AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U and the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H are both mobile processors, but the benchmark data places them in entirely different performance classes. The Intel part wins every recorded head-to-head test, often by very wide margins. This analysis breaks down the scale of that advantage, what it means for workload selection, and the architectural factors behind the gap.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H across all 11 head-to-head comparisons. The smallest margin is in single-thread performance, where the Intel chip scores 4180 against the AMD's 2136, a delta of -48.9% from the perspective of the AMD part. That still means the Intel chip is roughly 96% faster in this specific test, which is a substantial single-core lead.

The multi-core and throughput tests show even larger gaps. In the PassMark multi-thread test, the Intel part scores 28717 versus 7071 for the AMD, a delta of -75.4%. This indicates the Intel processor delivers over four times the raw parallel throughput. The integer math test shows a delta of -59.5% (26321 for AMD, 64934 for Intel), while floating-point math shows a delta of -84.9% (12707 versus 84067). These results confirm the Intel part has a decisive advantage in both integer and floating-point workloads.

The data compression test shows the Intel chip scoring 276539 compared to 87380 for the AMD, a delta of -68.4%. Data encryption shows a delta of -73.9% (5580 versus 21367). The extended instructions test shows one of the largest deltas at -86.3% (3274 versus 23906), indicating a massive advantage for the Intel part in workloads using advanced instruction sets. The find prime numbers test shows the most extreme disparity: 21 for AMD versus 304 for Intel, a delta of -93.1%. The physics test also shows a huge gap, with the Intel part scoring 2697 versus 483, a delta of -82.1%. Random string sorting shows a delta of -69.4% (10414 versus 34082).

In every single category, from memory-intensive sorting to pure computational math, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H holds a commanding lead. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U does not record a single win in any of the head-to-head benchmarks. The data indicates that the Intel part is not just faster, but often between two and fourteen times faster depending on the specific workload.

The Verdict

The benchmark results are unambiguous. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is the superior processor for almost any performance-sensitive task. Its average benchmark score is 33989, placing it in the 84th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has an average score of 14320, placing it in the 69th percentile. The Intel part sits in a different performance tier entirely, with its nearest rivals including the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H and the AMD EPYC 4244P, both of which score within a fraction of a percent of the 338H.

For users who need maximum compute performance in a mobile platform, the Intel part is the clear choice. Its single-thread score of 4180 is nearly double the AMD's 2136, which benefits everything from application launch times to lightly-threaded productivity tasks. Its multi-thread score of 28717 is more than four times the AMD's 7071, making it far better suited for video encoding, 3D rendering, and software compilation. The Intel part also has a significantly higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz compared to 3.70 GHz for the AMD.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U, with its 15 W TDP, is positioned as a low-power part. The data shows it is outclassed in every measurable way by the Intel chip, which has a 25 W TDP. The AMD part's only advantage in the recorded data is its lower power envelope, which may appeal to users prioritizing battery life over performance. However, for any workload where speed matters, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is the only rational choice based on these benchmarks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and use fundamentally different designs. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is based on the Picasso architecture, which is part of the Zen+ generation. It is built on a 12 nm process node at GlobalFoundries and has a die size of 210 mm² with 4,940 million transistors. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses the Panther Lake architecture, specifically Panther Lake-H, and is built on a 3 nm process node at Intel. The process node difference is significant: 12 nm versus 3 nm, which explains a substantial portion of the performance and efficiency gap.

The core configurations are starkly different. The AMD part has 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. The Intel part has 12 cores and 12 threads. This triples the physical core count and directly contributes to the massive multi-thread performance lead. The Intel part also has a much larger cache hierarchy. Its L1 cache is 192 KB per core versus 96 KB per core for AMD. Its L2 cache is 2.5 MB per core versus 512 KB per core. Its shared L3 cache is 18 MB versus 4 MB for the AMD. The larger cache structure helps the Intel part keep more data closer to the cores, reducing memory latency.

Memory support also differs. The AMD part uses DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel part uses LPDDR5X with a dual-channel bus and a much higher memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. This is a 3.5x increase in theoretical memory bandwidth, which is critical for data-heavy workloads like compression and encryption where the Intel part showed massive wins.

PCIe support differs as well. The AMD part uses PCIe Gen 3, while the Intel part uses PCIe Gen 5 with 4 lanes for CPU-only connections. The integrated graphics are also different: AMD uses Radeon Vega 8, while Intel uses Arc B370. The Intel part has a higher base clock of 1.90 GHz versus 2.10 GHz for AMD, but a much higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz versus 3.70 GHz.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H scores 4180 in the PassMark single-thread test, compared to 2136 for the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U, a delta of -48.9% from the AMD's perspective.

Q: How large is the multi-thread performance gap?

A: The Intel part scores 28717 in the PassMark multi-thread test, while the AMD part scores 7071, a delta of -75.4%. This means the Intel chip delivers over four times the multi-thread performance.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H supports LPDDR5X with 136.5 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Do the processors have the same number of cores?

A: No. The AMD part has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel part has 12 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 18 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to 4 MB for the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U.

Q: What are the process nodes for each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is built on a 12 nm node, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is built on a 3 nm node.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins in every benchmark category recorded in the database. Its largest wins are in the find prime numbers test, where it scores 304 versus 21 for AMD, a delta of -93.1%. This suggests a massive advantage in integer-heavy, branch-predictor-sensitive workloads. The extended instructions test shows a delta of -86.3%, indicating the Intel part is vastly superior for workloads using AVX or similar instruction sets. Floating-point math shows a delta of -84.9%, and the physics test shows a delta of -82.1%, both indicating strong performance in scientific and simulation workloads.

The Intel part also wins decisively in memory and I/O bound tasks. Data compression shows a delta of -68.4%, and random string sorting shows a delta of -69.4%. The encryption test shows a delta of -73.9%. These results align with the Intel part's higher memory bandwidth (136.5 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s) and larger caches.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U does not have any benchmark win in the recorded data. Its lower TDP of 15 W versus 25 W for the Intel part is the only area where it has a specification-level advantage. This could make it suitable for fanless or ultra-low-power designs where absolute performance is secondary. However, from a pure performance standpoint, the data shows no workload where the AMD part is competitive. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is the definitive winner across all measured metrics, from single-thread responsiveness to heavy parallel compute.