AMD Ryzen 5 5600F vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F and Intel Core Ultra 5 225 occupy nearly identical positions in the overall performance hierarchy, with average benchmark scores of 36,945 and 36,938 respectively—a difference of just 0.02%. Both processors sit at the 85th percentile among all CPUs tracked, and the Intel part’s nearest rival list places the AMD chip at a 0% delta, meaning the two are statistical equals in aggregate. Yet the head-to-head data tells a far more one-sided story: across eleven shared PassMark workloads, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 wins every single one, with the Ryzen 5 5600F failing to secure a single victory. The overall averages are close because the AMD chip’s scores are consistent, while the Intel part shows a mix of moderate and massive leads, but the direction of travel is unambiguous.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single gap appears in PassMark’s find prime numbers test, where the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 scores 358 against the Ryzen 5 5600F’s 120—a 66.5% deficit for the AMD part. This is not an isolated anomaly; floating point math shows a similar chasm, with Intel at 92,038 versus AMD at 34,548, a 62.5% margin. The physics workload also heavily favors Intel, 2,342 to 1,043, a 55.5% lead. These three tests measure computational throughput under sustained mathematical load, and the data indicates the Intel architecture is executing these workloads at well over double the rate in some cases.

The Intel advantage persists across memory and data-oriented tasks, though the margins shrink. Data compression sees Intel at 302,811 against AMD’s 232,836, a 23.1% lead. Random string sorting follows a similar pattern, with Intel ahead by 36% (36,590 vs. 23,422). Data encryption is closer in percentage terms at 37.9% (22,285 vs. 13,839), but the absolute gap of 8,446 points is substantial. Extended instructions show a 40.1% Intel lead (27,162 vs. 16,266), indicating better execution of SIMD and specialized instruction sets.

Multithreaded performance, often a key differentiator, gives Intel a 36.8% win (30,459 vs. 19,236). This is notable because the AMD part has 12 threads versus Intel’s 10, yet the Intel chip still outpaces it by more than a third. Single-thread performance follows the same trend: Intel scores 4,412 versus AMD’s 2,872, a 34.9% advantage. Integer math is the closest contest, with Intel ahead by just 9.2% (65,345 vs. 59,339), suggesting that the AMD chip retains some competitiveness in simpler arithmetic operations. The only benchmark where the two are remotely close is integer math, but even there, Intel wins decisively.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies and fabrication generations. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F is built on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer, using TSMC’s 7 nm process node. It packs 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 uses the Arrow Lake architecture (Arrow Lake-S) on TSMC’s 3 nm node, featuring 10 cores and 10 threads, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The process node difference is significant: 7 nm versus 3 nm, which partially explains the Intel part’s higher clocks and efficiency.

Cache configurations diverge sharply. The AMD chip provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. Intel’s part offers 192 KB of L1 per core, a much larger 3 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. The L2 cache difference is particularly striking—Intel has 6x more L2 per core—which likely contributes to its superior single-thread and integer performance. Transistor counts reflect the architectural gap: AMD’s chip has 4,150 million transistors on a 74 mm² die, while Intel’s has 17,800 million on a 243 mm² die.

Memory support is another generational divide. The Ryzen 5 5600F uses DDR4 memory with dual-channel support and a peak bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the Core Ultra 5 225 uses DDR5 with dual-channel support and a peak bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s—exactly double. ECC memory is supported on the AMD part but not on the Intel chip. PCIe connectivity also differs: AMD offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while Intel offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are present only on the Intel chip, which includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 16 execution units; the AMD part has no integrated GPU.

The Intel processor is more recent, releasing on January 6, 2025, versus September 15, 2025 for the AMD chip. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part is locked. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $246. The AMD chip uses the AM4 socket, while Intel uses Socket 1851.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 scores 4,412 in PassMark single-thread, which is 34.9% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F’s 2,872.

Q: How do the two compare in multithreaded performance?

A: Despite having 10 threads versus the AMD chip’s 12, the Intel part scores 30,459 in PassMark multithread, a 36.8% lead over the Ryzen’s 19,236.

Q: What is the process node difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F is fabricated on a 7 nm TSMC node, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 uses a 3 nm TSMC node.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: No, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F supports ECC memory, but the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 does not.

Q: Which CPU has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F has 32 MB of shared L3, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has 20 MB of shared L3.

Q: Is the Intel processor’s boost clock higher?

A: Yes, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 boosts to 4.90 GHz, compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F’s 4.00 GHz.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner for raw performance: the Intel Core Ultra 5 225. It wins all eleven head-to-head benchmarks, with leads ranging from 9.2% in integer math to 66.5% in prime number finding. The Intel part’s average benchmark score of 36,938 is essentially tied with the AMD chip’s 36,945, but this aggregate masks the reality that the Intel CPU is faster in every measured workload. The Ryzen 5 5600F’s only defensive strengths are its lower core-to-thread ratio efficiency (12 threads from 6 cores) and its larger L3 cache, but neither translates into a benchmark victory. The Intel chip’s higher boost clock (4.90 vs. 4.00 GHz), newer 3 nm node, DDR5 support, and doubled memory bandwidth provide a comprehensive performance advantage. The AMD part remains competitive only in the narrowest sense of overall average scores, which are dragged up by its relatively consistent, if lower, performance across the board.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has 10 cores and 10 threads. Base clocks are 3.00 GHz for AMD and 3.30 GHz for Intel; boost clocks are 4.00 GHz and 4.90 GHz, respectively. Both have a 65 W TDP. The AMD chip uses Socket AM4, while the Intel chip uses Socket 1851. Process nodes are 7 nm (AMD) versus 3 nm (Intel). Transistor counts are 4,150 million (AMD) versus 17,800 million (Intel). Die sizes are 74 mm² (AMD) versus 243 mm² (Intel). L1 cache is 64 KB per core (AMD) versus 192 KB per core (Intel). L2 cache is 512 KB per core (AMD) versus 3 MB per core (Intel). L3 cache is 32 MB shared (AMD) versus 20 MB shared (Intel). Memory support is DDR4 (AMD) versus DDR5 (Intel). Memory bandwidth is 51.2 GB/s (AMD) versus 102.4 GB/s (Intel). ECC support is present on AMD, absent on Intel. PCIe is Gen 4 (AMD) versus Gen 5 (Intel). Integrated graphics are absent on AMD, present on Intel (Arc Xe-LPG 16EU). The AMD multiplier is unlocked; the Intel multiplier is locked. Release dates are September 15, 2025 (AMD) versus January 6, 2025 (Intel). The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $246; the AMD part has no listed MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 wins every single benchmark category in the head-to-head comparison. Its most dominant areas are prime number finding (66.5% ahead), floating point math (62.5% ahead), and physics (55.5% ahead). These are compute-intensive workloads that benefit from the Intel chip’s higher clock speeds and newer architecture. The Intel part also excels in data compression (23.1% ahead), random string sorting (36% ahead), and data encryption (37.9% ahead), making it the stronger choice for any task involving data manipulation or security. Its single-thread lead of 34.9% and multithread lead of 36.8% mean it is faster in both lightly threaded and heavily threaded applications.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F does not win any of the eleven shared benchmarks. Its closest margin is integer math, where it trails by only 9.2%, suggesting that for pure integer arithmetic, the gap narrows considerably. The AMD chip’s advantages lie outside the PassMark suite: it has more threads (12 vs. 10), a larger L3 cache (32 MB vs. 20 MB), ECC memory support, and an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. For users on the AM4 platform with DDR4 memory, the Ryzen 5 5600F offers an upgrade path that preserves existing components. For workloads that are not represented in these benchmarks, such as those heavily dependent on L3 cache capacity or ECC reliability, the AMD part may hold an edge. However, based strictly on the measured data, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is the superior processor in every tested scenario, making it the clear pick for users prioritizing raw speed across a broad range of applications.