AMD Ryzen 5 2600X vs Intel Core Ultra 5 135U Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600X and Intel Core Ultra 5 135U occupy the same percentile ranking among all CPUs (76th), and their average benchmark scores are separated by less than one percent, with the AMD part at 22823 and the Intel part at 22618. Despite this near-identical overall standing, the head-to-head data reveals a starkly divergent performance profile: the Intel Core Ultra 5 135U wins 10 of the 13 shared benchmarks, often by wide margins, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2600X claims 3 victories, all of which are narrow. This is a contest between an older desktop processor optimized for specific workloads and a newer mobile chip with a broader, more modern performance envelope.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victories for the Intel Core Ultra 5 135U come in compute-heavy workloads. In PassMark floating point math, the Intel part scores 41232 against the AMD's 24270, a delta of -41.1% from the AMD's perspective, meaning the Intel chip is roughly 70% faster in this test. The gap in physics processing is nearly as large, with the Intel part scoring 1122 versus the AMD's 695, a -38.1% delta. Prime number finding shows a -40.6% delta (64 vs 38), and extended instructions show a -32% delta (11144 vs 7581). These results indicate a substantial architectural efficiency advantage for the newer Intel design in mathematical and scientific workloads.

The Intel part also dominates in multi-threaded and single-threaded throughput. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel Core Ultra 5 135U scores 1634 versus the AMD's 1341, a -17.9% delta, and in single-core it scores 228 versus 163, a -28.5% delta. PassMark multithread results reinforce this, with the Intel part at 17359 and the AMD at 13893, a -20% delta. The single-thread PassMark score shows a -28.8% delta (3343 vs 2381). Integer math also favors Intel, with a score of 56864 versus 47377, a -16.7% delta. These figures show the Intel chip is not just faster in parallel tasks but also has a commanding lead in per-core performance, which is critical for responsiveness and lightly-threaded applications.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600X's wins are narrower but consistent in their categories. Its largest victory is in PassMark random string sorting, where it scores 22911 against Intel's 21620, a positive delta of 6%. It also wins in data encryption, scoring 13133 versus 12195, a 7.7% delta, and in data compression, scoring 198785 versus 196712, a marginal 1.1% delta. These three wins suggest that the AMD chip retains an edge in specific memory-bound or cryptographic operations, but the margins are small compared to the Intel chip's dominant leads. The data shows a clear pattern: Intel wins decisively in raw compute, while AMD wins modestly in a few specialized data-handling tasks.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 135U is the clear choice for any workload that depends on floating-point arithmetic, physics simulation, or extended instruction set efficiency. Its 41.1% lead in floating point math and 38.1% lead in physics make it suitable for scientific computing, 3D rendering, and engineering simulations. The 28.8% lead in single-threaded performance means it will handle everyday desktop tasks, web browsing, and office applications with more responsiveness. Its 20% lead in multithreaded PassMark scores also makes it the better option for general video editing, software compilation, and any task that can utilize its 12 cores and 14 threads effectively.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600X's wins point to a narrower but real set of advantages. Its 7.7% lead in data encryption suggests it may be preferable for certain security-related workloads that rely heavily on AES or similar cryptographic instructions. The 6% lead in random string sorting and 1.1% lead in data compression indicate it handles some data-processing pipelines efficiently, particularly those involving sorting or compression algorithms. For users running these specific tasks, the AMD part offers a measurable, albeit small, performance benefit. However, these wins are isolated; the overall data strongly favors the Intel chip for mixed or general-purpose usage.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600X is built on the Zen architecture, specifically the Zen+ (Pinnacle Ridge) generation, using a 12 nm process node from GlobalFoundries. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.25 GHz. Its thermal design power (TDP) is 95 W, and it uses the AMD Socket AM4. The Intel Core Ultra 5 135U, in contrast, is based on the Meteor Lake architecture, built on a 7 nm node by Intel, and features 12 cores and 14 threads. Its base clock is listed as 1600.00 MHz (1.6 GHz) and its boost clock is 4.40 GHz, with a dramatically lower TDP of 15 W. It uses the Intel BGA 2049 socket, indicating a soldered mobile design.

Cache configurations also differ significantly. The AMD chip has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part has a larger L2 cache per core, which likely contributes to its performance lead in many tests. Memory support differs as well: the AMD part uses DDR4 with dual-channel support and a memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s, while the Intel part supports DDR5 (depending on motherboard) with dual-channel and a much higher memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel chip also integrates graphics (Arc Xe-LPG 64EU), whereas the AMD chip has no integrated graphics. PCIe support is another differentiator, with AMD offering Gen 3 with 16 lanes and Intel offering Gen 4 with 12 lanes. Finally, the AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel one is locked.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 135U has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, which is higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 2600X's boost clock of 4.25 GHz.

Q: How much faster is the Intel chip in single-threaded performance?

A: In both the Cinebench R15 single-core test and the PassMark single-thread test, the Intel Core Ultra 5 135U leads by 28.5% and 28.8%, respectively, compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 2600X.

Q: In which workloads does the AMD Ryzen 5 2600X outperform the Intel chip?

A: The AMD chip wins in PassMark data compression (by 1.1%), data encryption (by 7.7%), and random string sorting (by 6%).

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2600X has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 135U has 12 cores and 14 threads.

Q: Do these processors have the same overall benchmark standing?

A: Yes, both are in the 76th percentile of all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are very close, with the AMD at 22823 and the Intel at 22618.

Q: Which processor supports faster memory?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 135U supports DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2600X supports DDR4 with a bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the AMD Ryzen 5 2600X and the Intel Core Ultra 5 135U:

• Series: 2000 series vs Core Ultra Series 1
• Cores: 6 vs 12
• Threads: 12 vs 14
• Base Clock: 3.60 GHz vs 1600.00 MHz
• Boost Clock: 4.25 GHz vs 4.40 GHz
• TDP: 95 W vs 15 W
• Socket: AMD Socket AM4 vs Intel BGA 2049
• Architecture: Zen vs Meteor Lake
• Codename: Zen vs Meteor Lake
• Generation: Ryzen 5 (Zen+ Pinnacle Ridge) vs Ultra 5 (Meteor Lake)
• Process Node: 12 nm vs 7 nm
• Foundry: GlobalFoundries vs Intel
• Transistors: 4,800 million vs not specified
• Die Size: 213 mm² vs not specified
• L1 Cache: 96 KB (per core) vs 112 KB (per core)
• L2 Cache: 512 KB (per core) vs 2 MB (per core)
• L3 Cache: 16 MB (shared) vs 12 MB (shared)
• Memory Support: DDR4 vs DDR5 (depends on motherboard)
• Memory Bandwidth: 46.9 GB/s vs 89.6 GB/s
• PCIe: Gen 3, 16 Lanes vs Gen 4, 12 Lanes
• Integrated Graphics: None vs Arc Xe-LPG 64EU
• Market Segment: Desktop vs Mobile
• Release Date: 2018-04-18 vs 2023-12-13
• Launch MSRP: $229 vs $332
• Multiplier Unlocked: Yes vs No
• Part Number: YD260XBCM6IAF / YD260XBCAFBOX vs SRN6C

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion for most users: the Intel Core Ultra 5 135U is the more capable processor. It wins 10 of 13 head-to-head benchmarks, and its victories are often substantial, with deltas of -40% or more in floating-point math, physics, and prime-number finding. It offers more cores, a higher boost clock, a larger L2 cache, faster memory support, and integrated graphics, all within a much lower TDP of 15 W. For anyone building a system for general productivity, content creation, or scientific workloads, the Intel chip's benchmark results make it the superior choice.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600X, however, is not without its niche. Its wins in data encryption, random string sorting, and data compression show that it holds a specific advantage in certain data-handling tasks. Its lower launch MSRP of $229, compared to Intel's $332, may also be a consideration for those focused on those specific workloads. But the overall benchmark data shows that the Intel part is faster in nearly every category, and the differences in its favor are often multiples of the AMD chip's advantages. The verdict is clear: the Intel Core Ultra 5 135U is the stronger performer, and the AMD Ryzen 5 2600X is only preferable for a narrow set of specialized tasks where its modest wins are relevant.