AMD Ryzen 5 7540U vs Intel Core Ultra 7 266V Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between the AMD Ryzen 5 7540U and the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V. Intel wins 10 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons, but AMD's victories are often decisive in specific workloads. The overall average benchmark score favors AMD slightly, at 24188 versus 23297 for Intel, a difference of about 3.8 percent.

The single largest gap in either direction is in integer math. Here the AMD Ryzen 5 7540U scores 60152 against Intel's 41558, a 44.7 percent advantage. This is a massive lead for the AMD part and indicates a fundamental strength in basic arithmetic operations that are common in many productivity tasks. In contrast, the Intel part dominates in prime number finding, scoring 191 versus AMD's 66, which translates to a 65.4 percent advantage for Intel. This is the biggest Intel win and points to extreme efficiency in a specific algorithmic pattern.

In multi-core rendering, the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V pulls far ahead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 16544 against AMD's 10383, a 37.2 percent advantage. This is a substantial difference in sustained multi-threaded workloads. The single-core Cinebench R23 result also favors Intel, with a score of 2335 versus AMD's 1699, a 27.2 percent lead. The Intel's boost clock of 5.00 GHz compared to AMD's 4.90 GHz likely contributes to this single-thread superiority, though architectural differences are the primary driver.

AMD's counterattacks in the older Cinebench R15 tests are notable. In R15 multi-core, AMD wins narrowly with 1676 versus 1667, a 0.5 percent edge. In R15 single-core, AMD wins decisively with 264 versus 235, a 12.3 percent margin. This suggests the AMD part's architecture was better suited to the older benchmark's instruction mix, while Intel's newer design excels in the more demanding R23 test.

In data compression, AMD wins with a score of 211581 versus Intel's 187050, a 13.1 percent lead. Random string sorting also goes AMD's way, with a score of 24760 versus 22905, an 8.1 percent advantage. These wins show AMD's strength in data manipulation and memory-bound operations. Intel, however, wins in data encryption with 13822 versus 12563, a 9.1 percent edge, and in extended instructions with 15928 versus 15307, a 3.9 percent lead.

The multi-threaded Passmark score is close. Intel wins with 19461 versus AMD's 18576, only a 4.5 percent gap. The physics test shows Intel ahead by a larger margin, with 1608 versus 964, a 40 percent lead. Floating point math also heavily favors Intel, with 56923 versus 36077, a 36.6 percent advantage. The single-thread Passmark test goes to Intel with 3943 versus 3544, a 10.1 percent lead. Overall, Intel has the broader performance profile, but AMD has specific, large wins in integer heavy and data compression tasks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V wins 10 of the 15 direct comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7540U wins 5.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark advantage in either direction?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7540U has the largest margin in integer math, scoring 60152 versus Intel's 41558, a 44.7 percent lead. Intel's largest win is in prime number finding, where it scores 191 versus AMD's 66, a 65.4 percent lead.

Q: How do the two chips compare in overall average benchmark scores?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7540U has an average benchmark score of 24188, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V averages 23297. AMD is ahead by about 891 points, or roughly 3.8 percent.

Q: Which chip is better for multi-core rendering workloads like Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V is significantly better, with a C23 multi-core score of 16544 versus AMD's 10383, a 37.2 percent advantage.

Q: Does the AMD chip have any significant wins in the Passmark suite?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 5 7540U wins in data compression by 13.1 percent, integer math by 44.7 percent, and random string sorting by 8.1 percent.

Q: What is the difference in single-thread Passmark performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V scores 3943 in single-thread Passmark, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7540U scores 3544, giving Intel a 10.1 percent lead.

The Verdict

The data points to two different design philosophies. The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V is the faster processor for most tasks in this comparison. It wins the majority of benchmarks, with decisive leads in multi-core rendering, floating point math, and single-thread performance. The 37.2 percent lead in C23 multi-core is particularly notable for users who run heavy parallel workloads. The 10.1 percent lead in single-thread Passmark also suggests a snappier experience in lightly threaded applications.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7540U is not a universal loser. It wins the older Cinebench R15 tests, and it has a massive 44.7 percent lead in integer math. It also leads in data compression by 13.1 percent and random string sorting by 8.1 percent. Users whose applications are dominated by integer operations or data compression might prefer the AMD chip. However, those wins are narrower in total scope than Intel's broad advantage.

The database's percentile data shows both chips at the same 76th percentile, indicating they are competitive within the overall market. But the head-to-head scores show Intel's wins are more frequent. The data supports the conclusion that the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V is the stronger all-around performer, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7540U is a specialized option for specific tasks. The average benchmark score aligns with this, with AMD's 24188 slightly ahead of Intel's 23297. The Intel chip's wins in rendering and floating-point math are more common in general and professional workloads than AMD's integer and compression wins.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in fundamental specifications. The AMD Ryzen 5 7540U has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V has 8 cores and 8 threads. The AMD has a higher base clock of 3.20 GHz versus Intel's 2.20 GHz, but the Intel has a higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus AMD's 4.90 GHz. The thermal design power differs considerably: the AMD is rated at 28 watts, while the Intel is rated at 17 watts.

The memory bandwidth is another major difference. The AMD supports DDR5 with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Intel supports LPDDR5X with a bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. The Intel has a higher memory bandwidth by 46.9 GB/s, which is about 52 percent higher. The AMD supports ECC memory, while the Intel does not. The PCIe configuration is different: the AMD has 20 lanes of Gen 4, while the Intel has 4 lanes of Gen 5. The integrated graphics differ as well, with AMD using the Radeon 740M and Intel using the Arc 140V. The sockets are also different, with the AMD using Socket FP7 and the Intel using BGA 2833.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is sweeping. The AMD Ryzen 5 7540U is built on Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Phoenix, for the 7000 series. It uses a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V is built on Lunar Lake architecture, for the Core Ultra Series 2. It uses a 3 nm process, also at TSMC. The AMD has 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. Intel's transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database.

The cache hierarchy is different. The AMD has an L1 cache of 64 KB per core, an L2 cache of 1 MB per core, and a 16 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel has a much larger L1 cache of 192 KB per core and an L2 cache of 2.5 MB per core, but a smaller 12 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel's larger per-core caches may help in its single-thread performance, while AMD's larger shared L3 cache could benefit its 12 threads in certain multi-threaded scenarios.

The AMD part has 12 threads from 6 cores, while Intel has 8 threads from 8 cores. This means the AMD relies on simultaneous multithreading, while Intel's Lunar Lake uses no hyper-threading on these cores. The AMD's higher base clock of 3.20 GHz suggests a more aggressively clocked design at its 28 watt TDP, while the Intel's lower 2.20 GHz base clock allows it to fit in a 17 watt TDP, with a higher boost clock to 5.00 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 7540U wins in scenarios that rely on integer math, data compression, and older rendering workloads. The 44.7 percent lead in integer math means applications that are heavy on basic arithmetic operations will see a significant performance advantage. The 13.1 percent lead in data compression makes it a candidate for file archiving or database workloads. The 8.1 percent lead in random string sorting also points to specific text processing tasks. The 12.3 percent win in Cinebench R15 single-core is a smaller but still measurable win in a legacy benchmark.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V's wins are broader and often larger. It wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core by 37.2 percent, making it the stronger choice for modern rendering, video encoding, and simulation. The 36.6 percent lead in floating point math is critical for scientific computing, 3D rendering, and any workload that relies on decimal calculations. The 65.4 percent lead in prime number finding is a specific but massive win for algorithms that involve prime number calculations. The 40 percent lead in physics suggests better performance in physics simulations in games or engineering software. The 10.1 percent lead in single-thread Passmark means it's snappier in general desktop tasks. The 9.1 percent lead in data encryption makes it a better option for security workloads.

In summary, the AMD Ryzen 5 7540U is the winner for integer-heavy applications and data compression tasks. The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V is the winner for almost everything else, especially multi-core rendering, floating-point math, and single-thread speed. The database's 3.8 percent average score advantage for AMD is misleading because it's driven by the massive integer math score. The Intel's wins are in more varied categories, making it the more versatile processor for typical workloads. The Intel's higher memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s also supports its faster multi-core performance in memory-hungry tasks. But the AMD's 12 threads still give it a niche in applications that respond well to thread count, as shown in the Cinebench R15 multi-core win.