AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D vs Intel Core Ultra 5 228V Comparison

AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D and Intel Core Ultra 5 228V target completely different computing environments, and the benchmark data reflects that split. The Ryzen 5 7500X3D is a desktop chip built around a large L3 cache, while the Core Ultra 5 228V is a low-power mobile processor. Across the recorded head-to-head tests, the AMD part wins 8 of 11 comparisons, while the Intel part wins 3. The margin of victory varies heavily by workload, which makes the choice straightforward for anyone building around a specific use case.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D dominates threaded and cache-sensitive workloads. It wins in PassMark data compression (271,649 vs 173,924), integer math (70,774 vs 39,679), multithread (25,047 vs 18,227), physics (2,779 vs 1,538), random string sorting (32,999 vs 21,254), extended instructions (20,455 vs 14,801), data encryption (15,797 vs 13,032), and prime number finding (221 vs 168). These are the sorts of tasks that benefit from raw core count, simultaneous multithreading, and a large shared cache. The Ryzen chip has 6 cores and 12 threads, and its 96 MB of shared L3 cache gives it a clear advantage in workloads that repeatedly access the same data.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 228V wins in the areas where per-core efficiency and clock speed matter most. It takes single-thread performance (3,836 vs 3,494) and floating-point math (53,310 vs 43,594). The single-thread win is notable because it shows the Lunar Lake architecture can outperform the Zen 4 core in lightly threaded tasks despite having a much lower base clock (2.10 GHz vs 4.00 GHz). The floating-point result is the largest single victory for the Intel part, and it suggests that the core design excels at vectorized math even when the rest of the system is constrained by power.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D uses the Raphael codename, part of the Zen 4 generation, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The thermal design power is 65 watts, and the CPU fits into AMD Socket AM5. The transistor count is listed at 11,270 million on a 71 mm² die. The L1 cache is 64 KB per core, L2 is 1 MB per core, and L3 is 96 MB shared, which is the defining feature of the X3D line. Memory support is DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth, and ECC memory is supported. It uses PCIe Gen 5 with 24 lanes from the CPU and includes Radeon Graphics as the integrated solution. The release date is November 11, 2025, and the launch MSRP is $269.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 228V uses the Lunar Lake architecture, part of Core Ultra Series 2, built on a 3 nm process at TSMC. It has 8 cores and 8 threads, with no hyperthreading. The base clock is 2.10 GHz and the boost clock is 4.50 GHz. The thermal design power is 17 watts, a fraction of the AMD chip's 65-watt envelope. It uses Intel BGA 2833, a mobile socket. L1 cache is 192 KB per core, L2 is 2.5 MB per core, and L3 is 8 MB shared, which is far smaller than the AMD part's 96 MB. Memory support is listed as unknown and depends on the motherboard, but it is dual-channel. ECC memory is not supported. PCIe is Gen 5 with only 4 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics are Arc 130V. The release date is September 23, 2024.

The process node difference (3 nm vs 5 nm) helps explain how Intel achieves a 17-watt TDP while still matching the AMD chip's 4.50 GHz boost clock. The Core Ultra 5 also has more physical cores (8 vs 6), but it cannot use simultaneous multithreading, so its thread count is lower (8 vs 12). The L3 cache disparity is the most striking architectural difference: 96 MB on the AMD side versus 8 MB on the Intel side. That 12x gap in shared cache directly explains the AMD wins in compression, sorting, and integer workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest margin in the entire comparison is in physics, where the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D scores 2,779 against the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V's 1,538. That is an 80.7% advantage. Physics simulations are heavily multithreaded, and the AMD chip's 12 threads plus large cache give it a decisive edge.

Integer math is the second-biggest win for AMD, at 78.4% (70,774 vs 39,679). This workload scales with core count and memory bandwidth, and the AMD part has both in greater measure. Data compression shows a 56.2% lead (271,649 vs 173,924), and random string sorting is close behind at 55.3% (32,999 vs 21,254). Both tasks benefit from the 96 MB L3 cache, which keeps more working data on-chip.

The multithread score favors AMD by 37.4% (25,047 vs 18,227). Extended instructions go AMD's way by 38.2% (20,455 vs 14,801). Data encryption is a 21.2% win for AMD (15,797 vs 13,032). Prime number finding is 31.5% in AMD's favor (221 vs 168).

The Intel Core Ultra 5 228V takes floating-point math by 18.2% (53,310 vs 43,594). This is the only compute-heavy test where Intel wins by a large margin, and it indicates that the Lunar Lake floating-point unit is more efficient per cycle. The single-thread result is closer: Intel leads by 8.9% (3,836 vs 3,494). That is a meaningful gap for everyday responsiveness and lightly threaded applications, but it is far smaller than the AMD wins in multithreaded tests.

The overall average benchmark scores tell a similar story. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D has an average score of 44,573, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V averages 21,440. The AMD part sits in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel part is in the 75th percentile. The nearest rivals for the AMD chip include the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H (44,466, 0.2% behind), the Intel Core i9-13950HX (44,342, 0.5% behind), and the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 (44,309, 0.6% behind). The Intel Core Ultra 5 228V sits near the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 (21,484, 0.2% behind) and the Intel Core i9-11900H (21,367, 0.3% ahead), which gives a sense of its performance class.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 228V scores 3,836 in PassMark single-thread, which is 8.9% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D's 3,494.

Q: How large is the L3 cache difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D has 96 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V has 8 MB shared. The AMD part has a 12x larger L3 pool.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D has a 65-watt TDP, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V has a 17-watt TDP. The Intel part draws less than a third of the power budget.

Q: Which CPU wins in floating-point math?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 228V wins with a score of 53,310, which is 18.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D's 43,594.

Q: Does the Intel chip support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory is not supported on the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D does support ECC memory.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 228V has 8 cores and 8 threads.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D | Intel Core Ultra 5 228V |

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

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 4.00 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 17 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel BGA 2833 |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 3 nm |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 96 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | Unknown, depends on motherboard |

| Memory Bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | Not specified |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 24 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 4 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Graphics | Arc 130V |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2025-11-11 | 2024-09-23 |

| Launch MSRP | $269 | Not specified |

The Verdict

The data points to a clear division: the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D is the stronger processor for multithreaded, cache-sensitive desktop workloads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V is built for low-power mobile use with a single-thread edge. The AMD chip wins 8 of the 11 head-to-head tests, including the ones that matter most for compilation, compression, encryption, and physics simulation. Its 96 MB L3 cache and 12 threads provide a substantial advantage in integer math (78.4% ahead) and physics (80.7% ahead).

The Intel Core Ultra 5 228V is not without merit. It wins single-thread performance by 8.9% and floating-point math by 18.2%, and it does so with a 17-watt TDP versus the AMD chip's 65 watts. For a thin-and-light laptop, that efficiency is the entire point. The Intel part also has more physical cores (8 vs 6), but without multithreading, so its thread count is lower.

The average benchmark scores confirm the performance hierarchy: the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D averages 44,573 and sits in the 89th percentile, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V averages 21,440 and sits in the 75th percentile. The AMD chip's nearest rivals are high-end mobile and desktop processors like the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and the Intel Core i9-13950HX, all within 0.6% of its average score. The Intel chip's nearest rivals are older desktop parts like the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and the Intel Core i9-11900H.

For anyone assembling a desktop system with AM5, the choice is the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D. It offers a 65-watt TDP, ECC memory support, DDR5 with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth, and PCIe Gen 5 with 24 lanes. For a mobile system that prioritizes battery life and light-thread responsiveness, the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V is the one to use. Its 17-watt TDP, 3 nm process, and single-thread lead make it suitable for ultraportable designs, but the benchmark record shows it cannot keep pace with the AMD part in heavily threaded tasks.