AMD Ryzen 5 150 vs Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 150 and the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus represent two very different approaches to mobile processing. The recorded data shows a comprehensive performance gap across every measured workload, with the Intel part taking all 11 head-to-head benchmark wins. The Ryzen 5 150 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor built on a 6 nm node, while the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor built on a 3 nm node. This difference in core count and process technology underpins the substantial performance disparity observed in the database. The average benchmark score for the AMD processor is 34,881, placing it in the 84th percentile of all CPUs, whereas the Intel processor achieves an average score of 79,574, placing it in the 95th percentile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus dominates the head-to-head comparisons, with its largest relative advantages appearing in compute-heavy and specialized workloads. In the PassMark find prime numbers test, the Intel part scores 519 against the AMD part's 47, a delta of -90.9% for the AMD processor. This indicates that the Intel chip is roughly 11 times faster in this specific prime-number-finding workload, a result that points to a massive advantage in raw integer throughput and possibly the efficiency of its newer architecture.

Floating-point performance shows a similar pattern. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 201,773 in floating-point math, while the AMD Ryzen 5 150 scores 35,118, a delta of -82.6%. This is a strong indicator that the Intel chip is far more capable in scientific, engineering, and other floating-point-intensive applications. The physics test, which is often correlated with gaming and simulation performance, also heavily favors the Intel processor, with a score of 3,387 compared to the AMD's 806, a -76.2% delta.

The data encryption benchmark shows the Intel part scoring 50,008 against the AMD's 13,425, a -73.2% delta. This suggests a significant advantage in security-related workloads and data protection tasks. Data compression results are similarly one-sided, with the Intel processor scoring 658,724 versus the AMD's 211,289, a -67.9% delta, indicating a major advantage in file archiving and data management scenarios.

The extended instructions test, which often measures performance in specialized instruction sets like AVX, shows the Intel part scoring 51,290 against the AMD's 14,675, a -71.4% delta. Random string sorting, a test of memory and cache efficiency, shows the Intel part at 80,327 and the AMD at 22,382, a -72.1% delta. Multi-threaded performance, a key indicator for modern productivity and content creation, shows the Intel part scoring 59,439 versus the AMD's 17,492, a -70.6% delta. Integer math results are closer but still firmly in Intel's favor, with a score of 164,839 against 62,151, a -62.3% delta.

The single-thread results are the closest comparison in the entire dataset, though the Intel part still wins decisively. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 4,951 in the single-thread test, while the AMD Ryzen 5 150 scores 3,155, a delta of -36.3%. This indicates that even in workloads that do not scale with core count, the Intel architecture offers a substantial per-core performance advantage. The data shows no benchmark where the AMD Ryzen 5 150 manages to close the gap or take a win, making the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus the clear performance leader in every measured category.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-threaded benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 59,439 in the PassMark multi-thread test, while the AMD Ryzen 5 150 scores 17,492, a difference of 70.6% in favor of the Intel processor.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 4,951 in the single-thread test, which is 36.3% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 150's score of 3,155.

Q: What is the difference in the number of cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 150 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher base and boost clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 150 has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.55 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has a lower base clock of 2.70 GHz but a significantly higher boost clock of 5.50 GHz.

Q: Is there a difference in memory bandwidth between the two?

A: Yes, the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, while the AMD Ryzen 5 150 has a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s.

Q: Which processor uses a more advanced manufacturing process?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is built on a 3 nm process node, while the AMD Ryzen 5 150 is built on a 6 nm process node, both manufactured by TSMC.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is the winner in all 11 recorded head-to-head benchmarks, so its use cases are broad. It is particularly suited for workloads that benefit from high core counts and high boost clocks, such as multi-threaded rendering, video encoding, software compilation, and complex simulations. The 70.6% lead in multi-thread performance and the 82.6% lead in floating-point math indicate that this processor is built for demanding professional applications. The 90.9% lead in the find prime numbers test suggests exceptional integer performance, which is relevant for cryptography and scientific computing. The 67.9% lead in data compression and the 73.2% lead in data encryption further solidify its position for server-like tasks and heavy data processing.

The AMD Ryzen 5 150, with its lower power envelope of 35 W TDP compared to the Intel's 55 W TDP, may be more relevant in scenarios where power consumption is a primary constraint, though the benchmark data does not include power measurements. Its 6-core, 12-thread configuration is typical of a mainstream mobile processor, suitable for everyday productivity, web browsing, and lighter multitasking. However, the recorded data does not show a single benchmark where the AMD part wins, so its advantage is not in raw performance but rather in its lower thermal design point and the potential for longer battery life in portable devices. For users who prioritize performance above all else, the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is the only choice based on this data.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are the most significant specification difference. The AMD Ryzen 5 150 offers 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus offers 24 cores and 24 threads. Clock speeds also differ sharply. The AMD part has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.55 GHz, while the Intel part has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The thermal design power is another key differentiator, with the AMD processor rated at 35 W and the Intel processor rated at 55 W.

The memory bandwidth specification also favors the Intel processor. It is listed at 102.4 GB/s, while the AMD processor is listed at 76.8 GB/s, both using dual-channel DDR5 memory. The two processors also have different sockets and support different PCIe generations. The AMD Ryzen 5 150 uses AMD Socket FP7 and supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus uses Intel BGA 2114 and supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes. The Intel processor supports ECC memory, while the AMD processor does not. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD part is locked. The integrated graphics also differ, with the AMD part featuring a Radeon 660M and the Intel part featuring Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The release dates are different as well, with the AMD part released in 2025 and the Intel part released in 2026.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The AMD Ryzen 5 150 uses the Zen 3+ architecture, codenamed Rembrandt-R, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus uses the Arrow Lake-HX Refresh architecture, part of the Core Ultra Series 2. The manufacturing process nodes differ significantly, with the AMD part built on a 6 nm process and the Intel part built on a 3 nm process, both by TSMC. The Intel part has a transistor count of 17,800 million and a die size of 243 mm², while the AMD part's transistor count is not listed and its die size is 210 mm².

Cache configurations are also very different. The AMD Ryzen 5 150 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, with a shared 16 MB L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 192 KB of L1 cache per core and 3 MB of L2 cache per core, with a shared 36 MB L3 cache. This larger cache hierarchy on the Intel part likely contributes to its advantages in the random string sorting and data compression benchmarks. The AMD processor is based on the Zen 3+ design, which is a mature architecture, while the Intel part uses a newer Arrow Lake-based design with a different core topology, as evidenced by its 24 cores and 24 threads, indicating no hyper-threading. The Intel part's higher boost clock of 5.50 GHz, combined with its larger cache and newer process node, helps explain its dominant performance across all recorded benchmarks.