AMD Ryzen 5 230 vs AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 230 and AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 are both 6-core, 12-thread mobile processors on the AMD Socket FP8 platform, yet the benchmark data reveals two distinct performance profiles. The Ryzen 5 230, built on the Zen 4 architecture, dominates the heavier multi-threaded workloads and several integer-heavy tasks. The Ryzen AI 7 445, using the newer Zen 5 architecture, counters with narrow victories in single-threaded and floating-point tests. The database records the Ryzen 5 230 winning 9 of the 15 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Ryzen AI 7 445 wins the remaining 6.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 5 230 is the clear leader in sustained multi-core workloads. In the Cinebench R23 multicore test, it delivers a score of 17857 against the Ryzen AI 7 445's 10590, a decisive 68.6% advantage. The Cinebench R15 multicore result shows a narrower gap, with the Ryzen 5 230 scoring 1799 versus 1723, a 4.4% lead. This pattern suggests the Ryzen 5 230 maintains higher all-core throughput, likely driven by its higher boost clock and larger shared L3 cache.

The Ryzen AI 7 445 takes the single-core crown, albeit by slim margins. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 254 against 253, a 0.4% edge. The PassMark single-thread test shows the same trend, with the Ryzen AI 7 445 scoring 3591 versus 3558, a 0.9% advantage. These are close results, but they indicate the Zen 5 core has a slight per-thread efficiency advantage in lightly threaded tasks.

The Ryzen 5 230 excels in integer-heavy PassMark workloads. It wins integer math with a score of 67257 versus 58332, a 15.3% lead, and find prime numbers with 66 versus 56, a 17.9% edge. Data encryption also favors the Ryzen 5 230, which scores 13280 against 10519, a substantial 26.2% difference. The Ryzen AI 7 445 counters in floating-point math, scoring 39362 versus 38993, a 0.9% win, and in extended instructions, where it scores 15826 versus 15618, a 1.3% lead.

Architecture Differences

The two processors use different core architectures. The Ryzen 5 230 is based on Zen 4 under the Hawk Point codename, while the Ryzen AI 7 445 uses Zen 5 under the Gorgon Point codename. Both are fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC, but the Ryzen 5 230 lists 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die, while the Ryzen AI 7 445 does not have transistor or die size data recorded.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Ryzen 5 230 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen AI 7 445 has 80 KB of L1 per core but only 4 MB of L3 cache. Both share 1 MB of L2 per core. The Ryzen 5 230's larger L3 cache likely contributes to its strong performance in the Cinebench R23 multicore test, where the 68.6% gap far exceeds what clock speed alone would suggest.

Clock speeds also separate the pair. The Ryzen 5 230 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The Ryzen AI 7 445 starts lower at 2.00 GHz base and boosts to 4.60 GHz. The Ryzen 5 230's higher clocks across the board help explain its dominance in multi-threaded and integer benchmarks.

Memory support differs as well. The Ryzen 5 230 supports DDR5, while the Ryzen AI 7 445 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Both use a dual-channel memory bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Ryzen AI 7 445 adds ECC memory support, which the Ryzen 5 230 lacks. PCIe lane counts also differ, with the Ryzen 5 230 offering Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only) versus 14 lanes on the Ryzen AI 7 445.

The integrated graphics units are different models. The Ryzen 5 230 pairs with a Radeon 760M, while the Ryzen AI 7 445 uses a Radeon 840M. Both target the mobile market segment and remain in active production. The Ryzen 5 230 was released on 2025-01-05, while the Ryzen AI 7 445 has a recorded release date of 2026-01-04.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 230 boosts to 4.90 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 reaches 4.60 GHz.

Q: How much L3 cache does each processor have?

A: The Ryzen 5 230 has 16 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Ryzen AI 7 445 has 4 MB.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Ryzen AI 7 445 supports ECC memory, but the Ryzen 5 230 does not.

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

A: The largest margin is in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the Ryzen 5 230 scores 17857 versus 10590, a 68.6% difference.

Q: Which processor wins the PassMark single-thread test?

A: The Ryzen AI 7 445 wins with a score of 3591 against the Ryzen 5 230's 3558, a 0.9% margin.

Q: Do both processors use the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both have 6 cores and 12 threads.

Specification Differences

The two processors share the same core count, thread count, TDP of 28, socket, process node, foundry, memory bus width, memory bandwidth, market segment, and production status. The differences are as follows:

• Architecture: Zen 4 (Ryzen 5 230) versus Zen 5 (Ryzen AI 7 445)
• Codename: Hawk Point versus Gorgon Point
• Base clock: 3.50 GHz versus 2.00 GHz
• Boost clock: 4.90 GHz versus 4.60 GHz
• Transistors: 25,000 million versus not recorded
• Die size: 178 mm² versus not recorded
• L1 cache: 64 KB per core versus 80 KB per core
• L3 cache: 16 MB shared versus 4 MB
• Memory support: DDR5 versus DDR5, LPDDR5X
• ECC memory: false versus true
• PCIe: Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) versus Gen 4, 14 Lanes (CPU only)
• Integrated graphics: Radeon 760M versus Radeon 840M
• Release date: 2025-01-05 versus 2026-01-04
• Part number: 100-000001726 versus 100-000001935
• Generation: Ryzen 5 (Zen 4 (Hawk Point)) versus Ryzen AI 400 (Zen 5 / Zen 5c)

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R23 multicore result is the defining benchmark of this comparison. The Ryzen 5 230 scores 17857, which is 68.6% higher than the Ryzen AI 7 445's 10590. This is an enormous gap for two 6-core processors and points to the Ryzen 5 230's higher boost clock, larger L3 cache, and possibly better sustained power behavior. The Ryzen 5 230 also wins Cinebench R23 single-core with 2521 versus 1806, a 39.6% margin, which is surprisingly large for a single-threaded test and suggests the Ryzen AI 7 445's lower base and boost clocks hamper its peak performance in this workload.

The Cinebench R15 results tell a more balanced story. In multicore, the Ryzen 5 230 scores 1799 versus 1723, a 4.4% win. In single-core, the Ryzen AI 7 445 edges ahead with 254 versus 253, a 0.4% margin. The R23 versus R15 discrepancy indicates the Ryzen 5 230 scales better with longer or more demanding multi-threaded runs.

In PassMark workloads, the Ryzen 5 230 wins data encryption by 26.2%, scoring 13280 versus 10519. Integer math goes to the Ryzen 5 230 by 15.3%, with 67257 versus 58332. Random string sorting favors the Ryzen 5 230 by 10.8%, at 26019 versus 23488. Find prime numbers shows a 17.9% lead for the Ryzen 5 230, 66 versus 56. The PassMark multithread score gives the Ryzen 5 230 a 7.2% win, 19411 versus 18115. Data compression is close, with the Ryzen 5 230 scoring 218588 versus 215812, a 1.3% margin.

The Ryzen AI 7 445 wins the remaining tests. Floating-point math goes its way by 0.9%, 39362 versus 38993. Extended instructions favor it by 1.3%, 15826 versus 15618. Physics shows a 1.8% lead, 976 versus 958. Both single-thread PassMark entries record identical results for the Ryzen AI 7 445, 3591 versus 3558, a 0.9% win.

The aggregate scores reflect the split. The Ryzen 5 230 has an average benchmark score of 25782 and sits at the 78th percentile of all CPUs. The Ryzen AI 7 445 has an average score of 26936 and sits at the 79th percentile. The Ryzen AI 7 445's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-1370P with a delta of 0.1%, while the Ryzen 5 230's closest rival is the Intel Core i7-11700K with a delta of -0.1%. Despite winning fewer head-to-head tests, the Ryzen AI 7 445's higher average score and percentile indicate that its wins, though narrow, occur in tests that carry more weight in the aggregate scoring.