AMD Ryzen 3 30 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 3 30 and Intel Core Ultra 5 338H are both mobile processors, but the benchmark data places them in different performance tiers. The Intel part wins every single head-to-head benchmark in the database, often by substantial margins. The following analysis breaks down the recorded measurements, architectural differences, and use-case strengths.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data shows a decisive sweep for the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H, which records 11 wins out of 11 shared tests. The largest relative gap appears in the prime number finding test, where the Intel chip scores 304 against the AMD chip's 20, a delta of -93.4% from the AMD part's perspective. This indicates an overwhelmingly large advantage in this specific integer workload.

The floating-point math test also shows a major divide. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H scores 84,067, while the AMD Ryzen 3 30 manages 14,448, a difference of -82.8%. Similarly, the physics test shows the Intel part at 2,697 versus 436 for the AMD part, a -83.8% gap. These results suggest the Intel processor handles complex mathematical and physics calculations with far greater throughput.

In multi-threaded workloads, the Intel chip records 28,717 in the PassMark multithread test, compared to 9,027 for the AMD chip, a -68.6% difference. The data encryption test shows a similar story: Intel scores 21,367, while AMD scores 6,461, a -69.8% gap. The extended instructions test reveals a -74.6% difference, with Intel at 23,906 and AMD at 6,075.

The Intel part also leads in memory and string handling. In data compression, Intel scores 276,539 versus 135,834 for AMD, a -50.9% difference. In random string sorting, Intel records 34,082, while AMD records 14,431, a -57.7% gap. The integer math test shows Intel at 64,934 and AMD at 29,846, a -54% difference.

Single-thread performance is also clearly in Intel's favor. The PassMark single-thread test shows Intel at 4,180 and AMD at 2,465, a -41% gap. This is a significant margin, indicating the Intel core design is more efficient per thread.

The average benchmark score reinforces this hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H posts an average score of 33,989, placing it in the 84th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 3 30 posts an average of 20,137, which lands in the 74th percentile. The nearest rivals for the Intel part include the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H with an average score of 34,083 and a delta of -0.3%, and the Intel Core i7-12800HX with 33,875 and a delta of 0.3%. The AMD part's nearest rival is the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U with 20,249 and a delta of -0.6%, and the AMD EPYC 7713P with 20,024 and a delta of 0.6%.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different designs and process nodes. The AMD Ryzen 3 30 uses the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Mendocino, and is fabricated on a 6 nm process by TSMC. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses the Panther Lake architecture, also its codename, and is built on a 3 nm process by Intel. This process difference is a key factor in the performance gap, as it allows Intel to pack more transistors into a similar die area.

The core counts differ significantly. The AMD part has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel part has 12 cores and 12 threads. The Intel chip does not use simultaneous multithreading, as its thread count equals its core count. The AMD chip, in contrast, doubles its threads through SMT.

Cache configurations are also vastly different. The AMD Ryzen 3 30 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and a much larger 18 MB of shared L3 cache. This larger cache hierarchy likely contributes to the Intel part's advantage in data-heavy tests.

Memory support differs as well. The AMD processor supports LPDDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus with a peak bandwidth of 88.0 GB/s. The Intel processor supports LPDDR5X memory, also dual-channel, but with a higher peak bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. This bandwidth advantage helps in memory-intensive tasks like compression and sorting.

PCIe connectivity is a differentiator. The AMD chip provides PCIe Gen 3 with 4 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip provides PCIe Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only). This gives the Intel part a much faster interface for external devices.

The integrated graphics differ. The AMD Ryzen 3 30 uses the Radeon 610M, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses the Arc B370. The Intel solution is a newer, more powerful iGPU, though no benchmark data for graphics is included in the recorded set.

Clock speeds show a trade-off. The AMD part has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The Intel part has a lower base clock of 1.90 GHz but a higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The higher boost clock helps the Intel part in single-threaded tests.

Power ratings differ, with the AMD part rated at 15 W TDP and the Intel part at 25 W TDP. The Intel chip uses more power to achieve its higher performance. The sockets are also different: AMD Socket FT6 for the Ryzen 3 30, and Intel BGA 2540 for the Core Ultra 5 338H.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 30 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the performance difference in single-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H scores 4,180 in the PassMark single-thread test, which is 41% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 3 30's score of 2,465.

Q: How much faster is the Intel chip in multi-threaded tests?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H scores 28,717 in the PassMark multithread test, while the AMD Ryzen 3 30 scores 9,027. The Intel part has a -68.6% delta relative to the AMD chip, meaning it is significantly faster.

Q: What are the process nodes for each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 30 is built on a 6 nm process by TSMC, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is built on a 3 nm process by Intel.

Q: Which chip has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 18 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 3 30 has 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has an average benchmark score of 33,989, placing it in the 84th percentile. The AMD Ryzen 3 30 has an average score of 20,137, placing it in the 74th percentile.

Specification Differences

The database lists several key specification differences between the two processors:

• Cores: 4 (AMD) vs 12 (Intel)
• Threads: 8 (AMD) vs 12 (Intel)
• Base Clock: 2.40 GHz (AMD) vs 1.90 GHz (Intel)
• Boost Clock: 4.10 GHz (AMD) vs 4.70 GHz (Intel)
• TDP: 15 W (AMD) vs 25 W (Intel)
• Socket: AMD Socket FT6 (AMD) vs Intel BGA 2540 (Intel)
• Architecture: Zen 2 (AMD) vs Panther Lake (Intel)
• Process Node: 6 nm (AMD) vs 3 nm (Intel)
• Foundry: TSMC (AMD) vs Intel (Intel)
• L1 Cache: 64 KB per core (AMD) vs 192 KB per core (Intel)
• L2 Cache: 512 KB per core (AMD) vs 2.5 MB per core (Intel)
• L3 Cache: 4 MB shared (AMD) vs 18 MB shared (Intel)
• Memory Support: LPDDR5 (AMD) vs LPDDR5X (Intel)
• Memory Bandwidth: 88.0 GB/s (AMD) vs 136.5 GB/s (Intel)
• PCIe: Gen 3, 4 Lanes (AMD) vs Gen 5, 4 Lanes (Intel)
• Integrated Graphics: Radeon 610M (AMD) vs Arc B370 (Intel)
• Release Date: 2025-09-30 (AMD) vs 2026-01-04 (Intel)
• Part Number: unknown (AMD) vs SA4REQ9EW (Intel)

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins in every recorded category. The AMD Ryzen 3 30 has no wins in the head-to-head comparison. For users analyzing the database, the Intel chip is the clear choice for any performance-oriented workload.

The Intel part is superior in all multi-threaded tasks, including encryption, compression, and physics calculations. Its 12 cores and 18 MB of L3 cache provide a substantial advantage in parallel processing. The higher memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s also supports these workloads.

The Intel chip also wins in single-threaded performance, thanks to its higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz and newer architecture. This makes it better suited for tasks that rely on single-core speed, such as many legacy applications or lightly threaded games.

The AMD Ryzen 3 30's advantages are limited to its lower TDP of 15 W and its older, smaller process node. It may be suitable for systems where power consumption is the primary concern, but its performance is significantly lower across the board. The data shows the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H as the dominant processor in this comparison.