AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs AMD Ryzen Embedded 8840U Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data presents a clear performance hierarchy between these two AMD mobile processors. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U, a 4-core/4-thread Picasso part, holds an average benchmark score of 14320 and sits at the 69th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8840U, an 8-core/16-thread Hawk Point part, has no recorded benchmark scores in the database, leaving its average score at 0 and its percentile at 50. Direct head-to-head measurements are absent, so the comparison relies on the architectural and specification deltas between the two.

The Ryzen 5 3501U is the only one of the two with measurable results. Its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 (average score 14336, delta -0.1%), the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C (average score 14277, delta +0.3%), the Intel Core 7 160UL (average score 14232, delta +0.6%), and the Intel Core i5-10400F (average score 14185, delta +1.0%). This places the 3501U within a tight competitive cluster, marginally ahead of three of those four parts and essentially tied with the V2546.

For users choosing strictly from the available data, the Ryzen 5 3501U is the only option with demonstrable benchmark output. The Ryzen Embedded 8840U offers a substantially larger core and thread configuration, a higher clock ceiling, newer architecture, and more advanced memory and PCIe support, but the database contains no measurements to confirm how those specifications translate into actual workload performance. The 3501U is the safe choice for anyone relying on verified results; the 8840U is a specification-driven selection whose performance remains unquantified in this dataset.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and design philosophies. The Ryzen 5 3501U uses the Picasso codename, built on the Zen+ architecture, and is manufactured on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It integrates 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Ryzen Embedded 8840U uses the Hawk Point codename, built on the Zen 4 architecture, and is manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It integrates 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. The 8840U packs roughly five times the transistor count into a smaller physical area, reflecting the denser process node.

Core and cache layouts differ significantly. The 3501U provides 4 cores and 4 threads, with 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The 8840U provides 8 cores and 16 threads, with 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The 8840U doubles the core count, quadruples the thread count, quadruples the shared L3, and doubles the per-core L2, while slightly reducing per-core L1 capacity.

Memory architecture also diverges. The 3501U supports DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth and no ECC support. The 8840U supports DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth and ECC memory enabled. That bandwidth figure is more than double the older part. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the 3501U carries Gen 3, while the 8840U carries Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics move from Radeon Vega 8 on the 3501U to Radeon 780M on the 8840U.

The 3501U fits the AMD Socket FP5, while the 8840U uses AMD Socket FP8. Both parts have locked multipliers and are listed as Active in production status. The 3501U has a release date of 2026-05-31 and a known part number (YM3501C4T4MFG); the 8840U has a release date of 2024-04-01 and its part number is unknown in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8840U boosts to 5.10 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U boosts to 3.70 GHz. The 8840U also has a higher base clock at 3.30 GHz versus 2.10 GHz.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Ryzen Embedded 8840U has 8 cores and 16 threads, doubling the core count and quadrupling the thread count.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: The Ryzen Embedded 8840U supports ECC memory. The Ryzen 5 3501U does not.

Q: What is the difference in process node and foundry?

A: The Ryzen 5 3501U uses a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Ryzen Embedded 8840U uses a 4 nm process at TSMC.

Q: Which processor has a higher benchmark percentile?

A: The Ryzen 5 3501U sits at the 69th percentile of all CPUs, while the Ryzen Embedded 8840U is recorded at the 50th percentile. However, the 8840U has no individual benchmark scores in the database, so its percentile is based on an average score of 0.

Q: How does L3 cache compare?

A: The Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen Embedded 8840U has 16 MB of shared L3 cache, four times the amount.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors:

• Cores: 4 (3501U) vs 8 (8840U)
• Threads: 4 (3501U) vs 16 (8840U)
• Base Clock: 2.10 GHz (3501U) vs 3.30 GHz (8840U)
• Boost Clock: 3.70 GHz (3501U) vs 5.10 GHz (8840U)
• TDP: 15 W (3501U) vs 28 W (8840U)
• Socket: AMD Socket FP5 (3501U) vs AMD Socket FP8 (8840U)
• Architecture: Zen+ (3501U) vs Zen 4 (8840U)
• Codename: Picasso (3501U) vs Hawk Point (8840U)
• Process Node: 12 nm (3501U) vs 4 nm (8840U)
• Foundry: GlobalFoundries (3501U) vs TSMC (8840U)
• Transistors: 4,940 million (3501U) vs 25,000 million (8840U)
• Die Size: 210 mm² (3501U) vs 178 mm² (8840U)
• L1 Cache: 96 KB per core (3501U) vs 64 KB per core (8840U)
• L2 Cache: 512 KB per core (3501U) vs 1 MB per core (8840U)
• L3 Cache: 4 MB shared (3501U) vs 16 MB shared (8840U)
• Memory Support: DDR4 (3501U) vs DDR5 (8840U)
• Memory Bandwidth: 38.4 GB/s (3501U) vs 89.6 GB/s (8840U)
• ECC Memory: false (3501U) vs true (8840U)
• PCIe: Gen 3 (3501U) vs Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) (8840U)
• Integrated Graphics: Radeon Vega 8 (3501U) vs Radeon 780M (8840U)
• Release Date: 2026-05-31 (3501U) vs 2024-04-01 (8840U)
• Part Number: YM3501C4T4MFG (3501U) vs unknown (8840U)

Shared specifications include manufacturer (AMD), dual-channel memory bus, mobile market segment, Active production status, and locked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark entries between these two processors, and the Ryzen Embedded 8840U has zero recorded benchmark scores across all tests. As a result, a direct numerical comparison across workloads is not possible from the recorded data. The only benchmark results available belong to the Ryzen 5 3501U.

For the 3501U, the individual PassMark results are as follows: data compression scores 87380, data encryption scores 5580, extended instructions scores 3274, find prime numbers scores 21, floating point math scores 12707, integer math scores 26321, multithread scores 7071, physics scores 483, random string sorting scores 10414, and single thread scores 2136. The average benchmark score is 14320.

The 3501U's nearest rival comparisons show a tight grouping. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 scores 14336, which is 0.1% above the 3501U. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320C scores 14277, which is 0.3% below. The Intel Core 7 160UL scores 14232, which is 0.6% below. The Intel Core i5-10400F scores 14185, which is 1.0% below. The 3501U therefore sits within a 1.1 percentage point band of all four rivals, indicating that its average performance is closely matched with a wide range of competing parts.

Because the 8840U lacks any recorded measurements, the data cannot confirm whether its architectural advantages translate into higher scores. The specification sheet suggests a large theoretical margin: 8 cores versus 4, 16 threads versus 4, a 5.10 GHz boost versus 3.70 GHz, 16 MB of L3 versus 4 MB, and 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth versus 38.4 GB/s. Yet without benchmark entries, those figures remain projections rather than verified results. The database records wins as 0 for both sides, reflecting the absence of direct comparison data. Any assertion about the 8840U's real-world performance would require measurements that are not present in this dataset.