AMD Ryzen 3 8440U vs Intel Core Ultra 5 134U Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between the Intel Core Ultra 5 134U and the AMD Ryzen 3 8440U is remarkably close, with Intel taking 9 wins and AMD taking 8 out of 17 recorded tests. That near-even tally, however, masks a clear thematic division: Intel dominates compute-heavy integer and floating-point workloads, while AMD pulls ahead in memory-oriented tasks and threaded rendering.

Intel's wins are concentrated in raw arithmetic. The Core Ultra 5 134U leads floating-point math by 40.9%, integer math by 36.9%, and prime-number finding by 30.2%. Physics simulation also favors Intel by 28.9%. These are workloads that reward wide execution resources and high per-core throughput, which aligns with Intel's 12-core, 14-thread configuration.

AMD, by contrast, wins the single-thread PassMark test by 16% (3648 vs 3063) and the multithread PassMark test by 2.7% (12805 vs 12464). More tellingly, AMD's wins in data compression (14.7% ahead), random string sorting (22.7% ahead), and extended instructions (36.7% ahead) suggest a memory subsystem that moves data faster, backed by its 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth figure.

The Cinebench results tell a split story across versions. In Cinebench R15 multicore, AMD leads by 18.5%, and in R23 multicore, AMD leads by a massive 48.8%. Yet in R20 multicore, Intel edges ahead by 3.4%. The R23 gap is the single largest delta in the entire head-to-head set, indicating that AMD's Zen 4 architecture scales far better in sustained multi-threaded rendering.

Single-core Cinebench results consistently favor Intel across all three versions: R15 by 43.5%, R20 by 3.3%, and R23 by 2.6%. These are smaller margins than the multicore swings, but they are consistent. The data suggests Intel's hybrid core arrangement excels at bursty single-thread tasks, while AMD's uniform Zen 4 cores deliver superior sustained multicore performance in the most demanding render workload tested.

The Verdict

The data points to two distinct usage profiles. For users whose workloads involve heavy integer math, floating-point simulation, or physics calculations, the Intel Core Ultra 5 134U is the clear choice, with margins ranging from 28.9% to 40.9% over AMD in those categories.

For users running long multicore renders, compressing large datasets, or sorting strings, the AMD Ryzen 3 8440U is the stronger option. Its 48.8% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore is the standout result, and its 14.7% and 22.7% leads in data compression and random string sorting respectively reinforce this pattern.

The overall average benchmark score nudges toward AMD: 16663 vs 15910, a roughly 4.5% advantage. Both processors sit at the 70th percentile among all CPUs in the database, so neither is a class leader. The choice comes down to workload direction rather than overall superiority.

One notable wrinkle: Intel wins the Cinebench R20 multicore test by 3.4% but loses R15 and R23 multicore by 18.5% and 48.8% respectively. This inconsistency suggests the two processors respond differently to workload scaling, and users should not assume a single Cinebench version predicts all render performance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest Intel victories appear in PassMark floating-point math (32425 vs 23017, a 40.9% delta) and integer math (51306 vs 37468, a 36.9% delta). Prime-number finding also swings heavily toward Intel at 30.2% (56 vs 43), and physics simulation follows at 28.9% (883 vs 685). These four tests share a common thread: they stress arithmetic throughput and branch prediction, areas where Intel's larger core count likely provides an edge.

AMD's biggest win is the aforementioned Cinebench R23 multicore test: 10884 vs 5572, a 48.8% margin. That is nearly double the score, an outlier that dwarfs all other deltas in either direction. The extended instructions test also favors AMD substantially at 36.7% (11059 vs 7002), and random string sorting favors AMD by 22.7% (17725 vs 13702).

The single-thread PassMark results are interesting because they contradict the Cinebench single-core results. AMD wins PassMark single-thread by 16% (3648 vs 3063), yet Intel wins every Cinebench single-core test, with the R15 gap at 43.5%. This divergence may reflect different workload compositions: PassMark's single-thread test may rely more on memory access patterns, while Cinebench's single-core test emphasizes computational density.

Data encryption is nearly a tie: Intel leads by 0.8% (8077 vs 8012). The multithread PassMark test is also close, with AMD ahead by only 2.7% (12805 vs 12464). These near-ties suggest that for general mixed workloads, the two processors are effectively interchangeable despite their architectural differences.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore, and by how much?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 8440U scores 10884 versus Intel's 5572, giving AMD a 48.8% advantage in this test.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 5 134U win any multicore benchmark?

A: Yes, Intel wins Cinebench R20 multicore by 3.4% (4725 vs 4571) and PassMark multithread is nearly even, with AMD ahead by only 2.7%.

Q: Which processor has a higher single-thread PassMark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 8440U scores 3648 compared to Intel's 3063, a 16% lead. However, Intel wins all three Cinebench single-core tests.

Q: How do the two processors compare in data compression?

A: AMD leads with a score of 146273 versus Intel's 124771, a 14.7% margin in favor of the Ryzen 3 8440U.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in Cinebench R23 multicore, where AMD leads by 48.8%. The largest Intel margin is 43.5% in Cinebench R15 single-core.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance tier overall?

A: Both sit at the 70th percentile among all CPUs. AMD's average benchmark score is 16663, while Intel's is 15910, so they are close overall but with different workload strengths.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. Intel's Core Ultra 5 134U uses the Meteor Lake architecture on a 7 nm process fabricated by Intel, featuring 12 cores and 14 threads with a base clock of 700 MHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. AMD's Ryzen 3 8440U uses Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC, with only 4 cores and 8 threads but a higher base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz.

The core count difference is stark: 12 vs 4. Intel compensates for its lower clocks with more physical cores, while AMD relies on higher clocks and fewer, larger cores. This explains the benchmark pattern: Intel wins arithmetic throughput tests where core count matters, while AMD wins single-thread PassMark where clock speed dominates.

Cache layouts also differ significantly. Intel allocates 112 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. AMD provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. Intel's larger cache hierarchy likely contributes to its strong integer and floating-point results, while AMD's smaller cache is offset by its 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth, which Intel does not specify.

Process technology favors AMD: 4 nm TSMC versus 7 nm Intel. AMD also discloses transistor count (20,900 million) and die size (137 mm²), while Intel leaves both unspecified. The power envelope differs dramatically, with AMD rated at 28 W TDP versus Intel's 9 W, though the database does not provide performance-per-watt measurements.

The integrated graphics differ as well: Intel uses Arc Xe-LPG with 64 execution units, while AMD uses Radeon 740M. PCIe support favors AMD with Gen 4 and 14 lanes versus Intel's Gen 4 and 8 lanes, which could matter for external GPU connectivity or NVMe expansion.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core Ultra 5 134U | AMD Ryzen 3 8440U |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 12 | 4 |

| Threads | 14 | 8 |

| Base clock | 700 MHz | 3.00 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.40 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 9 W | 28 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 2551 | AMD Socket FP7 |

| Process node | 7 nm | 4 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| L1 cache | 112 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 2 MB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 12 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Transistors | Not specified | 20,900 million |

| Die size | Not specified | 137 mm² |

| Memory bandwidth | Not specified | 89.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 8 lanes | Gen 4, 14 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Arc Xe-LPG 64EU | Radeon 740M |

| Launch MSRP | $332 | Not provided |

| Release date | 2023-12-13 | 2023-12-05 |

The release dates are only eight days apart, placing both in the same product generation window. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both support DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration, though Intel's memory support is noted as depending on the motherboard. ECC memory is not supported by either. Both are active production parts targeting the mobile market segment.