AMD Ryzen 5 40 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

AMD Ryzen 5 40 and Intel Core Ultra 5 338H are both mobile processors, but the data shows they occupy completely different performance tiers. The Ryzen 5 40 is a low-power Zen 2 design, while the Core Ultra 5 338H is a higher-power Panther Lake chip. In the recorded head-to-head benchmark suite, the Intel part wins every single test. The database records 15 wins for the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H and 0 for the AMD Ryzen 5 40. This is not a close contest; the performance gap is consistent across single-threaded, multi-threaded, and specialized workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 40 does not win a single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison set. Its only advantage is indirect, derived from its lower power draw and smaller process node. The Ryzen 5 40 has a 15W TDP and is built on a 6 nm process, while the Intel chip uses a 25W TDP and a 3 nm process. For workloads that are extremely power-sensitive, the AMD part is the only one of the two that fits a 15W thermal envelope. The data shows the Ryzen 5 40 delivers a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 4841, which is usable for light productivity, but it sits at the 70th percentile when compared to all CPUs in the database. That is a mid-range placement.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins in every measurable category. Its largest margins come in floating point math, physics, and prime number finding. The Intel chip scores 84067 in PassMark floating point math versus 15194 for AMD, and 2697 in PassMark physics versus 432. These results indicate the Intel part is suited for tasks that rely on heavy arithmetic throughput, such as scientific computing or complex simulations. The Intel chip also leads in single-thread performance by a wide margin, with a PassMark single-thread score of 4180 against 2477. That makes it the better choice for latency-sensitive applications that depend on one core, such as legacy software or some games. The Intel chip's 84th percentile ranking versus all CPUs places it well above the AMD part's 70th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The AMD Ryzen 5 40 uses the Zen 2 architecture under the Mendocino codename, fabricated by TSMC on a 6 nm process. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses the Panther Lake architecture, fabricated by Intel on a 3 nm process. It has 12 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The Intel part has three times the core count and a higher boost clock despite its lower base clock.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The AMD chip offers 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip provides 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The L3 cache difference is particularly large: the Intel part has 4.5 times more shared L3 cache than AMD. Memory support also differs. The AMD part uses LPDDR5 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 88.0 GB/s. The Intel part uses LPDDR5X with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s, which is a 55% higher memory bandwidth figure.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The AMD Ryzen 5 40 uses PCIe Gen 3 with 4 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses PCIe Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ: the AMD part has Radeon 610M, while the Intel part has Arc B370. The sockets are not interchangeable, with AMD using AMD Socket FT6 and Intel using Intel BGA 2540.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results show the overall performance gap. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H scores 16331 against 4841 for the AMD Ryzen 5 40, a delta of -70.4% for AMD. That means the Intel part is roughly 3.4 times faster in this multi-threaded render test. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 2044 against 1150, a -43.7% delta. The single-core gap is smaller but still substantial. The older Cinebench R15 tests show similar patterns: Intel wins multi-core 2504 to 790 (-68.5%) and single-core 305 to 165.5 (-45.7%).

The PassMark suite reveals where the Intel architecture pulls away most dramatically. The largest delta in the entire dataset is PassMark find prime numbers, where Intel scores 304 and AMD scores 20, a -93.4% delta. That is a 15.2 times difference and indicates the Intel part's integer throughput and clock speed advantage are overwhelming in this workload. PassMark floating point math shows Intel at 84067 versus AMD at 15194, a -81.9% delta. PassMark physics shows Intel at 2697 versus AMD at 432, a -84% delta. These three tests are the most lopsided results in the comparison.

Other PassMark tests still show large Intel leads but with more moderate deltas. PassMark extended instructions: Intel 23906, AMD 6437, delta -73.1%. PassMark data encryption: Intel 21367, AMD 6646, delta -68.9%. PassMark multithread: Intel 28717, AMD 9341, delta -67.5%. PassMark integer math: Intel 64934, AMD 31598, delta -51.3%. PassMark random string sorting: Intel 34082, AMD 15124, delta -55.6%. PassMark data compression: Intel 276539, AMD 141533, delta -48.8%. The smallest single-thread deltas are PassMark single thread at -40.7%, with Intel scoring 4180 and AMD scoring 2477.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every recorded specification field. The AMD Ryzen 5 40 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads. The AMD part has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz; the Intel part has a base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. TDP is 15W for AMD and 25W for Intel. The process node is 6 nm for AMD (TSMC foundry) and 3 nm for Intel (Intel foundry). The die size for AMD is recorded as 100 mm², while the Intel die size is not recorded.

Cache differences are stark. L1 cache is 64 KB per core for AMD versus 192 KB per core for Intel. L2 cache is 512 KB per core for AMD versus 2.5 MB per core for Intel. L3 cache is 4 MB shared for AMD versus 18 MB shared for Intel. Memory support is LPDDR5 for AMD and LPDDR5X for Intel. Memory bandwidth is 88.0 GB/s for AMD and 136.5 GB/s for Intel. PCIe is Gen 3 with 4 lanes for AMD and Gen 5 with 4 lanes for Intel. Integrated graphics are Radeon 610M for AMD and Arc B370 for Intel. The market segment is Mobile for both, and both have locked multipliers. The Intel part has a part number of SA4REQ9EW, while the AMD part number is unknown.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores, while the AMD Ryzen 5 40 has 4 cores.

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

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H scores 16331 versus 4841 for the AMD Ryzen 5 40, a delta of -70.4% for AMD.

Q: Which chip has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 40 has a boost clock of 4.30 GHz.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 40 supports LPDDR5 with 88.0 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H supports LPDDR5X with 136.5 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: In which benchmark does the Intel chip have its largest advantage?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark find prime numbers, where Intel scores 304 against AMD's 20, a -93.4% delta.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, neither the AMD Ryzen 5 40 nor the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H supports ECC memory.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear conclusion for most users. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is the stronger processor in every recorded benchmark. It has more cores, more cache, higher memory bandwidth, a newer process node, and a higher boost clock. Its average benchmark score is 33989, which is more than double the AMD Ryzen 5 40's average of 15882. The Intel part sits at the 84th percentile versus all CPUs, compared to the AMD part's 70th percentile. For any workload that benefits from multi-threading, higher memory bandwidth, or higher single-thread speed, the Intel chip is the appropriate choice.

The AMD Ryzen 5 40's only defensible position is in the lowest-power mobile segment. Its 15W TDP is 10W lower than the Intel chip's 25W TDP. That difference matters for fanless designs, ultra-compact laptops, or battery-life-focused systems where a 25W processor cannot be cooled adequately. The AMD part also uses an older Zen 2 architecture on a 6 nm process, which is less efficient per core than the Intel 3 nm process. But the Intel chip's 12 cores and 4.70 GHz boost clock are so far ahead in performance that the AMD part cannot match it in any measured workload. The recorded data shows no use case, beyond extreme power constraints, where the Ryzen 5 40 is preferable. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins every benchmark and is the superior processor for all tested tasks.