AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs AMD Ryzen 7 250 Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 7 250 wins every single head-to-head benchmark against the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U, 11 wins to 0. The Ryzen 7 250 delivers an average benchmark score of 38,221 compared to 14,320 for the Ryzen 5 3501U, placing it at the 86th percentile of all CPUs versus the 69th percentile for the older part. The Ryzen 7 250 sits alongside Intel Core Ultra 5 245T and Intel Core i5-13600HX in the database's nearest rivals, while the Ryzen 5 3501U matches the performance class of the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 and Intel Core i5-10400F. For any workload that stresses multiple cores, the Ryzen 7 250 is the clear choice. The Ryzen 5 3501U remains relevant only for power-constrained, single-thread-light scenarios, but even there it trails by 41.9% in single-thread performance.

The verdict from the data is simple: choose the Ryzen 7 250 for anything beyond basic productivity, and choose the Ryzen 5 3501U only if the 15-watt TDP envelope is a hard requirement and the workload is minimal.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design generations and manufacturing nodes. The Ryzen 5 3501U uses the Picasso architecture, built on Zen+, and is fabricated on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 4,940 million transistors into a 210 mm² die. The Ryzen 7 250 uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC, with 25,000 million transistors in a 178 mm² die. The node shrink and transistor count increase are substantial, and they enable the Ryzen 7 250 to deliver far higher performance per watt in the recorded benchmarks.

Core counts differ sharply. The Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. The Ryzen 7 250 has 8 cores and 16 threads, doubling both core and thread counts. The Ryzen 7 250 also runs at higher clocks: a 3.30 GHz base and 5.10 GHz boost, versus 2.10 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost for the Ryzen 5 3501U. Cache layouts also diverge. The Ryzen 5 3501U has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The Ryzen 7 250 uses 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The larger shared L3 and per-core L2 give the Ryzen 7 250 a clear advantage in data reuse and multi-threaded scaling.

Memory support also differs. The Ryzen 5 3501U uses DDR4 with dual-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Ryzen 7 250 uses DDR5 with dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, a 2.33x improvement. PCIe generation also advances: Gen 3 on the older chip versus Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only) on the newer one. The integrated graphics differ as well: Radeon Vega 8 on the Ryzen 5 3501U versus Radeon 780M on the Ryzen 7 250. Sockets are not shared: the Ryzen 5 3501U uses AMD Socket FP5, while the Ryzen 7 250 uses AMD Socket FP8. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both are mobile market segments with Active production status. Release dates in the database show the Ryzen 5 3501U listed for 2026-05-31 and the Ryzen 7 250 for 2025-01-05, which suggests the older architecture was still listed for production later, but the benchmark data confirms the newer chip is far faster.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Ryzen 7 250 dominates every recorded PassMark test. The largest delta comes in extended instructions, where the Ryzen 7 250 scores 21,613 versus 3,274 for the Ryzen 5 3501U, a 84.9% difference. That test measures SIMD and specialized instruction throughput, and the gap reflects both the newer Zen 4 execution engine and the doubled core count.

Floating-point math shows a 76.2% advantage: 53,285 versus 12,707. Integer math follows at 71.3%: 91,565 versus 26,321. Multithread performance is 71.8% higher, with scores of 25,089 versus 7,071. Data compression results show 300,708 versus 87,380, a 70.9% gap. Random string sorting favors the Ryzen 7 250 by 71%: 35,861 versus 10,414. Data encryption shows a 68.4% difference: 17,661 versus 5,580. Prime number finding is 71.2% apart: 73 versus 21. Physics simulation is the smallest gap among multi-threaded tests at 57.9%, with 1,147 versus 483.

Single-thread performance is the closest contest, but the Ryzen 7 250 still wins by 41.9%, scoring 3,678 versus 2,136. That single-thread advantage matters because it shows the Ryzen 7 250 is not merely scaling with cores; its per-core architecture is also significantly faster. The Ryzen 5 3501U has no benchmark wins in any category. The database records 11 wins for the Ryzen 7 250 and 0 for the Ryzen 5 3501U.

The Ryzen 7 250 also has Cinebench scores in the database, which the Ryzen 5 3501U lacks: Cinebench R23 multicore 14,676, R23 single-core 1,715, R15 multicore 2,302, and R15 single-core 269. These are not directly comparable to the Ryzen 5 3501U because that chip has no Cinebench records, but they contextualize the Ryzen 7 250's position relative to its PassMark results.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Ryzen 7 250 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the single-thread performance difference?

A: The Ryzen 7 250 scores 3,678 in PassMark single-thread, which is 41.9% higher than the Ryzen 5 3501U's 2,136.

Q: Which chip has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Ryzen 7 250 has 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Do they support the same memory type?

A: No. The Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Ryzen 7 250 supports DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The Ryzen 5 3501U has a 15-watt TDP. The Ryzen 7 250 has a 28-watt TDP.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Ryzen 7 250 boosts to 5.10 GHz. The Ryzen 5 3501U boosts to 3.70 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 7 250 wins in every measured category, so the use-case split is about degree of advantage rather than distinct victories. Its biggest edges are in extended instructions (84.9% ahead), floating-point math (76.2% ahead), and multithread workloads (71.8% ahead). These categories correspond to scientific computing, financial modeling, video encoding, and other parallel workloads. The 8-core, 16-thread configuration with 16 MB L3 and DDR5 bandwidth makes it suitable for heavy productivity, content creation, and multi-tasking environments.

The Ryzen 5 3501U has no benchmark wins, but its 15-watt TDP is the only meaningful differentiator. For fanless or ultra-thin designs where thermal limits are strict, the lower power draw may be attractive. The 4-core, 4-thread configuration with DDR4 support and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth is adequate for basic office tasks, web browsing, and light document editing. Its integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics and 12 nm process are older, but they remain functional for non-demanding visual workloads.

The physics test shows the smallest gap at 57.9%, which may indicate that the Ryzen 5 3501U's 4 cores are less disadvantaged in that particular simulation pattern. However, the Ryzen 7 250 still more than doubles the score. Single-thread performance is also the closest relative gap, but at 41.9% it is still a decisive margin.

For users with workloads that can use 16 threads, the Ryzen 7 250 is the only rational choice. For users who cannot accommodate a 28-watt TDP and need only light sequential tasks, the Ryzen 5 3501U remains a functional, lower-power alternative, though the data shows it is far slower in every recorded test.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification category in the database.

• Cores: 4 (Ryzen 5 3501U) vs 8 (Ryzen 7 250)
• Threads: 4 vs 16
• Base clock: 2.10 GHz vs 3.30 GHz
• Boost clock: 3.70 GHz vs 5.10 GHz
• TDP: 15 W vs 28 W
• Socket: AMD Socket FP5 vs AMD Socket FP8
• Codename: Picasso vs Hawk Point
• Architecture: Zen+ (Picasso) vs Zen 4
• Process node: 12 nm (GlobalFoundries) vs 4 nm (TSMC)
• Transistors: 4,940 million vs 25,000 million
• Die size: 210 mm² vs 178 mm²
• L1 cache: 96 KB per core vs 64 KB per core
• L2 cache: 512 KB per core vs 1 MB per core
• L3 cache: 4 MB shared vs 16 MB shared
• Memory support: DDR4 vs DDR5
• Memory bandwidth: 38.4 GB/s vs 89.6 GB/s
• PCIe: Gen 3 vs Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only)
• Integrated graphics: Radeon Vega 8 vs Radeon 780M
• Part number: YM3501C4T4MFG vs 100-000001722
• Release date: 2026-05-31 vs 2025-01-05

Both are mobile parts, Active production status, no ECC memory support, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Ryzen 7 250 uses a smaller die despite packing over five times as many transistors, which is a direct result of the 4 nm TSMC process. The Ryzen 5 3501U has larger L1 per core but smaller L2 and L3, a trade-off that does not compensate for the older architecture's lower clock speeds and fewer threads. The database lists no launch MSRP for either processor.