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

AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235A: a matchup between a 15-watt mobile processor from AMD’s 3000 series and a 65-watt desktop processor from Intel’s Core Ultra Series 2. The data shows a complete sweep for the Intel part across every recorded benchmark, with the AMD processor trailing by margins that range from roughly half to over ninety percent. This analysis uses the database’s head-to-head results, architecture fields, and specification records to outline exactly where each chip stands.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235A wins all 11 recorded head-to-head tests. The smallest deficit for the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U appears in single-thread workloads: the PassMark single-thread test shows Intel scoring 4557 against AMD’s 2136, a 53.1% gap. That margin is still substantial, but it is the closest the AMD part comes to its rival in any direct comparison.

Multi-threaded performance shows a much larger divide. In PassMark’s multithread test, the Intel chip scores 38392 while the AMD chip scores 7071, a delta of 81.6%. The pattern repeats in integer math, where Intel posts 88626 versus AMD’s 26321, a 70.3% difference. Floating-point math widens further: Intel at 118778, AMD at 12707, a 89.3% gap. The data compression test shows Intel at 393800 against AMD’s 87380, a 77.8% deficit for the older chip.

The most severe margins appear in specific computational tasks. Prime number finding yields Intel 392 versus AMD 21, a 94.6% difference. Extended instructions (typically AVX or similar workloads) show Intel 31625 versus AMD 3274, a 89.6% gap. Data encryption results in Intel 30136 versus AMD 5580, an 81.5% difference. Random string sorting gives Intel 49489 versus AMD 10414, a 79% gap. Physics simulation follows suit: Intel 2437, AMD 483, an 80.2% difference.

The average benchmark score in the database reinforces this hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235A sits at 48201, placing it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs tracked. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U averages 14320, which lands it in the 69th percentile. The nearest rivals for each chip confirm the positioning: the Intel part trades blows with the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 (0.1% delta), the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX (-0.2%), and the AMD EPYC 4345P (-0.6%). The AMD chip’s closest competitors include the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 (-0.1%), the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C (0.3%), and the Intel Core 7 160UL (0.6%). These rival clusters show that the 3501U competes in a much lower performance tier, while the 235A sits among far stronger desktop and workstation parts.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design eras and target different segments. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses the Picasso codename, built on a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries. It integrates 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235A uses the Arrow Lake architecture, specifically Arrow Lake-S, fabricated on a 3 nm node by TSMC. It packs 17,800 million transistors into a 243 mm² die. The process node difference alone explains a large portion of the performance and efficiency gap.

Core counts diverge sharply. The AMD chip has 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. The Intel chip has 14 cores and 14 threads, also without hyperthreading, but with far more physical cores. Clock speeds favor Intel as well: the AMD part runs at a 2.10 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost, while the Intel part starts at 3.40 GHz and boosts to 5.00 GHz. The boost clock advantage of 1.30 GHz contributes directly to the single-thread score lead.

Cache hierarchies reflect the generational shift. The AMD chip offers 96 KB of L1 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. That L3 capacity is six times larger, which helps with data-heavy workloads and explains some of the compression and sorting advantages.

Memory support differs entirely. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a measured bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235A uses DDR5, also dual-channel, but with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. That 2.67x bandwidth increase shows up in memory-sensitive tests like random string sorting and data compression. PCIe generation also moves forward: AMD lists Gen 3, while Intel lists Gen 5 with 20 lanes on the CPU only. Integrated graphics differ as well: AMD uses Radeon Vega 8, Intel uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU.

Power envelopes are not comparable. The AMD part is rated at 15 W TDP, a mobile-class figure. The Intel part is rated at 65 W TDP, a desktop-class figure. Socket types reflect the market split: AMD uses Socket FP5, Intel uses Socket 1851. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $269, while the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP. The release dates also differ: the AMD chip was recorded as released on 2026-05-31, while the Intel chip was released on 2025-07-28.

The Verdict

The recorded data shows a clear winner in the Intel Core Ultra 5 235A for every measured workload. The benchmark results indicate that the Intel part is between 53.1% and 94.6% faster across the head-to-head tests, with an average benchmark score that is 3.37 times higher than the AMD part. The Intel chip also runs at a higher percentile (90th versus 69th), putting it in a different performance class entirely.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U, however, operates at a 15 W TDP, which makes it a low-power mobile part. Its performance profile is consistent with that positioning: it delivers modest single-thread scores and much lower multi-thread scores, but it does so within a power envelope that the Intel desktop part cannot match. The database does not record any benchmark wins for the AMD chip, so the decision between these two is not about performance trade-offs. It is about whether the workload requires desktop-class throughput or mobile-class power consumption.

The Intel chip should be selected for any task that benefits from high core counts, high memory bandwidth, or high boost clocks. The AMD chip should only be selected in scenarios where the 15 W TDP and mobile socket form factor are mandatory, since the performance data shows no advantage for the AMD part in any tested category.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 3501U | Intel Core Ultra 5 235A |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 4 | 14 |

| Threads | 4 | 14 |

| Base clock | 2.10 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.70 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP5 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Architecture | (Picasso) | Arrow Lake |

| Process node | 12 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | TSMC |

| Transistors | 4,940 million | 17,800 million |

| Die size | 210 mm² | 243 mm² |

| L1 cache | 96 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 512 KB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 4 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR4 | DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 102.4 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon Vega 8 | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release date | 2026-05-31 | 2025-07-28 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $269 |

| Part number | YM3501C4T4MFG | SRWPN |

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235A has 14 cores, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores. Both have the same number of threads as cores.

Q: How much faster is the Intel chip in single-thread performance?

A: In the PassMark single-thread test, the Intel chip scores 4557 compared to the AMD chip’s 2136, which is a 53.1% difference in favor of Intel.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where Intel scores 392 and AMD scores 21, a 94.6% difference.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235A supports DDR5 with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The AMD chip has a 15 W TDP, while the Intel chip has a 65 W TDP. The AMD part is designed for mobile use, the Intel part for desktop use.

Q: Which chip has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235A has an average benchmark score of 48201, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has an average score of 14320.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235A wins every recorded benchmark, so the "where each one wins" section is defined by the nature of the workloads. The Intel chip dominates in multi-threaded tasks such as PassMark multithread (38392 versus 7071), integer math (88626 versus 26321), and floating-point math (118778 versus 12707). It also wins in memory-intensive tests like data compression (393800 versus 87380) and random string sorting (49489 versus 10414), which aligns with its larger L3 cache and higher memory bandwidth.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U does not win any benchmark, but its 15 W TDP and mobile socket (FP5) make it the only viable choice for low-power, thin-and-light laptop designs. The database records no performance advantage for the AMD chip, so the selection criteria are strictly about power envelope and platform fit. For any workload that can run on the Intel desktop platform, the data indicates the Intel part is the better performer by a wide margin.