AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS vs Intel Core i7-10850H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear split between the Intel Core i7-10850H and the AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS across 17 benchmark comparisons. The AMD chip wins 12 of those tests, while the Intel part takes 5. The overall average benchmark score favors the AMD processor: 16902 versus 16204, a gap of roughly 4.3%.

Starting with the rendering workloads, the AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS is consistently ahead. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 1050 against 986 for the Intel chip, a 6.1% advantage. The single-core result in the same test shows 148 versus 139, also a 6.1% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the AMD part scores 4375 in multi-core versus 4110 for Intel (6.1% ahead) and 617 versus 580 in single-core (6% ahead). Cinebench R23 repeats the pattern: 10418 versus 9786 in multi-core and 1470 versus 1381 in single-core, both 6.1% in favor of AMD.

The PassMark suite reveals a more nuanced picture. The AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS dominates in data encryption with a massive 9051 score against Intel's 3890, a staggering 57% advantage. That is the single largest delta in the entire comparison. The AMD chip also leads in extended instructions (10887 versus 10381, 4.6% ahead), integer math (40174 versus 39919, a narrow 0.6% margin), and the PassMark multi-thread test (12243 versus 11643, 4.9% ahead). In single-thread performance, measured twice as passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread, the AMD part posts 2873 against 2668, a 7.1% lead.

The Intel Core i7-10850H counters with several notable wins. Its best result comes in random string sorting, where it scores 21537 against AMD's 15294, a commanding 40.8% advantage. The physics test shows Intel ahead by 25.1% (718 versus 574). Prime number finding favors Intel by 32.3% (41 versus 31). Floating point math goes to Intel at 25216 versus 23091, a 9.2% margin. Data compression is the final Intel win: 165882 versus 152168, a 9% lead.

The pattern is consistent: AMD wins the Cinebench renders and most general-purpose compute tasks, while Intel takes specific workloads that benefit from its particular architecture, namely string sorting, physics simulation, prime generation, and floating point operations. Both processors sit at the 70th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS. In Cinebench R23 single-core it scores 1470 versus 1381 for the Intel Core i7-10850H, a 6.1% lead. The PassMark single-thread test confirms this with 2873 versus 2668, a 7.1% margin.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-threaded rendering?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS wins every Cinebench multi-core test, despite having fewer cores and threads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, AMD scores 10418 against Intel's 9786, a 6.1% advantage. The PassMark multi-thread test also goes to AMD at 12243 versus 11643, a 4.9% lead.

Q: Where does the Intel chip have its biggest advantage?

A: The Intel Core i7-10850H leads by 40.8% in random string sorting (21537 versus 15294) and by 32.3% in prime number finding (41 versus 31). It also wins physics simulation by 25.1% and floating point math by 9.2%.

Q: Is there a workload where the AMD chip is overwhelmingly faster?

A: Yes, data encryption. The AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS scores 9051 in PassMark data encryption against Intel's 3890, a 57% difference. This is the largest performance gap in the entire comparison.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS records an average benchmark score of 16902, while the Intel Core i7-10850H averages 16204. Both sit at the 70th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i7-10850H has 6 cores and 12 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS has 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite the core count disadvantage, the AMD chip still wins the majority of benchmarks.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS as the stronger overall performer. It wins 12 of 17 head-to-head tests, including every Cinebench render and the PassMark multi-thread and single-thread metrics. Its average benchmark score of 16902 is 698 points higher than Intel's 16204. For users prioritizing rendering speed, general compute, and encryption, the AMD chip is the clear choice.

The Intel Core i7-10850H, however, retains specific strengths. Its 40.8% lead in random string sorting and 32.3% lead in prime number finding suggest workloads involving those operations will run significantly faster on Intel. The physics test advantage of 25.1% and floating point math lead of 9.2% also matter for simulation-focused applications.

The decision depends on the workload mix. If the software involves heavy data sorting, prime calculations, or floating point math, the Intel part has measurable advantages. For everything else, the AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS delivers consistently better results, often by margins of 5% to 7% in the most common compute tasks.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every core specification. The Intel Core i7-10850H operates with a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS has a higher base clock at 3.20 GHz but a lower boost clock at 4.20 GHz. Both are rated at 45 W TDP.

Core counts differ: Intel provides 6 cores and 12 threads, while AMD provides 4 cores and 8 threads. The cache hierarchy also varies. Both share 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but Intel uses 256 KB of L2 per core versus 512 KB for AMD. The shared L3 cache is 12 MB on Intel and 8 MB on AMD.

Memory support diverges significantly. The Intel chip uses DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and 46.9 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD chip supports DDR5 with dual-channel operation and 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. AMD also enables ECC memory support, which Intel does not offer. PCIe connectivity differs as well: Intel provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while AMD provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only).

The integrated graphics are different: Intel pairs with UHD Graphics, AMD with Radeon 660M. The socket types are incompatible: Intel BGA 1440 versus AMD Socket FP7. The Intel processor was released on 2020-04-01, while the AMD chip has no recorded release date. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

The underlying designs come from different eras and foundries. The Intel Core i7-10850H uses the Comet Lake architecture, specifically Comet Lake-H, built on Intel's 14 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS uses Zen 3+ architecture, codenamed Rembrandt-R, manufactured on TSMC's 6 nm node. The die size is recorded only for AMD at 210 mm².

The process node gap is substantial: 14 nm versus 6 nm. This helps explain how the AMD chip achieves higher performance with fewer cores. The newer process allows tighter transistor packing and better power efficiency, which is reflected in the benchmark results.

Cache architecture also reflects generational differences. While both use 64 KB L1 per core, AMD doubles the L2 allocation to 512 KB per core. The shared L3 is smaller on AMD (8 MB versus 12 MB), but the per-core L2 advantage compensates in several workloads. The AMD chip also supports newer DDR5 memory with substantially higher bandwidth (76.8 GB/s versus 46.9 GB/s), which contributes to its wins in memory-sensitive tests.

PCIe capability is another differentiator. AMD's Gen 4 interface with 20 lanes doubles the bandwidth per lane compared to Intel's Gen 3 with 16 lanes. This matters for external GPU connectivity and fast NVMe storage, though no benchmark in this comparison directly measures that.

The integrated GPU differs, with AMD's Radeon 660M being a more modern implementation than Intel's UHD Graphics. No GPU benchmarks are recorded in this dataset, so the comparison remains CPU-focused.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS wins the categories that matter most for general productivity and rendering. Cinebench tests across R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core, all favor AMD by roughly 6%. This indicates the Zen 3+ architecture extracts more performance per core and per clock than the older Comet Lake design. The 57% encryption advantage makes AMD the pick for security-related tasks, VPN workloads, or disk encryption. The single-thread leadership in PassMark (7.1%) also translates to snappier day-to-day responsiveness in lightly threaded applications.

The Intel Core i7-10850H wins in four specific PassMark sub-tests. Random string sorting at 40.8% ahead suggests tasks like log processing, database indexing, or any workload involving heavy text manipulation will run faster on Intel. The 32.3% lead in prime number finding points to mathematical or cryptographic workloads that rely on prime generation. The 25.1% physics advantage is relevant for simulation software or physics engines in certain games. The 9.2% floating point math lead covers scientific computing and numerical analysis.

The core count difference (6 versus 4) does not automatically translate to wins for Intel. The AMD chip wins the PassMark multi-thread test by 4.9% despite having two fewer cores and four fewer threads. This indicates the AMD architecture's per-core efficiency and higher base clock more than compensate for the core deficit.

For users who run a broad mix of applications, the AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS offers better overall performance in more scenarios. For users with a workload heavily weighted toward sorting, physics, or floating point math, the Intel Core i7-10850H provides targeted advantages that could make it the preferred choice despite losing the overall benchmark count.