AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D vs Intel Core Ultra 5 238V Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive split between the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D and the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V, with the AMD processor winning 8 of the 11 compared workloads. The largest margin belongs to passmark_integer_math, where AMD scores 70,774 against Intel's 38,889, a delta of 82%. This is not a marginal advantage; the Ryzen part delivers nearly double the integer throughput. Similarly, passmark_physics shows AMD at 2,779 versus Intel's 1,546, a 79.8% lead, which indicates a substantial advantage in simulation and physics-based calculations.

The AMD processor also dominates data compression workloads. In passmark_data_compression, AMD scores 271,649 compared with Intel's 176,532, a 53.9% difference. Random string sorting follows the same pattern: AMD at 32,999 versus 21,585, a 52.9% margin. These two tests point to strong cache and memory subsystem efficiency under data-heavy operations. The 96 MB shared L3 cache on the AMD part likely plays a role here, though the data alone confirms the outcome without requiring speculation.

In multithreaded performance, AMD's passmark_multithread score of 25,047 exceeds Intel's 18,407 by 36.1%. This aligns with the core and thread configuration differences, but the score gap is larger than the raw thread count alone would suggest. Extended instructions also favor AMD, 20,455 versus 15,377, a 33% lead. Data encryption shows AMD ahead by 20.8%, with scores of 15,797 and 13,072. Prime number finding, a test sensitive to branch prediction and cache latency, goes to AMD by 27% (221 versus 174).

Intel wins two distinct workloads. The passmark_single_thread test shows Intel at 3,890 against AMD's 3,494, a 10.2% advantage. This is a meaningful single-core lead, especially given Intel's higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz versus AMD's 4.50 GHz. The other Intel win is passmark_floating_point_math, where Intel scores 53,160 versus AMD's 43,594, a delta of 18%. This suggests the Intel architecture handles floating-point throughput more efficiently, despite losing most other workloads.

The average benchmark scores reflect the overall gap: AMD's avgBenchmarkScore is 44,573, while Intel's is 21,981. AMD sits at the 89th percentile among all CPUs, whereas Intel sits at the 75th. In the nearest rival comparison, AMD's closest competitors are the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H (44,466, a 0.2% difference) and the Intel Core i9-13950HX (44,342, 0.5% difference). Intel's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-11700F (21,988, 0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X (21,992, 0% delta). This places the two processors in entirely different performance tiers, with the AMD part competing against high-end desktop and mobile HX chips, while the Intel part matches older mid-range desktop parts.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V scores 3,890 in passmark_single_thread, which is 10.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D's 3,494.

Q: How large is the multithreaded performance gap?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D scores 25,047 in passmark_multithread, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V scores 18,407. AMD leads by 36.1%.

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V has 8 cores and 8 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D has an average benchmark score of 44,573, compared with 21,981 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V.

Q: Does the Intel processor win any benchmark categories?

A: Yes, Intel wins passmark_single_thread (3,890 versus 3,494) and passmark_floating_point_math (53,160 versus 43,594), a margin of 18%.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V has a TDP of 17 watts.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D is built on the Raphael codename, part of the Zen 4 (Raphael) generation, using a 5 nm process node from TSMC. It contains 11,270 million transistors on a 71 mm² die. The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V uses the Lunar Lake architecture, a 3 nm process node also from TSMC, with transistor count and die size not recorded in the database. Both processors are active in production, but they target different market segments: AMD is a desktop part on AMD Socket AM5, while Intel is a mobile part on Intel BGA 2833.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The AMD processor has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 96 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel processor has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core, and only 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The 88 MB difference in L3 capacity is the most striking architectural distinction between the two, and it likely explains AMD's dominance in data compression and random string sorting, where large working sets benefit from bigger caches.

The integrated graphics also differ. AMD ships Radeon Graphics, while Intel uses Arc 130V. Memory support shows AMD with DDR5 and dual-channel bus, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. Intel's memory support is listed as dependent on the motherboard, with dual-channel bus and no bandwidth figure recorded. ECC memory is supported by AMD but not by Intel. PCIe lane counts differ as well: AMD offers Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only), while Intel offers Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only). Both processors have locked multipliers.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ directly: AMD has 6 cores and 12 threads, while Intel has 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 4.00 GHz for AMD and 2.10 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 4.50 GHz for AMD and 4.70 GHz for Intel. The TDP ratings are 65 watts for AMD and 17 watts for Intel, a significant difference that reflects the mobile versus desktop positioning. Process nodes differ: AMD uses 5 nm, Intel uses 3 nm. The sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket AM5 versus Intel BGA 2833. The AMD part has a launch MSRP of $269; no launch MSRP is recorded for the Intel part. Release dates differ, with Intel released earlier and AMD later, but the exact dates are not relevant to the performance analysis. The cache hierarchy differs as noted: AMD's L1 is 64 KB per core, Intel's is 192 KB per core; AMD's L2 is 1 MB per core, Intel's is 2.5 MB per core; AMD's L3 is 96 MB shared, Intel's is 8 MB shared. ECC support is present on AMD only. The integrated GPU models differ, and the PCIe lane counts differ by a factor of six.

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 head-to-head benchmarks, with particularly large margins in integer math, physics, and data compression. Its average benchmark score of 44,573 places it at the 89th percentile, and its nearest rivals include high-end parts like the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and Intel Core i9-13950HX, both within 0.5% of its average score. The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V, by contrast, sits at the 75th percentile with an average score of 21,981, and its nearest rivals are older desktop parts such as the Intel Core i7-11700F and AMD Ryzen 5 3600X. For workloads that rely on multi-threaded throughput, cache capacity, and integer operations, the AMD part is clearly ahead.

The Intel part does have a measurable single-thread advantage of 10.2% and a floating-point math lead of 18%, which matters for specific applications. However, the overall benchmark average shows AMD at roughly double Intel's score. The TDP difference is also notable: Intel's 17-watt rating versus AMD's 65-watt rating suggests the Intel part is designed for low-power mobile systems, while the AMD part targets desktop performance. A buyer choosing between these two would be selecting between a high-performance desktop processor and a low-power mobile processor, and the benchmark data strongly favors AMD across most tests.

Where Each One Wins

AMD dominates in multithreaded and cache-sensitive workloads. The 82% lead in integer math, the 79.8% lead in physics, the 53.9% lead in data compression, and the 52.9% lead in random string sorting all point to a processor that excels when data sets fit in the large 96 MB L3 cache. The 36.1% multithread advantage and the 33% extended instructions lead reinforce this pattern. Applications that compress files, encrypt data, run physics simulations, or process large sorted datasets will see a clear benefit from the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D.

Intel wins in single-thread performance and floating-point math. The 10.2% single-thread advantage (3,890 versus 3,494) matters for lightly threaded applications where per-core speed is the limiting factor. The 18% floating-point lead (53,160 versus 43,594) indicates that the Intel architecture handles FP-heavy calculations more efficiently, which could benefit scientific computing, 3D rendering, or any workload dominated by floating-point operations. The lower TDP of 17 watts also gives Intel an advantage in power-constrained scenarios, though the database does not provide battery life or thermal measurements to quantify this directly. For a user prioritizing raw throughput across a broad set of tasks, the AMD part is the data-backed choice; for single-thread responsiveness and floating-point workloads, the Intel part has the measured edge.