AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX vs Intel Core 5 320 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX and the Intel Core 5 320 is unusually lopsided. Of the 13 recorded head-to-head comparisons, the AMD processor wins 10, while the Intel part takes 3. The victories, however, are not distributed evenly across workload types. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX dominates every multi-threaded and throughput-oriented test, often by margins exceeding 100%. The Intel Core 5 320 wins exclusively in single-threaded workloads, and even there, the margins are narrow.

The AMD processor’s wins include Cinebench R23 multi-core, PassMark data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating-point math, integer math, multithread, physics, and random string sorting. These are workloads that scale with core count, thread count, and cache capacity. The Intel part’s wins are limited to Cinebench R23 single-core and the two PassMark single-thread entries, which are the same underlying test recorded twice. The single-core advantage is real but small: 3.6% in Cinebench R23 and 2.2% in PassMark single-thread.

The use-case split is therefore clear. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX is the processor for rendering, encoding, simulation, database workloads, and any task that can use more than a handful of threads. The Intel Core 5 320 is the processor for lightly threaded, latency-sensitive applications where a single core’s speed matters more than the number of available cores. The data also shows that the Intel part’s wins are not consistent enough to suggest a general-purpose advantage. In every PassMark test that exercises more than one core, the AMD processor leads by a wide margin.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and different process nodes. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX is built on TSMC’s 5 nm process and uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Dragon Range codename. It belongs to the 8000 series and the Ryzen 7 generation. The Intel Core 5 320 is built on Intel’s 3 nm process and uses the Wildcat Lake codename under the Core 5 generation. The process node difference alone does not explain the performance gap, but it does help contextualize the power and efficiency profiles.

The core configurations are drastically different. The AMD processor has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel processor has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning it lacks simultaneous multithreading entirely. This is the single largest structural difference. The AMD part also has a much larger cache hierarchy: 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has 192 KB of L1 total, 2.5 MB of L2 total, and 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD processor’s 64 MB L3 cache is more than ten times the Intel part’s shared L3.

Clock speeds also differ. The AMD part has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Intel part has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The AMD processor’s higher boost clock helps explain why its single-core performance is competitive despite the Intel part’s narrower wins. The Intel part’s much lower base clock is consistent with its 15 W TDP, compared to the AMD part’s 55 W TDP.

Memory support and PCIe connectivity further separate the two. The AMD processor uses dual-channel DDR5 with a recorded memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The Intel processor uses single-channel DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The AMD part offers PCIe Gen 5 with 28 CPU lanes; the Intel part offers PCIe Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. The AMD processor also has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel processor does not. Integrated graphics differ as well: the AMD part uses Radeon 610M, and the Intel part uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The AMD part has 13,140 million transistors across a 2x 71 mm² die; the Intel part’s transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest wins for the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX come in multi-threaded integer and rendering workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD part scores 25,265 against the Intel part’s 6,197, a delta of 307.7%. This is the biggest single margin in the comparison. PassMark integer math shows a similar gap: 146,506 versus 32,323, a delta of 353.3%. These two results alone establish that the AMD processor is in a different performance class for CPU-bound parallel work.

The AMD processor also shows strong gains in memory and data-oriented tasks. PassMark data compression scores 496,427 versus 148,779, a delta of 233.7%. Random string sorting scores 57,971 versus 18,038, a delta of 221.4%. Data encryption scores 29,919 versus 10,984, a delta of 172.4%. Extended instructions score 36,527 versus 13,262, a delta of 175.4%. Prime number finding scores 304 versus 110, a delta of 176.4%. Floating-point math scores 86,747 versus 42,440, a delta of 104.4%. Multithread scores 41,732 versus 15,450, a delta of 170.1%. Physics scores 2,185 versus 1,221, a delta of 79%.

The Intel Core 5 320’s wins are confined to single-thread tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 1,926 against the AMD part’s 1,857, a delta of 3.6% in Intel’s favor. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 4,045 against 3,958, a delta of 2.2%. Both margins are small, and they do not compensate for the multi-thread deficits. The AMD processor also wins the single-core comparison in terms of absolute usability, because its multi-core performance is not achieved at the cost of single-core competitiveness.

The database’s percentile rankings reinforce the split. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX sits at the 94th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 71,797. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF (delta of -0.2%), the Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 (delta of 0.6%), and two Xeon server parts with deltas of -0.8%. The Intel Core 5 320 sits at the 72nd percentile, with an average benchmark score of 18,023. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (delta of 0.2%), the Intel Core 5 120U (delta of 0.7%), and the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT (delta of 0.7%). The average score gap between the two processors is roughly 4x, matching the multi-thread deltas observed in the head-to-head tests.

The Verdict

The recorded data leaves little room for ambiguity. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX is the stronger processor for any workload that can use multiple cores, and it holds its own in single-threaded tests. The Intel Core 5 320 wins only two distinct single-thread tests, by margins of 3.6% and 2.2%. Those margins are within the range of normal run-to-run variation for many workloads, and they do not translate into a broader performance advantage.

The AMD part’s 12 cores and 24 threads, combined with 64 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel memory bandwidth, deliver multi-thread scores that are 79% to 353% higher than the Intel part across the recorded benchmarks. The Intel part’s 6 cores and 6 threads, single-channel memory, and 6 MB of L3 cache cannot close that gap. The Intel part does offer a much lower 15 W TDP against the AMD part’s 55 W TDP, and its 3 nm process node suggests better efficiency per watt, but the database does not record power efficiency metrics, so that remains a qualitative observation.

For users who prioritize rendering, compilation, data processing, or any parallel workload, the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX is the clear choice. For users who run mostly single-threaded applications and need maximum battery life or minimum heat output, the Intel Core 5 320 has a narrow but real single-core edge. The Intel part’s launch MSRP is $340, and it is a mobile processor with a 15 W TDP, which positions it for thin-and-light systems. The AMD part is also a mobile processor but with a 55 W TDP, which positions it for larger, higher-performance laptops. The data does not support any scenario where the Intel part outperforms the AMD part in overall throughput.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX wins 10 of the 13 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The Intel Core 5 320 wins 3.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark integer math, where the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX scores 146,506 versus the Intel Core 5 320’s 32,323, a delta of 353.3%. The second largest is Cinebench R23 multi-core at 307.7%.

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

A: Yes. It wins Cinebench R23 single-core (1,926 versus 1,857, a 3.6% delta) and PassMark single-thread (4,045 versus 3,958, a 2.2% delta). The two PassMark single-thread entries are the same test recorded twice.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core 5 320 has 6 cores and 6 threads, with no simultaneous multithreading.

Q: What are the cache differences?

A: The AMD processor has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3. The Intel processor has 192 KB of L1 total, 2.5 MB of L2 total, and 6 MB of shared L3.

Q: What are the TDP ratings?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX has a 55 W TDP. The Intel Core 5 320 has a 15 W TDP.