AMD Ryzen 5 4500 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 164U Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 and Intel Core Ultra 7 164U are two processors that occupy the same overall performance percentile (71st) but achieve it through entirely different means. The Ryzen 5 4500 is a desktop part with a 65W TDP, while the Core Ultra 7 164U is a mobile chip with a 9W TDP. Benchmark results show a clear split: the AMD chip dominates multi-threaded and data-heavy workloads, while the Intel chip wins in single-threaded and math-specific tasks. The data shows 10 benchmark wins for the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 versus 7 for the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U, but the margins tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided victory for the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 13677 against the Intel's 8766, a 56% advantage. This is the largest delta in any benchmark category. The gap narrows in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where AMD leads 5744 to 4488 (28% ahead), and further still in Cinebench R15 multi-core, with AMD ahead 1378 to 1304 (5.7%). This trend suggests the AMD chip scales better as thread counts increase, which is consistent with its 12 threads versus Intel's 14 threads — though the AMD still wins despite having fewer threads.

The PassMark suite reveals where the Intel chip fights back. The Core Ultra 7 164U wins PassMark single-thread with a score of 2996 versus 2593 for the AMD, a 13.5% margin. It also wins PassMark physics (918 vs 726, a 20.9% edge), PassMark find prime numbers (56 vs 34, a 39.3% edge), and PassMark floating point math (33581 vs 29405, a 12.4% edge). The integer math result is nearly a tie, with Intel ahead by just 1.3% (50387 vs 49707).

AMD's wins in the PassMark suite are decisive in data-heavy tasks. The Ryzen 5 4500 scores 228741 in data compression versus 137133 for Intel, a 66.8% advantage. It also leads data encryption by 53.8% (13597 vs 8838) and extended instructions by 91.5% (15166 vs 7918). Random string sorting goes to AMD by 58.5% (23989 vs 15131). The PassMark multithread result shows AMD ahead 16091 to 13296, a 21% margin.

Interestingly, the Cinebench single-core results favor AMD despite Intel's PassMark single-thread win. In Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD leads 1930 to 1590 (21.4% ahead). In Cinebench R20 single-core, AMD leads 810 to 633 (28% ahead). But in Cinebench R15 single-core, Intel wins 225 to 194 (AMD trails by 13.8%). This inconsistency suggests benchmark-specific behavior: the Intel chip's single-thread advantage in PassMark does not translate to Cinebench single-core, where AMD is clearly stronger.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different designs. The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 uses the Zen 2 architecture (codename Renoir) on a 7 nm TSMC process, with 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die. It has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 7 164U uses the Meteor Lake architecture on a 7 nm Intel process, with 12 cores and 14 threads — a hybrid configuration that explains its higher core count but lower thread count relative to core count.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip has 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. Intel's larger per-core caches (nearly double the L1, four times the L2) likely contribute to its single-thread wins in PassMark and prime number finding, where cache locality matters.

Memory support differs by generation. The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 supports DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The Intel Core Ultra 7 164U supports DDR5 (with capacity depending on the motherboard) and also uses dual-channel memory, but no memory bandwidth figure is available in the data. The AMD chip uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip uses PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only).

The TDP disparity is stark: 65W for AMD versus 9W for Intel. The Intel chip is clearly designed for low-power mobile operation, while the AMD chip is a desktop part. The Intel chip includes integrated graphics (Arc Xe-LPG 64EU), whereas the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 has no integrated graphics listed. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel chip does not. The AMD chip uses the AM4 socket and was released in April 2022, while the Intel chip uses BGA 2551 and was released in December 2023.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 wins in multi-threaded rendering and data processing. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 13677 is 56% higher than Intel's 8766, making it the clear choice for CPU-bound rendering workloads. The PassMark multithread result (16091 vs 13296) confirms this, and the compression (66.8% ahead), encryption (53.8% ahead), and extended instructions (91.5% ahead) results show AMD's strength in data-heavy tasks.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 164U wins in single-threaded responsiveness and specific math workloads. Its PassMark single-thread score of 2996 beats AMD's 2593 by 13.5%. The physics score (918 vs 726) and prime number finding (56 vs 34) suggest Intel's architecture handles certain algorithmic workloads better. Floating point math also favors Intel by 12.4%, and integer math is essentially a tie.

For a desktop user who cares about rendering, compression, and encryption, the AMD chip is the obvious winner — its margins are large and consistent. For a mobile user who needs single-thread responsiveness and low power consumption (9W TDP), the Intel chip is the appropriate choice, even though it loses most multi-threaded benchmarks. The Intel chip's integrated graphics also make it viable in systems without a discrete GPU, which the AMD chip cannot match.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split based on use case. If the workload is multi-threaded rendering, data compression, encryption, or any task that scales with thread count, the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 is the superior processor. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core advantage of 56% and PassMark multithread advantage of 21% make it the right pick for desktop builds where power consumption is not the primary constraint.

If the workload is single-threaded, involves physics simulation, or requires low power consumption, the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U is the better choice. Its 13.5% single-thread advantage and 20.9% physics advantage, combined with a 9W TDP versus 65W, make it suitable for thin-and-light laptops or fanless designs. The Intel chip also brings integrated graphics, which the AMD chip lacks entirely.

The average benchmark scores are close: 17333 for AMD versus 17074 for Intel, a difference of about 1.5%. Both chips sit at the 71st percentile of all CPUs. The nearest rivals for the AMD chip include the AMD Ryzen 3 210 (0.1% behind), the Intel Core 7 150U (0.4% ahead), and the Intel Core i5-12450H (0.5% behind). The Intel chip's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7573X (0% delta), the Intel Core i5-11400 (0% delta), and the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 (0.2% ahead). Neither chip is a clear overall winner; they trade blows depending on the workload.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 wins all multi-core benchmarks. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 13677 versus 8766 for the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U, a 56% advantage. The PassMark multithread score also favors AMD at 16091 versus 13296.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U beat the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 in any benchmark?

A: Yes, the Intel chip wins 7 benchmarks total. It leads in PassMark single-thread (2996 vs 2593, a 13.5% edge), PassMark physics (918 vs 726, a 20.9% edge), PassMark find prime numbers (56 vs 34), PassMark floating point math (33581 vs 29405), PassMark integer math (50387 vs 49707), Cinebench R15 single-core (225 vs 194), and PassMark singlethread (2996 vs 2593).

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 has a TDP of 65W, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U has a TDP of 9W. This makes the Intel chip far more suitable for power-constrained mobile designs, while the AMD chip is a standard desktop part.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 164U has 12 cores and 14 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite having fewer cores and threads, the AMD chip wins most multi-threaded benchmarks, indicating higher per-thread efficiency in those tests.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 supports DDR4 memory, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U supports DDR5 (with capacity depending on the motherboard). Both use dual-channel memory, but only the AMD chip has a listed memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 164U includes integrated graphics (Arc Xe-LPG 64EU). The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 has no integrated graphics listed in the data, meaning it requires a discrete GPU for display output.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 4500 | Intel Core Ultra 7 164U |

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

| Cores | 6 | 12 |

| Threads | 12 | 14 |

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 1100.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 65W | 9W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel BGA 2551 |

| Architecture | Zen 2 | Meteor Lake |

| Codename | Renoir | Meteor Lake |

| Process Node | 7 nm (TSMC) | 7 nm (Intel) |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 112 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR5 (depends on motherboard) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | Not listed |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 8 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Arc Xe-LPG 64EU |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2022-04-03 | 2023-12-13 |

| Launch MSRP | $129 | $448 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | 100-000000xxx | SRN85 |