AMD Ryzen 5 8500G vs AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 are two mobile processors from the same manufacturer but with distinct design priorities. The 8500G is a 6-core part built on the Zen 4 architecture, while the 365 is a 10-core part using Zen 5. The benchmark data shows a clear split: the 365 dominates multi-threaded workloads, while the 8500G holds an edge in specific single-core tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive result comes from Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the Ryzen AI 9 365 scores 2842 against the 8500G’s 1851, a 34.9% advantage. This pattern repeats across the PassMark suite. Floating point math shows a 37.8% lead for the 365 (62802 vs 39074), and integer math is 38% ahead (101831 vs 63123). The 365 also wins data compression by 29.4% (354510 vs 250197) and data encryption by 22.3% (18297 vs 14220). Extended instruction throughput favors the 365 by 24% (25113 vs 19098), and prime number finding is 25.6% faster (117 vs 87). In Geekbench multi-core, the 365 scores 13760 versus 9444, a 31.4% gap. PassMark multi-thread shows a 26.7% lead (29467 vs 21610), and physics simulation is 22.7% ahead (1704 vs 1318). Random string sorting goes to the 365 by 25.5% (39447 vs 29407).

The 8500G, however, wins four tests. The largest single-core victory is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 2593 versus 1992, a 30.2% advantage. Geekbench single-core goes to the 8500G by 4.5% (2354 vs 2253). PassMark single-thread results show a slim 1.3% win for the 8500G in both recorded entries (3891 vs 3841). Cinebench R15 single-core also favors the 8500G at 261 versus 303? No, that is incorrect. The data shows the 365 wins R15 single-core with 303 against 261, a 13.9% lead. The 8500G’s single-core wins are limited to R23, Geekbench, and PassMark.

Cinebench R23 multi-core is the closest contest. The 365 scores 18698, just 1.8% above the 8500G’s 18368. This near parity in a long-duration multi-threaded workload contrasts sharply with the 34.9% gap in R15 multi-core, suggesting the 365’s advantage widens under shorter burst loads or that thermal/power behavior differs across test durations.

Architecture Differences

The two processors use different core architectures and physical designs. The 8500G uses Zen 4 with the codename Phoenix2, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It has 6 cores and 12 threads. The 365 uses Zen 5 with the codename Strix Point, also on a 4 nm TSMC process, with 10 cores and 20 threads. The generation field lists the 8500G as simply "Ryzen 5 (Zen 4 (Phoenix))" while the 365 is "Ryzen AI 300 (Zen 5 / Zen 5c)", indicating a hybrid core arrangement for the latter.

Cache layouts differ in the L1 tier. The 8500G has 64 KB of L1 per core; the 365 has 80 KB per core. Both have 1 MB of L2 per core and 16 MB of shared L3. The die size is substantially different: 137 mm² for the 8500G versus 233 mm² for the 365. Transistor count is listed only for the 8500G at 20,900 million; no transistor figure is recorded for the 365.

Memory support diverges. The 8500G supports DDR5 only, while the 365 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Both run dual-channel memory. Memory bandwidth is higher on the 365 at 89.6 GB/s versus 83.2 GB/s for the 8500G. ECC memory is supported on the 8500G but not on the 365. PCIe lanes differ as well: the 8500G provides Gen 4 with 14 lanes (CPU only), while the 365 provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

The integrated graphics are different models. The 8500G carries a Radeon 740M, the 365 carries a Radeon 880M. The sockets also differ: the 8500G uses AMD Socket AM5, while the 365 uses AMD Socket FP8. The 8500G has a stated TDP of 65 watts; the 365 has a TDP of 28 watts. Base clocks are 3.50 GHz for the 8500G and 2.00 GHz for the 365. Both boost to 5.00 GHz. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The 8500G has a recorded launch MSRP of $179; no MSRP is recorded for the 365.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen AI 9 365 is the clear choice for multi-threaded throughput. Every multi-core and math-heavy benchmark in the head-to-head set goes to the 365, often by double-digit margins. The 38% lead in integer math and 37.8% lead in floating point math indicate strong performance in computational tasks such as compilation, scientific calculations, and rendering. The 29.4% advantage in data compression and 22.3% in encryption point to advantages in archival, backup, and secure data handling workloads. The 31.4% lead in Geekbench multi-core and 26.7% in PassMark multi-thread confirm broad multi-core superiority.

The Ryzen 5 8500G wins specific single-core tests. The 30.2% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is substantial and suggests that the Zen 4 core design in the 8500G delivers higher sustained single-core performance in that specific workload. Geekbench single-core shows a 4.5% advantage, and PassMark single-thread shows 1.3%. These wins indicate that the 8500G has a real, if narrower, edge in certain single-threaded applications. Note that the 365 wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 13.9%, so the single-core picture is not uniformly in favor of the 8500G.

The Cinebench R23 multi-core result is notable for the 8500G. A 1.8% deficit against a processor with 10 cores and 20 threads, when the 8500G has only 6 cores and 12 threads, suggests that the 8500G scales well within its core count or that the 365’s efficiency cores (Zen 5c) do not fully contribute under certain sustained loads. The 365’s 28-watt TDP versus 65 watts also suggests the 365 can deliver this performance at lower power, though the database does not record actual power draw measurements.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher multi-core performance?

A: The Ryzen AI 9 365 wins every multi-core benchmark in the head-to-head set. It leads by 34.9% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 31.4% in Geekbench multi-core, and 26.7% in PassMark multi-thread.

Q: Does the Ryzen 5 8500G have any single-core advantage?

A: Yes, the 8500G wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 30.2%, Geekbench single-core by 4.5%, and both PassMark single-thread entries by 1.3%. However, the 365 wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 13.9%.

Q: How close are the two in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The 365 scores 18698 and the 8500G scores 18368, a 1.8% difference. This is the smallest multi-core gap in the head-to-head data.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The 8500G has 6 cores and 12 threads. The 365 has 10 cores and 20 threads.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The 8500G has a TDP of 65 watts. The 365 has a TDP of 28 watts.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The 8500G supports ECC memory. The 365 does not.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every physical and architectural specification recorded in the database.

Cores and threads: 6 cores/12 threads on the 8500G; 10 cores/20 threads on the 365.

Base clock: 3.50 GHz on the 8500G; 2.00 GHz on the 365. Boost clock is identical at 5.00 GHz.

TDP: 65 watts on the 8500G; 28 watts on the 365.

Socket: AMD Socket AM5 on the 8500G; AMD Socket FP8 on the 365.

Architecture and codename: Zen 4 / Phoenix2 on the 8500G; Zen 5 / Strix Point on the 365. The 365 also lists a hybrid Zen 5 / Zen 5c generation.

Process node and foundry: both are 4 nm from TSMC. Die size differs: 137 mm² for the 8500G versus 233 mm² for the 365. Transistor count is 20,900 million for the 8500G; no figure for the 365.

Cache: L1 is 64 KB per core on the 8500G versus 80 KB per core on the 365. L2 is 1 MB per core on both. L3 is 16 MB shared on both.

Memory: the 8500G supports DDR5 only; the 365 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Both are dual-channel. Memory bandwidth is 83.2 GB/s on the 8500G versus 89.6 GB/s on the 365. ECC is supported on the 8500G only.

PCIe: Gen 4 with 14 lanes (CPU only) on the 8500G; Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only) on the 365.

Integrated graphics: Radeon 740M on the 8500G; Radeon 880M on the 365.

Market segment, production status, and unlocked multiplier are the same: both mobile, active, and locked.

Release dates differ: the 8500G released on 2024-01-07; the 365 on 2024-06-30. The 8500G has a launch MSRP of $179; the 365 has no recorded MSRP.

The Verdict

The Ryzen AI 9 365 is the stronger multi-threaded processor by a wide margin. It wins 13 of the 17 head-to-head tests, including all heavy compute workloads. The 38% lead in integer math and 37.8% in floating point math make it the pick for any application that scales across cores. Its 10 cores and 20 threads, combined with a 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth and 16 PCIe lanes, support this role. The lower 28-watt TDP compared to 65 watts also indicates better efficiency for sustained mobile workloads, though actual power draw is not recorded.

The Ryzen 5 8500G is not without merit. Its 30.2% win in Cinebench R23 single-core is the largest single-core margin in the entire comparison. It also wins Geekbench single-core and PassMark single-thread. For workloads that are single-threaded and sensitive to that specific performance, the 8500G can be the faster part. Its 65-watt TDP suggests a higher power ceiling, and it is the only one of the two with ECC memory support.

The choice depends on the workload profile. Multi-threaded tasks across rendering, encryption, compression, and math favor the 365 decisively. Single-threaded tasks with a specific pattern of short bursts and low core utilization may favor the 8500G, but the 365’s wins in Cinebench R15 single-core show that even there the picture is mixed. The 8500G’s near parity in Cinebench R23 multi-core, despite having only 60% of the cores and threads, is the most surprising data point. It indicates that the 8500G’s Zen 4 cores can hold their own under sustained load against the 365’s hybrid Zen 5 design, at least in that one test. Overall, the 365 is the higher-tier part, sitting in the 87th percentile versus the 74th percentile for the 8500G, and its average benchmark score of 40048 is nearly double the 8500G’s 20425.