Even just a few years ago, Intel was the king of the PC CPU market. Nobody could even think that Intel could possibly be dethroned. That is until AMD came into the picture. Although AMD’s initial foray into the CPU market was a little less than lackluster, the hardware giant quickly gained ground on its adversary. Now, Intel and AMD are the world’s biggest manufacturers of desktop and laptop CPUs.
Intel has dominated the market for years with its i3, i5, and i7 range of processors. However, with AMD rising to such acclaim, this brings about an important question – what is AMD equivalent to Intel i3, i5, i7? To answer briefly, the AMD equivalent to the Intel i3, i5, and i7, is its Ryzen 3, Ryzen 5, and Ryzen 7. All of these AMD processors perform roughly the same as their Intel counterparts. But there is a lot more to the story. Let’s get into it!
Intel vs AMD: Battle for Processor Supremacy
Before we get into the face-off, we need to set some boundaries. For this comparison, we are going to be primarily looking at the desktop base variants of each CPU that come with an integrated graphics chip. Otherwise, the comparisons between the two would simply not be fair.
For instance, it would not be an impartial comparison if we put up the base model of Intel’s 12th Gen i7 processor – 12700, against AMD’s 5th Gen Ryzen process – 5500, as the Intel model has an integrated graphics chip, while the other one doesn’t.
Similarly, comparing the i7 9700K to the Ryzen 5 5600G would not be ideal either, as not only is there a difference in generations, but also the Intel CPU can be overclocked while the other cannot. Moreover, there are several variations in each line of these CPUs, and that is excluding laptop processors.
With all that out of the way, let’s check out how these processors stack up against each other.
Intel Core i3 12300 vs AMD Ryzen 3 5300G
For our entry-level CPU comparison, we have chosen the Intel Core i3 12300 and AMD Ryzen 3 5300G. Both of these processors are ideal for people who just want to build a decent modern-generation computer with all the bells and whistles.
Here is how they compare in terms of specs:
| Specifications | Intel Core i3 12300 | AMD Ryzen 3 5300G |
| Architecture | 10nm | 7nm |
| Cores | 4 (4P+0E) | 4 |
| Threads | 8 | 8 |
| Base Clock Speed | 3.5GHz | 4.0GHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 4.4GHz | 4.5GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12MB | 8MB |
| Integrated Graphics | Intel UHD 730 | Radeon RX Vega 6 Graphics |
From the spec list, we can see that both processors are quite similar. While the Intel CPU has advantages in certain areas, AMD’s CPU tops it in most others. With the core and thread count remaining the same for both, the i3 12300 beats the Ryzen 3 5300G in terms of L3 cache memory only. On the other hand, the 5300G has a higher base and boost clock speed, while also maintaining a smaller chip architecture. Moreover, when it comes to integrated graphics, the RX Vega 6 has a slight advantage over the UHD 730.
It should also be noted that the 12th Gen Intel CPUs all support DDR4 and DDR5 memory, whereas the 5000 AMD CPUs only support DDR4. This is a clear advantage for Intel’s latest line of CPUs as even the newer Ryzen 7000 series can only support DDR5 with no option to support DDR4. Long story short, Intel CPUs are a lot more flexible when it comes to memory.
Of course, specs aren’t the be-all and end-all of the whole discussion. We need to also look at some benchmarks to see which CPU performs the best.
| Metrics | Intel Core i3 12300 (in points) | AMD Ryzen 3 5300G (in points) |
| Passmark (CPU Benchmark) | 15023 | 13034 |
| Average single-core speed | 182 | 140 |
| Average quad-core speed | 587 | 449 |
| Overclocked single-core speed | 187 | 155 |
| Overclocked quad-core speed | 700 | 527 |
And finally, we found that the i3 12300 performed approximately 15% better in gaming than the 5300G. All in all, the Core i3 12300 is the winner in benchmark scores, while the Ryzen 3 5300G is the better choice for raw specs.
Intel Core i5 12600 vs AMD Ryzen 3 5600G
Since mid-tier PCs are some of the most popular, we decided to pit the Core i5 12600 against the Ryzen 3 5600G. These processors are perfect for those who want a balanced performance, along with some top-notch gaming capabilities.
Now for the spec comparison:
| Specifications | Intel Core i5 12600 | AMD Ryzen 5 5600G |
| Architecture | 10nm | 7nm |
| Cores | 6 (6P+0E) | 6 |
| Threads | 12 | 12 |
| Base Clock Speed | 3.3GHz | 3.9GHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 4.8GHz | 4.4GHz |
| L3 Cache | 18MB | 16MB |
| Integrated Graphics | Intel UHD 770 | Radeon RX Vega 7 Graphics |
Compared to the Core i3 and Ryzen 3, you get a nice spec bump when you move to the Core i5 and Ryzen 5. But when you compare the i5 to the Ryzen 5, it seems like Intel has some significant advantages. Here, the Core i5 has a higher boost clock frequency and comes with a bigger L3 cache, while the Ryzen 5 only has a higher base clock frequency. Also, when it comes to integrated graphics, the UHD 770 outperforms the RX Vega 7. As for the similarities, both CPUs have the same core and thread count, just like before.
While the Intel CPU does seem to be the better choice in terms of specs, how does it hold up in benchmark scores?
| Metrics | Intel Core i5 12600 (in points) | AMD Ryzen 5 5600G (in points) |
| Passmark (CPU Benchmark) | 21220 | 19837 |
| Average single-core speed | 190 | 154 |
| Average quad-core speed | 662 | 548 |
| Overclocked single-core speed | 203 | 164 |
| Overclocked quad-core speed | 747 | 646 |
Even though not as significant as before, the Intel CPU beats the AMD CPU in terms of gaming by approximately 5%. Overall, the Intel Core i5 12600 is the clear winner in terms of specs and benchmark. However, when it comes to value for money, we can’t deny that the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is a phenomenal choice.
Intel Core i7 12700 vs AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
For our final comparison, we are gonna see who wins in a head-to-head battle of the behemoths – the Intel Core i7 12700 or the AMD Ryzen 5700G. But before we start this discussion, you can go for any of these two processors as they are some of the best in the market. You will not be disappointed by any means.
As always, let’s start with the specs:
| Specifications | Intel Core i7 12700 | AMD Ryzen 7 5700G |
| Architecture | 10nm | 7nm |
| Cores | 12 (8P+4E) | 8 |
| Threads | 20 | 16 |
| Base Clock Speed | 2.1GHz (P-core), 1.6GHz (E-core) | 3.8GHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 4.8GHz (P-core), 3.6GHz (E-core) | 4.6GHz |
| L3 Cache | 25MB | 16MB |
| Integrated Graphics | Intel UHD 770 | Radeon RX Vega 8 Graphics |
As you can see from the spec sheet, there is a lot to dissect. The 12700 has 12 cores, among which 8 are performance cores, and 4 are efficiency cores. On the other hand, the 5700G only comes with 8 performance cores. To add on top of that, the Intel P-cores run at 2.1GHz, while the E-cores operate at 1.6GHz. In contrast, the 5700G only runs at a base clock speed of 3.8GHz. Similarly, the P-cores and E-cores of the 12700 can boost up to 4.8GHz and 3.6GHz, respectively. And the 5700G can boost up to a maximum of 4.6GHz. The Intel Core i7 also has a higher thread count as well as a larger L3 cache. However, the only area where the AMD CPU has a clear advantage is in the iGPU department, as it has the upgraded RX Vega 8 graphics chip, while the Intel CPU sticks to the UHD 770.
Last but not least, the benchmarks!
| Metrics | Intel Core i7 12700 (in points) | AMD Ryzen 7 5700G (in points) |
| Passmark (CPU Benchmark) | 31336 | 24574 |
| Average single-core speed | 201 | 171 |
| Average quad-core speed | 743 | 574 |
| Average octa-core speed | 1341 | 985 |
| Overclocked single-core speed | 201 | 171 |
| Overclocked quad-core speed | 773 | 675 |
| Overclocked octa-core speed | 1468 | 1213 |
It seems like Intel CPUs are following the trend here as they are performing better in benchmarks here as well. But this time, Intel has a big advantage in games as it surpasses AMD by almost 30%. In conclusion, the Intel Core i7 12700 wins the last round.
Our Takeaway
So, what’s our takeaway from this? Well, it seems like the Intel 12th Gen series of CPUs are definitely the better option in terms of performance. However, you should also keep in mind that the Ryzen 7000 series of CPUs has not fully launched as of writing this blog. Hence, while the AMD Ryzen 3, 5, and 7 are equivalent to Intel’s Core i3, i5, and i7 CPUs, the Intel CPUs have an advantage over AMD.
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