AMD Ryzen 5 240 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 165H Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark record splits these two mobile processors along clear lines. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H dominates the multi-threaded and compute-heavy workloads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 240 takes the single-thread and extended instruction efficiency categories. Out of 15 head-to-head comparisons, the Intel part wins 11, the AMD part wins 4.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H is the clear choice for sustained parallel workloads. Its largest margins come in PassMark physics (70.4% ahead), prime number finding (68.6% ahead), and floating-point math (46.3% ahead). These are compute-bound tasks that scale with core count and thread count. The Intel part fields 16 cores and 22 threads, versus 6 cores and 12 threads for the AMD chip. That structural advantage shows up directly in the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, where Intel leads by 27.1%, and in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the lead is 11.8%.

The AMD Ryzen 5 240 wins where per-core efficiency matters more than raw core count. It takes the Cinebench R15 single-core test by 4.8% and the PassMark single-thread test by 4.5%. Its most decisive win is in PassMark extended instructions, where it beats Intel by 14.4%. This suggests the Zen 4 architecture handles specialized instruction sets with higher throughput, even with fewer physical cores.

Both processors sit at the 84th percentile among all CPUs in the database, so they are closely matched in overall standing. The Intel part's average benchmark score is 34083, while the AMD part scores 33542. That is a difference of roughly 1.6% in favor of Intel, which aligns with the head-to-head win count.

For real-world use, the split is practical. The Intel part suits video rendering, 3D modeling, code compilation, and any workload that can use 22 threads. The AMD part suits lighter single-threaded applications, legacy software that does not scale, and instruction-heavy scientific or cryptographic workloads where its extended instruction lead matters.

The Verdict

Choose the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H if your primary workloads are multi-threaded. The data shows it wins 11 of 15 head-to-head tests, with decisive advantages in physics simulation (70.4% ahead), prime number calculation (68.6% ahead), and floating-point math (46.3% ahead). Its 16 cores and 22 threads provide a structural advantage that the AMD part cannot overcome in parallel tasks. The Intel part also holds a 1% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core, so it is not purely a multi-core specialist.

Choose the AMD Ryzen 5 240 if you prioritize single-thread responsiveness and specialized instruction throughput. It wins the Cinebench R15 single-core test by 4.8% and the PassMark single-thread test by 4.5%. Its 14.4% lead in extended instructions is the largest margin either processor achieves in any test. The AMD part also runs on a 4 nm process from TSMC with a smaller die (178 mm²) and fewer transistors (25,000 million), which may matter for thermal design in thin laptops.

The Intel launch MSRP is $460. The AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP in the database. Both are active production parts, so availability is not a concern.

For a balanced assessment, the average benchmark scores tell the story: Intel at 34083 versus AMD at 33542. Neither is a runaway winner, but the Intel part edges ahead in aggregate performance. The AMD part wins where single-thread speed and instruction efficiency are the deciding factors.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest margin in the entire comparison belongs to the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H in the PassMark physics test. Intel scores 1806, AMD scores 1060, a 70.4% advantage. This test measures rigid body physics simulations, which are heavily parallel and benefit directly from the Intel part's 22 threads.

The second-largest margin is in PassMark prime number finding. Intel scores 118, AMD scores 70, a 68.6% lead. This is a latency-sensitive integer workload that scales with core count and cache hierarchy. The Intel part has 24 MB of shared L3 cache versus 16 MB on the AMD part.

In floating-point math, Intel leads 66273 to 45301, a 46.3% margin. This is a broad scientific computing test. The AMD part cannot close the gap despite its higher base clock of 4.30 GHz versus 3.80 GHz on Intel.

In integer math, Intel leads 89415 to 73189, a 22.2% margin. This is another core-count sensitive workload. The AMD part's single-thread advantage does not help here because the test scales across all threads.

In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, Intel scores 2641 versus 2078, a 27.1% lead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 14551 versus 13013, an 11.8% lead. The R15 test shows a larger gap, suggesting the Intel part handles older render workloads particularly well.

The Intel part also wins the PassMark multithread test (25933 versus 22658, 14.5% ahead), data compression (291161 versus 267963, 8.7% ahead), and data encryption (17169 versus 15849, 8.3% ahead). Random string sorting is close, with Intel ahead by only 3.4%.

The AMD part's wins are concentrated in single-thread and instruction-heavy tests. In Cinebench R15 single-core, AMD scores 270 versus 257, a 4.8% lead. In PassMark single-thread, AMD scores 3675 versus 3509, a 4.5% lead. In extended instructions, AMD scores 20201 versus 17299, a 14.4% lead. The Cinebench R23 single-core test is nearly tied, with Intel ahead by just 1% (1759 versus 1742).

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H wins every multi-core test in the head-to-head comparison. It leads by 27.1% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 11.8% in Cinebench R23 multi-core, 14.5% in PassMark multithread, 46.3% in floating-point math, and 22.2% in integer math.

Q: Which processor has better single-thread performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 240 wins the Cinebench R15 single-core test by 4.8% and the PassMark single-thread test by 4.5%. The Cinebench R23 single-core test is essentially even, with the Intel part ahead by only 1%.

Q: How do they compare in the extended instructions benchmark?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 240 wins decisively, scoring 20201 versus 17299 for the Intel part, a 14.4% advantage. This is the AMD part's largest margin in any test.

Q: What is the core and thread difference?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H has 16 cores and 22 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 240 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel part has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD part has 16 MB.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 240 has a base clock of 4.30 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H has a base clock of 3.80 GHz. Both processors boost to 5.00 GHz.

Q: What are the process nodes and foundries?

A: The Intel part uses a 7 nm process from Intel. The AMD part uses a 4 nm process from TSMC. The AMD part has 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H is built on the Meteor Lake architecture, part of the Core Ultra Series 1. It uses a 7 nm process at Intel's foundry. The processor has 16 cores and 22 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The integrated graphics are Arc Xe-LPG with 128 execution units. Memory support is DDR5 with dual-channel configuration and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe is Gen 5 with 8 lanes from the CPU. The socket is Intel BGA 2049, and the TDP is 28 watts.

The AMD Ryzen 5 240 is built on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Hawk Point. It uses a 4 nm process at TSMC. The processor has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 4.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The integrated graphics are Radeon 760M. Memory support is DDR5 with dual-channel configuration and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe is Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The socket is AMD Socket FP8, and the TDP is 45 watts.

The transistor count differs significantly: the AMD part has 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die, while the Intel part has no recorded transistor or die size data. The AMD part also has a lower TDP-to-performance ratio in single-thread tests, likely due to its higher base clock and newer process node.

The PCIe generation difference matters for expansion. The Intel part supports Gen 5 with 8 lanes, while the AMD part supports Gen 4 with 20 lanes. This means the Intel part offers higher per-lane bandwidth, but the AMD part offers more total lanes for peripheral connectivity.

Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. Both are active production parts. The Intel part was released on December 13, 2023, while the AMD part was released on January 5, 2025. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $460, while the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP.