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

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data paints a decisive picture: the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T wins all 11 recorded head-to-head comparisons against the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U. The margins are substantial across every workload category, though the scale of the advantage varies significantly from one test to another.

The largest gap appears in the passmark_find_prime_numbers test. The Intel part scores 318, while the AMD processor manages only 21, a delta of -93.4 percent. This workload heavily favors the Intel architecture's integer execution resources. The passmark_extended_instructions test shows a similar pattern, with Intel scoring 23212 versus AMD's 3274, a -85.9 percent difference, indicating a major advantage in SIMD and specialized instruction throughput.

Floating-point performance also tilts strongly toward Intel. The Core Ultra 5 235T delivers 106546 in passmark_floating_point_math, compared to 12707 for the Ryzen 5 3501U, a -88.1 percent delta. Integer math is comparatively closer but still lopsided: Intel scores 84244 against AMD's 26321, a -68.8 percent gap.

Data compression and encryption workloads show Intel dominating as well. In passmark_data_compression, Intel reaches 295100, while AMD sits at 87380, a -70.4 percent difference. For passmark_data_encryption, Intel's 23457 dwarfs AMD's 5580, a -76.2 percent margin. Random string sorting follows the same trend: 35377 for Intel versus 10414 for AMD, a -70.6 percent delta.

The multithreaded and physics tests reinforce the overall picture. Passmark_multithread scores are 30918 for Intel and 7071 for AMD, a -77.1 percent difference. Passmark_physics shows Intel at 2157 and AMD at 483, a -77.6 percent gap. The single-threaded results are the narrowest relative difference, though still substantial: Intel posts 4339 in passmark_single_thread, AMD posts 2136, a -50.8 percent delta. This indicates that Intel's per-core advantage is real but not as overwhelming as its multi-threaded lead.

The average benchmark scores reflect this hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T holds an average score of 38561, placing it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U averages 14320, sitting in the 69th percentile. Intel's nearest rivals, including the Intel Core i5-14500 and the Intel Xeon w3-2525, are within a fraction of a percent of its average score. AMD's closest competitors, such as the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 and the Intel Core 7 160UL, are similarly clustered around the 3501U's average.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-threaded benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T scores 4339 in passmark_single_thread, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U scores 2136. The Intel processor leads by -50.8 percent, meaning its score is more than double that of the AMD part.

Q: How do the two processors compare in multithreaded performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T records 30918 in passmark_multithread, versus 7071 for the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U. This represents a -77.1 percent difference, with the Intel chip delivering over four times the throughput.

Q: What is the most lopsided benchmark result between the two?

A: The passmark_find_prime_numbers test shows the largest relative gap. Intel scores 318, AMD scores 21, a -93.4 percent difference. The Intel processor outperforms the AMD chip by a factor of more than 15 in this specific workload.

Q: Does the AMD processor win any benchmark comparison?

A: No. The recorded head-to-head data lists 11 benchmark comparisons, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T wins all 11. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U does not register a single winning result in the measured tests.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare between the two?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T has an average benchmark score of 38561, which places it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U averages 14320, placing it in the 69th percentile. Intel's average is roughly 2.7 times higher.

Q: Which processor is positioned closer to its nearest rivals in the database?

A: Both are closely matched to their respective peer groups. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T's nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-14500, has an average score of 38531, a delta of only 0.1 percent. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546, averages 14336, a delta of -0.1 percent.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design lineages. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses the Picasso codename, built on the Zen+ microarchitecture, and is manufactured on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T uses the Arrow Lake-S codename, built on the Arrow Lake architecture, and is manufactured on a 3 nm process at TSMC. This process node difference alone, from 12 nm to 3 nm, explains a considerable portion of the performance and efficiency gap.

Core counts differ sharply. The AMD part has 4 cores and 4 threads, with no simultaneous multithreading. The Intel part has 14 cores and 14 threads. Both are locked multipliers, but the Intel chip carries a much larger physical implementation: 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, versus 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die for AMD.

Cache hierarchies are also dissimilar. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U provides 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part's L3 cache is six times larger, which benefits workloads with larger working sets.

Memory support diverges as well. The AMD processor uses DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a recorded bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel processor uses DDR5 memory, also dual-channel, but with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, nearly three times higher. Neither processor supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs: AMD offers PCIe Gen 3, while Intel offers PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU.

The integrated graphics are distinct. AMD integrates Radeon Vega 8 graphics; Intel integrates Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 24 execution units. Both target different market segments, with AMD designated for mobile and Intel designated for desktop.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are the most obvious specification gap: 4 cores and 4 threads for the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U, versus 14 cores and 14 threads for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T. Base clocks are close, 2.10 GHz for AMD and 2.20 GHz for Intel, but boost clocks diverge significantly: 3.70 GHz for AMD versus 5.00 GHz for Intel.

Thermal design power differs by a wide margin. The AMD processor has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Intel processor has a TDP of 65 watts. This explains part of the performance gap, as the Intel chip is allowed to draw substantially more power. Socket types are incompatible: AMD uses Socket FP5, Intel uses Socket 1851.

The process node and foundry differ, as noted: 12 nm at GlobalFoundries for AMD, 3 nm at TSMC for Intel. Transistor counts and die sizes are also different, with Intel using more than three times the transistor count on a slightly larger die. Cache specifications differ across all levels, with Intel's per-core L1 and L2 caches being larger and its shared L3 being 24 MB versus AMD's 4 MB.

Memory support is split between DDR4 and DDR5, with corresponding bandwidth differences of 38.4 GB/s versus 102.4 GB/s. PCIe generation differs, Gen 3 for AMD and Gen 5 for Intel. The integrated GPU differs as well, with AMD's Radeon Vega 8 versus Intel's Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU. Release dates are recorded as 2026 for the AMD part and 2025 for the Intel part. The Intel processor has a launch MSRP of $247; the AMD processor has no recorded launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T wins in every recorded benchmark category, so the practical question is not whether it wins, but by how much and in which workloads the gap is most consequential. For compute-heavy tasks such as prime number finding, extended instruction workloads, and floating-point math, the Intel chip's advantage is overwhelming, with deltas between -85.9 percent and -93.4 percent. These workloads benefit from the Intel part's larger core count, bigger caches, and newer architecture.

For memory-intensive operations like data compression and random string sorting, Intel also leads decisively, with deltas around -70.6 percent to -70.4 percent. The higher memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s and the larger L3 cache likely contribute to these outcomes. Encryption workloads show a similar pattern, with Intel ahead by -76.2 percent.

Single-threaded performance is the closest category. Intel leads by -50.8 percent, which is still a substantial margin but smaller than the multi-threaded gaps. This suggests that while Intel's per-core efficiency is superior, the biggest differentiator is the Intel chip's ability to scale across many cores, as evidenced by the -77.1 percent multithreaded delta and the -77.6 percent physics delta.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U does not win any benchmark category. Its position in the 69th percentile of all CPUs, versus Intel's 86th percentile, confirms that it sits in a lower performance tier overall. The AMD part's strengths are not visible in the recorded benchmark suite; instead, its appeal lies in its 15-watt TDP and mobile market segment, which the data shows but does not reward with performance wins. The Intel part, with its 65-watt TDP and desktop designation, commands a higher power budget and delivers accordingly.

For workloads that demand maximum throughput, high memory bandwidth, or extensive cache, the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T is the clear choice. For scenarios constrained by power consumption or mobile form factors, the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U may still be relevant, but the benchmark data provides no performance category where it outpaces the Intel competitor.