AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225F Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U and Intel Core Ultra 5 225F occupy opposite ends of the performance spectrum, with the Intel part winning every single benchmark in the database's head-to-head comparison. The Ryzen 5 3501U is a 4-core, 4-thread mobile processor built on a 12 nm process, while the Core Ultra 5 225F is a 10-core, 10-thread desktop processor built on a 3 nm process. The data shows a complete sweep: the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F won all 11 recorded benchmark comparisons, with no wins recorded for the AMD part.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F does not just win; it dominates in every measurable category. The largest margin comes in the passmark_find_prime_numbers test, where the Intel chip scores 352 against the AMD's 21, a delta of -94%. This suggests a massive advantage in workloads that rely heavily on integer arithmetic and branch-heavy loops. The Core Ultra 5 225F also crushes the Ryzen 5 3501U in passmark_extended_instructions, scoring 28027 versus 3274, a -88.3% delta, indicating a substantial lead in SIMD and specialized instruction throughput.

For general multithreaded performance, the Intel part scores 31004 in passmark_multithread versus 7071 for the AMD, a -77.2% delta. The Core Ultra 5 225F also wins in floating-point math (92554 vs 12707, -86.3%), data encryption (22648 vs 5580, -75.4%), and data compression (310843 vs 87380, -71.9%). Even in single-threaded performance, where the AMD part is relatively stronger compared to its own multithreaded showing, the Intel chip still leads by a wide margin: 4397 versus 2136 in passmark_single_thread, a -51.4% delta.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has no benchmark where it comes out ahead. Its best relative showing is in passmark_integer_math, where the Intel part leads by a smaller -60.4% delta (66417 vs 26321). The AMD processor's strengths, if any, are not reflected in the recorded data. It is a low-power mobile chip with a 15 W TDP, and the benchmarks confirm that it is positioned for efficiency and basic tasks rather than competitive performance against desktop parts.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F is the superior processor for any performance-oriented workload. With an average benchmark score of 37313, it ranks in the 85th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U sits at a 14320 average and the 69th percentile. The Intel chip's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-13900HK (37425, -0.3%), AMD Ryzen 7 7735H (37161, 0.4%), and Intel Core i7-13700 (37135, 0.5%), placing it firmly in high-end desktop territory. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 (14336, -0.1%), AMD Ryzen 3 7320C (14277, 0.3%), and Intel Core 7 160UL (14232, 0.6%), which places it in the low-power mobile or embedded class.

Who should pick which? The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F is for users who need desktop-grade performance in multithreaded applications, content creation, or heavy computation. Its 10 cores, 20 MB of shared L3 cache, and 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth support this role. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U, with its 4 cores, 4 MB shared L3 cache, and 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth, is suited for basic mobile productivity, light browsing, and office tasks where the 15 W TDP is a primary consideration. The benchmark data shows no scenario in the recorded tests where the AMD part offers a performance advantage, so the choice is driven entirely by platform and power requirements, not by speed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive win for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F is in passmark_find_prime_numbers. The Intel chip scores 352, which is 16.8 times higher than the AMD's 21, resulting in a -94% delta. This test isolates pure integer processing and loop efficiency, and the 10-core Arrow Lake design with its 3 nm process clearly excels here.

In passmark_extended_instructions, the Intel part scores 28027, a -88.3% delta over the AMD's 3274. This benchmark measures advanced instruction set utilization, and the Core Ultra 5 225F's support for modern SIMD instructions gives it a massive edge. The AMD's older Zen+ (Picasso) architecture, built on 12 nm, cannot compete in this area.

Floating-point math shows a similar gap: 92554 for Intel versus 12707 for AMD, a -86.3% delta. The Core Ultra 5 225F's per-core L2 cache of 3 MB (versus 512 KB per core on the AMD) and larger L3 cache (20 MB versus 4 MB) contribute to its ability to sustain high throughput in math-heavy workloads.

The passmark_multithread score of 31004 for Intel versus 7071 for AMD (-77.2% delta) reflects the core count difference: 10 cores versus 4, with no Hyper-Threading on either part (both have 10 threads and 4 threads respectively). The Intel chip also wins in passmark_physics (2430 vs 483, -80.1%), passmark_data_encryption (22648 vs 5580, -75.4%), and passmark_random_string_sorting (37325 vs 10414, -72.1%).

Even the closest contest, passmark_integer_math, shows Intel ahead at 66417 versus 26321, a -60.4% delta. The passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread scores (both listed as 2136 for AMD and 4397 for Intel) show a -51.4% delta, meaning the Intel part is more than twice as fast per core in single-threaded tasks. The average benchmark score difference is 22993 points (37313 vs 14320), putting the Intel part in a completely different performance class.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F scores 4397 in passmark_single_thread, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U scores 2136. This gives the Intel part a -51.4% delta advantage in that test.

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

A: No. In the head-to-head benchmark comparison, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F won all 11 recorded tests, and the AMD part recorded 0 wins.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F has 10 cores and 10 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F has an average benchmark score of 37313, compared to 14320 for the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U. This places the Intel part in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD part is in the 69th percentile.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth for each processor?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F supports dual-channel DDR5 with a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports dual-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a larger shared L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F has 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and fabrication nodes. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses the Picasso codename, part of the Zen+ (Picasso) generation, built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It integrates Radeon Vega 8 graphics, making it a complete mobile APU. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F uses the Arrow Lake-S codename, part of the Core Ultra Series 2 (Arrow Lake) generation, built on a 3 nm process at TSMC. It has no integrated graphics (N/A), reflecting its desktop-only market segment.

The transistor counts differ drastically: the AMD part has 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, while the Intel part has 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. This density difference is a direct result of the process node gap (12 nm versus 3 nm). The Intel part's L1 cache is 192 KB per core versus 96 KB per core on the AMD, and its L2 cache is 3 MB per core versus 512 KB per core. The L3 cache is 20 MB shared on Intel versus 4 MB shared on AMD.

Memory support also differs: the AMD uses DDR4, while the Intel uses DDR5. The Intel part has PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD has PCIe Gen 3. The Intel's memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s is nearly triple the AMD's 38.4 GB/s. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD's market segment is mobile, while the Intel's is desktop, which explains the TDP difference (15 W versus 65 W).

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification field. The core count is 10 for Intel versus 4 for AMD, and the thread count matches (10 vs 4). The base clock is 3.30 GHz for Intel versus 2.10 GHz for AMD, and the boost clock is 4.90 GHz versus 3.70 GHz. The TDP is 65 W for Intel versus 15 W for AMD.

The socket types are incompatible: Intel Socket 1851 for the Core Ultra 5 225F, and AMD Socket FP5 for the Ryzen 5 3501U. The process node is 3 nm (TSMC) for Intel versus 12 nm (GlobalFoundries) for AMD. The foundry differs (TSMC versus GlobalFoundries), and the transistor count and die size are both larger on the Intel part (17,800 million vs 4,940 million; 243 mm² vs 210 mm²).

Memory support is DDR5 for Intel versus DDR4 for AMD, with a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s. The PCIe version is Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only) for Intel versus Gen 3 for AMD. The integrated graphics are N/A on Intel versus Radeon Vega 8 on AMD. The market segment is desktop for Intel versus mobile for AMD. The release dates differ: the Intel part was released on 2025-01-06, while the AMD part's release date is 2026-05-31. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $231; the AMD part has no recorded MSRP. The part numbers are SRQD2SRVF9 for Intel and YM3501C4T4MFG for AMD.