AMD Ryzen 5 7535U vs Intel Core Ultra 7 266V Comparison

The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V and AMD Ryzen 5 7535U are both mobile processors targeting thin-and-light laptops, but the benchmark data reveals they have very different strengths. The Intel chip, built on a newer 3 nm process, wins the vast majority of head-to-head tests, while the AMD chip, with its 6-core/12-thread configuration, fights back in specific workloads. The data shows 13 benchmark wins for Intel against 2 for AMD, but the margin of victory varies wildly depending on the task, making the choice between them less obvious than a simple win count suggests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single victory for the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 16544 against the Ryzen 5 7535U's 8591. That is a 92.6% advantage, nearly doubling the AMD chip's output in a heavily threaded rendering workload. The gap is even more dramatic in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where Intel scores 191 versus AMD's 50, a 282% difference. These are not marginal wins; they represent a fundamental difference in processing capability for certain types of compute.

Single-core performance also favors Intel decisively. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel chip scores 2335 against 1414 for AMD, a 65.1% lead. The PassMark single-thread test shows a 23.1% advantage (3943 vs. 3203). This translates into snappier everyday responsiveness and better performance in lightly threaded applications. The Cinebench R15 single-core test is closer, with Intel ahead by just 4.4% (235 vs. 225), suggesting that the gap narrows in older workloads.

The Ryzen 5 7535U's two wins are notable for their specificity. In PassMark integer math, AMD scores 62109 against Intel's 41558, a 33.1% advantage. This is a raw computational throughput test where the AMD chip's 12 threads provide a distinct edge. Similarly, in PassMark data compression, AMD scores 200252 versus 187050, a 6.6% win. These are the only tests where AMD comes out ahead, and they are both heavily parallel integer workloads that benefit from the extra threads.

Intel's other wins include a 67.6% margin in floating point math (56923 vs. 33971), a 91.7% margin in physics (1608 vs. 839), and a 20.8% margin in extended instructions (15928 vs. 13187). The multi-thread PassMark test shows a 14.2% lead for Intel (19461 vs. 17039), despite AMD having more threads. Data encryption goes to Intel by 8.8% (13822 vs. 12706), and random string sorting by 7.7% (22905 vs. 21267). The overall average benchmark score reflects this: Intel sits at 23297, with AMD close behind at 22791, a difference of roughly 2.2%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core rendering?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V is significantly faster. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 16544 against the AMD Ryzen 5 7535U's 8591, a 92.6% advantage. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test also favors Intel, with a score of 1667 versus 1330, a 25.3% lead.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 7535U win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins two head-to-head tests. It scores 62109 in PassMark integer math, which is 33.1% higher than Intel's 41558. It also wins in PassMark data compression, scoring 200252 against Intel's 187050, a 6.6% margin.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel chip leads in all single-thread tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 2335 versus AMD's 1414, a 65.1% lead. The PassMark single-thread test shows Intel at 3943 versus 3203, a 23.1% advantage. The Cinebench R15 single-core test is closer, with Intel ahead by 4.4%.

Q: What is the difference in their overall average benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V has an average benchmark score of 23297, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7535U has an average of 22791. Both chips sit at the 76th percentile when compared to all CPUs.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7535U has a boost clock of 4.55 GHz.

Q: Is there a difference in memory bandwidth?

A: Yes, the Intel chip supports LPDDR5X memory with a bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. The AMD chip supports DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V is built on a 3 nm process at TSMC, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7535U uses a 6 nm process, also at TSMC. This translates to a significant difference in transistor density and power efficiency. The Intel chip has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD chip has 6 cores and 12 threads. This means the AMD chip relies on simultaneous multithreading to reach its thread count, while Intel uses a simpler 1:1 core-to-thread ratio.

Cache configurations also differ notably. The Intel chip has a 12 MB shared L3 cache, while the AMD chip has a larger 16 MB shared L3 cache. Per-core L1 and L2 caches are also different: Intel provides 192 KB of L1 and 2.5 MB of L2 per core, while AMD provides 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core. The larger per-core caches on the Intel chip likely contribute to its strong single-thread performance.

Memory support is another differentiator. The Intel chip uses LPDDR5X memory with a dual-channel bus and a bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. The AMD chip uses DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and a bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. This nearly double memory bandwidth on Intel is a major factor in memory-sensitive workloads. The Intel chip also supports PCIe Gen 5 with 4 lanes, while the AMD chip supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes. The integrated graphics differ as well, with Intel featuring Arc 140V and AMD featuring Radeon 660M. The Intel chip is newer, with a release date of September 23, 2024, while the AMD chip was released on January 3, 2023.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner for most users: the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V. It wins 13 of 15 head-to-head benchmarks, including all Cinebench tests and the vast majority of PassMark tests. Its advantage in multi-core rendering is staggering, with a 92.6% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and a 91.7% lead in PassMark physics. For anyone doing productivity work, content creation, or any task that benefits from high single-thread performance, the Intel chip is the superior choice.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7535U is not without merit, but its wins are narrow and specific. Its 33.1% lead in integer math and 6.6% lead in data compression show that it can handle certain parallel integer workloads with aplomb, likely due to its 12 threads. However, these wins are the exception, not the rule. The Intel chip's higher average benchmark score (23297 vs. 22791) and identical percentile ranking (76th) suggest that while the AMD chip is competitive on average, it loses in the majority of scenarios.

For a general-purpose laptop processor, the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V is the better pick based on the data. Its combination of superior single-core performance, dominant multi-core scores in Cinebench, and higher memory bandwidth makes it a more versatile and capable chip. The Ryzen 5 7535U is only preferable if your primary workload is specifically integer math or data compression, where its thread count gives it a clear edge.

Specification Differences

The two chips differ in several key specifications. The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7535U has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel chip has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the AMD chip has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.55 GHz. The thermal design power (TDP) also differs, with Intel at 17 W and AMD at 28 W.

The process nodes are different, with Intel on 3 nm and AMD on 6 nm. Cache sizes vary, with Intel offering 12 MB of shared L3 cache and AMD offering 16 MB. Memory support differs, with Intel using LPDDR5X and AMD using DDR5. Memory bandwidth is significantly higher on Intel at 136.5 GB/s versus AMD's 76.8 GB/s. The PCIe support differs, with Intel offering Gen 5 with 4 lanes and AMD offering Gen 4 with 20 lanes. The integrated graphics are also different: Intel uses Arc 140V, while AMD uses Radeon 660M. The sockets are not interchangeable, with Intel using BGA 2833 and AMD using Socket FP7. The AMD chip supports ECC memory, while the Intel chip does not.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V is the clear winner in most general-purpose and productivity scenarios. Its 65.1% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core makes it the better choice for office applications, web browsing, and any software that relies on fast single-threaded execution. Its 92.6% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 67.6% lead in floating point math make it superior for video editing, 3D rendering, and scientific computing. The 23.1% lead in PassMark single-thread and the 14.2% lead in multi-thread further solidify its position as the more capable all-rounder.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7535U has a narrow but real niche. Its 33.1% lead in integer math suggests it handles certain types of calculation-heavy workloads, like cryptography or financial modeling, better. Its 6.6% lead in data compression makes it a reasonable choice for file archiving or database tasks. These are specific, parallel workloads where the extra 4 threads of the AMD chip provide an advantage. For everything else, the Intel chip's superior architecture and memory bandwidth make it the default recommendation. The Intel chip's lower TDP of 17 W versus AMD's 28 W also suggests it may run cooler and more efficiently in thin-and-light chassis, though this is not directly measured in the benchmark data.