AMD Ryzen 5 9500F vs AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between the two processors. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 wins 8 of the 11 recorded comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen 5 9500F takes 3. The most decisive victories belong to the mobile chip. In data compression, the HX 370 scores 445719 versus 325678, a 26.9% advantage. Integer math shows a similar pattern: 122933 against 84198, a 31.5% lead. Floating point math follows with 76892 versus 56570, a 26.4% gap. The HX 370 also dominates in random string sorting (48723 vs 34174, a 29.9% edge) and data encryption (22252 vs 15716, a 29.4% lead). Extended instructions favor the HX 370 by 16.7%, with scores of 31653 and 26370.

The multithread test, which often summarizes overall throughput, gives the HX 370 a 35148 score against 28312 for the 9500F, a 19.4% difference. Even the physics test, which is close, goes to the HX 370: 1881 versus 1851, a narrow 1.6% margin. The 9500F's wins are concentrated in specific workloads. The prime number search shows a massive 74.6% advantage for the desktop chip, scoring 220 against 126. Single-thread performance also favors the 9500F, with a 4258 score versus 3973, a 7.2% lead. This pattern appears twice in the data, once under passmark_single_thread and once under passmark_singlethread, both confirming the same result.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this split. The 9500F records an average of 52873, while the HX 370 averages 37904. However, these averages include different test sets, so the head-to-head comparisons carry more weight. The nearest rival data places the 9500F at 91st percentile among all CPUs, while the HX 370 sits at 86th. The 9500F's closest competitor, the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164, scores 52901, a 0.1% difference. The HX 370's nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-14901E, matches it at 37911, a 0.0% delta. These percentile positions suggest the desktop chip holds a higher overall standing, yet the head-to-head results tell a different story for threaded workloads.

Architecture Differences

Both processors use the Zen 5 architecture and a 4 nm process node from TSMC, but they diverge significantly in other structural aspects. The 9500F is a Granite Ridge desktop part with 6 cores and 12 threads. The HX 370 is a Strix Point mobile chip with 12 cores and 24 threads, using a hybrid configuration of Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. This core count difference explains much of the multithread performance gap. The 9500F has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The HX 370 starts at 2.00 GHz and boosts to 5.10 GHz, meaning the desktop chip runs at higher sustained frequencies while the mobile chip can reach a slightly higher peak.

Cache layouts differ substantially. Both allocate 80 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core. The shared L3 cache, however, favors the desktop part: 32 MB for the 9500F versus 16 MB for the HX 370. This larger L3 pool likely contributes to the 9500F's single-thread and prime number advantages. The die sizes reflect their different purposes: the 9500F measures 70.6 mm² with 8,315 million transistors, while the HX 370 spans 233 mm² with no transistor count recorded. The larger mobile die accommodates the integrated Radeon 890M graphics, which the desktop chip lacks entirely.

Memory support also separates the two. The 9500F supports DDR5 only, while the HX 370 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Both use dual-channel memory buses with identical 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is available on the desktop chip but not on the mobile one. PCIe capabilities differ: the 9500F offers Gen 5 with 24 lanes, while the HX 370 provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes. The power envelopes show a stark contrast, with the 9500F rated at 65 W TDP and the HX 370 at 28 W TDP. The desktop part runs on AMD Socket AM5, the mobile part on AMD Socket FP8. The 9500F has an unlocked multiplier; the HX 370 does not.

Where Each One Wins

The data points to distinct usage scenarios for each processor. The HX 370 excels in tasks that scale with core count and parallelism. Data compression, encryption, integer math, and floating point math all show leads of roughly 26% to 32%. These workloads benefit directly from the 12-core, 24-thread configuration. Random string sorting also favors the HX 370 by 29.9%, indicating strong memory bandwidth utilization despite the smaller L3 cache. Extended instructions, which often involve vectorized or specialized code, go to the HX 370 by 16.7%. The multithread test, which reflects general parallel performance, confirms this pattern with a 19.4% advantage.

The 9500F claims its wins in areas that depend on single-core efficiency and cache residency. The prime number test, which is highly sensitive to per-core integer throughput and cache behavior, shows a dramatic 74.6% advantage. This suggests the larger 32 MB L3 cache and higher base clock give the desktop chip a decisive edge in latency-bound, non-parallel workloads. Single-thread performance, measured at 4258 versus 3973, also goes to the 9500F, a 7.2% lead. This indicates that for lightly threaded applications, the desktop chip delivers faster per-core execution. The physics test is nearly tied, with the HX 370 leading by just 1.6%, so this workload does not clearly favor either part.

For users running database queries, file compression, or encryption tasks, the HX 370's parallel throughput makes it the stronger choice. For users running simulation code, legacy single-threaded applications, or workloads with large working sets that fit in cache, the 9500F's per-core performance and cache capacity provide the advantage. The 9500F's higher percentile ranking (91 versus 86) suggests it holds a better position in the overall CPU landscape, but the head-to-head results show the HX 370 wins the majority of specific tests.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge in several recorded specifications. Core counts differ: 6 cores for the 9500F versus 12 for the HX 370. Thread counts follow: 12 versus 24. Base clocks show 3.80 GHz for the desktop chip and 2.00 GHz for the mobile chip. Boost clocks are nearly identical, with the HX 370 edging ahead at 5.10 GHz versus 5.00 GHz. TDP ratings differ significantly: 65 W for the 9500F, 28 W for the HX 370. Sockets are different: AM5 versus FP8. Codename and generation also differ: Granite Ridge in the Ryzen 5 family versus Strix Point in the Ryzen AI 300 family.

L3 cache capacity varies: 32 MB shared on the 9500F, 16 MB on the HX 370. Transistor counts are recorded only for the 9500F at 8,315 million; the HX 370 has none listed. Die sizes differ: 70.6 mm² versus 233 mm². Memory support is broader on the HX 370, which accepts DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while the 9500F only takes DDR5. ECC memory support is present on the 9500F and absent on the HX 370. PCIe generations and lane counts differ: Gen 5 with 24 lanes versus Gen 4 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics are absent on the 9500F and present as Radeon 890M on the HX 370. Market segments differ: Desktop versus Mobile. Release dates are recorded as 2025-09-07 for the 9500F and 2024-06-30 for the HX 370. The 9500F has a launch MSRP of $219; the HX 370 has no recorded launch price. The multiplier is unlocked on the 9500F and locked on the HX 370. Part numbers are 100-000001406 and 100-000000994.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 9500F has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: How do the single-thread scores compare?

A: The 9500F scores 4258 in the passmark single-thread test, which is 7.2% higher than the HX 370's 3973.

Q: Which processor wins in data compression?

A: The HX 370 scores 445719 in passmark data compression, beating the 9500F's 325678 by 26.9%.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache size?

A: The 9500F has 32 MB of shared L3 cache, while the HX 370 has 16 MB.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The 9500F supports ECC memory, but the HX 370 does not.

Q: What is the TDP for each processor?

A: The 9500F has a 65 W TDP, and the HX 370 has a 28 W TDP.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The HX 370 boosts to 5.10 GHz, slightly higher than the 9500F's 5.00 GHz.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The HX 370 includes Radeon 890M integrated graphics, while the 9500F has no integrated graphics.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports a clear division of roles. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 wins the majority of benchmark comparisons, particularly in parallel workloads like data compression, encryption, integer math, and floating point math. Its 12-core, 24-thread configuration and 28 W TDP make it suitable for mobile systems that need substantial multicore throughput in a power-constrained envelope. The 86th percentile ranking and the near-tie with the Intel Core i9-14901E (37911 average score, 0.0% delta) indicate it performs competitively among mobile processors.

The AMD Ryzen 5 9500F, while winning only 3 of 11 head-to-head tests, shows decisive advantages in single-thread performance and prime number calculations. The 74.6% lead in prime numbers and 7.2% lead in single-thread tests, combined with the larger 32 MB L3 cache, point to strength in latency-sensitive and lightly threaded workloads. Its 91st percentile ranking places it above the HX 370 in the overall CPU distribution. The 65 W TDP and unlocked multiplier on the AM5 socket suggest a desktop part designed for overclocking and sustained performance.

The choice depends on workload type. The HX 370 delivers higher throughput in threaded applications, as shown by the 19.4% multithread lead. The 9500F delivers faster per-core execution and a larger cache, as shown by the single-thread and prime number results. Users with heavily parallel workloads should favor the HX 370. Users with single-threaded or cache-sensitive workloads should favor the 9500F. The data does not indicate a universal winner, only distinct strengths for each processor.