AMD Ryzen 5 240 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H and AMD Ryzen 5 240 are both active mobile processors aimed at thin-and-light laptops, but benchmark results show they occupy different performance tiers. The Intel chip, built on a 3 nm process with 12 cores, delivers a commanding lead in the vast majority of tested workloads, while the AMD part, with 6 cores on a 4 nm node, only manages to secure a single victory in one specific math test. Both processors share the same 84th percentile ranking among all CPUs, yet their average benchmark scores diverge by a small margin, with the Intel part scoring 33989 compared to the AMD's 33542.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H for anyone prioritizing raw multi-threaded performance or peak single-core responsiveness. In Cinebench R23, the Intel chip scores 16331 in multi-core against the AMD's 13013, a substantial 25.5% advantage. The gap is even wider in PassMark's multithread test, where Intel leads 28717 to 22658 (26.7% ahead). For users running video encoding, 3D rendering, or any workload that scales across cores, the Intel part's 12 cores (versus 6) provide a decisive edge.

However, the AMD Ryzen 5 240 is not without merit. It wins the PassMark integer math test by a significant margin, scoring 73189 against Intel's 64934 (11.3% ahead). This suggests that for certain integer-heavy computations, the AMD architecture is more efficient per core. Additionally, the AMD chip has a higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz compared to Intel's 4.70 GHz, which may contribute to its single-core competitiveness in some scenarios, despite losing the single-thread PassMark test (3675 vs 4180, 13.7% behind).

The choice depends on the workload. For general productivity, content creation, and multi-tasking, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is the superior option based on benchmark data. For specialized integer math applications, the AMD Ryzen 5 240 offers a specific advantage. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both are locked (multiplier not unlocked), so overclocking is not a factor in the decision.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses the Panther Lake architecture on a 3 nm process manufactured by Intel, while the AMD Ryzen 5 240 uses Zen 4 (Hawk Point) on a 4 nm process from TSMC. This process advantage likely contributes to Intel's power efficiency, as its TDP is 25W compared to AMD's 45W, despite offering double the cores.

The core configuration differs dramatically. Intel provides 12 cores and 12 threads, whereas AMD offers 6 cores and 12 threads. This means the Intel chip relies on more physical cores, while the AMD chip uses simultaneous multithreading to reach the same thread count. Cache hierarchies also differ: Intel has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3, while AMD has 64 KB of L1, 1 MB of L2, and 16 MB of shared L3. Intel's larger per-core caches may explain its advantage in many tests.

Memory support and I/O also diverge. Intel supports LPDDR5X with a dual-channel bus and 136.5 GB/s bandwidth, while AMD supports DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. This bandwidth advantage (52.3% higher for Intel) could benefit memory-intensive workloads. PCIe connectivity favors AMD, however, with Gen 4 and 20 lanes versus Intel's Gen 5 with only 4 lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: Intel uses Arc B370, while AMD uses Radeon 760M.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 240 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite the same thread count, Intel's additional physical cores contribute to its multi-threaded performance lead.

Q: How large is the performance gap in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel chip scores 16331, which is 25.5% higher than the AMD's 13013. This represents a significant advantage for multi-threaded rendering tasks.

Q: Are there any workloads where the AMD Ryzen 5 240 wins?

A: Yes, in the PassMark integer math test, the AMD scores 73189 versus Intel's 64934, an 11.3% lead. This is the only benchmark in the head-to-head comparison where AMD comes out ahead.

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has a TDP of 25W, while the AMD Ryzen 5 240 has a TDP of 45W. This makes the Intel part more power-efficient, especially given its higher performance in most tests.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 240 has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H's 4.70 GHz. However, the Intel chip still wins the single-thread benchmarks.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has an average benchmark score of 33989, while the AMD Ryzen 5 240 has 33542. This places them at the same 84th percentile, but with Intel holding a 1.3% overall average advantage.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 240 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are starkly different: Intel runs at 1.90 GHz, while AMD runs at 4.30 GHz. Boost clocks are closer, with Intel at 4.70 GHz and AMD at 5.00 GHz, but AMD still holds a 0.30 GHz advantage.

TDP is a major differentiator, with Intel at 25W and AMD at 45W. The socket types are incompatible: Intel uses BGA 2540, while AMD uses Socket FP8. Architecture and process node also differ, with Intel on Panther Lake at 3 nm (Intel foundry) and AMD on Zen 4 at 4 nm (TSMC). Cache sizes vary, with Intel offering 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 18 MB L3 per core/shared, while AMD offers 64 KB L1, 1 MB L2, and 16 MB L3.

Memory support differs, with Intel using LPDDR5X and AMD using DDR5. Memory bandwidth is 136.5 GB/s for Intel and 89.6 GB/s for AMD. PCIe lanes are a point of distinction: Intel has Gen 5 with 4 lanes, while AMD has Gen 4 with 20 lanes. Integrated graphics are Arc B370 for Intel and Radeon 760M for AMD. Release dates differ, with AMD launching on 2025-01-05 and Intel on 2026-01-04.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins 14 of the 15 head-to-head benchmarks, with the largest victory in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 304 versus AMD's 70, an astonishing 334.3% difference. This result highlights a massive efficiency gap in prime number calculation, likely stemming from Intel's architecture. The next biggest win is in PassMark physics, where Intel scores 2697 against AMD's 1060 (154.4% ahead), suggesting superior floating-point and physics simulation capabilities.

In Cinebench tests, Intel shows consistent dominance. R15 multi-core sees Intel at 2504 versus AMD's 2078 (20.5% ahead), while R15 single-core is 305 versus 270 (13% ahead). R23 results are more pronounced: multi-core is 16331 versus 13013 (25.5% ahead), and single-core is 2044 versus 1742 (17.3% ahead). These results confirm that Intel's advantage scales with workload intensity and core count.

PassMark tests reveal a mixed picture. Intel leads in data compression (276539 vs 267963, 3.2% ahead), data encryption (21367 vs 15849, 34.8% ahead), and extended instructions (23906 vs 20201, 18.3% ahead). Floating-point math also heavily favors Intel, with 84067 versus 45301 (85.6% ahead). Random string sorting is close, with Intel at 34082 versus AMD's 32385 (5.2% ahead).

The AMD Ryzen 5 240's sole victory in integer math (73189 vs 64934, 11.3% ahead) is notable but isolated. In single-thread PassMark, Intel still wins 4180 to 3675 (13.7% ahead). Multithread PassMark also goes to Intel, 28717 to 22658 (26.7% ahead). These numbers suggest that AMD's higher clock speeds do not compensate for Intel's superior core count and cache configuration in most real-world scenarios.