CPU Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U and Intel Core 7 160UL are both 15W processors that land in the same performance tier, but the benchmark data shows a decisive split in capability. The Intel Core 7 160UL wins every single head-to-head benchmark in the database, making the comparison less about parity and more about identifying where the AMD part remains viable. The Ryzen 5 3501U posts an average benchmark score of 14320, while the Intel Core 7 160UL scores 14232, a difference of just 0.6% in favor of the AMD chip. Despite this near-identical overall average, the per-test results reveal that the Intel part is overwhelmingly faster in compute-heavy workloads, while the AMD chip's competitive average score comes from a different distribution of results.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 7 160UL is the clear winner in every measurable category, but the margins vary significantly by workload type. The largest advantage comes in floating-point math, where the Intel part scores 25670 versus the AMD's 12707, a 50.5% lead. Integer math shows a similar pattern, with Intel at 47515 and AMD at 26321, a 44.6% gap. These results indicate the Intel chip is the superior choice for any task that relies on raw arithmetic throughput, such as scientific computing, financial modeling, or content creation that uses math-heavy filters.

In single-threaded performance, the Intel Core 7 160UL achieves a score of 3391, which is 37% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U's 2136. This advantage carries over to the extended instructions test, where Intel scores 5832 versus AMD's 3274, a 43.9% difference. For users running applications that cannot utilize many cores, the Intel part is clearly the better option. The AMD chip's only claim to a "win" is its average benchmark score of 14320, which edges out Intel's 14232, but this is a statistical artifact of the AMD part having fewer low-scoring tests, not a performance advantage.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is a 4-core, 4-thread part based on the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Picasso, built on a 12nm process at GlobalFoundries. It has no hyperthreading, meaning each core handles a single thread. The Intel Core 7 160UL, by contrast, is a 10-core, 12-thread part using the Raptor Lake architecture, codenamed Raptor Lake-PS, built on a 10nm process at Intel. The Intel chip uses a hybrid design with performance and efficiency cores, which explains why it has more threads than cores.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The AMD part has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 per core, but 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. This gives Intel a threefold advantage in total L3 cache, which helps with larger working sets and data reuse. The memory support also differs: AMD supports DDR4 only with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, though the bandwidth figure is not listed. The integrated graphics differ as well, with AMD using Radeon Vega 8 and Intel using Iris Xe Graphics 96EU. The Intel chip also uses PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes on the CPU, while the AMD part uses PCIe Gen 3.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The PassMark suite provides a comprehensive look at where the Intel Core 7 160UL dominates. In the multithread test, Intel scores 11043 versus AMD's 7071, a 36% lead. This is a direct consequence of the Intel chip having 10 cores and 12 threads compared to the AMD's 4 cores and 4 threads. The physics test shows a 41% gap, with Intel at 819 and AMD at 483, reinforcing that the Intel part handles complex simulations better.

Data compression favors Intel at 108953 versus 87380, a 19.8% advantage, while data encryption shows a 21.9% gap with Intel at 7146 and AMD at 5580. The most dramatic difference is in the find prime numbers test, where Intel scores 50 versus AMD's 21, a 58% lead. This test is highly sensitive to single-thread performance and branch prediction, areas where the Raptor Lake architecture excels. Random string sorting is the closest benchmark, with Intel at 11843 and AMD at 10414, a 12.1% difference, but Intel still wins. The single-thread test shows Intel at 3391 versus 2136, a 37% gap, which aligns with the extended instructions result of 5832 versus 3274.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are the most obvious specification split. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core 7 160UL has 10 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks differ slightly, with AMD at 2.10 GHz and Intel at 1.80 GHz, but the boost clocks tell a different story: Intel reaches 5.20 GHz versus AMD's 3.70 GHz. The process nodes differ, with AMD on 12nm and Intel on 10nm, and the foundries are GlobalFoundries versus Intel. The AMD part has a die size of 210 mm² and 4,940 million transistors, while Intel's die size and transistor count are not listed.

Cache hierarchies are distinct, as noted earlier. The AMD L2 cache is 512 KB per core, while Intel's is 1.25 MB per core. L3 cache is 4 MB shared on AMD versus 12 MB shared on Intel. Memory support sees AMD limited to DDR4, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The PCIe version is Gen 3 on AMD versus Gen 4 on Intel, with Intel noting 8 lanes on the CPU only. The sockets are incompatible: AMD uses Socket FP5, while Intel uses Socket 1700. The market segment differs as well, with AMD labeled as Mobile and Intel as Desktop, despite both being 15W parts. Release dates are also different, with AMD listed as 2026-05-31 and Intel as 2024-04-07.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 7 160UL has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the performance difference in single-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core 7 160UL scores 3391 in the PassMark single-thread test, which is 37% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U's score of 2136.

Q: How does the cache compare between the two?

A: The AMD part has 96 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 4 MB of shared L3, while the Intel part has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3.

Q: Which processor supports faster PCIe?

A: The Intel Core 7 160UL supports PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes on the CPU, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports PCIe Gen 3.

Q: Are the average benchmark scores similar?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has an average benchmark score of 14320, while the Intel Core 7 160UL scores 14232, a difference of only 0.6%.

Q: What is the largest benchmark gap between them?

A: The largest gap is in the find prime numbers test, where the Intel Core 7 160UL scores 50 versus the AMD's 21, a 58% difference.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core 7 160UL is the faster processor in every benchmark category, with wins in all 11 head-to-head tests. Users who prioritize raw compute performance, single-thread speed, or multi-threaded workloads should choose the Intel part. The 37% lead in single-thread performance and 36% lead in multithread performance make it the superior choice for productivity, development, and content creation. The Intel chip's larger L3 cache and support for DDR5 memory also provide headroom for future applications.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is not without merit, but its advantages are not performance-based. Its average benchmark score of 14320 is technically higher than Intel's 14232, but this is a marginal difference that does not translate to a win in any individual test. The AMD part is a 4-core design that is significantly behind in floating-point and integer math, making it a poor fit for compute-intensive tasks. Its only practical use case is for users who require a specific socket or integrated graphics configuration, as the Radeon Vega 8 differs from Intel's Iris Xe Graphics 96EU. For anyone comparing these two on performance alone, the Intel Core 7 160UL is the definitive winner, offering roughly 20-50% better scores across the board.