AMD Ryzen 5 7535U vs Intel Core Ultra 5 135U Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 7535U and Intel Core Ultra 5 135U are both mobile processors aimed at thin-and-light laptops, but they deliver distinctly different performance profiles. Benchmark data shows the Intel chip wins a majority of head-to-head tests, yet the AMD processor holds decisive advantages in specific workloads that may matter more to certain users. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the AMD chip at 22791 and the Intel at 22618, placing both in the 76th percentile of all CPUs, but the distribution of wins reveals a clear split between raw compute tasks and specialized instruction sets.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 135U takes the lion's share of benchmark victories, winning 11 of the 15 direct comparisons. Its most commanding lead comes in PassMark physics, where it scores 1122 against the AMD's 839, a 25.2% advantage. This is followed by a 21.9% win in the find prime numbers test, with scores of 64 versus 50. The Intel chip also shows strong multi-core performance, beating the AMD by 18.6% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (1634 vs 1330) and by 7.8% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (9315 vs 8591). Single-core performance also favors Intel, with a 9.5% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core (1563 vs 1414) and a 4.2% lead in PassMark single-thread (3343 vs 3203). Floating-point math is another Intel stronghold, with a 17.6% advantage (41232 vs 33971).

The AMD Ryzen 5 7535U counters with four wins, and these are not trivial margins. Its biggest victory is in extended instructions, where it scores 13187 against Intel's 11144, an 18.3% lead. Integer math also goes to AMD by a solid 9.2% (62109 vs 56864). Data encryption and data compression are narrower AMD wins, with 4.2% and 1.8% margins respectively. The AMD chip also edges out Intel in the average benchmark score comparison, 22791 vs 22618, a 0.8% delta. Notably, the AMD chip's closest rival per the data is the Intel Core Ultra 5 135U itself, with a delta of 0.8%, making this a genuinely close matchup overall despite the lopsided win count.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 7535U uses the Zen 3+ architecture on a 6 nm TSMC process, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 135U employs the Meteor Lake architecture on a 7 nm Intel process. The AMD chip features 6 cores and 12 threads, whereas the Intel chip has 12 cores and 14 threads, reflecting Intel's hybrid approach of performance and efficiency cores. Clock speeds also differ: the AMD has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and boost clock of 4.55 GHz, while the Intel has a base clock of 1600.00 MHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz.

Cache hierarchies are notably different. The AMD chip uses 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support differs as well, with AMD supporting DDR5 and Intel supporting DDR5 with the caveat that it depends on the motherboard. Memory bandwidth favors Intel, at 89.6 GB/s versus AMD's 76.8 GB/s. ECC memory support is exclusive to the AMD chip, while Intel does not support it. PCIe connectivity also varies, with AMD offering Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only) and Intel offering Gen 4 with 12 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ, with AMD featuring the Radeon 660M and Intel featuring Arc Xe-LPG 64EU. The AMD chip uses the AMD Socket FP7, while the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 2049.

Where Each One Wins

The data paints a clear picture for use-case scenarios. The Intel Core Ultra 5 135U is the better choice for general multi-threaded productivity, physics simulations, and floating-point heavy workloads. Its 25.2% lead in PassMark physics and 18.6% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core suggest it handles rendering and simulation tasks with more headroom. The Intel chip also wins on single-thread performance, making it preferable for applications that rely on fast per-core execution. For users running Cinebench-style workloads or engaging in tasks that benefit from high floating-point throughput, the Intel chip is the stronger option.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7535U wins in areas that are less common but highly specific. Its 18.3% lead in extended instructions means it processes AVX or similar instruction sets more efficiently, which can matter for certain scientific or compression workloads. The 9.2% advantage in integer math suggests it handles database operations, financial calculations, and general arithmetic tasks better. Data encryption and compression also favor AMD, making it a solid pick for security-focused tasks or file archiving. The AMD chip's wins are fewer but they are not negligible, and in workloads that hit these specific instruction paths, it can be noticeably faster.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 135U wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core by 18.6% (1634 vs 1330) and in Cinebench R23 multi-core by 7.8% (9315 vs 8591). PassMark multithread also goes to Intel, but by a narrow 1.8% (17359 vs 17039).

Q: Is the AMD chip better at any compute task?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 5 7535U wins extended instructions by 18.3% (13187 vs 11144), integer math by 9.2% (62109 vs 56864), data encryption by 4.2% (12706 vs 12195), and data compression by 1.8% (200252 vs 196712).

Q: How do they compare in single-core performance?

A: The Intel chip leads in Cinebench R23 single-core by 9.5% (1563 vs 1414) and in PassMark single-thread by 4.2% (3343 vs 3203). The Cinebench R15 single-core difference is minimal, with Intel at 228 and AMD at 225, a 1.3% edge.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark physics, where the Intel chip scores 1122 against the AMD's 839, representing a 25.2% advantage. The second largest is in find prime numbers, with Intel winning by 21.9% (64 vs 50).

Q: Do they have similar overall benchmark averages?

A: Yes, the AMD chip has an average benchmark score of 22791, while the Intel chip has 22618. The Intel chip's nearest rival list shows a delta of -0.8% against the AMD chip, indicating they are nearly equal in overall performance.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen 5 7535U supports ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra 5 135U does not list ECC support in its specifications.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 5 7535U has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 135U has 12 cores and 14 threads. Base clocks are 2.90 GHz for AMD and 1600.00 MHz for Intel, while boost clocks are 4.55 GHz and 4.40 GHz respectively. Thermal design power differs significantly, with AMD rated at 28 W and Intel at 15 W. The process node is 6 nm for AMD (TSMC) and 7 nm for Intel (Intel foundry). Cache configurations vary: AMD uses 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3; Intel uses 112 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. Memory bandwidth is higher on Intel at 89.6 GB/s versus AMD's 76.8 GB/s. ECC memory is supported only on AMD. PCIe lanes differ, with AMD offering 20 lanes and Intel offering 12 lanes, both Gen 4. The integrated graphics are Radeon 660M for AMD and Arc Xe-LPG 64EU for Intel. Sockets are AMD Socket FP7 and Intel BGA 2049. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $332; no MSRP is listed for the AMD chip.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Intel Core Ultra 5 135U is the more versatile processor for most users. It wins 11 of 15 tests, including all of the Cinebench multi-core and single-core workloads, PassMark physics, floating-point math, and the overall multithread test. Its wins are often substantial, particularly in physics (25.2%) and Cinebench R15 multi-core (18.6%). The Intel chip also holds a single-thread advantage, which matters for everyday responsiveness and lightly-threaded applications. For a typical mobile user running office work, web browsing, and occasional content creation, the Intel chip's profile is more broadly appealing.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7535U is the pick when specific workloads align with its strengths. If the software you use relies heavily on extended instructions or integer math, the AMD chip's 18.3% and 9.2% leads respectively are meaningful. Data encryption and compression are also AMD-favored, which could matter for security or file-handling tasks. The AMD chip also has a slightly higher average benchmark score overall and supports ECC memory, which is a niche but important feature for certain professional or reliability-focused scenarios. The lower TDP of the Intel chip (15 W vs 28 W) suggests it may fit into more power-constrained designs, but that is a power draw consideration, not a performance one. The verdict is simple: choose Intel for raw compute and single-thread speed, choose AMD for specialized instruction workloads and ECC support.