AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs Intel Core i7-8750H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data presents a lopsided contest. The Intel Core i7-8750H wins 10 of the 11 recorded benchmark comparisons, with the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U securing a single victory. The largest margin in favor of the Intel part comes in the PassMark extended instructions test, where the Core i7-8750H scores 8637 against the Ryzen 5 3501U's 3274, a delta of 62.1% in Intel's favor. This is a substantial gap, suggesting a major advantage in workloads that leverage specialized instruction sets.

The pattern continues across other heavy compute tasks. In floating point math, the Intel chip records 22179 versus 12707 for the AMD part, a 42.7% advantage. Random string sorting shows a 44.1% lead for Intel (18622 vs 10414). Data compression also heavily favors Intel, with a score of 139418 compared to 87380 for the Ryzen, a 37.3% difference. Even in integer math, where the Ryzen 5 3501U posts a respectable 26321, the Core i7-8750H pulls ahead to 35629, a 26.1% margin.

The multi-threaded test tells a similar story. Intel scores 9799, while AMD manages 7071, a 27.8% deficit for the Ryzen. The physics test, often indicative of gaming simulation performance, also goes Intel's way: 604 versus 483, a 20% lead. Prime number finding, another pure compute task, shows Intel ahead at 27 versus 21, a 22.2% difference.

The single-threaded results are the closest. In the PassMark single-thread test, Intel scores 2276, and AMD scores 2136, a delta of only 6.2%. This indicates that per-core performance is relatively comparable, despite the overall compute gap. The Ryzen 5 3501U's sole win comes in data encryption, where it scores 5580 against Intel's 3388. This is a striking 64.7% advantage for AMD, suggesting a possible architectural strength in cryptographic workloads. The average benchmark score reflects the overall trend: the Ryzen 5 3501U averages 14320, while the Core i7-8750H averages 13868. Interestingly, the AMD part has a higher average score despite losing the majority of individual tests, a nuance worth investigating.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different designs. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is a 4-core, 4-thread part based on the Picasso architecture, which uses the Zen+ microarchitecture. It is manufactured on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with a die size of 210 mm² and 4,940 million transistors. The Intel Core i7-8750H, in contrast, is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Coffee Lake-H architecture, using a 14 nm process at Intel, with a smaller die size of 149 mm². The transistor count for the Intel part is not recorded.

Cache configurations differ notably. The AMD chip has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a much larger 12 MB of shared L3 cache. This larger L3 cache could contribute to Intel's strong performance in data compression and random string sorting, where larger working sets can be kept on-die.

The memory interface also diverges. Both support DDR4, but the AMD part specifies a dual-channel memory bus with a recorded bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel part does not have a memory bus or bandwidth figure recorded in the database. Neither chip supports ECC memory. The AMD processor uses the AMD Socket FP5, while Intel uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket. Both have integrated graphics, with AMD featuring the Radeon Vega 8 and Intel featuring the UHD 630. The process node difference (12 nm vs 14 nm) is counterintuitive given that the AMD part is newer, yet the Intel part still wins most benchmarks.

The production status also differs: the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is listed as Active, while the Intel Core i7-8750H is End-of-life. The release dates show the Intel part launched in April 2018, while the AMD part has a recorded release date of May 2026 in the database, making it a much newer entry. Neither part has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not a differentiator.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i7-8750H leads in the recorded PassMark single-thread test with a score of 2276, compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U's 2136, a 6.2% advantage for Intel.

Q: Does the AMD chip win any benchmark at all?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 5 3501U wins the data encryption test by a wide margin. It scores 5580, while the Core i7-8750H scores 3388, giving AMD a 64.7% lead in this specific workload.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 14320, while the Intel chip averages 13868. This is despite Intel winning most individual head-to-head tests.

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: The Intel Core i7-8750H has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads. This means the Intel processor can handle twice as many concurrent threads.

Q: Which chip has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-8750H has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, which is three times the 4 MB shared L3 cache found on the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is listed as Active, while the Intel Core i7-8750H is marked as End-of-life in the database.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel Core i7-8750H dominates in nearly every recorded test, particularly in multi-threaded and complex instruction workloads. Its 6-core, 12-thread configuration, combined with 12 MB of L3 cache, gives it a substantial edge in data compression, floating point math, and extended instructions. The benchmark results indicate that for general compute-intensive tasks, the Intel part is the stronger choice, despite being an older design.

However, the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is not without merit. Its single-thread score is only 6.2% behind Intel's, a narrow margin. More importantly, its 64.7% lead in data encryption suggests that certain security or cryptographic workloads would run significantly faster on the AMD chip. The higher average benchmark score for the AMD part, despite losing most tests, is curious. It may reflect that the AMD chip performs more consistently across a broader range of unrecorded workloads, or that the average is skewed by the encryption result.

The production status is a practical consideration. The AMD part is Active, while the Intel part is End-of-life, meaning new system designs would likely favor the AMD chip for longevity and availability. The Intel chip, despite its performance wins, may be harder to source for new builds. The TDP difference (15 W for AMD versus 45 W for Intel) is also relevant, though it must be noted that the database does not record any power efficiency benchmarks. The Ryzen 5 3501U is clearly the more power-efficient design on paper, which could be critical for thin-and-light laptops, while the Core i7-8750H is a high-performance H-series part for larger notebooks.

The verdict from the recorded data is nuanced: the Intel Core i7-8750H wins on raw performance in most measured categories, but the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U offers a significant niche advantage in encryption and remains an active product with a lower thermal envelope.

Specification Differences

• Cores: AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores; Intel Core i7-8750H has 6 cores.
• Threads: AMD has 4 threads; Intel has 12 threads.
• Base Clock: AMD is 2.10 GHz; Intel is 2.20 GHz.
• Boost Clock: AMD is 3.70 GHz; Intel is 4.10 GHz.
• TDP: AMD is 15 W; Intel is 45 W.
• Socket: AMD uses AMD Socket FP5; Intel uses Intel BGA 1440.
• Codename: AMD is Picasso; Intel is Coffee Lake-H.
• Generation: AMD is Ryzen 5 (Zen+ (Picasso)); Intel is Core i7 (Coffee Lake-H).
• Process Node: AMD is 12 nm; Intel is 14 nm.
• Foundry: AMD uses GlobalFoundries; Intel uses Intel.
• Die Size: AMD is 210 mm²; Intel is 149 mm².
• Transistors: AMD is 4,940 million; Intel has no recorded figure.
• L1 Cache: AMD is 96 KB per core; Intel is 64 KB per core.
• L2 Cache: AMD is 512 KB per core; Intel is 256 KB per core.
• L3 Cache: AMD is 4 MB shared; Intel is 12 MB shared.
• Memory Bandwidth: AMD is 38.4 GB/s; Intel has no recorded figure.
• Integrated Graphics: AMD is Radeon Vega 8; Intel is UHD 630.
• Production Status: AMD is Active; Intel is End-of-life.
• Release Date: AMD is May 2026; Intel is April 2018.
• Part Number: AMD is YM3501C4T4MFG; Intel is SR3YY.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-8750H wins in the majority of compute-heavy scenarios. For tasks involving data compression, extended instruction sets, floating point math, integer math, multi-threaded workloads, prime number finding, physics simulation, random string sorting, and even single-threaded performance, the Intel chip is the clear winner based on the recorded deltas. This makes it the better choice for software development, video rendering, scientific computing, and any parallel workload that can utilize its 12 threads.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U wins decisively in data encryption. The 64.7% advantage over Intel suggests that workloads involving cryptographic operations, secure communications, or data protection would run significantly faster on the AMD platform. This could be a deciding factor for security-focused applications or users who prioritize encrypted storage or network traffic. Additionally, the AMD chip has a higher average benchmark score (14320 vs 13868), which may indicate better overall consistency across a wider set of unrecorded tests.

The TDP difference also influences use cases. The AMD chip's 15 W TDP makes it suitable for thinner, lighter laptops with passive cooling or low-power fans, while the Intel chip's 45 W TDP requires a more robust cooling solution, typically found in larger gaming or workstation laptops. For users who prioritize portability and battery life, the AMD part is the logical choice, even if it loses most performance benchmarks. For users who need maximum compute throughput and are less concerned about power draw, the Intel chip is the data-backed pick.