AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data presents an unambiguous hierarchy between these two processors. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF wins all 11 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U failing to claim a single victory in the measured tests. The Intel part delivers an average benchmark score of 55093, placing it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the AMD mobile chip scores 14320 on average, landing in the 69th percentile. For workloads that demand raw compute throughput, the Core Ultra 5 245KF is categorically the stronger silicon. The Ryzen 5 3501U, with its 4 cores and 4 threads, sits in a different performance class entirely, and the data suggests it is best suited for low-power or embedded scenarios rather than performance-intensive tasks. The Intel chip is a desktop processor with an unlocked multiplier and a 125 TDP, while the AMD part is a 15-watt mobile processor, so the comparison reflects two fundamentally different market positions. There is no scenario in the recorded benchmarks where the AMD chip outperforms the Intel part, but the Ryzen's efficiency profile and mobile socket may justify its existence for specific low-power systems where the Intel chip's power envelope is not viable.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge sharply in nearly every architectural parameter recorded in the database. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is built on the Picasso codename, part of the 3000 series, using a 12 nm process node from GlobalFoundries. It integrates 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF uses the Arrow Lake-S codename from the Core Ultra Series 2, fabricated on a 3 nm node by TSMC, with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The difference in process technology is substantial: the Intel part packs more than three times the transistor count on a slightly larger die, which directly correlates with its massive performance lead.

Core and thread counts differ by a factor of 3.5. The AMD chip has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel chip has 14 cores and 14 threads. Neither part uses simultaneous multithreading, so thread counts equal core counts. The Intel chip also runs at far higher clocks: its base clock is 4.20 GHz and boost clock is 5.20 GHz, compared to the AMD's 2.10 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost. The TDP figures reinforce the gulf: the AMD part is rated at 15 watts, while the Intel part is rated at 125 watts. Socket compatibility is entirely different as well, with the AMD using AMD Socket FP5 and the Intel using Intel Socket 1851.

Cache hierarchies are also divergent. The AMD chip provides 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 is six times the L3 capacity and six times the per-core L2. Memory support differs as well: the AMD chip uses DDR4 with dual-channel access and 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Intel chip uses DDR5 with dual-channel access and 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel part also supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes for the CPU, whereas the AMD chip is limited to PCIe Gen 3. The AMD chip includes integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF has no integrated graphics. Neither chip supports ECC memory. The AMD chip's multiplier is locked, while the Intel chip's multiplier is unlocked, allowing overclocking. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $294.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a comprehensive sweep by the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF across all eleven recorded tests. The largest relative margin appears in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the Intel chip scores 416 against the AMD's 21, a delta of -95 percent from the AMD's perspective. This means the Intel part delivers roughly 19.8 times the throughput in that specific workload. Floating point math shows a similar pattern: the Intel score is 131546 versus 12707, a -90.3 percent delta, indicating the Intel part is about 10.4 times faster. Extended instructions follow closely, with the Intel part at 37912 and the AMD at 3274, a -91.4 percent delta, roughly an 11.6-fold advantage.

The multithreaded PassMark score of 43110 for the Intel chip versus 7071 for the AMD chip represents a -83.6 percent delta, meaning the Intel part is about 6.1 times faster. That margin aligns with the core and thread count advantage, combined with the higher clocks. The physics test shows the Intel chip at 2998 versus 483, a -83.9 percent delta, roughly 6.2 times faster. Random string sorting yields 55206 for the Intel part and 10414 for the AMD part, a -81.1 percent delta. Data compression shows 460123 versus 87380, a -81 percent delta. Integer math is 98854 versus 26321, a -73.4 percent delta, the smallest relative margin among the multithreaded tests but still a decisive 3.75-fold advantage.

Single-threaded performance is the closest contest, but the Intel chip still wins decisively. The PassMark single thread score is 4715 for the Intel part versus 2136 for the AMD part, a -54.7 percent delta. That means the Intel chip is about 2.2 times faster in single-threaded work, despite the AMD's Zen+ architecture. Data encryption shows 33381 versus 5580, a -83.3 percent delta, roughly 6.0 times faster. The Intel chip's 91st percentile ranking versus the AMD's 69th percentile confirms that the Intel part sits near the top of the database, while the AMD chip sits closer to the middle of the distribution.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF scores 4715 in the PassMark single thread test, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U scores 2136. The Intel part is faster by a margin of -54.7 percent from the AMD's perspective, meaning it is roughly 2.2 times faster.

Q: How do the core counts compare between the two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF has 14 cores and 14 threads. Neither processor supports simultaneous multithreading.

Q: What are the power requirements for each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has a TDP of 15 watts. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF has a TDP of 125 watts. The AMD chip is rated for mobile use, while the Intel chip is a desktop processor.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF include integrated graphics?

A: No. The database lists the integrated graphics for the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF as N/A. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U, by contrast, includes Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor supports faster memory?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has an average benchmark score of 14320. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF has an average benchmark score of 55093. The Intel chip also ranks in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD chip ranks in the 69th percentile.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF wins in every single benchmark category recorded in the database. Its advantages are most pronounced in workloads that scale with core count, cache capacity, and memory bandwidth. The multithreaded PassMark score of 43110, the physics score of 2998, and the floating point math score of 131546 all demonstrate that the Intel chip is built for heavy parallel computation. The 14 cores, 24 MB of shared L3 cache, and 102.4 GB/s of DDR5 bandwidth combine to produce roughly 6.1 times the multithreaded throughput of the AMD chip. For data compression, integer math, encryption, and random string sorting, the Intel part maintains a similar 3.7 to 6.0 times advantage. The single-threaded score of 4715 also puts the Intel chip ahead by 2.2 times, meaning even lightly threaded applications will favor the Intel part.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U wins in none of the recorded benchmarks, but its profile points to specific use cases that the data does not directly measure. With a 15-watt TDP, the AMD chip is designed for power-constrained mobile environments where the Intel chip's 125-watt envelope is simply not feasible. The AMD chip includes integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics, so a system built around it does not require a discrete GPU. It also uses the AMD Socket FP5, which is a mobile socket, and supports DDR4 memory, which is older and generally less expensive than DDR5. The AMD chip's 69th percentile ranking shows it is not a weak processor in absolute terms, but it is not competitive with the Intel chip's 91st percentile standing. The AMD part is also from the 3000 series with Zen+ architecture, which is an older design compared to the Intel Arrow Lake generation. For any workload where performance is the primary criterion, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF is the clear choice. For low-power, integrated-graphics, or mobile systems where the Intel chip cannot be used at all, the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U remains a functional option, though the database does not contain any benchmark where it surpasses the Intel part.