AMD Ryzen 7 170 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a decisive matchup. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins 10 of the 11 shared benchmark tests, while the AMD Ryzen 7 170 takes only a single victory. The scale of the Intel advantage varies dramatically by workload, which makes the comparison more nuanced than a simple win count.

The AMD Ryzen 7 170’s sole win comes in integer math, where it scores 79738 against the Intel part’s 64934. That is a 22.8% lead, and it is the only test in the entire head-to-head set where the AMD chip finishes ahead. This suggests the AMD architecture handles integer-heavy instruction streams with notable efficiency relative to the Intel design.

In every other category, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H dominates, often by wide margins. The largest gap appears in the find prime numbers test, where Intel scores 304 versus AMD’s 49, a delta of 83.9%. That workload, which typically stresses branch prediction and iterative integer loops, exposes a massive difference in per-core throughput. The physics test shows a similar pattern: Intel at 2697 versus AMD at 890, a 67% advantage, indicating much stronger computational throughput in simulation-style workloads.

Floating point math also tilts heavily toward Intel, with a score of 84067 against AMD’s 44979, a 46.5% difference. Data encryption follows at 21367 versus 16078, a 24.8% gap, while extended instructions show Intel ahead by 24.3% (23906 versus 18107). Single-thread performance, often a predictor of general responsiveness, favors Intel by 25.2%: 4180 versus 3128.

The multithread score, which combines all cores, gives Intel 28717 against AMD’s 20760, a 27.7% lead. Data compression shows a closer race: Intel at 276539 versus AMD at 265920, just 3.8% apart. Random string sorting lands at 34082 for Intel versus 27804 for AMD, an 18.4% difference.

Looking at the broader database context, the AMD Ryzen 7 170 holds an average benchmark score of 43689, placing it in the 88th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H averages 33989, which sits in the 84th percentile. The AMD chip’s higher average comes from its strong integer math result and the fact that its benchmark suite includes fewer of the extreme single-thread tests where Intel excels. The Intel part’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H at 34083 (0.3% behind) and the Intel Core i7-12800HX at 33875 (0.3% ahead), showing that the Ultra 5 338H sits in a competitive cluster of mobile processors. Meanwhile, the AMD Ryzen 7 170’s nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 at 43704, essentially a tie, with the Ryzen 7 260 at 43717 (0.1% ahead).

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins 10 of the 11 head-to-head tests. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 wins only the integer math test, scoring 79738 versus 64934.

Q: How large is the single-thread performance gap?

A: The Intel part scores 4180 in the single-thread test, which is 25.2% higher than the AMD’s 3128. This is one of the largest per-core differences in the matchup.

Q: What is the biggest percentage difference in any test?

A: The find prime numbers test shows the largest gap, with Intel at 304 and AMD at 49, a difference of 83.9% in favor of Intel.

Q: Does the AMD processor have any advantage in memory bandwidth?

A: The recorded data shows AMD’s memory bandwidth at 76.8 GB/s, while Intel’s is 136.5 GB/s. Intel holds a substantial advantage in this specification, though the head-to-head benchmarks do not isolate memory bandwidth as a separate test.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 170 has an average benchmark score of 43689, which is higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H’s 33989. The AMD chip also sits at the 88th percentile of all CPUs, versus the 84th percentile for Intel.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 has 8 cores and 16 threads, meaning the AMD part supports simultaneous multithreading while the Intel part does not.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split in workload suitability. For tasks that rely heavily on integer math, such as certain database operations or compression algorithms, the AMD Ryzen 7 170 delivers a 22.8% advantage in integer math scoring. That is a meaningful edge for software that spends most of its execution time on integer arithmetic.

For nearly everything else in the benchmark suite, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is the stronger choice. The 25.2% lead in single-thread performance suggests snappier response in many everyday applications. The 27.7% advantage in multithread score indicates better overall throughput for parallel workloads. The 46.5% gap in floating point math and the 67% gap in physics make the Intel part clearly superior for scientific simulations, 3D rendering, and physics-based computations.

The AMD part’s higher average score (43689 versus 33989) and higher percentile (88 versus 84) may look favorable at first glance, but those figures reflect the specific composition of its benchmark set. In direct head-to-head tests, the Intel part wins 10 out of 11. The only scenario where a buyer should prefer the AMD chip is when integer math dominates the workload profile, and even then, the Intel part wins the multithread test overall.

Users who prioritize floating point, encryption, single-thread speed, or physics simulation should select the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H. Users whose primary application is integer-heavy and does not benefit from the other benchmark categories might consider the AMD Ryzen 7 170, but the data shows that the Intel chip is the more versatile processor in this comparison.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 uses 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses 12 cores and 12 threads. The AMD part has a higher base clock at 3.20 GHz versus Intel’s 1.90 GHz, but the boost clocks are closer: 4.75 GHz for AMD and 4.70 GHz for Intel.

Thermal design power differs significantly. The AMD chip has a TDP of 35 watts, while the Intel chip is rated at 25 watts, meaning the Intel part targets lower power consumption under load. The sockets are incompatible: AMD uses Socket FP7, while Intel uses BGA 2540. The AMD chip supports ECC memory, while the Intel chip does not.

Memory bandwidth shows a major gap. The Intel part supports LPDDR5X memory with a bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s, while the AMD part supports DDR5 with 76.8 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory buses. PCIe capabilities also differ: AMD offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while Intel offers Gen 5 with only 4 lanes.

The integrated graphics are different as well: AMD uses Radeon 680M, while Intel uses Arc B370. The AMD chip has a die size of 210 mm², while the Intel chip’s die size is not recorded in the database. Release dates differ by roughly three months, with AMD listed as September 30, 2025, and Intel as January 4, 2026. Neither processor has a launch MSRP recorded.

Architecture Differences

The architectures represent two distinct design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 uses Zen 3+ architecture on a 6 nm process node manufactured by TSMC. The codename is Rembrandt-R. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses Panther Lake architecture on a 3 nm process node manufactured by Intel itself, with the codename Panther Lake-H.

Cache hierarchies differ considerably. The AMD chip provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. This means Intel has a larger L1 and L2 per core, which likely contributes to its single-thread performance advantage, while the total L3 capacity is also higher on Intel (18 MB versus 16 MB).

The core count difference is structural. Intel’s 12 cores operate without simultaneous multithreading, so each core handles one thread. AMD’s 8 cores each support two threads, yielding 16 threads total. This explains why AMD wins the integer math test despite having fewer physical cores: additional threads can help in specific integer workloads that parallelize well.

The process node difference (6 nm versus 3 nm) gives Intel a density and power efficiency advantage, which aligns with its lower 25 watt TDP. Intel’s memory controller supports LPDDR5X rather than DDR5, which accounts for the higher memory bandwidth figure. The PCIe generation difference (Gen 5 versus Gen 4) means Intel offers a newer interconnect standard, though with far fewer lanes (4 versus 20).

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 170 wins in one specific category: integer math. Its score of 79738 beats Intel’s 64934 by 22.8%. This makes it the preferred processor for workloads that are dominated by integer arithmetic, such as certain types of data processing, file operations, or legacy software that does not leverage floating point or vector extensions.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins in every other recorded benchmark. Its most dominant victories come in find prime numbers (304 versus 49, a 83.9% lead) and physics (2697 versus 890, a 67% lead). These results indicate strong per-core throughput in iterative and simulation-style tasks. The floating point math score of 84067 versus 44979 shows a 46.5% advantage, which benefits scientific computing, 3D rendering, and any application using heavy vector math.

In multithread workloads, Intel’s 12 physical cores outpace AMD’s 8 cores with 16 threads, scoring 28717 versus 20760. This suggests that Intel’s architecture scales better across all cores simultaneously, despite lacking SMT. Data compression shows only a 3.8% gap (276539 versus 265920), meaning the AMD chip is competitive in that area but still behind. Random string sorting favors Intel by 18.4%, and data encryption by 24.8%.

Single-thread performance, measured at 4180 versus 3128, gives Intel a 25.2% edge. This affects all applications that depend on a single core’s speed, including many games, web browsing, and office productivity. The extended instructions test also favors Intel by 24.3%, indicating better support for modern CPU instruction sets.

In summary, the AMD Ryzen 7 170 is the choice only for integer math-heavy workloads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is the better processor for floating point, physics, encryption, single-thread, multithread, and most general-purpose computing tasks, based on the recorded benchmark data.