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

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U and the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX represent two very different approaches to mobile computing. The Ryzen 5 3501U is a 4-core, 4-thread processor from AMD’s 3000 series, built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Core Ultra 5 235HX is a 14-core, 14-thread part from Intel’s Core Ultra Series 2, fabricated on a 3 nm node at TSMC. The benchmark database records show a decisive performance gap between the two, with the Intel part winning all 11 recorded head-to-head tests. The data also shows a massive difference in average benchmark score: the Ryzen 5 3501U averages 14320, while the Core Ultra 5 235HX averages 52073. Those averages place the AMD part at the 69th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel part sits at the 91st percentile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX dominates every measured workload in the database. The largest margin appears in the prime number search test, where Intel scores 361 versus AMD’s 21, a performance deficit of 94.2 percent for the Ryzen part. That test is heavily single-thread dependent and clock sensitive, so the gap reflects both the higher boost clock and the newer architecture.

The floating point math workload shows a similar story. The Core Ultra 5 235HX records 129819, while the Ryzen 5 3501U manages 12707, putting the AMD processor 90.2 percent behind. Extended instruction workloads, which exercise SIMD and newer instruction set extensions, show a 90.6 percent gap, with Intel at 34808 and AMD at 3274. These two results indicate that the Intel part not only has more cores but also delivers far more work per instruction stream.

The encryption workload is another large win for Intel. The Core Ultra 5 235HX scores 32697, while the Ryzen 5 3501U scores 5580, a deficit of 82.9 percent. Data compression shows Intel at 426417 versus AMD’s 87380, a 79.5 percent gap. Random string sorting, a memory and cache sensitive test, shows Intel at 50929 and AMD at 10414, a 79.6 percent difference. These results point to the Intel part’s larger caches and higher memory bandwidth as contributing factors.

The integer math test shows the smallest relative margin among the multi-threaded workloads, but it is still substantial. Intel scores 97177, AMD scores 26321, a 72.9 percent deficit. The multithread benchmark itself shows Intel at 40849 and AMD at 7071, an 82.7 percent gap. The physics workload, which often scales with core count and clock speed, shows Intel at 2550 and AMD at 483, an 81.1 percent deficit.

Single-thread performance is the closest contest, though Intel still wins clearly. The Core Ultra 5 235HX scores 4683 in the single-thread test, while the Ryzen 5 3501U scores 2136. That is a 54.4 percent deficit for the AMD part. The database lists the single-thread score twice under different test names, with identical values, confirming the measurement.

The Ryzen 5 3501U does not win a single head-to-head test in the recorded data. The Intel part wins all 11 comparisons. The smallest Intel advantage is the 54.4 percent single-thread margin; the largest is the 94.2 percent prime number search margin. Even in the AMD processor’s best case, the Intel part is more than twice as fast per thread.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel part scores 40849 in the PassMark multithread test, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U scores 7071. That is an 82.7 percent difference. The gap is consistent with the 14-core versus 4-core configuration and the higher boost clock.

Q: Does the Ryzen 5 3501U have any advantage in single-thread performance?

A: No. The Core Ultra 5 235HX scores 4683 in the single-thread test, while the Ryzen 5 3501U scores 2136. The Intel part leads by 54.4 percent, which is the smallest margin between the two processors in any recorded test.

Q: How do the two processors compare in memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX supports dual-channel DDR5 with a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports dual-channel DDR4 with a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel platform also uses PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes, while the AMD part uses PCIe Gen 3.

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX has an average benchmark score of 52073, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has an average of 14320. The Intel processor also ranks at the 91st percentile of all CPUs, compared to the 69th percentile for the AMD part.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX boosts to 5.10 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U boosts to 3.70 GHz. The Intel part also has a higher base clock at 2.90 GHz versus 2.10 GHz.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U does not. The Intel part also has a significantly higher thermal design power at 55 watts, compared to 15 watts for the AMD part.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and foundries. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses the Picasso codename, which is based on the Zen+ microarchitecture. It is built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX uses the Arrow Lake-HX codename, based on the Arrow Lake architecture. It is built on a 3 nm process at TSMC.

Transistor count and die size show the scale difference. The AMD processor integrates 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Intel processor integrates 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The Intel part packs more than three times the transistor count into a slightly larger die, enabled by the denser 3 nm process.

Cache organization is fundamentally different. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches and six times the shared L3 cache. That L3 difference likely explains part of the large gap in memory-sensitive workloads like random string sorting.

The memory controller and platform interfaces also differ. The AMD part supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel part supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel part uses PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes, while the AMD part uses PCIe Gen 3. Both processors have integrated graphics, but the AMD part uses Radeon Vega 8, while the Intel part uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 48 execution units.

Neither processor supports ECC memory, according to the database. Both are classified as mobile processors and both are listed as active in production. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD part does not. The Intel part is from the Core Ultra Series 2 generation, while the AMD part is from the 3000 series with the Ryzen 5 (Zen+ (Picasso)) generation label.

Release dates in the database show the Intel processor was released in January 2025, while the AMD processor has a release date of May 2026. Neither processor has a launch MSRP recorded in the database.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ substantially. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX has 14 cores and 14 threads. Neither processor uses simultaneous multithreading, so thread counts equal core counts for both.

Clock speeds differ across the board. The AMD part has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The Intel part has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Intel part leads by 0.80 GHz at base and 1.40 GHz at boost.

Thermal design power is a major differentiator. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is rated at 15 watts. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX is rated at 55 watts. The 40 watt difference reflects the Intel part’s much larger core count and higher clock speeds.

The socket and packaging differ. The AMD part uses AMD Socket FP5, while the Intel part uses Intel BGA 2114. The part numbers are also different: the AMD processor has the part number YM3501C4T4MFG, while the Intel processor has the part number SRVFL.

The process node and foundry differ. The AMD part is fabricated on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Intel part is fabricated on a 3 nm process at TSMC. The transistor counts are 4,940 million for AMD and 17,800 million for Intel. The die sizes are 210 mm² for AMD and 243 mm² for Intel.

Memory support differs. The AMD part supports DDR4, while the Intel part supports DDR5. Both use a dual-channel memory bus, but bandwidth is 38.4 GB/s for AMD and 102.4 GB/s for Intel. PCIe support differs as well: the AMD part uses Gen 3, while the Intel part uses Gen 5 with 20 lanes.

Cache specifications differ at every level. The AMD part has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The integrated graphics differ: Radeon Vega 8 for AMD, Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 48EU for Intel.

The multiplier unlock status differs. The AMD part has a locked multiplier. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier. The production status for both is listed as active.

The Verdict

The benchmark data shows a clear hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX outperforms the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U in every recorded test. The smallest Intel advantage is 54.4 percent in single-thread performance. The largest is 94.2 percent in prime number search. In multi-threaded workloads, the Intel part leads by margins between 72.9 percent and 82.9 percent.

The average benchmark score difference is stark: 52073 for Intel versus 14320 for AMD. The percentile ranking also separates the two: 91st for Intel, 69th for AMD. The Intel part’s nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 8124P, the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, the Intel Core i7-14700, and the Intel Core i9-13900F, all within a range of 0.7 percent of its average score. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546, the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C, the Intel Core 7 160UL, and the Intel Core i5-10400F, all within 1 percent of its average score.

The Ryzen 5 3501U targets a much lower power envelope at 15 watts, while the Core Ultra 5 235HX uses 55 watts. That power difference explains part of the performance gap. The Intel part also benefits from a newer 3 nm process, a higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz versus 3.70 GHz, and more than three times the transistor count. The AMD part uses an older 12 nm process and a Zen+ architecture that predates the Intel Arrow Lake design.

For workloads that demand maximum throughput, the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX is the clear choice based on the recorded data. It wins every single benchmark category, from compression and encryption to integer math and single-thread performance. Its 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth give it a substantial advantage in data-intensive tasks.

For workloads that require minimal power consumption, the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has the lower thermal design power at 15 watts. The data does not include battery life or power efficiency measurements, so no direct efficiency comparison is possible from the database. The AMD part also uses the older DDR4 memory standard, which may be simpler to integrate into existing platforms.

The database shows no recorded benchmark where the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U comes out ahead. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX leads in all 11 head-to-head comparisons. The Intel part also carries an unlocked multiplier, enabling user-controlled frequency adjustments, while the AMD part does not. Both processors are active in production, and both are classified as mobile parts.

The choice between the two depends entirely on the target platform and power budget. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX delivers dramatically higher performance across every measured metric. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U consumes far less power and supports a different memory and socket standard. The recorded data does not suggest any performance scenario where the AMD part would be preferable.