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

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U and the Intel Core Ultra 5 225H occupy very different tiers of the mobile processor market, and the benchmark data reflects that gap clearly. The Ryzen 5 3501U is a 4-core, 4-thread processor from AMD’s 3000 series, built on a 12 nm process with a 15 W TDP. The Core Ultra 5 225H is Intel’s 14-core, 14-thread Arrow Lake-H part, manufactured on a 3 nm node with a 28 W TDP. In every recorded head-to-head benchmark, the Intel processor posts the higher score, often by a wide margin. The Ryzen 5 3501U, however, still holds its own in the database’s overall rankings, sitting at the 69th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 5 225H reaches the 82nd percentile.

The verdict from the data is straightforward. The Core Ultra 5 225H is the stronger processor for multi-threaded workloads, single-thread performance, and integrated graphics tasks. Its 14 cores and 14 threads, combined with a 4.90 GHz boost clock, give it a massive advantage in parallel processing. The Ryzen 5 3501U, with its 4 cores and 4 threads, is better suited for light productivity, basic office tasks, and scenarios where power consumption is the primary constraint. Its 15 W TDP makes it an efficient choice for thin-and-light laptops, while the Intel part’s 28 W TDP suggests a more performance-oriented design. The data does not support any scenario where the AMD chip wins a benchmark against the Intel chip, so the choice comes down to power efficiency versus raw performance.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and manufacturing nodes. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses the Picasso architecture, which is based on the older Zen+ microarchitecture. It is manufactured on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with a transistor count of 4,940 million and a die size of 210 mm². The processor features 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 4 MB L3 cache. Memory support is limited to DDR4, running on a dual-channel bus with a peak bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The integrated GPU is the Radeon Vega 8, and the processor connects to the system via PCIe Gen 3.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H, in contrast, is built on the Arrow Lake architecture, specifically the Arrow Lake-H variant. It is manufactured on a 3 nm process at TSMC, which is a significant jump in transistor density compared to the AMD part. The processor has 14 cores and 14 threads, with a base clock of 1.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. Its cache configuration is more generous: 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 18 MB L3 cache. Memory support includes both DDR5 and LPDDR5X, running on a dual-channel bus with a peak bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, nearly triple the AMD chip’s bandwidth. The integrated graphics are handled by the Arc Graphics 130T, and the processor uses PCIe Gen 5 with 8 CPU lanes.

The generation gap is also reflected in the release dates. The Ryzen 5 3501U was released on May 31, 2026, while the Core Ultra 5 225H launched on January 12, 2025. Despite being released later, the AMD chip uses older technology. The Intel part also carries a higher TDP at 28 W, which is necessary to support its larger core count and higher boost clock. Both processors lack an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not supported on either platform. The AMD chip uses the FP5 socket, while the Intel chip uses BGA 2049, meaning they are not interchangeable in any system.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results in the database are one-sided. The Core Ultra 5 225H wins all 11 recorded comparisons, with the Ryzen 5 3501U trailing by double-digit percentages in every case. The smallest gap appears in the single-threaded tests, where the Intel part scores 4258 versus 2136 for the AMD chip, a difference of 49.8 percent. That is still a substantial margin, but it is the closest the two processors come in any test. The single-thread and singlethread scores are identical for both chips, confirming the result.

The largest margin comes in the prime number search test, where the Intel processor scores 220 against the AMD chip’s 21, a gap of 90.5 percent. This test heavily favors the Intel part’s higher core count and newer architecture. The floating-point math test shows a similar pattern: Intel scores 86540, AMD scores 12707, a difference of 85.3 percent. The extended instructions test follows closely, with Intel at 21915 and AMD at 3274, a gap of 85.1 percent.

In multi-threaded workloads, the Intel chip’s advantage is consistent. The multithread test shows Intel at 28119 versus AMD at 7071, a 74.9 percent difference. The physics test has Intel at 1877 and AMD at 483, a 74.3 percent gap. Data compression shows Intel at 283451 and AMD at 87380, a 69.2 percent difference, while random string sorting shows Intel at 33654 and AMD at 10414, a 69.1 percent gap. Data encryption is another strong Intel result: 21428 versus 5580, a 74 percent difference. Integer math rounds out the list, with Intel at 68520 and AMD at 26321, a 61.6 percent gap.

The average benchmark scores confirm the hierarchy. The Ryzen 5 3501U averages 14320 across all its recorded tests, while the Core Ultra 5 225H averages 31508. That is more than double the AMD chip’s average, and it places the Intel part in a different performance class. The nearest rivals for the AMD chip include the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 with an average score of 14336 (0.1 percent ahead), the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C with 14277 (0.3 percent behind), the Intel Core 7 160UL with 14232 (0.6 percent behind), and the Intel Core i5-10400F with 14185 (1 percent behind). The Intel chip’s nearest rivals are the Intel Core i5-13500 with 31510 (0 percent difference), the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX with 31495 (0 percent), the Intel Core 7 240H with 31483 (0.1 percent behind), and the Intel Core Ultra 3 205 with 31473 (0.1 percent behind). These figures show that both processors are competitive within their own performance brackets, but those brackets are far apart.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H has 14 cores and 14 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the boost clock difference between the two?

A: The Intel chip boosts to 4.90 GHz, while the AMD chip boosts to 3.70 GHz. The base clocks are 1.70 GHz for Intel and 2.10 GHz for AMD.

Q: How does the memory bandwidth compare?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a peak bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 with a peak bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H averages 31508, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U averages 14320. The Intel part’s score is more than double.

Q: What are the manufacturing nodes for each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H uses a 3 nm process from TSMC.

Q: Which processor has a lower TDP?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has a 15 W TDP. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H has a 28 W TDP.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 5 225H wins every benchmark in the database, so its advantages are clear across the board. The biggest wins come in compute-heavy tasks: prime number searching, floating-point math, and extended instructions. These tests show the Intel chip outperforming the AMD part by over 85 percent, which indicates a substantial advantage in scientific computing, financial modeling, and any workload that relies on complex mathematical operations. The multithread and physics tests also favor Intel heavily, with gaps above 74 percent, making the Intel chip the better choice for video rendering, 3D simulation, and software compilation. The data compression and encryption tests, with gaps around 69 to 74 percent, point to advantages in file archiving, database operations, and secure communications.

The single-threaded tests show the smallest margin of victory for Intel, but 49.8 percent is still a large gap. This means the Intel chip is also faster in everyday tasks like web browsing, office applications, and light photo editing, though the relative difference is smaller than in multi-threaded workloads. The integrated graphics also favor Intel, as the Arc Graphics 130T is paired with a higher memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, which can benefit GPU-intensive tasks like video playback and casual gaming.

The Ryzen 5 3501U does not win any recorded benchmark, but it still has a role. Its 15 W TDP is much lower than the Intel chip’s 28 W, making it the more power-efficient option for battery-driven devices. The lower power draw can translate to longer battery life and less heat generation in compact laptops. The AMD chip also uses DDR4 memory, which is older but potentially more affordable in existing systems, though pricing is not part of this analysis. For users who prioritize energy efficiency over performance, the Ryzen 5 3501U is the sensible choice. For anyone who needs raw compute power, the Core Ultra 5 225H is the only option between the two, based on the recorded data.