AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs AMD Ryzen Embedded 9700X Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains a full set of PassMark measurements for the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9700X has no recorded benchmark scores at this time. This makes a direct numerical comparison impossible for most workloads, but the available data for the 3501U establishes a baseline against which the 9700X’s architecture can be assessed qualitatively.

The Ryzen 5 3501U achieves an average benchmark score of 14,320 across its recorded tests. Its strongest results come in data compression, where it scores 87,380, and integer math, where it reaches 26,321. Floating point math follows at 12,707, and random string sorting hits 10,414. The single-thread score sits at 2,136, while the multithread score is 7,071. The 3501U also records 5,580 in data encryption, 3,274 in extended instructions, and 483 in physics. Its find prime numbers score is 21.

The 3501U sits at the 69th percentile among all CPUs in the database. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546, which scores 14,336 and trails the 3501U by 0.1%, and the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C, which scores 14,277 and trails by 0.3%. The Intel Core 7 160UL scores 14,232, a 0.6% deficit, and the Intel Core i5-10400F scores 14,185, a 1% deficit. These margins are narrow, indicating that the 3501U performs essentially on par with its closest competitors in aggregate score, though individual workloads could shift the balance.

Since the Ryzen Embedded 9700X has no benchmark entries in the database, there are no wins recorded for either processor in head-to-head testing. The 9700X’s specifications, however, suggest a substantial performance advantage in workloads that scale with core count and clock speed. It offers 8 cores and 16 threads versus 4 cores and 4 threads for the 3501U, and its boost clock reaches 5.50 GHz compared to 3.70 GHz. The base clock of 3.80 GHz also exceeds the 3501U’s 2.10 GHz base. For multi-threaded tasks, the 9700X has the structural advantage of double the cores and four times the threads, though the actual scores remain unrecorded.

The 3501U’s multithread score of 7,071 reflects its 4-core, 4-thread configuration. A processor with 8 cores and 16 threads at higher clock speeds would be expected to deliver significantly higher results in the same test, but the database does not yet contain the measurement to confirm this. Single-thread performance is similarly projected to favor the 9700X given its 5.50 GHz boost clock, which is 1.80 GHz higher than the 3501U’s boost, though again, no score exists for verification.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and use distinct manufacturing processes. The Ryzen 5 3501U is built on the 12 nm node at GlobalFoundries, while the Ryzen Embedded 9700X uses the 4 nm node at TSMC. The 3501U is based on the Picasso codename, part of the Zen+ (Picasso) generation, whereas the 9700X uses the Granite Ridge codename from the Zen 5 (Granite Ridge) generation. This generational gap spans several architecture revisions, with Zen 5 representing a much newer design than Zen+.

Transistor counts differ significantly. The 3501U packs 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, while the 9700X contains 8,315 million transistors on a much smaller 70.6 mm² die. The smaller die size with a higher transistor count reflects the denser 4 nm process. The 3501U’s larger die and older process node indicate a less efficient physical design, while the 9700X benefits from the newer manufacturing technology.

Cache hierarchies are also notably different. The 3501U provides 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The 9700X offers 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. While the per-core L1 is smaller on the 9700X, the L2 is double the size per core, and the L3 cache is eight times larger at 32 MB versus 4 MB. This larger shared cache can improve performance in workloads that reuse data across cores.

Memory support is another dividing line. The 3501U uses DDR4 memory with dual-channel access and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The 9700X uses DDR5 with dual-channel access and a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, which is more than double the 3501U’s bandwidth. The 9700X also supports ECC memory, while the 3501U does not. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the 3501U is limited to Gen 3, while the 9700X supports Gen 5 with 24 lanes on the CPU.

Integrated graphics are present on both chips. The 3501U includes Radeon Vega 8, while the 9700X includes Radeon Graphics. The database does not list specific graphics performance scores for either, so any comparison beyond their presence is unsupported by the recorded data.

Power characteristics diverge sharply. The 3501U has a TDP of 15 watts, reflecting its mobile design, while the 9700X has a TDP of 65 watts, typical of a desktop-class embedded processor. The 3501U is socketed on AMD Socket FP5, whereas the 9700X uses AMD Socket AM5. The 9700X has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the 3501U does not. The 3501U is classified as a mobile part, while the 9700X is classified as a desktop part.

The 9700X’s release date is recorded as October 2025, while the 3501U’s release date is listed as May 2026. The 3501U’s later release date with an older architecture is notable, though both processors remain in active production according to the database.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split in intended use cases. The Ryzen 5 3501U is a low-power mobile processor with a 15-watt TDP, designed for thin-and-light laptops where efficiency matters more than raw performance. Its benchmark scores, anchored by an average of 14,320 and a 69th percentile ranking, show it competes closely with the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546, the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C, the Intel Core 7 160UL, and the Intel Core i5-10400F, all within a 1% margin. The 3501U delivers competent single-thread performance at 2,136 and a multithread score of 7,071 that reflects its modest 4-core, 4-thread configuration.

The Ryzen Embedded 9700X is a different class of processor entirely. With 8 cores, 16 threads, a 5.50 GHz boost clock, 32 MB of L3 cache, DDR5 memory support, and PCIe Gen 5, it is positioned for embedded workloads that demand high throughput. Its 65-watt TDP and unlocked multiplier suggest it is meant for systems with adequate cooling and power delivery, not battery-constrained mobile devices. The absence of benchmark scores in the database means its exact performance cannot be stated, but the architectural advantages are evident from the specification differences.

Who should pick which? From the data alone, the 3501U is the appropriate choice for mobile systems where the 15-watt TDP and Socket FP5 form factor are required, and where the recorded performance is sufficient. The 9700X is the appropriate choice for embedded desktop applications that can accommodate a 65-watt TDP and AM5 socket, and that benefit from ECC memory, DDR5 bandwidth, and the larger cache. The 9700X’s 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth versus 38.4 GB/s for the 3501U, and its 32 MB L3 versus 4 MB, indicate a substantial advantage in memory-intensive and cache-sensitive workloads. The 3501U’s advantage lies in its lower power draw and the fact that its performance is already measured and verified in the database.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U and the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9700X:

• Series: 3000 series vs. 9000 series
• Cores: 4 vs. 8
• Threads: 4 vs. 16
• Base Clock: 2.10 GHz vs. 3.80 GHz
• Boost Clock: 3.70 GHz vs. 5.50 GHz
• TDP: 15 W vs. 65 W
• Socket: AMD Socket FP5 vs. AMD Socket AM5
• Codename: Picasso vs. Granite Ridge
• Generation: Ryzen 5 (Zen+ (Picasso)) vs. Ryzen Embedded (Zen 5 (Granite Ridge))
• Process Node: 12 nm vs. 4 nm
• Foundry: GlobalFoundries vs. TSMC
• Transistors: 4,940 million vs. 8,315 million
• Die Size: 210 mm² vs. 70.6 mm²
• L1 Cache (per core): 96 KB vs. 80 KB
• L2 Cache (per core): 512 KB vs. 1 MB
• L3 Cache (shared): 4 MB vs. 32 MB
• Memory Support: DDR4 vs. DDR5
• Memory Bandwidth: 38.4 GB/s vs. 89.6 GB/s
• ECC Memory: false vs. true
• PCIe: Gen 3 vs. Gen 5, 24 Lanes (CPU only)
• Integrated Graphics: Radeon Vega 8 vs. Radeon Graphics
• Market Segment: Mobile vs. Desktop
• Release Date: May 2026 vs. October 2025
• Multiplier Unlocked: false vs. true
• Part Number: YM3501C4T4MFG vs. 100-000001404E
• Benchmark Scores: Recorded vs. None
• Percentile vs. All CPUs: 69 vs. 50 (the latter reflects the absence of benchmark data, not measured performance)
• Average Benchmark Score: 14,320 vs. 0 (no data)

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9700X has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: How does the memory bandwidth compare between the two?

A: The Ryzen Embedded 9700X supports DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Does the Ryzen 5 3501U support ECC memory?

A: No, the 3501U does not support ECC memory. The Ryzen Embedded 9700X does support ECC memory.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two processors?

A: The Ryzen 5 3501U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Ryzen Embedded 9700X has a TDP of 65 watts.

Q: Are there any benchmark scores recorded for the Ryzen Embedded 9700X?

A: No, the database currently has no benchmark entries for the Ryzen Embedded 9700X. The Ryzen 5 3501U has a full set of PassMark scores, averaging 14,320.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Ryzen Embedded 9700X has 32 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to 4 MB of shared L3 cache for the Ryzen 5 3501U.