AMD Ryzen 5 150 vs Intel Core Ultra 9 185H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a thoroughly one-sided comparison. The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H wins all 11 head-to-head benchmark tests against the AMD Ryzen 5 150, with no victories recorded for the AMD part. The margins, however, vary significantly by workload type, which is worth analyzing in detail.

The largest single-core advantage appears in the PassMark single-thread test, where the Intel part scores 3697 against the AMD's 3155, a 17.2% lead. This is a substantial gap for single-threaded performance, indicating that the Intel architecture holds a clear clock-for-clock and IPC advantage in lightly threaded scenarios.

Moving into multi-threaded workloads, the gap widens considerably. In PassMark multithread, the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H records 29376 points versus 17492 for the Ryzen 5 150, a 67.9% difference. This aligns with the core and thread count disparity: 16 cores and 22 threads for Intel versus 6 cores and 12 threads for AMD. The additional parallelism translates directly into a massive throughput advantage.

The most extreme deltas appear in specialized compute tasks. In PassMark find prime numbers, the Intel part scores 123 against just 47 for the AMD, a staggering 161.7% difference. Likewise, PassMark physics shows Intel at 1956 versus 806 for AMD, a 142.7% lead. These results suggest that the Intel processor handles integer-heavy, algorithmic workloads with far greater efficiency.

Floating-point math also favors Intel decisively: 73270 versus 35118, a 108.6% advantage. This more than doubles the AMD's output in this category. Similarly, data compression shows Intel at 339489 versus 211289, a 60.7% gap. Data encryption follows at 19827 versus 13425, a 47.7% lead. Extended instruction sets see Intel ahead by 38.1% (20272 versus 14675), and integer math shows a 58.2% margin (98302 versus 62151). Random string sorting completes the sweep with Intel at 39598 versus 22382, a 76.9% difference.

Across all measured categories, the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H demonstrates consistent superiority. The smallest margin is the 17.2% single-thread gap, while the largest is the 161.7% prime-number finding result. Every benchmark, regardless of whether it tests memory operations, CPU arithmetic, or physics simulation, lands in Intel's favor.

Where Each One Wins

Given that the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H wins every head-to-head test, the question of "where each one wins" requires a nuanced read of the data. The Intel part wins everywhere, but the degree of dominance varies by use case.

For single-threaded applications, such as typical office productivity, web browsing, or legacy software that relies on one core, the Intel part holds a 17.2% advantage in PassMark single-thread scores. This is the narrowest margin and suggests that for simple tasks, the AMD Ryzen 5 150 is relatively competitive, though still behind.

For multi-threaded workloads like video rendering, 3D modeling, or software compilation, the Intel part's 67.9% multithread advantage becomes the defining factor. The 16-core, 22-thread configuration allows it to handle parallel tasks with far greater throughput than the 6-core, 12-thread AMD processor.

For scientific computing, data analysis, or encryption-heavy workloads, the Intel part's advantages in floating-point math (108.6%), integer math (58.2%), and data encryption (47.7%) make it the clear choice. The prime-number test's 161.7% gap further reinforces this, indicating superior performance in algorithmic and cryptographic operations.

The AMD Ryzen 5 150's only potential advantage lies in its lower power envelope. With a TDP of 35 watts versus the Intel's 45 watts, the AMD part may fit into thinner, more power-efficient chassis. However, the benchmark data does not include any efficiency metrics, so this remains a qualitative observation rather than a measured advantage.

In practical terms, the data suggests that the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H is the superior processor for virtually all compute-intensive tasks. The AMD Ryzen 5 150 might be considered for basic workloads where its lower TDP could extend battery life, but in raw performance, it is outclassed across the board.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different architectural lineages. The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H is built on the Meteor Lake architecture, fabricated on Intel's 7 nm process node. It features 16 cores and 22 threads, with a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The cache hierarchy includes 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is DDR5, dual-channel, with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The integrated graphics are Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 128 execution units. PCIe connectivity is Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only), and the socket is Intel BGA 2049.

The AMD Ryzen 5 150, in contrast, uses the Zen 3+ architecture (codenamed Rembrandt-R), fabricated on TSMC's 6 nm process node. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.55 GHz. The die size is 210 mm². Cache amounts to 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Memory support is DDR5 dual-channel, but bandwidth is lower at 76.8 GB/s. The integrated GPU is Radeon 660M. PCIe is Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), and the socket is AMD Socket FP7.

The core count difference is the most striking architectural divergence: Intel offers 16 cores and 22 threads, while AMD provides 6 cores and 12 threads. This explains the large multi-threaded gaps. The Intel part also has a higher base and boost clock, a larger L3 cache (24 MB versus 16 MB), and higher memory bandwidth (89.6 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s). The AMD part, however, has a smaller process node (6 nm versus 7 nm) and a larger PCIe lane count (20 versus 8 Gen 5 lanes). The Intel part uses Gen 5 PCIe, which offers higher per-lane bandwidth, but the AMD part has more lanes overall.

Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both are locked multipliers. The Intel part was released on 2023-12-13, while the AMD part was released on 2025-09-30, making the AMD chip newer by nearly two years. Despite the newer release date and smaller process node, the AMD part cannot match the Intel part's performance in any measured benchmark.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H has 16 cores and 22 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 150 has 6 cores and 12 threads. This gives the Intel part a substantial parallel processing advantage.

Q: What is the biggest performance difference between the two?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Intel part scores 123 versus 47 for the AMD, a 161.7% difference. The smallest margin is in single-thread performance, where Intel leads by 17.2%.

Q: How do their integrated graphics compare?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H features Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 128 execution units, while the AMD Ryzen 5 150 features Radeon 660M. The benchmark data does not include graphics-specific tests, so no direct comparison is available.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth specifications?

A: The Intel part has a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the AMD part has 76.8 GB/s. Both support dual-channel DDR5 memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H boosts to 5.10 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 150 boosts to 4.55 GHz. The Intel part also has a higher base clock at 3.90 GHz versus 3.30 GHz.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H has a TDP of 45 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 5 150 has a TDP of 35 watts. This means the AMD part may be more power-efficient, though no efficiency benchmarks are recorded.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H outperforms the AMD Ryzen 5 150 in every single benchmark recorded. With 11 wins and 0 losses, the Intel part is the clear choice for anyone prioritizing raw performance.

The Intel part's 17.2% single-thread advantage makes it better for everyday tasks and legacy software. Its 67.9% multithread advantage makes it dramatically better for rendering, compilation, and other parallel workloads. The 108.6% floating-point advantage and 161.7% prime-number finding advantage make it superior for scientific and cryptographic applications.

The AMD Ryzen 5 150, however, has a lower TDP (35 watts versus 45 watts), which could make it attractive for ultra-portable laptops where battery life is paramount. Its newer release date (2025-09-30 versus 2023-12-13) and smaller process node (6 nm versus 7 nm) suggest better manufacturing efficiency, but the benchmark results do not reflect any performance benefit from these factors.

For a user who needs maximum compute throughput, the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H is the only rational choice based on the recorded data. For a user who prioritizes power efficiency and is willing to accept significantly lower performance, the AMD Ryzen 5 150 could be considered, but the performance penalty is steep across every workload category.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and the AMD Ryzen 5 150:

• Cores: 16 (Intel) versus 6 (AMD)
• Threads: 22 (Intel) versus 12 (AMD)
• Base Clock: 3.90 GHz (Intel) versus 3.30 GHz (AMD)
• Boost Clock: 5.10 GHz (Intel) versus 4.55 GHz (AMD)
• TDP: 45 watts (Intel) versus 35 watts (AMD)
• Socket: Intel BGA 2049 (Intel) versus AMD Socket FP7 (AMD)
• Architecture: Meteor Lake (Intel) versus Zen 3+ (AMD)
• Process Node: 7 nm (Intel) versus 6 nm (AMD)
• Foundry: Intel (Intel) versus TSMC (AMD)
• Die Size: Not recorded (Intel) versus 210 mm² (AMD)
• L1 Cache: 112 KB per core (Intel) versus 64 KB per core (AMD)
• L2 Cache: 2 MB per core (Intel) versus 512 KB per core (AMD)
• L3 Cache: 24 MB shared (Intel) versus 16 MB shared (AMD)
• Memory Bandwidth: 89.6 GB/s (Intel) versus 76.8 GB/s (AMD)
• PCIe: Gen 5, 8 lanes (Intel) versus Gen 4, 20 lanes (AMD)
• Integrated Graphics: Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 128EU (Intel) versus Radeon 660M (AMD)
• Release Date: 2023-12-13 (Intel) versus 2025-09-30 (AMD)
• Launch MSRP: $640 (Intel) versus not recorded (AMD)
• Part Number: SRN23 (Intel) versus 100-000000990(FP7r2) (AMD)