AMD Ryzen 5 230 vs Intel Core Ultra 3 205 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 230 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 3 205 has 8 cores and 8 threads. The AMD part uses simultaneous multithreading to reach 12 threads, whereas the Intel part operates with one thread per core.

Q: What are the base and boost clock speeds of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 230 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. Both reach the same maximum boost frequency, but the Intel chip starts from a higher base.

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 records an average benchmark score of 31473, compared to 25782 for the AMD Ryzen 5 230. The Intel part also sits in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD part sits in the 78th percentile.

Q: How much L3 cache does each processor have?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 230 has 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 has 15 MB of shared L3 cache, a 1 MB difference in favor of the AMD chip.

Q: What PCIe generation does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 230 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes. The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes, providing a newer generation of the interface.

Q: In which benchmark does the AMD Ryzen 5 230 beat the Intel Core Ultra 3 205?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 230 wins in PassMark integer math with a score of 67257, versus 54755 for the Intel Core Ultra 3 205, a delta of 22.8% in favor of AMD. The Intel part wins all other recorded head-to-head tests.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 230 uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 uses the Arrow Lake architecture under the Arrow Lake-S codename, built on a 3 nm process, also at TSMC. The process node difference gives Intel a smaller transistor feature size, though the AMD chip integrates 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die, while the Intel chip integrates 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die.

The core configurations differ fundamentally. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 has 6 cores and 12 threads, using simultaneous multithreading to double thread count. The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 has 8 cores and 8 threads, with no multithreading, so it relies entirely on physical cores for parallel work. Cache layouts also differ. The AMD chip provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 15 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core L1 and L2 on the Intel part may benefit workloads that fit within fast local storage.

Memory support is DDR5 for both, with dual-channel buses. The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 has a higher recorded memory bandwidth at 102.4 GB/s, versus 89.6 GB/s for the AMD Ryzen 5 230. Neither supports ECC memory. The PCIe interface differs by generation: AMD uses Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes, while Intel uses Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. The Intel part also carries a different integrated graphics solution, the Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU, compared to the Radeon 760M in the AMD chip.

The power envelope is a major separator. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 has a TDP of 28, while the Intel Core Ultra 3 205 has a TDP of 57. The Intel part consumes more power at the rated TDP, which aligns with its desktop market segment, while the AMD part targets the mobile segment with a lower TDP. The AMD chip uses the AMD Socket FP8, while the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1851. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $140. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 generation, while the AMD Ryzen 5 230 belongs to the Ryzen 5 generation under Zen 4 (Hawk Point). Both are currently listed as active in production.

The Verdict

The benchmark data consistently favors the Intel Core Ultra 3 205. Across 16 head-to-head tests, the Intel part wins 15, with the only AMD victory coming in PassMark integer math. The Intel chip records a higher average benchmark score, 31473 versus 25782, and a higher percentile ranking, 82nd versus 78th. The Intel part also matches the AMD chip in boost clock at 4.90 GHz while starting from a higher base clock of 3.80 GHz.

The AMD Ryzen 5 230 should be selected by users who need the lower TDP of 28, which suits mobile platforms, or who require the higher thread count of 12 threads for workloads that scale with simultaneous multithreading. The AMD chip also offers more shared L3 cache at 16 MB and a smaller die size at 178 mm². Its single win in integer math, 67257 versus 54755, suggests a relative strength in integer-heavy operations, though this is an isolated result in the recorded data.

The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 should be selected by users who prioritize raw performance across the broad benchmark suite. It delivers substantial wins in floating-point math, physics, encryption, and single-threaded workloads. Its 8 physical cores and higher TDP of 57 position it as the stronger desktop option. The data shows no scenario in the recorded tests where the AMD chip outperforms the Intel part except integer math, so the choice depends on platform constraints, power targets, and the specific need for multithreading versus physical core count.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 3 205 has 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks differ: 3.50 GHz for AMD, 3.80 GHz for Intel, with identical boost clocks of 4.90 GHz. TDP differs significantly: 28 for AMD, 57 for Intel.

Sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket FP8 versus Intel Socket 1851. The architectures are Zen 4 (Hawk Point) for AMD and Arrow Lake (Arrow Lake-S) for Intel. Process nodes differ: 4 nm for AMD, 3 nm for Intel. Transistor counts differ: 25,000 million for AMD, 17,800 million for Intel. Die sizes differ: 178 mm² for AMD, 243 mm² for Intel.

Cache configurations differ in all levels. AMD provides 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. Intel provides 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 15 MB shared L3. Memory bandwidth differs: 89.6 GB/s for AMD, 102.4 GB/s for Intel. PCIe generation differs: Gen 4 for AMD, Gen 5 for Intel, both with 20 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics differ: Radeon 760M for AMD, Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU for Intel. Market segments differ: Mobile for AMD, Desktop for Intel. Release dates differ: 2025-01-05 for AMD, 2025-07-31 for Intel. Part numbers differ: 100-000001726 for AMD, SRVFC for Intel. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $140, while the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 3 205 dominates the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multicore, Intel scores 2001 versus 1799 for AMD, a delta of -10.1% from the AMD perspective. In Cinebench R15 singlecore, Intel scores 282 versus 253, also -10.1%. The pattern holds across Cinebench R20 and R23. In R20 multicore, Intel scores 8339 versus 7499, -10.1%. In R20 singlecore, Intel scores 1177 versus 1058, -10.1%. In R23 multicore, Intel scores 19856 versus 17857, -10.1%. In R23 singlecore, Intel scores 2803 versus 2521, -10.1%. The consistent 10.1% margin across all six Cinebench tests indicates a uniform performance advantage for the Intel part in both single-threaded and multi-threaded rendering workloads.

The PassMark suite shows larger deltas in several categories. PassMark data compression favors Intel: 260651 versus 218588, a delta of -16.1%. Data encryption shows a wider gap: Intel scores 18772 versus 13280, a delta of -29.3%. Extended instructions favor Intel even more strongly: 22578 versus 15618, a delta of -30.8%. Floating-point math is a major Intel win: 75136 versus 38993, a delta of -48.1%, meaning the Intel part nearly doubles the AMD score. PassMark physics is similarly lopsided: 2016 versus 958, a delta of -52.5%. Random string sorting favors Intel at 31083 versus 26019, a delta of -16.3%. PassMark multithread favors Intel at 26167 versus 19411, a delta of -25.8%. PassMark single-thread favors Intel at 4575 versus 3558, a delta of -22.2%.

The largest Intel margin appears in PassMark find prime numbers: 268 versus 66, a delta of -75.4%. This workload shows the Intel part scoring more than four times the AMD chip, a striking result that likely reflects architectural differences in integer and branch-heavy code paths.

The sole AMD victory is in PassMark integer math. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 scores 67257, while the Intel Core Ultra 3 205 scores 54755, giving AMD a delta of 22.8%. This result is notable because it runs counter to the direction of every other recorded test, and it demonstrates that the AMD chip retains a specific strength despite the overall Intel advantage. The win is also meaningful in absolute terms: the AMD score exceeds the Intel score by more than 12,500 points.

The data indicates that the Intel Core Ultra 3 205 is the stronger performer in the vast majority of measured workloads. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 offers a lower TDP, higher thread count, and a single benchmark victory, but the recorded scores show Intel ahead in rendering, encryption, floating-point, physics, compression, sorting, and single-threaded performance. The average benchmark score difference, 31473 versus 25782, reflects this broad superiority.