AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U and the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 occupy opposite ends of the mobile and desktop spectrum, respectively. The data in the database reveals a clear performance hierarchy, with the Intel part dominating every recorded benchmark. However, the two processors are built for fundamentally different purposes, and their specifications reflect that split.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark records show a complete sweep for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235. In all 11 head-to-head comparisons, the Intel processor posts a higher score. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U does not win a single test in this dataset. The closest contest is in single-threaded work, where the Intel chip leads by a delta of 52.7 percent, while the widest gaps appear in prime number finding, where the Intel part is 94.3 percent ahead.

This lopsided result stems from the different market segments. The Ryzen 5 3501U is a mobile processor, designed for low-power laptops, with a 15 W TDP. The Core Ultra 5 235 is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP. The performance difference is not a surprise; it is a direct consequence of power envelopes and core counts. The AMD chip's single-thread score of 2136 and multi-thread score of 7071 are respectable for its class, but the Intel chip's 4516 and 37816 scores place it in a different tier entirely.

The database's percentile rankings confirm the split. The Ryzen 5 3501U sits at the 69th percentile among all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 5 235 reaches the 89th percentile. The average benchmark score for the AMD part is 14320, compared to 46062 for the Intel part. These figures indicate that the Intel chip is not just faster in individual tests; it is consistently faster across the entire benchmark suite, making it the clear choice for compute-heavy desktop workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and manufacturing generations. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses the Picasso codename, based on the Zen+ architecture, built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 4,940 million transistors into a 210 mm² die. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 uses the Arrow Lake-S codename, based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process at TSMC. It integrates 17,800 million transistors into a 243 mm² die.

The core counts differ drastically. The AMD part has 4 cores and 4 threads, with no simultaneous multithreading. The Intel part has 14 cores and 14 threads. Cache hierarchies also diverge. The AMD chip provides 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip offers 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The larger cache allocations on the Intel part likely contribute to its higher scores in memory-sensitive tests like random string sorting.

Memory support reflects the generational gap. The AMD part supports DDR4 with dual-channel access and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel part supports DDR5 with dual-channel access and a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. PCIe connectivity also differs: the AMD chip uses Gen 3, while the Intel chip uses Gen 5 with 20 lanes for the CPU. The integrated graphics are named differently as well, with the AMD part featuring Radeon Vega 8 and the Intel part featuring Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 scores 4516 in the PassMark single-thread test, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U scores 2136. This gives the Intel part a 52.7 percent advantage.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 scores 37816 in the PassMark multi-thread test, compared to 7071 for the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U. The Intel part leads by 81.3 percent.

Q: What are the process nodes for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is built on a 3 nm process at TSMC.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 memory, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 supports DDR5 memory. Both use a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has a TDP of 15 W, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has a TDP of 65 W. This difference reflects their mobile versus desktop design targets.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46062, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has an average score of 14320. The Intel part is about 3.2 times higher.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has 14 cores and 14 threads. Base clocks are 2.10 GHz for the AMD part and 3.40 GHz for the Intel part. Boost clocks are 3.70 GHz for the AMD part and 5.00 GHz for the Intel part. The TDP is 15 W versus 65 W. The AMD part uses AMD Socket FP5, while the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1851.

The manufacturing details also differ. The AMD part uses a 12 nm process with 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Intel part uses a 3 nm process with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. Cache configurations are different, with the AMD part offering 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. The Intel part offers 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. Memory bandwidth is 38.4 GB/s for the AMD part and 102.4 GB/s for the Intel part. PCIe support is Gen 3 on the AMD part and Gen 5 with 20 lanes on the Intel part. The integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 8 on the AMD part and Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU on the Intel part.

The release dates also differ. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is listed with a release date of May 31, 2026, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has a release date of January 6, 2025. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $257, while the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP. The AMD part is a mobile processor, while the Intel part is a desktop processor.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The PassMark benchmark suite shows a consistent pattern of Intel dominance, but the size of the lead varies by workload. The largest gap is in the prime number finding test. The AMD part scores 21, while the Intel part scores 371, a 94.3 percent difference. This test is highly sensitive to single-thread performance and clock speed, and the Intel part's 5.00 GHz boost clock gives it a massive advantage.

Extended instructions show a similar story. The AMD part scores 3274, while the Intel part scores 32752, a 90 percent gap. This test measures SIMD and vector processing capabilities, where the newer Arrow Lake architecture with its larger L1 cache and higher clocks excels. Floating point math also favors the Intel part, with a score of 117951 versus 12707, an 89.2 percent difference.

Data encryption shows an 81 percent gap, with the AMD part scoring 5580 and the Intel part scoring 29293. This workload benefits from the Intel part's higher core count and faster memory subsystem. Multi-thread performance is 81.3 percent higher on the Intel part, with scores of 37816 versus 7071. The physics test follows the same trend, with the Intel part scoring 2570 versus 483, an 81.2 percent gap.

The smallest gap is in single-thread performance, where the Intel part leads by 52.7 percent. The AMD part scores 2136, while the Intel part scores 4516. Even in this more moderate comparison, the Intel part's higher boost clock and newer architecture provide a substantial edge. Data compression shows a 77.6 percent gap, integer math shows a 70.1 percent gap, and random string sorting shows a 78.7 percent gap. Across all 11 tests, the Intel part's smallest advantage is still more than half the AMD part's score.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear choice based on usage context. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is a mobile processor with a 15 W TDP, designed for battery-powered laptops. Its 4 cores and 4 threads, with a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, deliver a single-thread score of 2136 and a multi-thread score of 7071. This is adequate for everyday productivity tasks but not for heavy compute workloads. Its 69th percentile ranking places it in the middle of the overall CPU distribution.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a desktop processor with a 65 W TDP, designed for performance-oriented systems. Its 14 cores and 14 threads, with a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, deliver a single-thread score of 4516 and a multi-thread score of 37816. The 89th percentile ranking indicates that it sits near the top of the database's CPU performance distribution. Its average benchmark score of 46062 is more than three times that of the AMD part.

The database records show that the Intel part wins every benchmark, with leads ranging from 52.7 percent in single-thread to 94.3 percent in prime number finding. Users building a desktop system for demanding applications should look to the Intel part. Users seeking a low-power mobile processor for a laptop should consider the AMD part, accepting its lower performance as a trade-off for its 15 W power envelope. The two processors do not compete in the same market segment, and the benchmark data reflects that fundamental difference.