AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D vs Intel Core Ultra 9 288V Comparison

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D and the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V target completely different systems, and the benchmark data reflects that split. The Ryzen 5 7500X3D is a desktop part on AMD Socket AM5, while the Core Ultra 9 288V is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 2833. If the build is a desktop tower, the AMD part is the only one that fits that socket. If the system is a laptop, the Intel part is the only one that fits that package.

Looking at the aggregate data, the Ryzen 5 7500X3D holds the higher position. It sits in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 44573. The Core Ultra 9 288V sits in the 76th percentile, with an average score of 23219. The nearest rivals for the AMD part include the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H at 44466 (a 0.2% delta) and the Intel Core i9-13950HX at 44342 (a 0.5% delta), showing the 7500X3D is in strong company. The Intel part's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 4124P at 23167 (a 0.2% delta) and the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V at 23297 (a -0.3% delta), indicating it is competitive within its own performance class.

The verdict is simple: choose the Ryzen 5 7500X3D for desktop workloads that benefit from high multi-threaded throughput and large cache. Choose the Core Ultra 9 288V for mobile systems where its lower TDP and integrated Arc 140V graphics matter more than raw compute wins. The data shows the AMD part wins 8 of 11 head-to-head benchmarks, but the Intel part wins the single-thread and floating-point tests, which are critical for certain workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D is built on a 5 nm TSMC process and uses the Raphael codename, part of the Zen 4 generation. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V uses a 3 nm TSMC process with the Lunar Lake codename, part of the Core Ultra Series 2. It has 8 cores but only 8 threads, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz.

The cache configurations are distinctly different. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and a large 96 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel part has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core, and only 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The L3 difference is substantial: 96 MB versus 12 MB. That 84 MB gap explains why the AMD part excels in cache-sensitive workloads like physics and integer math.

Memory support also differs. The AMD part uses DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. It supports ECC memory. The Intel part uses LPDDR5X with dual-channel memory and a higher bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. It does not support ECC memory. The Intel part has a higher memory bandwidth figure, which likely contributes to its floating-point lead.

PCIe lanes are another divider. The AMD part provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only). The Intel part provides Gen 5 with only 4 lanes (CPU only). For desktop expansion, the AMD part has far more connectivity. The Intel part's integrated graphics are Arc 140V, while the AMD part has Radeon Graphics. The Intel part has a lower TDP of 30 watts versus the AMD part's 65 watts, which is a typical mobile versus desktop split.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head data shows a clear split. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D wins the multithreaded and cache-heavy workloads. It wins passmark_multithread with a score of 25047 versus 19810, a 26.4% delta. It wins passmark_integer_math with 70774 versus 44019, a 60.8% delta. It wins passmark_data_compression with 271649 versus 186521, a 45.6% delta. It wins passmark_physics with 2779 versus 1637, a 69.8% delta. It wins passmark_extended_instructions with 20455 versus 15613, a 31% delta. It wins passmark_random_string_sorting with 32999 versus 22622, a 45.9% delta. It wins passmark_data_encryption with 15797 versus 14141, an 11.7% delta. It wins passmark_find_prime_numbers with 221 versus 195, a 13.3% delta.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V wins the single-thread and floating-point workloads. It wins passmark_single_thread with 4274 versus 3494, an -18.2% delta. It wins passmark_floating_point_math with 59536 versus 43594, a -26.8% delta. These two wins are meaningful: single-thread performance is often the baseline for responsiveness, and floating-point math is crucial for scientific and engineering simulations.

The use-case split is practical. For a desktop workstation or gaming rig that runs heavy compression, encryption, or physics simulations, the AMD part is the stronger choice. For a mobile workstation that needs strong single-core performance and floating-point throughput, the Intel part is the better fit. The Intel part's lower TDP also makes it more suitable for thin-and-light laptops where thermal headroom is limited.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V scores 4274 in passmark_single_thread, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D scores 3494. The Intel part is 18.2% higher in this test.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D has 96 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V has 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has eight times the L3 capacity.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V supports LPDDR5X with a memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D supports DDR5 with a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The Intel part has 53.3 GB/s more bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D has Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only). The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V has Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only). The AMD part offers 20 more lanes for expansion.

Q: Which processor wins the multithread benchmark?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D scores 25047 in passmark_multithread. The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V scores 19810. The AMD part is 26.4% ahead.

Q: Does the Intel part support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V does not support ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D does support ECC memory.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D comes in passmark_physics, where it scores 2779 against the Intel part's 1637. That is a 69.8% delta, the biggest margin in the entire comparison. The physics test is often tied to cache behavior and multithreaded scaling, and the AMD part's 96 MB L3 cache provides a massive advantage.

The second-largest AMD win is passmark_integer_math. The AMD part scores 70774, the Intel part scores 44019, a 60.8% delta. Integer math is fundamental to general computing, and the AMD part's 12 threads versus the Intel part's 8 threads helps here. The AMD part also has a 45.9% win in passmark_random_string_sorting (32999 versus 22622) and a 45.6% win in passmark_data_compression (271649 versus 186521). These are workload-heavy tests where the AMD part's thread count and cache size pay off.

The AMD part also wins passmark_extended_instructions by 31% (20455 versus 15613), passmark_multithread by 26.4% (25047 versus 19810), passmark_find_prime_numbers by 13.3% (221 versus 195), and passmark_data_encryption by 11.7% (15797 versus 14141). The encryption win is narrow, but it is still a consistent result across the AMD part's eight wins.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V has two significant wins. The first is passmark_floating_point_math, where it scores 59536 against the AMD part's 43594, a -26.8% delta. This is the largest Intel win, and it aligns with the Intel part's higher memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s and its 5.10 GHz boost clock. The second Intel win is passmark_single_thread, where it scores 4274 against 3494, an -18.2% delta. The Intel part's boost clock is 0.6 GHz higher than the AMD part's, which explains the single-thread lead.

The overall benchmark wins are 8 for the AMD part and 3 for the Intel part. The AMD part's average benchmark score is 44573, which places it in the 89th percentile. The Intel part's average benchmark score is 23219, placing it in the 76th percentile. The AMD part's nearest rival is the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H with an average score of 44466, just 0.2% behind. The Intel part's nearest rival is the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V with an average score of 23297, just 0.3% ahead.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V has 8 cores and 8 threads. The AMD part has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The Intel part has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Intel part boosts higher, but the AMD part has a higher base clock.

The process nodes differ: the AMD part uses 5 nm, the Intel part uses 3 nm. Both are fabricated by TSMC. The AMD part has 11,270 million transistors on a 71 mm² die. The Intel part's transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database.

The cache hierarchy is completely different. The AMD part has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 96 MB shared L3. The Intel part has 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. The AMD part's L3 is 84 MB larger.

Memory support: the AMD part uses DDR5 with dual-channel memory at 83.2 GB/s, with ECC support. The Intel part uses LPDDR5X with dual-channel memory at 136.5 GB/s, without ECC support. The Intel part has 53.3 GB/s more bandwidth.

PCIe support: the AMD part has Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only). The Intel part has Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only). The AMD part has 20 more lanes.

Integrated graphics: the AMD part has Radeon Graphics, the Intel part has Arc 140V. The market segments differ: the AMD part is Desktop, the Intel part is Mobile. The production status for both is Active. The AMD part was released on 2025-11-11 and has a launch MSRP of $269. The Intel part was released on 2024-09-23 and has no recorded MSRP. Neither multiplier is unlocked. The AMD part number is 100-000001904, the Intel part number is SRPMSSRPMWQ5JTQ5JUQ5KW.