AMD Ryzen 5 240 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data delivers a decisive outcome: the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus wins all 15 head-to-head comparisons against the AMD Ryzen 5 240. The margin varies widely by workload, from a modest 21.8% advantage in single-threaded PassMark tests to a massive 84.5% lead in prime number searching. No benchmark in the shared set favors the AMD part.

Starting with the Cinebench suite, the Intel processor is dominant. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel part scores 4305 against 2078 for the AMD chip, a 51.7% gap. The single-core R15 result is even more lopsided in percentage terms: 607 versus 270, a 55.5% deficit for the AMD Ryzen 5 240. Moving to Cinebench R23, the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus posts 42718 multicore points, while the AMD processor manages 13013, a 69.5% difference. In R23 single-core, the Intel part records 6030, the AMD part 1742, for a 71.1% deficit. These are not close contests; the Intel chip more than triples the AMD chip's multicore output in R23.

The PassMark suite tells a similar story with varying intensity. The smallest gap appears in PassMark single-thread performance, where the Intel part scores 4698 and the AMD part 3675, a 21.8% advantage. That is still a clear win, but it is the only metric where the Intel lead falls below 40%. Integer math shows a 40.5% gap, with the Intel chip scoring 123030 against 73189. Data compression favors the Intel chip by 51.6%, with scores of 553155 and 267963. Random string sorting shows a 51.8% delta, the Intel part at 67209 and the AMD part at 32385. Extended instructions land at a 52.9% gap, with 42880 versus 20201.

The larger deltas appear in workloads that scale with core count and memory throughput. PassMark multithread gives the Intel part a 54.8% lead, scoring 50146 versus 22658. Data encryption shows a 61.6% gap, with 41292 against 15849. Physics simulation delivers a 66.7% delta, the Intel chip at 3183 and the AMD chip at 1060. Floating-point math is a 71.7% gap, with the Intel part scoring 159824 and the AMD part 45301. The single largest delta in the entire comparison is PassMark find prime numbers, where the Intel chip scores 452 and the AMD chip 70, an 84.5% deficit for the AMD part.

The average benchmark score confirms the overall positioning. The AMD Ryzen 5 240 averages 33542 across its benchmark set, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus averages 66159, nearly double. The AMD part sits at the 84th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the Intel part reaches the 93rd percentile.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus wins every measured category, but the shape of its victories reveals where it is strongest. The biggest gaps are in heavily parallel, compute-intensive tasks: prime number finding, floating-point math, physics simulation, and Cinebench multicore. These workloads exploit the Intel chip's 18 cores and 18 threads, plus its larger 30 MB shared L3 cache and 115.2 GB/s memory bandwidth. The 69.5% multicore Cinebench R23 gap and the 71.7% floating-point gap indicate that the Intel part is in a different performance class for rendering, scientific computation, and similar parallel workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 5 240 offers no benchmark wins in the recorded data, but its profile is not without context. Its closest result is PassMark single-thread, where the 21.8% delta is the smallest of any test. That suggests the AMD part's single-thread efficiency, with a 5.00 GHz boost clock on Zen 4, is relatively closer to the Intel chip's 5.30 GHz boost on Arrow Lake Refresh, though still behind. The AMD chip also draws far less power: its TDP is 45 watts versus 125 watts for the Intel part. The database does not include power efficiency benchmarks, but the recorded TDP figures indicate the AMD part is designed for a lower thermal envelope, consistent with its mobile market segment.

The AMD Ryzen 5 240 includes integrated graphics with the Radeon 760M, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has no integrated graphics at all. That makes the AMD chip a functional choice for systems without a discrete GPU. The Intel part requires a separate graphics card. This is not a performance advantage in the benchmark data, but it is a capability difference that matters for system configuration.

The Verdict

The data points one direction: the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus is the stronger processor in every recorded benchmark. Anyone selecting between these two parts for raw compute performance should choose the Intel chip. It leads by 21.8% in single-thread PassMark, 69.5% in Cinebench R23 multicore, and 84.5% in prime number calculation. Its average benchmark score of 66159 places it in the 93rd percentile, alongside rivals like the Intel Core 9 273PQE (0.1% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D (0.4% delta). The Intel part also carries a launch MSRP of $184.

The AMD Ryzen 5 240 has no benchmark victories, but it is not without reason to exist. Its 45 watt TDP, mobile segment designation, and integrated Radeon 760M graphics point to a low-power, compact system role. The database shows its average score of 33542 sits within 0.5% of the Intel Core i5-12600HX and within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS, indicating it is competitive with other mobile-class parts. For a desktop user seeking maximum performance, the Intel chip is the only choice supported by the measurements. For a power-constrained or GPU-integrated build, the AMD part is the only one of the two that can work without a discrete graphics card.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 240 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

A: The largest delta is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Intel chip scores 452 and the AMD chip scores 70, an 84.5% difference in favor of the Intel part.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 240 includes Radeon 760M integrated graphics. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has no integrated graphics (listed as N/A).

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus averages 66159, while the AMD Ryzen 5 240 averages 33542. The Intel chip sits at the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, the AMD chip at the 84th percentile.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel part supports 115.2 GB/s, while the AMD part supports 89.6 GB/s. Both are dual-channel DDR5 designs.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus boosts to 5.30 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 240 boosts to 5.00 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different fabrication nodes and design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 240 uses a 4 nm process at TSMC, with 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. It is built on the Zen 4 architecture with the Hawk Point codename and belongs to the Ryzen 5 generation. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus uses a 3 nm process, also at TSMC, with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. Its codename is Arrow Lake Refresh, and it belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 generation.

Core and cache structures diverge sharply. The AMD part has 6 cores and 12 threads, with 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has 18 cores and 18 threads, with 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip's larger per-core caches and bigger L3 pool contribute to its benchmark advantages, especially in data compression and encryption workloads.

Memory and I/O capabilities also differ. The AMD part uses DDR5 with dual-channel support and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part also uses dual-channel DDR5 but reaches 115.2 GB/s. The AMD chip supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes, while the Intel chip supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. ECC memory is supported on the Intel part but not on the AMD part. The Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier; the AMD chip does not.

Socket and market positioning separate the two as well. The AMD Ryzen 5 240 uses AMD Socket FP8 and is designated as a mobile processor, released on January 5, 2025. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus uses Intel Socket 1851 and is a desktop part, released on March 10, 2026. The Intel chip has a TDP of 125 watts, while the AMD chip has a TDP of 45 watts, reflecting the mobile versus desktop distinction. The Intel part's part number is SA4V3, and the AMD part's is 100-000001727.