AMD Ryzen 3 8440U vs Intel Core Ultra 5 115U Comparison

The Intel Core Ultra 5 115U and AMD Ryzen 3 8440U are two mobile processors that land in the same performance tier, yet they achieve their results through fundamentally different designs. The data shows a near-total dead heat in overall average benchmark scores, with the Intel part at 16753 and the AMD part at 16663, a difference of just 0.5%. However, the distribution of wins across individual workloads tells a more nuanced story, revealing distinct strengths that cater to different types of users.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 115U is the clear victor in math-heavy and physics-based workloads. It wins the PassMark floating point math test by a commanding 32.7% (30538 vs 23017) and the physics test by 31.1% (898 vs 685). It also takes integer math with a 9.5% lead (41043 vs 37468) and prime number finding by 23.3% (53 vs 43). These results suggest the Intel chip is better suited for scientific computing, engineering simulations, and any task that relies heavily on raw arithmetic throughput.

The AMD Ryzen 3 8440U, conversely, dominates in instruction-heavy and single-threaded scenarios. Its most significant victory comes in extended instructions, where it leads by 22.1% (11059 vs 8620). It also excels at random string sorting with a 14.7% advantage (17725 vs 15124) and demonstrates superior single-thread performance with a 16.2% lead in PassMark single thread (3648 vs 3057). This makes the AMD chip a stronger choice for everyday responsiveness, legacy application compatibility, and workloads that depend on complex instruction set extensions.

For users focused on content creation, the AMD chip edges ahead in data compression by 3% (146273 vs 141945), while the Intel chip wins on data encryption by 7.4% (8606 vs 8012). The overall multithread score slightly favors Intel at 1.7% (13024 vs 12805), but the Cinebench suite tells a different story, with AMD winning all three multicore tests by 0.3% each. This split suggests that Intel’s advantage in raw math does not always translate to rendering performance, where AMD’s architecture appears more efficient.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent diametrically opposed design philosophies. The Intel Core Ultra 5 115U uses the Meteor Lake architecture built on Intel’s 7 nm process, featuring 8 cores and 10 threads. It employs a hybrid configuration that leverages a larger L1 cache of 112 KB per core and a 2 MB L2 cache per core, with a shared 10 MB L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen 3 8440U, in contrast, uses the Zen 4 architecture on TSMC’s 4 nm process, with just 4 cores and 8 threads. Its cache hierarchy is smaller on a per-core basis, with 64 KB L1, 1 MB L2, and 8 MB shared L3.

The process node difference is significant: AMD’s 4 nm TSMC manufacturing gives it a density advantage, evidenced by its 20,900 million transistors packed into a 137 mm² die. The Intel chip does not list transistor count or die size in the available data, but its larger core count suggests a different trade-off between parallelism and single-core efficiency. AMD compensates for fewer cores with much higher clock speeds, running at a base of 3.00 GHz and boosting to 4.70 GHz, compared to Intel’s 1.50 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost.

Memory support is identical in bandwidth at 89.6 GB/s with dual-channel DDR5, but the platforms differ elsewhere. Intel uses the BGA 2049 socket with 12 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, while AMD uses the FP7 socket with 14 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. The integrated graphics also differ, with Intel featuring Arc Xe-LPG 48EU and AMD featuring Radeon 740M. Both are mobile parts with active production status, and neither supports ECC memory. The TDP ratings are notably different, with Intel at 15W and AMD at 28W, which could impact thermal design in thin-and-light laptops.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows remarkable parity between these two chips. In Cinebench R15 multicore, AMD wins by just 3 points (1097 vs 1094), a 0.3% margin. The single-core test is an exact tie at 154 points. This pattern repeats in R20 and R23, where AMD wins multicore by 12 points (4571 vs 4559) and 29 points (10884 vs 10855) respectively, both 0.3% deltas. Single-core results are similarly close, with AMD leading by 2 points in R20 (645 vs 643) and 4 points in R23 (1536 vs 1532). These results indicate that for rendering tasks, the two processors are effectively interchangeable.

The PassMark suite reveals the true divergence. Intel’s most dominant win is floating point math, where it scores 30538 versus AMD’s 23017, a massive 32.7% advantage. Physics simulation shows a similar gap at 31.1% (898 vs 685). In integer math, Intel leads 41043 to 37468, a 9.5% difference. Prime number finding goes to Intel by 23.3% (53 vs 43). These are not marginal victories; they represent fundamental architectural strengths.

AMD answers with equally decisive wins in other areas. Extended instructions show AMD ahead by 22.1% (11059 vs 8620), and random string sorting gives AMD a 14.7% edge (17725 vs 15124). The single-thread test is AMD’s biggest win at 16.2% (3648 vs 3057). Data compression favors AMD by 3% (146273 vs 141945), while Intel takes data encryption by 7.4% (8606 vs 8012). The overall multithread score goes to Intel by 1.7% (13024 vs 12805), but AMD wins the PassMark single-thread test decisively.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 115U has an average benchmark score of 16753, while the AMD Ryzen 3 8440U scores 16663, giving Intel a 0.5% advantage. Both rank in the 70th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 3 8440U better for single-threaded performance?

A: Yes, the data shows a 16.2% lead for AMD in PassMark single-thread tests (3648 vs 3057). However, in Cinebench single-core tests, the two are nearly identical, with AMD leading by only 0.3% in R23.

Q: Which chip wins in floating point math?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 115U dominates with a score of 30538 compared to AMD’s 23017, a 32.7% advantage. This is Intel’s largest margin of victory across all benchmarks.

Q: How do the core counts differ?

A: The Intel chip has 8 cores and 10 threads, while the AMD chip has 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite having half the cores, the AMD chip achieves comparable multicore scores due to its higher clock speeds.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 8440U has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 5 115U has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz.

Q: Which processor wins in data encryption?

A: Intel wins data encryption by 7.4%, scoring 8606 versus AMD’s 8012. However, AMD wins data compression by 3%, scoring 146273 versus Intel’s 141945.

Specification Differences

• Cores: Intel has 8 cores; AMD has 4 cores.
• Threads: Intel has 10 threads; AMD has 8 threads.
• Base Clock: Intel runs at 1.50 GHz; AMD runs at 3.00 GHz.
• Boost Clock: Intel boosts to 4.20 GHz; AMD boosts to 4.70 GHz.
• TDP: Intel is rated at 15W; AMD is rated at 28W.
• Socket: Intel uses BGA 2049; AMD uses FP7.
• Architecture: Intel uses Meteor Lake; AMD uses Zen 4 (Hawk Point).
• Process Node: Intel uses 7 nm; AMD uses 4 nm.
• Foundry: Intel manufactures in-house; AMD uses TSMC.
• Transistors: Intel does not list; AMD has 20,900 million.
• Die Size: Intel does not list; AMD is 137 mm².
• L1 Cache: Intel has 112 KB per core; AMD has 64 KB per core.
• L2 Cache: Intel has 2 MB per core; AMD has 1 MB per core.
• L3 Cache: Intel has 10 MB shared; AMD has 8 MB shared.
• PCIe Lanes: Intel has 12 Gen 4 lanes; AMD has 14 Gen 4 lanes.
• Integrated Graphics: Intel uses Arc Xe-LPG 48EU; AMD uses Radeon 740M.
• Part Number: Intel is SRN6F; AMD is 100-000001325(FP7r2) and 100-000001332(FP7).
• Release Date: Intel launched on 2023-12-13; AMD launched on 2023-12-05.