AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs AMD Ryzen 5 9500F Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 9500F records an average benchmark score of 52873, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U records 14320. The 9500F sits at the 91st percentile of all CPUs, whereas the 3501U sits at the 69th percentile.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two in any single test?

A: The largest delta appears in the PassMark find prime numbers test. The 9500F scores 220 versus the 3501U's 21, a delta of -90.5% from the perspective of the 3501U.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Ryzen 5 9500F has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: No. The Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 memory, while the Ryzen 5 9500F supports DDR5 memory. Their memory bandwidths also differ: 38.4 GB/s for the 3501U versus 89.6 GB/s for the 9500F.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The Ryzen 5 3501U includes Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics. The Ryzen 5 9500F has no integrated graphics (listed as N/A).

Q: What are the release dates for these two chips?

A: The Ryzen 5 3501U was released on May 31, 2026. The Ryzen 5 9500F was released on September 7, 2025.

Architecture Differences

The two processors belong to entirely different eras of AMD design. The Ryzen 5 3501U is a 3000 series mobile chip built on the Picasso codename, using the Zen+ microarchitecture at a 12 nm process node from GlobalFoundries. It integrates 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Ryzen 5 9500F, by contrast, is a 9000 series desktop part with the Granite Ridge codename, built on Zen 5 at a 4 nm node from TSMC. That chip packs 8,315 million transistors into a much smaller 70.6 mm² die.

The core configuration diverges sharply. The 3501U offers 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. The 9500F offers 6 cores and 12 threads, doubling the thread count per core. Clock speeds reflect the different market positions: the 3501U runs at a 2.10 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost, while the 9500F runs at 3.80 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The 3501U allocates 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The 9500F uses 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. The L3 advantage is substantial, an 8x difference in shared cache capacity.

Memory support is another generational split. The 3501U uses DDR4 on a dual-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC support. The 9500F uses DDR5 on a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support enabled. PCIe connectivity likewise advances: the 3501U is limited to Gen 3, while the 9500F supports Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only).

The 3501U is a mobile part on AMD Socket FP5 with a 15 W TDP and locked multiplier. The 9500F is a desktop part on AMD Socket AM5 with a 65 W TDP and an unlocked multiplier. The 9500F carries a launch MSRP of $219; the 3501U has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

The Verdict

The benchmark data paints a clear picture: the Ryzen 5 9500F wins all 11 head-to-head tests, with no wins recorded for the 3501U. The average score gap is substantial, 52873 versus 14320, and the percentile ranking difference (91st versus 69th) confirms the 9500F sits in a much higher performance tier.

For users selecting a processor strictly on recorded data, the 9500F is the choice for any compute-heavy workload. Its 6-core, 12-thread configuration, higher clocks, larger L3 cache, and DDR5 support all contribute to its dominance. The single-thread score of 4258 is nearly double the 3501U's 2136, which matters for lightly threaded applications.

The 3501U targets a different use case entirely. Its 15 W TDP, integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics, and mobile socket indicate a low-power laptop-oriented design. The data shows it trails in every measured metric, but it also draws far less power and includes graphics output without a discrete GPU. Users who need an all-in-one mobile solution with modest performance would look at the 3501U. Users who need maximum throughput in a desktop system, and who already have a discrete GPU, would select the 9500F.

The 9500F's nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 (delta -0.1%), Intel Xeon 634 (delta -0.2%), AMD EPYC 7313P (delta -0.6%), and AMD Ryzen 9 7900X (delta -0.8%). These are all within 1% of the 9500F's average score, meaning it competes with server-class and high-end desktop parts. The 3501U's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 (delta -0.1%), AMD Ryzen 3 7320C (delta 0.3%), Intel Core 7 160UL (delta 0.6%), and Intel Core i5-10400F (delta 1%), a much lower performance tier.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 3501U | AMD Ryzen 5 9500F |

|---|---|---|

| Series | 3000 series | 9000 series |

| Cores | 4 | 6 |

| Threads | 4 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP5 | AMD Socket AM5 |

| Architecture | Zen+ (Picasso) | Zen 5 (Granite Ridge) |

| Process Node | 12 nm | 4 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | TSMC |

| Transistors | 4,940 million | 8,315 million |

| Die Size | 210 mm² | 70.6 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 96 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 32 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 5, 24 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Vega 8 | N/A |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2026-05-31 | 2025-09-07 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $219 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | YM3501C4T4MFG | 100-000001406 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Ryzen 5 9500F wins every recorded head-to-head benchmark, but the margins vary significantly across test types. The smallest gap is in single-thread performance, where the 9500F scores 4258 against the 3501U's 2136, a delta of -49.8%. That is still a near-doubling of throughput, which indicates the architectural and clock speed advantages matter even for single-threaded code.

The largest gap appears in the find prime numbers test. The 9500F scores 220, while the 3501U scores 21, a delta of -90.5%. This test is highly sensitive to integer throughput and cache behavior, and the 9500F's Zen 5 core design with larger L3 cache delivers a commanding lead.

Extended instructions show another massive divergence. The 9500F scores 26370 versus the 3501U's 3274, a delta of -87.6%. This suggests the 9500F has substantially better support for advanced instruction sets, likely benefiting from the newer Zen 5 architecture.

Data compression tests favor the 9500F at 325678 versus 87380, a delta of -73.2%. Floating point math scores 56570 versus 12707, a delta of -77.5%. Integer math scores 84198 versus 26321, a delta of -68.7%. Multithread scores 28312 versus 7071, a delta of -75%. Physics scores 1851 versus 483, a delta of -73.9%. Random string sorting scores 34174 versus 10414, a delta of -69.5%. Data encryption scores 15716 versus 5580, a delta of -64.5%.

The pattern is consistent: the 9500F leads by roughly 50% to 90% depending on the workload. The single-thread gap is the smallest, which makes sense given that both chips have relatively high boost clocks for their respective generations. The gap widens in tests that leverage multiple cores, cache capacity, and newer instruction sets, all areas where the 9500F has clear hardware advantages.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 5 9500F wins in every recorded benchmark category, so the use-case split comes down to factors outside the raw performance scores.

The 9500F is the clear choice for desktop workloads that demand high throughput. Its 6 cores and 12 threads handle multithreaded applications efficiently, as shown by the multithread score of 28312 versus 7071. The large 32 MB L3 cache benefits workloads with repeated data access patterns, and the DDR5 memory support with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth reduces memory bottlenecks. The unlocked multiplier also allows overclocking, which the 3501U does not support.

The 3501U occupies a niche that the 9500F cannot fill: low-power mobile computing. Its 15 W TDP is a fraction of the 9500F's 65 W, making it suitable for thin laptops where thermal and battery constraints dominate. The integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics means the 3501U can output video without a discrete GPU, which the 9500F cannot do. For users who need a complete system on a single chip with minimal power draw, the 3501U is the only option between the two.

The benchmark data shows the 9500F outperforms the 3501U by 49.8% to 90.5% across all measured tests. But the 3501U's lower TDP, integrated graphics, and mobile socket address a different market segment. The recorded data does not include power efficiency metrics or graphics benchmarks, so the 3501U's advantages in those areas are qualitative. Users choosing between these two processors are making a fundamental platform decision: mobile versus desktop, integrated versus discrete graphics, low power versus high performance.