AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs Intel Core i7-9750H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core i7-9750H, which wins 10 of the 11 recorded head-to-head comparisons. Its only loss comes in the PassMark data encryption test, where the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U scores 5,580 against Intel's 3,756, a 32.7% advantage for AMD. That single win is notable because encryption workloads often reward the newer architecture and the AMD part's per-core efficiency, but it stands alone in an otherwise one-sided matchup.

The largest margin in either direction is in PassMark extended instructions, where the Intel part scores 9,187 versus 3,274 for AMD, a 180.6% lead. This test measures SIMD and vectorized code execution, and the gap here is enormous, suggesting the Intel chip's Coffee Lake implementation handles these workloads far more effectively than the Picasso-based AMD part. Random string sorting follows at a 90.7% delta, with Intel at 19,862 and AMD at 10,414. Floating point math shows an 83.7% advantage for Intel, scoring 23,343 versus 12,707, which points to a substantial edge in scientific and engineering calculations.

Data compression is another strong Intel win, 150,443 versus 87,380, a 72.2% delta. This is a common laptop workload, and the margin here is significant. Prime number finding, a test that stresses integer throughput and cache behavior, goes to Intel by 52.4%, with scores of 32 and 21. Integer math shows a 43.7% lead for Intel, 37,822 versus 26,321. Multithread performance is 50.9% higher on Intel, 10,671 versus 7,071, which aligns with the core and thread count difference. Physics simulation favors Intel by 38.7%, 670 versus 483.

Single-thread performance is the closest contest. Intel scores 2,404 against AMD's 2,136, a 12.5% lead. This is a meaningful margin, but it is far smaller than the multithreaded gaps, indicating that the AMD part is relatively more competitive in lightly threaded tasks. The recorded data includes the same single-thread result twice under different test names, and both confirm the identical 12.5% delta. Overall, the Intel chip leads by a wide margin in compute-heavy, parallel, and vectorized workloads, while AMD's single win in encryption shows its architecture is not without merit in specific scenarios.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-9750H is the clear choice for any workload that scales across multiple cores or uses extended instruction sets. Its 6 cores and 12 threads give it a structural advantage over the Ryzen 5 3501U, which has 4 cores and 4 threads. The multithread benchmark reflects this directly: Intel is 50.9% ahead. Data compression, integer math, floating point math, prime number finding, physics simulation, and random string sorting all favor Intel by margins ranging from 38.7% to 90.7%. For a user running video encoding, code compilation, spreadsheet crunching, or scientific simulations, the Intel part is the stronger performer in every recorded test of that type.

The extended instructions result deserves special attention. A 180.6% lead in that test means the Intel chip is more than twice as fast in workloads that use AVX or similar vector instructions. This includes modern media processing, some machine learning inference tasks, and certain database operations. The AMD part, based on the Zen+ architecture, does not match that level of vector throughput according to the data.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U wins exactly one recorded benchmark, data encryption, by a 32.7% margin. This suggests its architecture handles AES and other cryptographic workloads more efficiently, possibly due to better instructions per clock in that specific pattern or a more efficient memory access path. For users who frequently encrypt drives, sign documents, or handle VPN traffic, the AMD part has a measurable edge. It also posts a lower TDP of 15 watts versus 45 watts for Intel, which the data shows but does not directly benchmark in terms of battery life or heat output. The single-thread gap is modest at 12.5%, so in everyday light tasks like web browsing, document editing, or email, the difference between the two will be far less noticeable than the multithreaded scores suggest.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i7-9750H for almost every buyer. It wins 10 of 11 benchmarks, including all of the heavy compute tests, and its multithread, floating point, and extended instruction advantages are enormous. A 50.9% lead in multithread and an 83.7% lead in floating point math are not small margins; they translate directly into faster renders, quicker compiles, and snappier data processing. The 180.6% lead in extended instructions is the kind of edge that makes the Intel part the obvious pick for anyone running modern vectorized software. Its 69th percentile ranking among all CPUs matches the AMD part's 69th percentile, but the head-to-head results show the Intel chip is stronger in the tasks that matter most for performance-sensitive users.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is the pick only for a narrow set of use cases. If encryption performance is a top priority, its 32.7% win in data encryption is real and measurable. The lower 15 watt TDP also makes it a better fit for fanless or ultraportable designs, though the database does not record battery or thermal results. For general productivity and anything that uses multiple threads, the Intel part is the better choice by a wide margin. The 12.5% single-thread lead for Intel is not huge, but it is consistent, and the multithread gap is too large to ignore. Buyers who need a laptop for heavy lifting should choose Intel; buyers who prioritize encryption throughput or minimal power draw should consider AMD.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins in multithreaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-9750H scores 10,671 in PassMark multithread versus 7,071 for the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U, a 50.9% lead.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins PassMark data encryption with a score of 5,580 against Intel's 3,756, a 32.7% advantage.

Q: How large is the single-thread performance gap?

A: Intel leads by 12.5%, scoring 2,404 versus 2,136 in the PassMark single-thread test.

Q: What is the biggest performance difference between the two?

A: Extended instructions show the largest gap, with Intel at 9,187 and AMD at 3,274, a 180.6% lead for Intel.

Q: How do their overall percentile rankings compare?

A: Both chips sit at the 69th percentile among all CPUs in the database, despite the large head-to-head differences.

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-9750H has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-9750H is built on the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-HR refresh, using a 14 nm process from Intel. Its die size is 149 mm². The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses the Picasso codename, based on the Zen+ microarchitecture, and is manufactured by GlobalFoundries on a 12 nm process. The AMD die is larger at 210 mm² and contains 4,940 million transistors. The Intel part has no transistor count listed in the database.

Cache layouts differ significantly. Intel provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. AMD provides 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, but only 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger Intel L3 pool, at three times the size, helps explain its strong performance in tests like random string sorting and data compression, which benefit from caching large working sets. AMD's larger per-core L1 and L2 caches do not overcome the L3 deficit in the recorded benchmarks.

Both CPUs support DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus. Intel lists a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while AMD lists 38.4 GB/s, a modest difference that contributes to Intel's edge in memory-sensitive tests. Both use PCIe Gen 3. Intel integrates UHD 630 graphics, while AMD integrates Radeon Vega 8 graphics. The database records no graphics benchmarks for either part, so no comparison of integrated GPU performance is possible. Both are mobile parts, with Intel on the Intel BGA 1440 socket and AMD on the AMD Socket FP5. The Intel chip is end-of-life, while the AMD chip is listed as active in production. The AMD part's release date is recorded as 2026-05-31, which is later than the Intel part's 2019-04-22 release, though the database does not provide further context on availability timelines.

Specification Differences

The Intel Core i7-9750H operates with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U runs at 2.10 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost. The Intel chip has a 45 watt TDP, the AMD chip a 15 watt TDP. Core counts differ: 6 cores and 12 threads for Intel, 4 cores and 4 threads for AMD. The Intel part does not support SMT beyond its 12 threads, and the AMD part has no SMT at all, matching its 4 threads to 4 cores.

Process node and foundry differ: Intel uses 14 nm at Intel, AMD uses 12 nm at GlobalFoundries. Die size is 149 mm² for Intel and 210 mm² for AMD, and the AMD part lists 4,940 million transistors while Intel lists none. Cache totals differ: Intel has 12 MB of shared L3, AMD has 4 MB. Per-core L1 and L2 caches are larger on AMD, but the L3 advantage goes to Intel. Memory bandwidth favors Intel at 42.7 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s, both over dual-channel DDR4. Integrated graphics differ: UHD 630 for Intel, Radeon Vega 8 for AMD. Sockets differ: Intel BGA 1440 versus AMD Socket FP5. Production status differs, with Intel end-of-life and AMD active. The AMD part has a recorded part number of YM3501C4T4MFG, while Intel's is SRF6USRFCP. Neither chip has a launch MSRP in the database, and both have locked multipliers.