AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs AMD Ryzen 7 170 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a decisive outcome: the AMD Ryzen 7 170 outperforms the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U in every recorded test. The Ryzen 7 170 wins all 11 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the Ryzen 5 3501U records zero wins. The average benchmark score tells a similar story, with the Ryzen 7 170 scoring 43689 compared to the Ryzen 5 3501U's 14320, a difference of roughly 205%.

The Ryzen 7 170 sits in the 88th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Ryzen 5 3501U sits in the 69th percentile. This places the Ryzen 7 170 among higher-performing mobile processors, whereas the Ryzen 5 3501U occupies a more mid-range position. The Ryzen 7 170's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 (0% delta), the AMD Ryzen 7 260 (0.1% behind), and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 (0.6% ahead). In contrast, the Ryzen 5 3501U trades blows with the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 (0.1% behind), the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C (0.3% ahead), and the Intel Core 7 160UL (0.6% ahead).

For workloads that demand multi-threaded performance, the Ryzen 7 170 is the clear choice. The data shows its multithread score reaches 20760, nearly three times the Ryzen 5 3501U's 7071. The Ryzen 7 170 also leads substantially in single-thread performance with a score of 3128 versus 2136, a 46.4% advantage. Users who need sustained computational throughput for tasks such as data compression, encryption, or mathematical processing should select the Ryzen 7 170 based on these measurements.

The Ryzen 5 3501U, with its lower power envelope of 15W TDP compared to 35W, may appeal to scenarios where thermal and power constraints are paramount. However, the recorded benchmarks do not show any performance category where it wins. The choice between these two processors, strictly from the data, favors the Ryzen 7 170 unless the lower TDP of the Ryzen 5 3501U is a critical system requirement.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and manufacturing processes. The Ryzen 5 3501U uses the Picasso codename with Zen+ architecture, built on a 12nm process by GlobalFoundries. The Ryzen 7 170 uses the Rembrandt-R codename with Zen 3+ architecture, built on a 6nm process by TSMC. This process node difference, from 12nm to 6nm, contributes significantly to the performance gap observed in the benchmarks.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. The Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Ryzen 7 170 has 8 cores and 16 threads. This doubling of cores and quadrupling of threads directly explains the multithread performance advantage. The Ryzen 7 170 also has a larger shared L3 cache at 16MB versus 4MB, while per-core L1 cache is smaller (64KB versus 96KB per core) and L2 cache is identical at 512KB per core.

Memory support differs at the architectural level. The Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel configuration and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Ryzen 7 170 supports DDR5 memory with dual-channel configuration and 76.8 GB/s bandwidth, exactly double the bandwidth. The Ryzen 7 170 also supports ECC memory, while the Ryzen 5 3501U does not.

PCI Express capabilities also diverge. The Ryzen 5 3501U uses PCIe Gen 3, while the Ryzen 7 170 uses PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ as well: the Ryzen 5 3501U includes Radeon Vega 8, while the Ryzen 7 170 includes Radeon 680M. Socket compatibility is distinct, with the Ryzen 5 3501U using AMD Socket FP5 and the Ryzen 7 170 using AMD Socket FP7.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better multi-threaded performance?

A: The Ryzen 7 170 scores 20760 in the passmark_multithread test, while the Ryzen 5 3501U scores 7071. The Ryzen 7 170 leads by 65.9%.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the Ryzen 5 3501U wins?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the Ryzen 7 170 wins all 11 recorded benchmark tests. The Ryzen 5 3501U records zero wins.

Q: How do the cache sizes compare?

A: The Ryzen 5 3501U has 96KB L1 per core, 512KB L2 per core, and 4MB shared L3. The Ryzen 7 170 has 64KB L1 per core, 512KB L2 per core, and 16MB shared L3.

Q: What memory types do these processors support?

A: The Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 memory with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Ryzen 7 170 supports DDR5 memory with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: How do the processors rank among all CPUs?

A: The Ryzen 7 170 is in the 88th percentile, while the Ryzen 5 3501U is in the 69th percentile of all CPUs in the database.

Q: What are the TDP differences?

A: The Ryzen 5 3501U has a TDP of 15W, while the Ryzen 7 170 has a TDP of 35W. This makes the Ryzen 5 3501U potentially more suitable for power-constrained designs.

Specification Differences

The Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Ryzen 7 170 has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clock speeds differ: 2.10 GHz for the Ryzen 5 3501U versus 3.20 GHz for the Ryzen 7 170. Boost clocks also differ: 3.70 GHz versus 4.75 GHz.

The process node changes from 12nm (GlobalFoundries) on the Ryzen 5 3501U to 6nm (TSMC) on the Ryzen 7 170. The die size is identical at 210 mm², but transistor count is only listed for the Ryzen 5 3501U at 4,940 million.

Cache configurations differ as described above. Memory support changes from DDR4 to DDR5, with bandwidth increasing from 38.4 GB/s to 76.8 GB/s. ECC memory support appears only on the Ryzen 7 170. PCIe generation moves from Gen 3 to Gen 4, with the Ryzen 7 170 specifying 20 lanes (CPU only).

Integrated graphics differ: Radeon Vega 8 on the Ryzen 5 3501U versus Radeon 680M on the Ryzen 7 170. Socket types change from FP5 to FP7. The production status for both is Active, but release dates differ: the Ryzen 5 3501U has a release date of 2026-05-31, while the Ryzen 7 170 has a release date of 2025-09-30. Part numbers differ as YM3501C4T4MFG for the Ryzen 5 3501U and 100-000000989 for the Ryzen 7 170.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest performance gap appears in the passmark_extended_instructions test. The Ryzen 7 170 scores 18107, while the Ryzen 5 3501U scores 3274, a delta of 81.9% in favor of the Ryzen 7 170. This test likely reflects the newer Zen 3+ architecture's improved instruction handling.

The passmark_floating_point_math test shows the Ryzen 7 170 scoring 44979 versus 12707, a 71.7% advantage. Integer math shows a similar pattern: 79738 versus 26321, a 67% delta. Data compression results show 265920 versus 87380, a 67.1% gap. Data encryption scores are 16078 versus 5580, a 65.3% difference.

The multithread test shows 20760 for the Ryzen 7 170 versus 7071 for the Ryzen 5 3501U, a 65.9% delta. Random string sorting scores 27804 versus 10414, a 62.5% gap. The find prime numbers test shows 49 versus 21, a 57.1% advantage for the Ryzen 7 170.

The physics test has the smallest relative gap: 890 versus 483, a 45.7% delta. Single-thread performance shows 3128 versus 2136, a 31.7% gap. Both single-thread and singlethread tests record identical scores for each processor, confirming consistency in the measurements.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 7 170 wins across every benchmark category in the database. The largest advantages appear in extended instructions (81.9% ahead), floating-point math (71.7% ahead), and integer math (67% ahead). These results indicate that the Ryzen 7 170 delivers superior performance for computationally intensive workloads, including scientific calculations, data processing, and encryption tasks.

The Ryzen 7 170's multithread score of 20760 versus 7071 suggests it handles parallel workloads substantially better. This includes tasks like video rendering, compilation, and server-style workloads that benefit from 8 cores and 16 threads. The data compression score of 265920 versus 87380 indicates faster file archiving and compression operations.

The Ryzen 5 3501U, despite losing all benchmarks, maintains relevance in one area: power consumption. Its 15W TDP versus the 35W TDP of the Ryzen 7 170 means it draws less power, which could be advantageous in fanless designs or battery-constrained mobile devices. However, the performance data does not show any computational task where it leads.

The Ryzen 7 170's single-thread score of 3128 versus 2136 indicates that even for lightly threaded applications, it delivers a 46.4% advantage. This suggests the Ryzen 5 3501U would struggle to match the responsiveness of the Ryzen 7 170 in everyday tasks like web browsing or office applications, despite being designed for lower-power environments.

The percentile rankings reinforce this distribution: the Ryzen 7 170 at the 88th percentile places it among the top processors in the database, while the Ryzen 5 3501U at the 69th percentile sits closer to the median. The Ryzen 7 170's nearest rivals, including the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 and AMD Ryzen 7 260, have nearly identical average scores, confirming its position in a high-performance cluster. The Ryzen 5 3501U's rivals, such as the Intel Core i5-10400F, are within 1% of its score, placing it in a more competitive but lower-performing tier.