AMD Ryzen 5 230 vs Intel Core Ultra 9 386H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H, which wins 16 of the 17 compared tests. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 claims a single win, but that result is notable for being in a single-core workload.

Starting with the multi-core Cinebench suite, the Intel part leads by a wide margin across the board. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H scores 3223 against the AMD Ryzen 5 230's 1799, a delta of -44.2% from the AMD side. The gap narrows somewhat in Cinebench R20 multicore, where Intel scores 12820 versus 7499, a -41.5% difference. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the margin tightens further: Intel scores 20547 while AMD scores 17857, a -13.1% delta. This pattern suggests that as the workload duration increases, the AMD chip closes some ground, but it still trails.

The single-core results are split. In Cinebench R15 singlecore, Intel wins with 303.5 against AMD's 253, a -16.6% delta. In Cinebench R20 singlecore, Intel again wins with 1809 against 1058, a -41.5% delta. However, in Cinebench R23 singlecore, the AMD Ryzen 5 230 takes the victory with 2521 against Intel's 2071.5, a positive delta of 21.7% for AMD. This is the only test where AMD comes out ahead, and it indicates that under the specific conditions of the R23 single-core workload, the AMD Zen 4 architecture has an advantage.

Moving to the Passmark suite, the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H dominates every category. In data compression, Intel scores 352365 versus AMD's 218588, a -38% delta. Data encryption shows Intel at 27150 versus AMD's 13280, a -51.1% delta. Extended instructions go to Intel with 29138 against 15618, a -46.4% delta. The largest single margin is in find prime numbers, where Intel scores 341 against AMD's 66, an -80.6% delta. Floating point math shows Intel at 108527 versus AMD's 38993, a -64.1% delta. Integer math is closer: Intel scores 87284 against AMD's 67257, a -22.9% delta. The multithread test gives Intel 35399 versus AMD's 19411, a -45.2% delta. Physics shows Intel at 3028 against AMD's 958, a -68.4% delta. Random string sorting goes to Intel with 42135 versus AMD's 26019, a -38.2% delta. Finally, in single-thread Passmark, Intel scores 4218 against AMD's 3558, a -15.6% delta.

The average benchmark score reinforces this hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H has an average score of 43210, placing it in the 88th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 has an average score of 25782, placing it in the 78th percentile. The Intel chip's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 (delta -0.3%), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 (delta -0.5%), and the Intel Core i9-12900 (delta 0.7%). The AMD chip's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-11700K (delta -0.1%) and the AMD Ryzen 7 7730U (delta 0.6%). These positioning data confirm that the Intel part operates in a higher performance tier overall.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload type. For any user whose primary tasks are multi-threaded, the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H is the superior choice based on the recorded measurements. It wins all multi-core tests, with margins ranging from -13.1% in Cinebench R23 multicore to -80.6% in Passmark find prime numbers. The Intel part also leads in every Passmark test except the single Cinebench R23 single-core win for AMD.

For users prioritizing single-core performance in certain conditions, the AMD Ryzen 5 230 has a specific advantage. Its Cinebench R23 singlecore score of 2521 is 21.7% higher than the Intel's 2071.5. This is the only benchmark where AMD leads, but it is a meaningful one for applications that are heavily reliant on a single thread and use the Cinebench R23 workload as a reference.

The overall average benchmark scores confirm the Intel part's higher standing. The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H sits at the 88th percentile against all CPUs, while the AMD Ryzen 5 230 sits at the 78th percentile. The Intel chip's average score of 43210 is roughly 67% higher than the AMD chip's average of 25782, a substantial gap that reflects the Intel part's broader dominance across the test suite.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H wins in every category except one. Its biggest advantages are in computationally intensive integer and floating-point operations. The Passmark find prime numbers test shows the largest gap, with Intel leading by 80.6%. That test is a strong indicator of raw integer processing capability, and the Intel part's 16 cores (versus AMD's 6) contribute directly to this result. Physics simulation also heavily favors Intel, with a -68.4% delta, suggesting superior performance in physics-based workloads such as certain game engines or scientific simulations. Data encryption shows a -51.1% delta, indicating a strong advantage for security-related tasks like disk encryption or secure communications.

The AMD Ryzen 5 230's single win in Cinebench R23 singlecore is its only bright spot. That score of 2521 is notably higher than Intel's 2071.5, a 21.7% advantage. This suggests that for a specific type of lightly-threaded workload, the AMD chip's Zen 4 architecture can outpace the newer Intel design. However, this advantage does not carry over to other single-core tests: Intel leads in Cinebench R15 singlecore, Cinebench R20 singlecore, and Passmark single-thread tests.

In terms of overall positioning, the Intel part's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385, with a delta of only -0.3%, meaning the Intel chip is nearly tied with that high-end AMD part. The AMD Ryzen 5 230's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-11700K, with a delta of -0.1%, meaning the AMD chip is essentially on par with that older desktop Intel processor. This places the two compared CPUs in different performance strata.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H has an average benchmark score of 43210, while the AMD Ryzen 5 230 has an average score of 25782.

Q: How many benchmark wins does each CPU have?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H wins 16 of the 17 head-to-head tests. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 wins 1 test.

Q: In which test does the AMD Ryzen 5 230 beat the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 230 wins in Cinebench R23 singlecore, scoring 2521 against Intel's 2071.5, a 21.7% advantage.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two CPUs?

A: The largest gap is in the Passmark find prime numbers test, where Intel scores 341 and AMD scores 66, a delta of -80.6%.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each CPU?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 (delta -0.3%). The AMD Ryzen 5 230's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-11700K (delta -0.1%).

Q: What percentiles do the two CPUs occupy?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H is in the 88th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 is in the 78th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs use fundamentally different designs. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 is built on the Zen 4 architecture with the codename Hawk Point. It uses a 4 nm process node from TSMC. The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H uses the Panther Lake architecture with the codename Panther Lake, built on a 3 nm process node from Intel. These process differences are reflected in the transistor counts, though the Intel part's transistor count is not recorded in the database. The AMD chip has 25,000 million transistors on a die size of 178 mm².

The core configurations differ significantly. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 has 6 cores and 12 threads, meaning it uses simultaneous multithreading. The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H has 16 cores and 16 threads, meaning it does not use hyper-threading in the recorded configuration. This core count difference explains much of the multi-core performance gap, as the Intel part has more than double the physical cores.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part has larger per-core caches and a larger shared L3 pool.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 uses the Radeon 760M, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H uses Intel Xe3 Graphics. The Intel part also supports a wider range of memory types, including both DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while the AMD chip supports DDR5 only.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ across several specification fields. 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 9 386H has a lower base clock of 2.10 GHz but the same boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The thermal design power differs: the AMD chip is rated at 28 W, while the Intel chip is rated at 25 W.

The memory bandwidth differs notably. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H has 115.2 GB/s. This higher bandwidth may contribute to the Intel part's advantages in data-heavy workloads like compression and encryption.

The PCIe support differs. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 uses PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H uses PCIe Gen 5 with 12 lanes (CPU only). The Intel part has a newer PCIe generation but fewer lanes.

The sockets are different: the AMD chip uses AMD Socket FP8, while the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 2540. The release dates also differ: the AMD Ryzen 5 230 has a release date of January 5, 2025, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H has a release date of January 4, 2026. Both CPUs are currently marked as Active in production status. Neither CPU has a recorded launch MSRP in the database. Neither CPU has an unlocked multiplier.