AMD Ryzen 7 170 vs Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a decisive comparison. Across all eleven shared benchmark tests, the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus delivers a higher score than the AMD Ryzen 7 170. The database records zero benchmark wins for the AMD processor in this head-to-head set.

The largest performance gap appears in the passmark_find_prime_numbers test. The Intel part scores 519 against the AMD's 49, a delta of -90.6% for the Ryzen 7 170. This is the only test where the margin exceeds 90%, indicating a particularly strong result for the Intel architecture in this integer-heavy workload.

The floating point math test shows the second-largest difference. Intel scores 201,773 while AMD records 44,979, a delta of -77.7%. This substantial gap suggests the Intel processor's wider execution resources provide a major advantage in sustained floating-point throughput.

The physics test shows a delta of -73.7%, with Intel scoring 3,387 against AMD's 890. This workload typically reflects multi-threaded simulation performance, and the Intel processor's 24 threads versus the AMD's 16 threads likely contributes to this outcome.

Data encryption shows a delta of -67.8%. The Intel score of 50,008 compares to AMD's 16,078. This workload benefits from the Intel processor's higher core count and newer microarchitecture.

The multithread test shows a delta of -65.1%. Intel scores 59,439 while AMD records 20,760. The random string sorting test shows a similar pattern, with Intel at 80,327 and AMD at 27,804, a delta of -65.4%. Extended instructions also follow this trend, with Intel at 51,290 and AMD at 18,107, a delta of -64.7%.

Data compression shows a delta of -59.6%. Intel scores 658,724 against AMD's 265,920. This remains a strong Intel win, though the gap is narrower than in several other tests. Integer math shows the smallest delta among the multi-threaded tests at -51.6%, with Intel scoring 164,839 and AMD scoring 79,738.

The single-threaded tests show the smallest overall gaps. Both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread record Intel at 4,951 and AMD at 3,128, a delta of -36.8%. This indicates that while the Intel processor leads in single-core performance, the margin is considerably smaller than in multi-threaded workloads.

The average benchmark score in the database reflects this overall dominance. Intel's average is 79,574, while AMD's is 43,689. The Intel processor sits at the 95th percentile among all CPUs, while the AMD processor sits at the 88th percentile.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results show no test category where the AMD Ryzen 7 170 takes the lead. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins in every recorded workload. This makes the use-case split straightforward: the Intel processor is the stronger choice for all measured performance categories.

For single-threaded workloads, the Intel processor leads by 36.8%. This covers tasks such as general desktop responsiveness, lightweight productivity, and applications that rely primarily on a single core. The AMD processor still produces a respectable single-thread score of 3,128, which places it in the 88th percentile overall, but the Intel part's 4,951 score is clearly higher.

For multi-threaded workloads, the Intel advantage grows substantially. The multithread score of 59,439 versus 20,760 represents a 65.1% advantage. Rendering, video encoding, compilation, and scientific computing tasks that scale across cores will all see significantly better results on the Intel processor.

The data compression and encryption tests show Intel advantages of 59.6% and 67.8% respectively. These matter for file archiving, database operations, and secure communication workloads. The extended instructions test, with a 64.7% Intel advantage, covers workloads using advanced CPU instruction sets such as AVX.

The physics test shows a 73.7% Intel advantage. This workload correlates with gaming physics simulation and some engineering simulation tasks. The floating point math test shows a 77.7% Intel advantage, important for scientific computing, financial modeling, and any workload with heavy mathematical computation.

The prime number finding test shows the largest gap at 90.6%. This workload is often used in cryptography and number theory applications. The Intel processor's score of 519 versus AMD's 49 indicates a massive advantage in this specific area.

Architecture Differences

The two processors differ substantially in their fundamental architecture. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 uses the Zen 3+ architecture, codenamed Rembrandt-R, built on a 6 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus uses the Arrow Lake-HX Refresh architecture, built on a 3 nm process, also at TSMC.

The core configurations differ significantly. The AMD processor has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel processor has 24 cores and 24 threads. The Intel part does not use simultaneous multi-threading, as indicated by the equal core and thread counts. The AMD processor's 16 threads from 8 cores shows it does use simultaneous multi-threading.

Clock speeds show different design priorities. The AMD processor has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.75 GHz. The Intel processor has a lower base clock of 2.70 GHz but a higher boost clock of 5.50 GHz. This explains the Intel processor's single-thread advantage despite the lower base frequency.

Cache configurations differ considerably. The AMD processor has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel processor has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel processor's larger L3 cache, 36 MB versus 16 MB, contributes to its strong performance in cache-sensitive workloads.

Memory bandwidth also differs. The AMD processor supports dual-channel DDR5 with 76.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel processor also supports dual-channel DDR5 but with 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. Both support ECC memory. The Intel processor's higher memory bandwidth provides an advantage in memory-intensive workloads.

PCIe support differs by generation. The AMD processor uses PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The Intel processor uses PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The newer PCIe generation on the Intel part offers higher bandwidth for compatible devices.

The integrated graphics differ. The AMD processor uses a Radeon 680M iGPU, while the Intel processor uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. Both are mobile processors, with the AMD using Socket FP7 and the Intel using BGA 2114.

The Intel processor has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD processor does not. The production status is listed as active for both processors. The transistor count for the Intel part is 17,800 million, while the die size is 243 mm². The AMD die size is 210 mm².

The Verdict

The data shows a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins every benchmark test in the head-to-head comparison. The margin ranges from 36.8% in single-threaded tests to 90.6% in prime number calculation.

For users whose workloads match the tested benchmarks, the Intel processor is the stronger choice. The average benchmark score of 79,574 places it at the 95th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-14900KF at 79,371 and the Intel Core i9-14900K at 79,097. The Intel processor leads these rivals by 0.3% and 0.6% respectively.

The AMD Ryzen 7 170 remains a capable processor in absolute terms. Its average score of 43,689 places it at the 88th percentile, and its nearest rivals are all AMD parts: the Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 at 43,704, the Ryzen 7 260 at 43,717, the Ryzen AI 9 465 at 43,431, and the Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 at 43,326. The deltas among these rivals range from -0.1% to 0.8%, showing close competition within this performance tier.

The power characteristics differ, with the AMD processor having a 35 W TDP versus the Intel processor's 55 W TDP. The AMD processor also uses the older Zen 3+ architecture on a larger 6 nm node. These factors may matter for system design, but the benchmark data does not include power efficiency measurements.

Users prioritizing the highest recorded benchmark scores should select the Intel processor. Users constrained by the lower TDP envelope or the AMD platform may find the Ryzen 7 170 adequate, but the data shows it will trail the Intel part in every measured workload.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has an average benchmark score of 79,574, while the AMD Ryzen 7 170 has an average score of 43,689.

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

A: The Intel processor scores 4,951 in the passmark_single_thread test, while the AMD processor scores 3,128. This represents a 36.8% advantage for the Intel processor.

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 170 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 has 16 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What are the process nodes for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 170 is built on a 6 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is built on a 3 nm process at TSMC.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in the head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The largest gap is in the passmark_find_prime_numbers test, where the Intel processor scores 519 and the AMD processor scores 49, a delta of -90.6% for the AMD processor.