AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655G vs Intel Core Ultra 5 125H Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher overall average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655G holds a slightly higher average benchmark score of 28032, compared to the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H's 27507. Both sit at nearly the same percentile rank among all CPUs, with the AMD at the 80th percentile and the Intel at the 79th.

Q: How much faster is the Intel part in the Cinebench R15 multicore test?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H scores 2021.5 versus the AMD's 1738, a 16.3% advantage. This is the largest Cinebench win for Intel across the tested versions.

Q: Where does the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655G show its biggest single-score lead?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD scores 2435 against Intel's 1647.5, a 32.3% margin. It also leads in R20 single-core by 1.2% and R15 single-core by 1.6%.

Q: Which chip wins the PassMark multithread test?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H records 21100 versus 19129 for the AMD, a 10.3% advantage in the PassMark multithread workload.

Q: Does the AMD processor lead in any memory-related or encryption benchmarks?

A: Yes, the AMD wins PassMark data compression by 7.6% (255608 vs 236209) and PassMark data encryption by 6.6% (15253 vs 14251).

Q: What is the total number of benchmark wins for each processor in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H wins 9 of the 17 recorded tests, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655G wins 8.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H is built on Meteor Lake, a hybrid architecture that pairs high-performance cores with efficiency cores, totaling 14 cores and 18 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655G uses Zen 3 (Cezanne), a traditional monolithic design with 6 cores and 12 threads. This core count disparity explains much of the multicore behavior, but the AMD's higher base clock of 3.90 GHz versus Intel's 3.60 GHz helps close the gap in lightly threaded work.

Both are fabricated on a 7 nm process, but the foundry differs: Intel uses its own fabs, while AMD relies on TSMC. The AMD chip contains 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die, figures not recorded for the Intel part. Cache layouts also diverge: Intel allocates 112 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2 per core, with 18 MB of shared L3. AMD provides 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, with a 16 MB L3 pool. The smaller per-core L2 on AMD could affect certain workloads, though the benchmark data shows AMD still leads in several memory-sensitive tasks.

Memory support marks a clear generational split. The Intel chip supports DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and a recorded bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The AMD part uses DDR4, also dual-channel, but with a lower 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe connectivity differs as well: Intel offers Gen 5, while AMD provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The AMD supports ECC memory, a feature the Intel part lacks. Integrated graphics also differ, with Intel using Arc Xe-LPG 96EU and AMD using Radeon Vega 7. The Intel part is a mobile segment chip on Intel BGA 2049, while the AMD is a desktop processor on Socket AM4, which explains the 28W TDP for Intel versus 65W for AMD.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic result appears in Cinebench R23 multicore, where AMD wins by a massive 25.8% margin. The AMD scores 17249 while Intel manages 12804.5. This is surprising given Intel's core advantage, suggesting that the AMD's higher per-core performance and possibly better sustained clocks under this workload outweigh Intel's extra cores. In Cinebench R20 multicore, AMD also edges ahead, scoring 7244 versus 7161, a 1.1% lead. However, Intel strikes back in Cinebench R15 multicore with a 16.3% win, scoring 2021.5 against 1738. The inconsistency across Cinebench versions hints at different scaling behaviors; R15 may favor Intel's parallel architecture, while R23 stresses the AMD's stronger individual cores.

Single-core results consistently favor AMD. In Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD leads by 32.3% with 2435 versus 1647.5. The R20 single-core margin is 1.2%, and R15 single-core is 1.6%. The PassMark single-thread test tells a different story, with Intel winning 4.9% (3399 vs 3241). This discrepancy may stem from different instruction mixes; the PassMark single-thread test likely exercises broader code paths, while Cinebench's rendering workload highlights sustained frequency and IPC.

PassMark extended instructions show AMD ahead by 23.4%, scoring 17944 versus 13749. This suggests AMD's Zen 3 has stronger SIMD or specialized instruction throughput. PassMark floating point math, however, belongs to Intel by 33.7% (51670 vs 38649), a massive gap that points to Intel's advantage in heavy FP arithmetic. PassMark integer math is nearly tied, with Intel winning by 3.6% (69986 vs 67561).

The physics test produces the largest delta of the entire comparison: Intel wins by 109.8%, scoring 1439 versus AMD's 686. This outlier suggests Intel's architecture handles the specific physics simulation workload far better. PassMark find prime numbers also goes to Intel by 79.6% (88 vs 49). Random string sorting favors Intel by 8.6%, and multithread goes to Intel by 10.3%. Data compression and encryption both go to AMD, by 7.6% and 6.6% respectively.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ sharply: Intel offers 14 cores and 18 threads, while AMD offers 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks favor AMD at 3.90 GHz versus 3.60 GHz, but boost clocks favor Intel at 4.50 GHz versus 4.40 GHz. The TDP gap is substantial, with Intel at 28W and AMD at 65W, reflecting their mobile versus desktop design targets. Socket types differ completely, with Intel on BGA 2049 and AMD on AM4.

Memory architecture separates them further: Intel uses DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, while AMD uses DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s. ECC support exists only on AMD. PCIe generation differs, with Intel at Gen 5 and AMD at Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The process node is nominally the same 7 nm, but the foundries differ (Intel vs TSMC). Cache configurations diverge in per-core L1 and L2 sizes, with Intel providing larger allocations, while the L3 total favors Intel at 18 MB versus 16 MB. Integrated graphics differ, with Intel's Arc Xe-LPG 96EU versus AMD's Radeon Vega 7. Market segments are opposite: Intel is mobile, AMD is desktop. Release dates differ significantly, with Intel launching on 2023-12-13 and AMD on 2024-05-06. The Intel has a recorded launch MSRP of $375, while AMD's launch MSRP is not recorded in the database. The part numbers also differ (SRMZ4 for Intel, 100-000001513 for AMD), and neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H dominates in workloads that require raw math throughput or specific parallel patterns. PassMark floating point math shows a 33.7% lead, and the physics test shows a 109.8% lead, making Intel the clear choice for simulation or physics-based computing. The find prime numbers test, with a 79.6% advantage, indicates strong integer iteration performance. Multithread work also favors Intel by 10.3%, and random string sorting by 8.6%, suggesting good general parallel efficiency in memory-manipulation tasks. The single-thread PassMark win of 4.9% is notable, showing that Intel's hybrid design can still win in certain single-threaded code paths.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655G wins in sustained rendering workloads, as shown by the Cinebench R23 multicore and single-core results. The 25.8% multicore lead and 32.3% single-core lead make AMD the better choice for Cinebench-style rendering. Data compression and encryption also go to AMD, making it attractive for file handling or security-related tasks. The extended instructions lead of 23.4% suggests AMD is better for code that uses advanced instruction sets. For users prioritizing DDR4 compatibility, ECC support, or desktop socket flexibility, AMD offers those features, though the bandwidth is lower than Intel's DDR5 support. The AMD's higher base clock of 3.90 GHz likely contributes to its wins in lightly threaded tasks.

The Verdict

The data paints a split picture. If the workload is heavily threaded but not rendering-specific, the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H wins more often, taking 9 of 17 tests. Its wins in floating point math, physics, and multithread tests suggest a versatile parallel processor. The 109.8% physics lead and 33.7% floating point lead are decisive for scientific or engineering applications. The lower 28W TDP also makes it suitable for mobile platforms, though the database does not record cooling requirements.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655G is the stronger rendering chip. The Cinebench R23 results are unambiguous: a 25.8% multicore lead and a 32.3% single-core lead. For video rendering or 3D scene compilation, AMD is the data-backed choice. The compression and encryption wins add utility for storage or network workloads. The 65W TDP and desktop socket make it a different class of product, aimed at stationary systems where power draw is less critical.

The average benchmark scores nearly match, with AMD at 28032 and Intel at 27507, a difference of about 1.9%. The percentile ranks are effectively tied at 80 and 79. This means the choice depends entirely on the specific application. For mixed general-purpose computing, the Intel's win count edges out AMD. For rendering or single-threaded legacy applications, AMD holds the advantage. The Intel's DDR5 support and PCIe Gen 5 offer a more modern platform foundation, while AMD's ECC support and DDR4 compatibility cater to stability-focused builds. There is no overall winner; the recorded data supports Intel for math-heavy and physics-based tasks, and AMD for rendering and data compression.