AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs Intel Processor N250 Comparison

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is the clear performance leader in this comparison, based on the recorded benchmark data. It carries a 69th percentile ranking among all CPUs, while the Intel Processor N250 sits at the 50th percentile. The Ryzen 5 3501U also posts an average benchmark score of 14,320, whereas the Intel N250 has no recorded average benchmark score in the database, meaning its measured performance baseline is essentially absent from the dataset.

The Ryzen 5 3501U belongs to AMD's 3000 series and uses the Zen+ Picasso architecture on a 12 nm node. The Intel Processor N250 uses the Twin Lake architecture on a 10 nm node. Both parts are mobile segments, both are actively produced, and neither has a launch MSRP recorded in the database. The AMD part is unlocked for multipliers, while the Intel part is not, but that distinction matters little for typical mobile use cases.

The Intel Processor N250 has a significant advantage in power draw, as its thermal design power is 6 watts compared to the Ryzen 5 3501U's 15 watts. That 9-watt gap makes the Intel part substantially more efficient for fanless or ultra-low-power designs. However, the AMD part offers higher measured performance across every benchmark category where data exists.

For buyers deciding between these two, the data points to a simple split. The Ryzen 5 3501U is the choice for workloads that demand compute throughput, such as data compression, encryption, floating-point math, and multithreaded tasks. The Intel Processor N250 is the choice for systems where the 6-watt power envelope is the governing constraint, as its performance data is not recorded, so no measured performance advantage can be attributed to it. The verdict from the database is straightforward: the AMD part delivers the performance, the Intel part delivers the lower power ceiling.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is built on the Zen+ (Picasso) generation, using the Picasso codename. It is manufactured on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The die contains 4,940 million transistors across a 210 mm² area. The Intel Processor N250 is built on the Twin Lake architecture, which the database lists under the Alder Lake-N generation. It uses a 10 nm process from Intel's own foundry. Transistor count and die size for the Intel part are not recorded in the database.

Both processors have 4 cores and 4 threads, so neither offers simultaneous multithreading. The cache hierarchy differs notably. The 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 Processor N250 also has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, but its L2 cache is 2 MB shared, and its L3 cache is 6 MB shared. The Intel part therefore has more total L3 cache, while the AMD part has a per-core L2 arrangement that may benefit certain access patterns.

Memory support differs as well. The Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus. The Intel Processor N250 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 memory, but over a single-channel bus. Both parts list the same memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s in the database, despite the channel count difference. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

The integrated graphics differ. The AMD part uses Radeon Vega 8 graphics, while the Intel part uses UHD Graphics 730. The database does not include graphics benchmark scores for either part, so a numerical comparison of graphics performance is not possible from the available data.

PCIe support is Gen 3 for both processors. The Intel part lists 9 lanes, CPU only, while the AMD part does not have a lane count recorded in the database. The sockets differ, with the AMD part using AMD Socket FP5 and the Intel part using Intel BGA 1264.

Clock speeds show a trade-off. The Ryzen 5 3501U has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The Intel Processor N250 has a base clock of 0.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The Intel part boosts slightly higher, but its base clock is extremely low, which aligns with its 6-watt power envelope. The AMD part has a much higher base clock, which supports sustained performance under load.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has an average benchmark score of 14,320. The Intel Processor N250 has an average benchmark score of 0 in the database, meaning no benchmark results are recorded for it.

Q: How do the two processors compare in power consumption?

A: The Intel Processor N250 has a thermal design power of 6 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has a thermal design power of 15 watts. The Intel part draws less power by design.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U and the Intel Processor N250 have 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Processor N250 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 only. The Intel Processor N250 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U or the Intel Processor N250 unlocked for overclocking?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Processor N250 does not have an unlocked multiplier.

Specification Differences

The database records the following differences between the two processors:

• Series: AMD Ryzen 5 3501U belongs to the 3000 series; the Intel Processor N250 has no series listed.
• Architecture: Intel Processor N250 lists Twin Lake as its architecture; the AMD part lists no architecture field.
• Codename: AMD uses Picasso; Intel uses Twin Lake.
• Generation: AMD is listed as Ryzen 5 (Zen+ (Picasso)); Intel is listed as Intel Processor (Alder Lake-N).
• Process node: AMD uses 12 nm; Intel uses 10 nm.
• Foundry: AMD uses GlobalFoundries; Intel uses Intel.
• Transistors: AMD has 4,940 million transistors; Intel has no recorded transistor count.
• Die size: AMD has a 210 mm² die; Intel has no recorded die size.
• Base clock: AMD is 2.10 GHz; Intel is 0.10 GHz.
• Boost clock: AMD is 3.70 GHz; Intel is 3.80 GHz.
• TDP: AMD is 15 watts; Intel is 6 watts.
• Socket: AMD uses AMD Socket FP5; Intel uses Intel BGA 1264.
• L2 cache: AMD has 512 KB per core; Intel has 2 MB shared.
• L3 cache: AMD has 4 MB shared; Intel has 6 MB shared.
• Memory support: AMD supports DDR4; Intel supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5.
• Memory bus: AMD is dual-channel; Intel is single-channel.
• PCIe: AMD lists Gen 3; Intel lists Gen 3 with 9 lanes, CPU only.
• Integrated graphics: AMD uses Radeon Vega 8; Intel uses UHD Graphics 730.
• Release date: AMD is dated 2026-05-31; Intel is dated 2025-01-06.
• Part number: AMD is YM3501C4T4MFG; Intel is SRPNS.
• Multiplier unlocked: AMD is unlocked; Intel is not.
• Percentile: AMD is at the 69th percentile; Intel is at the 50th percentile.
• Average benchmark score: AMD is 14,320; Intel is 0.
• Nearest rivals: AMD has four recorded rivals; Intel has none.

Fields that match include cores (4), threads (4), L1 cache (96 KB per core), memory bandwidth (38.4 GB/s), ECC support (false for both), market segment (mobile), production status (active), and launch MSRP (not recorded for either).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no direct head-to-head benchmark results for these two processors, and the Intel Processor N250 has no individual benchmark scores recorded. The comparison therefore relies entirely on the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U's recorded benchmark suite and its percentile ranking.

The Ryzen 5 3501U shows its strongest results in data compression, with a PassMark data compression score of 87,380. This is by far the highest score in its benchmark set, indicating that the part handles compression workloads very effectively. Data encryption follows at 5,580, which is a moderate score. Extended instructions score 3,274, and the find prime numbers test returns a score of 21, which is a low result and indicates that the part does not excel at that particular prime-finding workload.

Floating-point math scores 12,707, while integer math scores 26,321. The integer math result is more than double the floating-point result, which suggests the architecture favors integer-heavy workloads. Multithreaded performance scores 7,071, and the physics test scores 483, which is a relatively low result. Random string sorting scores 10,414, and single-thread performance scores 2,136, with the database listing the same value twice under two slightly different test names.

The average benchmark score of 14,320 places the Ryzen 5 3501U close to several rivals. The closest rival is the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546, which has an average score of 14,336, putting the Ryzen 5 3501U behind by 0.1 percent. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320C scores 14,277, which puts the Ryzen 5 3501U ahead by 0.3 percent. The Intel Core 7 160UL scores 14,232, putting the Ryzen 5 3501U ahead by 0.6 percent. The Intel Core i5-10400F scores 14,185, putting the Ryzen 5 3501U ahead by 1 percent. These narrow margins indicate that the Ryzen 5 3501U sits in a tightly clustered performance band among its nearest rivals.

Since the Intel Processor N250 has no benchmark scores and no nearest rivals recorded, the database cannot establish a measured performance gap between the two processors. The only comparative signal is the percentile difference: 69 for the AMD part versus 50 for the Intel part. That 19-percentile-point gap suggests the AMD part ranks substantially higher in the overall CPU distribution.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U wins in every measured performance category, simply because it is the only one of the two with recorded benchmark data. Its 69th percentile ranking indicates that it outperforms a majority of all CPUs in the database. The benchmark suite shows particular strength in data compression, where the score of 87,380 dominates its own results. Integer math at 26,321, floating-point math at 12,707, and random string sorting at 10,414 all represent solid scores for a 4-core, 4-thread mobile processor.

The Ryzen 5 3501U also wins on sustained base clock, with 2.10 GHz versus the Intel part's 0.10 GHz. This higher base clock supports consistent throughput in workloads that run for extended periods, such as data processing or compilation tasks. The dual-channel memory bus on the AMD part provides another structural advantage, even though both parts list the same 38.4 GB/s bandwidth.

The Intel Processor N250 wins on power efficiency, with a 6-watt thermal design power that is 9 watts lower than the AMD part's 15-watt TDP. This makes the Intel part better suited for systems where heat dissipation and battery life are the primary constraints, such as fanless notebooks or compact embedded devices. The Intel part also boosts slightly higher at 3.80 GHz versus 3.70 GHz, though its base clock is drastically lower. The larger L3 cache of 6 MB shared, compared to 4 MB shared on the AMD part, may benefit certain cache-sensitive workloads. The broader memory support for DDR5 and LPDDR5 gives the Intel part more memory options in system design, even with its single-channel bus.

The release dates differ, with the Intel part dated 2025-01-06 and the AMD part dated 2026-05-31. The Intel part is therefore earlier in the database's timeline, while the AMD part is a later entry. Both are listed as active in production. The use-case split is clean from the data: performance-oriented mobile workloads favor the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U, while power-limited designs favor the Intel Processor N250.