AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs Intel Core 7 253PQE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive sweep for the Intel Core 7 253PQE across every benchmark in the comparison set. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U does not win a single test, with the Intel part taking all 11 head-to-head matchups. The scale of the margin varies significantly by workload, but the direction is uniform.

The largest single-test gap appears in extended instruction performance. The Intel Core 7 253PQE scores 32,390 in PassMark's extended instructions test, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U manages only 3,274. That is a delta of -89.9% for the AMD part, meaning the Intel processor delivers roughly nine times the throughput in this specialized workload. Prime number finding shows a similar pattern: Intel scores 206 versus AMD's 21, a -89.8% delta. Floating point math also heavily favors Intel, with 105,279 against 12,707, a -87.9% difference.

Multithreaded performance tells a comparable story. The PassMark multithread test records 41,656 for Intel versus 7,071 for AMD, a -83% delta. The physics test shows 2,970 against 483, a -83.7% gap. Integer math follows with 137,795 for Intel and 26,321 for AMD, a -80.9% delta. Data compression and encryption also go to Intel by wide margins: 487,335 versus 87,380 (-82.1%) and 25,515 versus 5,580 (-78.1%), respectively. Random string sorting lands at 54,222 versus 10,414, a -80.8% delta.

The closest relative gap is in single-thread performance, where the Intel part still leads by a substantial margin. PassMark single-thread scores show 4,389 for Intel versus 2,136 for AMD, a -51.3% delta. This indicates that even in lightly threaded workloads, the Intel Core 7 253PQE holds more than a two-to-one advantage. The average benchmark score reinforces the overall picture: Intel sits at 55,919, while AMD rests at 14,320. The Intel part also occupies the 91st percentile among all CPUs in the database, compared to the 69th percentile for the AMD chip.

The nearest rival comparison adds context. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U's closest peers in the database include the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 at 14,336 (a -0.1% delta), the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C at 14,277 (+0.3%), the Intel Core 7 160UL at 14,232 (+0.6%), and the Intel Core i5-10400F at 14,185 (+1%). These deltas are tiny, indicating that the Ryzen 5 3501U sits in a dense cluster of similarly performing processors. By contrast, the Intel Core 7 253PQE's nearest rivals are far more powerful parts: the Intel Core i9-14900HX at 56,004 (-0.2%), the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 at 56,273 (-0.6%), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 470 at 56,306 (-0.7%), and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX at 56,555 (-1.1%). The Intel part essentially trades blows with high-end desktop and workstation silicon.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design eras and target different segments. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is a mobile part built on the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Picasso. It uses a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries and integrates 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Intel Core 7 253PQE, meanwhile, uses the Bartlett Lake architecture on a 10 nm Intel process. Intel does not provide transistor or die size data in the database, but the architectural gap is clear from the specifications.

Core and thread counts differ sharply. The AMD chip offers 4 cores and 4 threads, with no simultaneous multithreading. The Intel chip offers 10 cores and 20 threads, giving it both more physical cores and hyperthreading capability. Base and boost clocks also favor Intel: 3.50 GHz base and 5.70 GHz boost versus 2.10 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost for AMD. The clock advantage compounds with the core advantage, explaining the wide performance margins.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U provides 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The Intel Core 7 253PQE provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 33 MB of shared L3. The Intel part's much larger L3 pool, combined with its higher per-core L2 allocation, gives it a significant cache capacity advantage. There is no 3D V-Cache on either part.

Memory support also diverges. The AMD processor supports DDR4 only, with dual-channel access and 38.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Intel processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but with 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. That is more than double the AMD part's bandwidth. ECC memory is absent on the AMD chip but present on the Intel chip.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses PCIe Gen 3. The Intel Core 7 253PQE uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes on the CPU. The integrated graphics also differ: AMD pairs the CPU with Radeon Vega 8, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 770. The AMD part is a mobile processor on AMD Socket FP5 with a 15 W TDP. The Intel part is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1700 with a 125 W TDP. The power envelope difference is substantial, and it aligns with the performance gap.

The production status for both is listed as Active. The Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $409. The AMD part has no launch MSRP recorded in the database. Release dates are close: the Intel part entered the database with a March 2026 release date, while the AMD part has a May 2026 release date.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear conclusion: the Intel Core 7 253PQE is the stronger processor in every measured dimension. Its multithread score of 41,656 is roughly 5.9 times the AMD's 7,071. Its single-thread score of 4,389 is more than double the AMD's 2,136. In extended instructions, the gap grows to nearly tenfold. Anyone selecting between these two parts based purely on benchmark data should choose the Intel chip without hesitation.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U does have context in its favor. It is a mobile processor with a 15 W TDP, designed for efficiency and integration into laptops. Its nearest rivals in the database, such as the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C and Intel Core 7 160UL, all cluster around the 14,200 to 14,300 average score range. The AMD chip is competitive within its own segment. But the comparison here is against a desktop part with a 125 W TDP, and the performance gap reflects that fundamental positioning.

The Intel Core 7 253PQE's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-14900HX and the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390, both of which are high-end parts. The Intel chip's average score of 55,919 places it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, versus the 69th percentile for the AMD part. That percentile difference alone summarizes the gulf between the two.

For workloads that depend on single-thread speed, the Intel part delivers 4,389 versus 2,136, a margin that will be visible in everyday responsiveness. For multithreaded rendering, compilation, or data processing, the Intel part's 10 cores and 20 threads dominate the AMD's 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel part also supports DDR5 and PCIe Gen 5, making it the more future-proof platform choice. The AMD part's DDR4-only support and PCIe Gen 3 limit its expansion and memory headroom.

The only category where the AMD chip could be preferable is in power-constrained mobile designs, where its 15 W TDP is a deliberate trade-off. But the benchmark database records no efficiency metric, and the raw performance data gives the Intel part an unambiguous victory.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification field. Core count: AMD has 4, Intel has 10. Thread count: AMD has 4, Intel has 20. Base clock: AMD at 2.10 GHz, Intel at 3.50 GHz. Boost clock: AMD at 3.70 GHz, Intel at 5.70 GHz. TDP: AMD at 15 W, Intel at 125 W. Process node: AMD on 12 nm, Intel on 10 nm. Foundry: GlobalFoundries for AMD, Intel for Intel. Codename: Picasso for AMD, Bartlett Lake for Intel.

Cache differences: AMD L1 is 96 KB per core, Intel L1 is 80 KB per core. AMD L2 is 512 KB per core, Intel L2 is 2 MB per core. AMD L3 is 4 MB shared, Intel L3 is 33 MB shared. Memory support: AMD uses DDR4 only, Intel uses DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth: AMD at 38.4 GB/s, Intel at 89.6 GB/s. ECC memory: not supported on AMD, supported on Intel. PCIe: Gen 3 on AMD, Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes on Intel. Integrated graphics: Radeon Vega 8 on AMD, UHD Graphics 770 on Intel. Socket: AMD Socket FP5 versus Intel Socket 1700. Market segment: Mobile for AMD, Desktop for Intel. Transistor count: 4,940 million for AMD, not recorded for Intel. Die size: 210 mm² for AMD, not recorded for Intel.

The release dates differ by about two months, with Intel listed first. The Intel part has a recorded launch MSRP of $409; the AMD part has none. Both are marked Active in production status, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread score?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PQE scores 4,389 in PassMark single-thread testing, compared to 2,136 for the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U, a -51.3% delta for the AMD part.

Q: How do the two parts compare in multithreaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PQE records 41,656 in PassMark multithread, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U records 7,071, a -83% delta. The Intel part also has 10 cores and 20 threads versus 4 cores and 4 threads for AMD.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 only with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core 7 253PQE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PQE supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U does not.

Q: What is the PCIe generation difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses PCIe Gen 3. The Intel Core 7 253PQE uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes on the CPU.

Q: What is the TDP for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has a TDP of 15 W. The Intel Core 7 253PQE has a TDP of 125 W.