These are workloads where parallel thread execution and memory throughput matter more than raw per-core speed. The Ryzen 5 40's 4 cores and 8 threads, paired with dual-channel LPDDR5 memory delivering 88.0 GB/s, give it an advantage in these specific data manipulation tasks.

The Intel Core 3 304 wins everywhere else. Its most decisive victories come in find prime numbers (68 vs 20, a 70.6% lead), physics (868 vs 432, a 50.2% lead), and floating point math (29722 vs 15194, a 48.9% lead). These results point to a processor with substantially stronger per-core execution resources. The single-threaded Passmark score confirms this: 3614 vs 2477, a 31.5% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel part leads by 34.8% (1765 vs 1150).

The use-case split is straightforward. Applications that compress data, sort strings, or perform integer-heavy parallel work favor the AMD processor. Applications that rely on single-thread speed, physics simulation, encryption, or floating-point calculations favor the Intel processor by wide margins. The Intel part also wins the multithreaded Passmark test (11625 vs 9341, a 19.6% lead), despite having only 5 threads against AMD's 8 threads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 40 has an average benchmark score of 15882, placing it in the 70th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 3 304 has an average score of 13745, placing it in the 68th percentile. The AMD part's nearest rival is the Intel Core Ultra 5 134U at 15910 (0.2% higher), while the Intel part's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX at 13786 (0.3% higher).

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 scores 5263, which is 8% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 40's 4841. Despite having fewer threads (5 vs 8), the Intel processor delivers more multi-threaded rendering performance in this test.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in Passmark's find prime numbers test, where the Intel Core 3 304 scores 68 against the AMD's 20. That is a 70.6% advantage for Intel.

Q: Does the AMD processor win any multi-threaded tests?

A: Yes. The AMD Ryzen 5 40 wins Passmark data compression (141533 vs 114775), Passmark integer math (31598 vs 24640), and Passmark random string sorting (15124 vs 13659). However, it loses the Passmark multithread test overall (9341 vs 11625).

Q: What memory configurations do the two support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 40 supports LPDDR5 in dual-channel mode with 88.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X in single-channel mode with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: Both processors have a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. Their base clocks differ: the AMD runs at 2.80 GHz, while the Intel runs at 1.50 GHz.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results show a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Intel Core 3 304 scores 264 against the AMD's 165.5, a 37.3% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel lead is 34.8% (1765 vs 1150). These are the largest single-threaded gaps in the entire comparison, and they indicate a fundamental difference in per-core efficiency between the Zen 2 architecture in the AMD part and the newer Wildcat Lake design in the Intel part.

Multi-core Cinebench results narrow the gap but still favor Intel. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, Intel scores 849 vs 790, a 6.9% lead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 5263 vs 4841, an 8% lead. The AMD's 8 threads help it stay competitive, but the Intel's stronger individual cores overcome the thread deficit.

The Passmark suite reveals where each processor excels. The AMD Ryzen 5 40's best win is in data compression, scoring 141533 against Intel's 114775, a 23.3% margin. Its integer math win is even larger in percentage terms: 31598 vs 24640, a 28.2% lead. Random string sorting goes to AMD at 15124 vs 13659, a 10.7% margin.

The Intel Core 3 304's Passmark wins are more numerous and often larger. Floating point math shows a 48.9% gap (29722 vs 15194). Physics shows a 50.2% gap (868 vs 432). Extended instructions show a 33.5% gap (9686 vs 6437). Data encryption shows a 21.8% gap (8501 vs 6646). Find prime numbers shows a 70.6% gap (68 vs 20). The single-thread Passmark score favors Intel by 31.5% (3614 vs 2477). The multithread Passmark score favors Intel by 19.6% (11625 vs 9341).

Overall, the head-to-head record is 12 wins for Intel and 3 for AMD. The average benchmark scores, however, tell a different story: the AMD part averages 15882 across all its recorded benchmarks, while the Intel part averages 13745. This discrepancy reflects the different test suites available for each processor: the AMD has Cinebench R15 and R23 results, while the Intel also has Cinebench R20 results, which are not present for the AMD.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ. The AMD Ryzen 5 40 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads. This means the AMD supports simultaneous multithreading, while the Intel does not.

Base clocks differ significantly. The AMD runs at 2.80 GHz, the Intel at 1.50 GHz. Both boost to 4.30 GHz. This 1.30 GHz base clock gap is substantial, yet the Intel still wins most benchmarks, indicating much higher instructions per clock.

Cache configurations differ. The AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. The Intel has 192 KB L1 total, 2.5 MB L2 total, and 6 MB shared L3. The AMD's per-core L2 is larger, but the Intel's total L2 and L3 are larger.

Memory support differs. The AMD uses LPDDR5 in dual-channel mode with 88.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel uses DDR5 and LPDDR5X in single-channel mode with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD has 47.4% more memory bandwidth on paper.

PCIe support differs. The AMD provides Gen 3 with 4 lanes (CPU only). The Intel provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only). The Intel has newer and wider PCIe connectivity.

The sockets differ: AMD Socket FT6 for the AMD, Intel BGA 1516 for the Intel. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The integrated graphics differ. The AMD uses Radeon 610M. The Intel uses Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe).

The launch MSRP for the Intel Core 3 304 is $309. The AMD Ryzen 5 40 has no launch MSRP recorded in the database.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 40 uses the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Mendocino, built on a 6 nm process at TSMC with a die size of 100 mm². It belongs to the Ryzen 5 generation. The Intel Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, built on a 3 nm process at Intel. Its die size is not recorded. It belongs to the Core 3 generation.

The process node difference is significant: 6 nm for AMD versus 3 nm for Intel. This gives Intel a density and efficiency advantage that shows up in the benchmark results, particularly in single-threaded performance where the Intel part leads by over 30%.

The AMD's Zen 2 architecture dates to an earlier design generation. It provides 4 cores with 8 threads, relying on simultaneous multithreading to handle parallel workloads. The Intel Wildcat Lake design uses 5 physical cores without multithreading. The Intel architecture appears to deliver substantially higher per-core throughput, as evidenced by the Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1765 versus 1150 for AMD, despite both processors boosting to the same 4.30 GHz.

Memory architecture also differs. The AMD supports dual-channel LPDDR5 with 88.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel supports single-channel DDR5 and LPDDR5X with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. This explains why the AMD wins data compression and integer math: those workloads can use the additional memory bandwidth. The Intel wins floating-point and physics workloads, which are less memory-bandwidth limited.

The production status for both is Active. The AMD was released on 2025-09-30, while the Intel was released on 2026-04-15. Neither supports ECC memory.

The Verdict

The recorded data indicates that the Intel Core 3 304 is the stronger processor for most workloads. It wins 12 of 15 head-to-head benchmarks, including all Cinebench tests, all single-threaded Passmark tests, the multithread Passmark test, and several specialized workloads. Its single-threaded advantage of 31.5% in Passmark and 34.8% in Cinebench R23 is decisive for everyday applications that rely on per-core speed.

The AMD Ryzen 5 40 wins specifically in data compression, integer math, and random string sorting. These are the workloads where its dual-channel memory bandwidth and 8 threads provide a measurable edge. The 23.3% data compression win and 28.2% integer math win are substantial margins. Users running compression utilities or integer-heavy parallel code would see better results from the AMD part.

The average benchmark scores complicate the picture. The AMD Ryzen 5 40 averages 15882, placing it in the 70th percentile, while the Intel Core 3 304 averages 13745, placing it in the 68th percentile. The AMD's nearest rival is the Intel Core Ultra 5 134U with a delta of -0.2%, while the Intel's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX with a delta of -0.3%. The average scores suggest the AMD part is slightly better overall across the full benchmark suite, even though it loses most head-to-head tests. This is because the AMD's wins in data compression (141533) and random string sorting (15124) are high absolute scores that boost its average.

The specification data shows the Intel part uses a newer 3 nm process, has 5 physical cores, more total cache (6 MB L3 vs 4 MB), and supports PCIe Gen 4. The AMD part uses a 6 nm process, has 4 cores with 8 threads, dual-channel memory, and higher memory bandwidth. The Intel's process advantage and newer architecture appear to drive its benchmark superiority.

For users prioritizing single-threaded performance, floating-point math, physics, encryption, and general multi-core throughput, the Intel Core 3 304 is the clear choice based on the data. For users prioritizing data compression, integer math, and string sorting, the AMD Ryzen 5 40 offers specific advantages that the Intel cannot match. The Intel's launch MSRP is $309, while the AMD has no recorded launch MSRP.