AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D vs Intel Core Ultra 5 236V Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D, which wins 8 of the 11 head-to-head tests. The Intel Core Ultra 5 236V takes the remaining 3, but the magnitude of the AMD wins is larger in most cases.

The largest single delta in either direction belongs to AMD in the passmark physics test. The Ryzen 5 7500X3D scores 2779 against Intel's 1503, a gap of 84.9%. This is also the largest absolute disparity among the physics-related workloads. In integer math, AMD delivers 70774 versus 38765, a 82.6% advantage. These two tests represent the most lopsided results in the comparison.

Data compression shows a 53.9% lead for AMD, with scores of 271649 against 176554. Random string sorting follows closely at 52.6%, with AMD posting 32999 versus 21628. The multithread benchmark gives AMD a 36.3% edge, scoring 25047 against 18375. Extended instructions favor AMD by 32.4% (20455 versus 15451), while prime number search shows a 29.2% lead (221 versus 171). Data encryption rounds out the AMD wins at 21.1%, with 15797 against 13049.

Intel's three wins are concentrated in single-threaded performance and floating-point math. The single-thread test gives Intel a 10.2% advantage, scoring 3893 versus 3494. That result appears twice in the data under two test names with identical scores. Floating-point math is the other Intel win, where the Core Ultra 5 236V posts 52774 against AMD's 43594, a 17.4% margin.

Looking at the overall average benchmark scores in the database, AMD holds a substantial lead. The Ryzen 5 7500X3D averages 44573, while the Intel part averages 21952. That is roughly a 103% difference in the aggregate metric, placing AMD in the 89th percentile of all CPUs and Intel in the 75th percentile.

The nearest rival data confirms the positioning. AMD's closest competitors, the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H, Intel Core i9-13950HX, AMD Ryzen AI Max 385, and Intel Core i5-14600, sit within 0.7% of its average score. Intel's nearest rivals, including the Core Ultra 5 238V and Core i7-11700F, are similarly clustered within 0.2% of its average. Both parts sit in tightly contested performance bands, but the bands themselves are far apart.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different market segments and use fundamentally different designs. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D is a desktop part from the 7000 series, built on the Raphael codename and Zen 4 architecture. It uses a 5 nm process at TSMC with 11,270 million transistors on a 71 mm² die. The Intel Core Ultra 5 236V is a mobile part from Core Ultra Series 2, using the Lunar Lake architecture on a 3 nm process, also at TSMC. Intel's datasheet does not list transistor count or die size in the database.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. AMD provides 6 cores and 12 threads, relying on simultaneous multithreading. Intel provides 8 cores but only 8 threads, meaning no multithreading. Despite having more physical cores, Intel loses the multithread benchmark by 36.3%, which suggests the SMT advantage and higher per-core throughput of the AMD design matter more in this workload mix.

Clock speeds tell a mixed story. AMD has a 4.00 GHz base clock and a 4.50 GHz boost clock. Intel has a much lower 2.10 GHz base clock but a higher 4.70 GHz boost clock. The higher Intel boost clock aligns with its single-thread win, while the higher AMD base clock and larger thread count align with its multithread dominance.

Cache hierarchies are very different. AMD uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 96 MB of shared L3 cache. Intel uses 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, but only 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The massive 96 MB L3 on the AMD part, combined with the smaller per-core caches, reflects a design aimed at high-hit-rate workloads. Intel's larger per-core caches but tiny shared pool reflects a different balance.

Process node also differs: 5 nm for AMD versus 3 nm for Intel. Both use TSMC as the foundry. The TDP figures reflect their market positions: AMD is rated at 65 watts, while Intel is rated at 17 watts, a 48-watt difference that highlights the mobile orientation of the Intel part.

Memory support shows parity in some respects and divergence in others. Both use dual-channel memory buses. AMD supports DDR5 and reports a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, while Intel's entry lists memory support as unknown and dependent on motherboard, with no bandwidth figure recorded. AMD supports ECC memory; Intel does not. PCIe lanes also differ sharply: AMD provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes from the CPU, while Intel provides Gen 5 with only 4 lanes.

Integrated graphics differ as well. AMD includes Radeon Graphics, while Intel includes Arc 130V. The database does not provide graphics benchmark scores for either part, so no direct comparison is possible from the recorded data.

The socket and form factor separate them further. AMD uses AMD Socket AM5, a desktop socket, while Intel uses Intel BGA 2833, a ball-grid array for mobile. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. AMD's release date is recorded as 2025-11-11, while Intel's is 2024-09-23, putting Intel roughly a year earlier in the market.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D wins in workloads that benefit from high thread counts, large shared cache, and integer throughput. The multithread test shows a 36.3% lead. Integer math shows a 82.6% lead, the second-largest margin in the data. Data compression, which often scales with cache and memory throughput, gives AMD a 53.9% advantage. Random string sorting, another cache-sensitive workload, gives AMD a 52.6% edge.

AMD also dominates the physics test by 84.9%. This workload tends to reward raw compute throughput and consistent core performance, both of which favor the desktop part. Extended instructions and prime number search, which are compute-heavy but more latency-sensitive, go to AMD by 32.4% and 29.2%, respectively. Data encryption goes to AMD by 21.1%.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 236V wins in single-threaded scenarios. The passmark single-thread score of 3893 against 3494 gives Intel a 10.2% margin. This aligns with its higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The floating-point math result is Intel's other clear win, with 52774 against 43594, a 17.4% margin. That suggests the Lunar Lake architecture handles floating-point execution more efficiently despite the lower base clock.

The overall average benchmark score still favors AMD heavily, but the workload split is clean: AMD for multithreaded, cache-heavy, integer-dominated tasks; Intel for single-thread responsiveness and floating-point math.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D is the stronger processor for the majority of measured workloads. It wins 8 of 11 direct comparisons, holds a 103% higher average benchmark score, and sits at the 89th percentile versus the 75th for Intel. The multithread, integer math, physics, compression, and sorting workloads all favor AMD by margins ranging from 21.1% to 84.9%.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 236V is the better choice only where single-thread speed and floating-point math are the priority. Its 10.2% single-thread lead and 17.4% floating-point lead are real, but they do not compensate for the large deficits in the other eight tests. The 17 watt TDP also positions it for low-power mobile systems, while the 65 watt AMD part targets desktop builds.

From the recorded measurements, anyone selecting for raw compute across a broad workload mix should choose the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D. Anyone constrained to single-thread-focused or floating-point-heavy tasks, or needing the lower power envelope, would have grounds to select the Intel Core Ultra 5 236V. The database shows no scenario where Intel wins multiple benchmark categories simultaneously.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D averages 44573, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 236V averages 21952.

Q: How many head-to-head benchmarks does each processor win?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D wins 8 of the 11 head-to-head tests. The Intel Core Ultra 5 236V wins 3.

Q: What is the largest winning margin in either direction?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D leads by 84.9% in the passmark physics test, scoring 2779 against 1503.

Q: In which tests does the Intel Core Ultra 5 236V outperform the AMD part?

A: Intel wins in passmark single-thread (3893 versus 3494, a 10.2% lead) and passmark floating-point math (52774 versus 43594, a 17.4% lead).

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 236V has 8 cores and 8 threads.

Q: How do their L3 cache sizes compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D has 96 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 5 236V has 8 MB of shared L3 cache.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D | Intel Core Ultra 5 236V |

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

| Series | 7000 series | Core Ultra Series 2 |

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 8 |

| Base clock | 4.00 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.50 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 17 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel BGA 2833 |

| Codename | Raphael | Lunar Lake |

| Process node | 5 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | TSMC |

| Transistors | 11,270 million | Not listed |

| Die size | 71 mm² | Not listed |

| 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 bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | Not listed |

| 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 listed |

| Multiplier unlocked | No | No |

| Part number | 100-000001904 | SRPN2SRPN3 |

| Percentile vs all CPUs | 89 | 75 |