AMD Ryzen 5 240 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 356H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 240 and Intel Core Ultra 7 356H are both active mobile processors, but the database draws a sharp line between them. Across all 15 recorded head-to-head benchmarks, the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H wins every comparison, with margins ranging from 9.7% in PassMark single-thread to 78.6% in PassMark find prime numbers. The AMD part counters with higher clock ratings and a different platform profile, but no benchmark victory appears in the recorded data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has 16 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 240 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel part also has 18 MB of shared L3 cache versus 16 MB on the AMD part.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 240 has a 5.00 GHz boost clock and a 4.30 GHz base clock. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has a 4.70 GHz boost clock and a 1.90 GHz base clock. In the recorded benchmark data, the Intel part still wins every head-to-head test.

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

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 18395 and AMD scores 13013, a delta of -29.3%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, Intel scores 3055 and AMD scores 2078, a delta of -32%. PassMark multithread shows Intel at 33978 and AMD at 22658, a delta of -33.3%.

Q: What memory options does each processor support?

A: The AMD part supports DDR5 with dual-channel memory and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with dual-channel memory and 115.2 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What are the process nodes and foundries?

A: AMD uses TSMC's 4 nm process for Zen 4. Intel uses its own 3 nm process for Panther Lake. The AMD die is 178 mm² with 25,000 million transistors; Intel's transistor count and die size are not recorded.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different design generations and different foundries. AMD's Ryzen 5 240 is built around Zen 4 under the Hawk Point codename, fabricated by TSMC on a 4 nm process. Intel's Core Ultra 7 356H uses the Panther Lake architecture and codename, fabricated by Intel on a 3 nm process. The generation strings in the database identify the AMD part as Ryzen 5 (Zen 4 (Hawk Point)) and the Intel part as Ultra 7 (Panther Lake-H), with Intel's series listed as Core Ultra Series 3.

The core and thread counts point to different design strategies. AMD provides 6 cores and 12 threads, while Intel provides 16 cores and 16 threads. Intel's thread count matches its core count; AMD's thread count is double its core count. The cache hierarchy also differs. AMD uses 64 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core, with 16 MB of shared L3. Intel uses 192 KB of L1 and 2.5 MB of L2 per core, with 18 MB of shared L3.

Memory and I/O features separate the two further. AMD supports DDR5 on a dual-channel bus at 89.6 GB/s. Intel supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X on a dual-channel bus at 115.2 GB/s. AMD exposes PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes; Intel exposes PCIe Gen 5 with 12 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: AMD uses the Radeon 760M, while Intel uses Intel Xe3 Graphics. The AMD part mounts on AMD Socket FP8, the Intel part on Intel BGA 2540. The AMD part is rated at 45 W TDP, the Intel part at 25 W TDP. Both are active mobile parts with locked multipliers and no ECC support.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head table is unusual because it is entirely one-directional. The recorded set contains 15 comparisons. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H wins 15, and the AMD Ryzen 5 240 wins 0.

The largest margin appears in PassMark find prime numbers. Intel scores 327, AMD scores 70, a delta of -78.6%. PassMark physics follows at -63.4%: Intel 2895, AMD 1060. PassMark floating point math shows Intel 103128 versus AMD 45301, a delta of -56.1%. PassMark data encryption gives Intel 26345 and AMD 15849, a delta of -39.8%.

Multi-threaded rendering workloads show a similar pattern. PassMark multithread records Intel 33978 and AMD 22658, a delta of -33.3%. Cinebench R15 multi-core records Intel 3055 and AMD 2078, a delta of -32%. Cinebench R23 multi-core records Intel 18395 and AMD 13013, a delta of -29.3%. PassMark extended instructions puts Intel at 27898 and AMD at 20201, a delta of -27.6%. PassMark random string sorting gives Intel 40990 and AMD 32385, a delta of -21%. PassMark data compression gives Intel 336177 and AMD 267963, a delta of -20.3%.

Single-thread and integer tests produce the closest margins, but Intel still leads. Cinebench R23 single-core scores Intel 2040 and AMD 1742, a delta of -14.6%. PassMark integer math puts Intel 83111 and AMD 73189, a delta of -11.9%. Cinebench R15 single-core gives Intel 303 and AMD 270, a delta of -10.9%. PassMark single-thread gives Intel 4072 and AMD 3675, a delta of -9.7%. The database also lists Cinebench R20 results for Intel (12153 multi-core and 1715 single-core) but no R20 result for AMD, so no head-to-head delta is available for that test.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs share only a few platform-level traits: both are mobile, active, dual-channel, non-ECC, and locked. The differences are extensive.

| Field | AMD Ryzen 5 240 | Intel Core Ultra 7 356H |

| Manufacturer | AMD | Intel |

| Series | Not specified | Core Ultra Series 3 |

| Cores | 6 | 16 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base clock | 4.30 GHz | 1.90 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 25 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP8 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Panther Lake |

| Codename | Hawk Point | Panther Lake |

| Generation | Ryzen 5 (Zen 4 (Hawk Point)) | Ultra 7 (Panther Lake-H) |

| Process node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 25,000 million | Not recorded |

| Die size | 178 mm² | Not recorded |

| L1 cache | 64 KB per core | 192 KB per core |

| L2 cache | 1 MB per core | 2.5 MB per core |

| L3 cache | 16 MB shared | 18 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 115.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 12 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 760M | Intel Xe3 Graphics |

| Release date | 2025-01-05 | 2026-01-04 |

| Part number | 100-000001727 | SA4RGQ9EU |

The Verdict

The recorded data makes the hierarchy clear. Intel wins all 15 head-to-head benchmarks, and the average benchmark score is 41215 for Intel versus 33542 for AMD. The Intel part sits at the 87th percentile of all CPUs, the AMD part at the 84th. The nearest-rival list for the Ryzen includes the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H at 33537, the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS at 33667, the AMD Ryzen 5 7645HX at 33668, and the Intel Core i5-12600HX at 33375. The nearest-rival list for the Intel part includes the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 at 41208, the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H at 41263, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X at 41376, and the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H at 40967.

For a system built around Intel BGA 2540, the Core Ultra 7 356H is the only one of these two that fits, and it carries the performance lead in every measured test. For a system built around AMD Socket FP8, the Ryzen 5 240 is the only fit, but the database shows no benchmark category where it overtakes the Intel part. The AMD part's higher boost clock and larger PCIe lane count are real specification differences, yet they do not appear as wins in the measured tests.

Where Each One Wins

Since Intel wins every recorded head-to-head comparison, the use-case split is defined by margin size rather than win direction. Rendering and multi-threaded throughput show the AMD part trailing by 29.3% in Cinebench R23 multi-core, by 32% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, and by 33.3% in PassMark multithread. Math and physics workloads show even larger AMD deficits: 56.1% in floating point math, 63.4% in physics, and 78.6% in find prime numbers. Integer math is closer, with AMD 11.9% behind.

Data processing and security workloads also fall to Intel. AMD trails by 39.8% in data encryption, 27.6% in extended instructions, 21% in random string sorting, and 20.3% in data compression. Single-threaded workloads produce the smallest Intel margins: AMD trails by 9.7% in PassMark single-thread, 10.9% in Cinebench R15 single-core, and 14.6% in Cinebench R23 single-core.

The AMD part has no head-to-head wins. Its closest recorded positions are in single-thread and integer tests. For workloads that are primarily single-threaded, the Ryzen 5 240 would be closest to the Intel part, but it is still behind in every recorded measurement. The Intel part is the winner in every category represented by the benchmark set.