AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285 Comparison

The Verdict

The data in this comparison is unambiguous: the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head set, claiming 17 wins out of 17 recorded tests. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE records zero wins. The Intel part sits at the 95th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the AMD part sits at the 78th percentile. Their average benchmark scores are 75,488 for Intel and 25,880 for AMD, a gap of roughly 2.9 times the AMD score.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 belongs to a completely different performance class. Its nearest rivals in the database are server-grade AMD EPYC parts (EPYC 8224P at -0.1%, EPYC 4545P at +0.2%) and high-end Ryzen 7 PRO variants (9755X3D at -0.3%, 9755 at -0.3%). The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE, by contrast, sits near the Intel Core i7-11700K (+0.3% delta), AMD Ryzen 5 230 (+0.4%), AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 (-0.4%), and Intel Core i7-14701TE (-0.5%). These are the comparisons that define its standing.

Who should pick which, strictly from the data: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 is the choice for any workload where maximum throughput per test matters. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE is the choice for systems that need a Zen 3 desktop part with 6 cores, 12 threads, and DDR4 support, where the 65 W TDP and AM4 socket compatibility are the deciding factors. The Intel part also runs at 65 W TDP, but requires Socket 1851 and DDR5 memory. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE uses the Zen 3 architecture under the Cezanne codename, part of the 5000 series generation. It is built on a 7 nm process at TSMC, with 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with base clock 3.40 GHz and boost clock 4.40 GHz. The cache layout is 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 16 MB L3. It supports DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, and ECC memory is enabled. PCIe is Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 7. The socket is AMD Socket AM4.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 uses the Arrow Lake architecture under the Arrow Lake-S codename, part of the Core Ultra Series 2 generation. It is built on a 3 nm process at TSMC, with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. It has 24 cores and 24 threads, with base clock 2.50 GHz and boost clock 5.60 GHz. The cache layout is 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB L3 shared. It supports DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth, and ECC memory is enabled. PCIe is Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics are Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The socket is Intel Socket 1851.

The transistor count difference is substantial: Intel has 17,800 million versus AMD's 10,700 million, a 66% higher count. Die size is also larger on Intel at 243 mm² versus 180 mm². The process node is finer on Intel (3 nm versus 7 nm). The memory bandwidth doubles from 51.2 GB/s to 102.4 GB/s. PCIe generation jumps from Gen 3 to Gen 5, and lane count increases from 16 to 20.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 has 24 cores and 24 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE has 6 cores and 12 threads. Intel has 4 times the core count and 2 times the thread count.

Q: What are the base and boost clock speeds?

A: The AMD part runs at 3.40 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost. The Intel part runs at 2.50 GHz base and 5.60 GHz boost. The Intel part has a lower base clock but a 1.20 GHz higher boost clock.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes. Both the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 have ECC memory enabled in the database.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The AMD part supports DDR4 on a dual-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part supports DDR5 on a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the Intel part?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 has a launch MSRP of $579. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE has no launch MSRP recorded in the database.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 has an average benchmark score of 75,488. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE has an average benchmark score of 25,880.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on every major specification field except TDP, market segment, and production status. TDP is identical at 65 W for both, both are desktop parts, and both are marked Active in production.

• Cores: AMD 6, Intel 24
• Threads: AMD 12, Intel 24
• Base clock: AMD 3.40 GHz, Intel 2.50 GHz
• Boost clock: AMD 4.40 GHz, Intel 5.60 GHz
• Socket: AMD Socket AM4, Intel Socket 1851
• Architecture: Zen 3, Arrow Lake
• Codename: Cezanne, Arrow Lake-S
• Generation: Ryzen 5 (Zen 3 (Cezanne)), Ultra 9 (Arrow Lake)
• Process node: 7 nm, 3 nm
• Foundry: TSMC (both), but node differs
• Transistors: 10,700 million, 17,800 million
• Die size: 180 mm², 243 mm²
• L1 cache: 64 KB per core, 192 KB per core
• L2 cache: 512 KB per core, 3 MB per core
• L3 cache: 16 MB, 36 MB shared
• Memory support: DDR4, DDR5
• Memory bandwidth: 51.2 GB/s, 102.4 GB/s
• PCIe: Gen 3, 16 lanes, Gen 5, 20 lanes
• Integrated graphics: Radeon Vega 7, Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU
• Release date: 2024-05-06, 2024-12-31
• Launch MSRP: none recorded, $579
• Part number: 100-000001514, SRQD4

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 wins all 17 head-to-head tests. The smallest margin is in PassMark single-thread tests, where Intel scores 4,881 against AMD's 3,240, a delta of -33.6%. The largest margin is in PassMark find prime numbers, where Intel scores 459 against AMD's 49, a delta of -89.3%.

In Cinebench tests, the pattern is consistent. Cinebench R15 multicore: Intel 4,933, AMD 1,562, delta -68.3%. Cinebench R15 singlecore: Intel 696, AMD 220, delta -68.4%. Cinebench R20 multicore: Intel 20,556, AMD 6,511, delta -68.3%. Cinebench R20 singlecore: Intel 2,901, AMD 918, delta -68.4%. Cinebench R23 multicore: Intel 48,945, AMD 15,504, delta -68.3%. Cinebench R23 singlecore: Intel 6,909, AMD 2,188, delta -68.3%.

In PassMark tests, the deltas vary. Data compression: Intel 602,121, AMD 228,037, delta -62.1%. Data encryption: Intel 46,949, AMD 14,509, delta -69.1%. Extended instructions: Intel 45,357, AMD 15,714, delta -65.4%. Floating point math: Intel 194,988, AMD 38,204, delta -80.4%. Integer math: Intel 164,869, AMD 67,582, delta -59.0%. Multithread: Intel 56,602, AMD 18,057, delta -68.1%. Physics: Intel 3,598, AMD 648, delta -82.0%. Random string sorting: Intel 73,651, AMD 23,769, delta -67.7%.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 wins every recorded benchmark, so the use-case split is defined by the degree of dominance rather than by any AMD advantage.

For single-thread performance, the Intel part leads by 33.6% in PassMark single-thread (4,881 versus 3,240) and by 68.4% in Cinebench R15 singlecore (696 versus 220). This carries over to Cinebench R20 and R23 singlecore, where Intel leads by 68.4% and 68.3% respectively. The boost clock of 5.60 GHz versus 4.40 GHz explains part of this gap.

For multi-thread workloads, the Intel advantage is larger. Cinebench R23 multicore shows Intel at 48,945 versus AMD at 15,504, a 68.3% lead. PassMark multithread shows 56,602 versus 18,057, a 68.1% lead. The 24 cores versus 6 cores drive this difference.

The most extreme deltas appear in specialized math and physics tests. Find prime numbers shows Intel at 459 versus AMD at 49, an 89.3% lead. Physics shows 3,598 versus 648, an 82.0% lead. Floating point math shows 194,988 versus 38,204, an 80.4% lead. These are the tests where the Intel part is most dominant.

Data compression and integer math show the smallest deltas among multi-thread tests: -62.1% and -59.0% respectively. Even these are decisive Intel wins, but they indicate that the AMD part is relatively less far behind in these specific workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE has no recorded benchmark wins. Its position in the database is defined by its nearest rivals: it is 0.3% above the Intel Core i7-11700K in average score, 0.4% above the AMD Ryzen 5 230, 0.4% below the AMD Ryzen AI 5 340, and 0.5% below the Intel Core i7-14701TE. That places it in the mainstream desktop tier, competing with older high-end parts, whereas the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 competes with server EPYC parts and high-end Ryzen 7 PRO parts.

For a system builder, the data says: choose the Intel part for maximum performance in every measured category. Choose the AMD part only if the AM4 socket, DDR4 memory support, and 6-core/12-thread configuration are the required parameters. The 65 W TDP is shared, so power envelope does not differentiate them. The Intel part is the stronger processor by every recorded metric.