Core i5-8257U vs Ryzen 3 4300U

Core i5-8257U vs Ryzen 3 4300U Performance Spectrum

Core i5-8257U

4 / 8

7,427

+0.9%

7,359

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Core i5-8257U vs Ryzen 3 4300U FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-8257U vs Ryzen 3 4300U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-8257U

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).
✅Draws 1W instead of 15W, a 14W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645, while Ryzen 3 4300U needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Ryzen 3 4300U

2020

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-8257U across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (7,359 vs 7,427).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 6 MB).
❌1400% higher power demand at 15W vs 1W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-8257U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-8257U better than Ryzen 3 4300U?

Yes. Core i5-8257U is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 10.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.9% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-8257U is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 10.6% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-8257U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-8257U still makes the most sense overall. Core i5-8257U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 10.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen 3 4300U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2019). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i5-8257U vs Ryzen 3 4300U Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i5-8257U

The Core i5-8257U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,427 points. Launch price was $149.

Ryzen 3 4300U

The Ryzen 3 4300U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020−2021) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,359 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-8257U packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Ryzen 3 4300U's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core i5-8257U versus 3.7 GHz on the Ryzen 3 4300U — a 5.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-8257U (base: 1.4 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i5-8257U uses the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 3 4300U uses Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020−2021) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-8257U scores 7,427 against the Ryzen 3 4300U's 7,359 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i5-8257U. L3 cache: 6 MB on the Core i5-8257U vs 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 4300U.

Feature	Core i5-8257U	Ryzen 3 4300U
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 4
Boost Clock	3.9 GHz+5%	3.7 GHz
Base Clock	1.4 GHz	2.7 GHz+93%
L3 Cache	6 MB+50%	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB+100%	512 kB (per core)
Process	14 nm	7 nm-50%
Architecture	Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019)	Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020−2021)
PassMark	7,427	7,359
Cinebench R23 Multi	4,017	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,100	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	4,000	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-8257U uses the FCBGA1528 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 3 4300U uses FP6 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-8257U	Ryzen 3 4300U
Socket	FCBGA1528	FP6
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400	—
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-8257U) / not specified (Ryzen 3 4300U). The Core i5-8257U includes integrated graphics (Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645), while the Ryzen 3 4300U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-8257U targets Ultrabook.