AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs Intel Core Ultra 7 265 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U and Intel Core Ultra 7 265 occupy different tiers of the processor market, and the benchmark data reflects that separation clearly. The Intel part wins every head-to-head test in the database, often by substantial margins, while the AMD part delivers a lower-power, mobile-focused alternative. The recorded scores show a 351% difference in average benchmark score (14,320 for AMD, 64,640 for Intel), placing the Intel chip in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs versus the 69th percentile for the AMD chip.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 dominates every single recorded benchmark comparison. The smallest margin comes in single-threaded performance, where Intel scores 4,689 against AMD's 2,136, a 54.4% advantage. This is still a decisive win, but it is the closest contest in the entire comparison. In multithreaded workloads, the gap widens dramatically: Intel scores 49,682 in PassMark multithread versus AMD's 7,071, an 85.8% difference.

The largest deltas appear in compute-intensive tasks. In passmark_find_prime_numbers, Intel scores 418 versus AMD's 21, a 95% difference. Floating-point math shows a 92.6% gap (172,776 versus 12,707), and extended instructions show a 92.1% gap (41,478 versus 3,274). Data encryption favors Intel by 86.2% (40,456 versus 5,580), while data compression shows an 83.3% gap (522,983 versus 87,380). Physics scores are 83.5% higher on Intel (2,923 versus 483), and random string sorting is 83.7% higher (63,833 versus 10,414). Integer math completes the sweep with an 80.5% gap (134,773 versus 26,321).

The wins are unanimous: 11 head-to-head benchmarks, 11 wins for Intel, 0 for AMD. No test in the database shows the AMD chip ahead, even by a narrow margin. The consistency of the Intel advantage suggests a fundamental performance tier difference rather than workload-specific strengths.

Where Each One Wins

Given the benchmark sweep, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 wins every measured category. However, the two chips do not compete for the same usage profile. The Intel part is a desktop-class processor with 20 cores, 20 threads, and a 65 W TDP. It scores 49,682 in multithreaded workloads, placing it in the 93rd percentile overall. Its nearest rivals in the database are server-class parts: the AMD EPYC 4464P (0.3% higher average score), the AMD EPYC 9124 (0.7% higher), and the AMD EPYC 7343 (0.7% lower). This places the Intel chip in a performance bracket that handles heavy parallel workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is a 15 W mobile part with 4 cores and 4 threads. Its average score of 14,320 puts it near the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 (0.1% lower), the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C (0.3% higher), and the Intel Core 7 160UL (0.6% higher). These rivals are all low-power or embedded parts, confirming the AMD chip's role in efficient, compact systems. Its single-thread score of 2,136 is modest, but its 15 W power envelope allows deployment in thin laptops where the Intel desktop chip cannot operate.

The data shows no scenario where the AMD chip wins a benchmark. The practical distinction is not which chip performs better, but which environment each chip targets: the Intel part for sustained desktop throughput, the AMD part for low-power mobility.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different manufacturing and design eras. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses the Picasso codename, built on Zen+ architecture at a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries. It integrates 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 uses Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process from TSMC, with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The process node difference (12 nm versus 3 nm) explains part of the performance and efficiency gap.

Core counts diverge sharply: AMD provides 4 cores and 4 threads, while Intel provides 20 cores and 20 threads. Clock speeds also differ, with AMD boosting to 3.70 GHz from a 2.10 GHz base, while Intel boosts to 5.30 GHz from a 2.40 GHz base. The Intel chip's higher core count and clock ceiling drive its benchmark dominance.

Cache hierarchies reflect the core disparity. AMD allocates 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. Intel allocates 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 30 MB shared L3. The Intel L3 cache is 7.5 times larger in total, and its per-core L2 is 6 times larger.

Memory support also differs. AMD uses DDR4 with dual-channel access and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. Intel uses DDR5 with dual-channel access and 102.4 GB/s bandwidth, a 2.67 times higher theoretical ceiling. PCIe generation differs as well: AMD provides Gen 3, while Intel provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics take different routes. AMD pairs its CPU with Radeon Vega 8, while Intel uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 32 execution units. Both lack ECC memory support. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $394; the AMD chip has no recorded launch MSRP.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 scores 4,689 in PassMark single-thread tests, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U scores 2,136. Intel leads by 54.4%.

Q: How large is the multithreaded performance gap?

A: Intel scores 49,682 versus AMD's 7,071 in PassMark multithread, an 85.8% advantage for Intel.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 has 20 cores and 20 threads.

Q: Which processor supports faster memory?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 supports DDR5 with a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What process nodes are used?

A: The AMD chip uses a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries. The Intel chip uses a 3 nm process from TSMC.

Q: What are the TDP ratings?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has a TDP of 15 W. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 has a TDP of 65 W.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 3501U | Intel Core Ultra 7 265 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 20 |

| Threads | 4 | 20 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 2.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 GHz | 5.30 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP5 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Codename | Picasso | Arrow Lake-S |

| Process Node | 12 nm (GlobalFoundries) | 3 nm (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 | 30 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 32EU |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Launch MSRP | None recorded | $394 |

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 wins all 11 head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from 54.4% in single-thread to 95% in prime number finding. Its average benchmark score of 64,640 places it in the 93rd percentile, alongside server-class EPYC parts. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U averages 14,320, sitting in the 69th percentile near embedded and low-power mobile chips.

The selection between these two should follow the usage environment. The Intel chip, with 20 cores, 30 MB of L3 cache, DDR5 support, and a 65 W TDP, is built for desktop workloads that demand sustained parallel throughput. The AMD chip, with 4 cores, 4 MB of L3 cache, DDR4 support, and a 15 W TDP, targets mobile systems where power efficiency matters more than raw speed. The data confirms no overlap in performance capability, and no overlap in intended deployment. For maximum compute performance in a desktop, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is the clear choice. For a low-power mobile platform, the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U provides the appropriate balance, even though it loses every benchmark comparison. The recorded scores leave no ambiguity: Intel dominates all measured metrics, but the AMD part serves a different market segment entirely.