AMD Ryzen 7 170 vs Intel Core Ultra X7 358H Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H wins every single head-to-head comparison in the database, taking 11 out of 11 tests. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 does not record a single victory in any measured workload. The scale of these wins varies considerably, from a modest 4.1% margin in integer math to a dominant 85.5% gap in prime number finding. For any workload represented in these benchmarks, the Intel part delivers higher performance.

The AMD processor does hold one statistical advantage: its average benchmark score of 43689 sits above the Intel's 40967, placing the Ryzen 7 170 in the 88th percentile of all CPUs versus the Intel's 87th percentile. This is a narrow edge in overall standing, but it does not translate into a single head-to-head win. The Intel part also posts a higher single-thread score (4124 versus 3128), which typically indicates stronger responsiveness in lightly threaded applications.

The verdict from the data: the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H is the faster processor in every direct comparison. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 remains a capable mobile chip with a higher average score across its benchmark suite, but its closest rivals in the database are other AMD parts (the Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 at 43704, the Ryzen 7 260 at 43717, the Ryzen AI 9 465 at 43431, and the Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 at 43326), not the Intel. The Intel's nearest rivals are likewise other recent mobile processors, including the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H and 366H, which score 41215 and 41263 respectively.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design approaches. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 uses the Zen 3+ architecture, codenamed Rembrandt-R, built on a 6 nm process by TSMC. It packs 8 cores with 16 threads, using a die size of 210 mm². The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H, part of the Core Ultra Series 3, uses the Panther Lake codename and a 3 nm process from Intel's own foundry. It contains 16 cores with 16 threads, meaning it relies on a wider core count without simultaneous multithreading, while the AMD part uses half the cores but doubles the thread count.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The AMD chip provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 16 MB L3 pool. The Intel processor offers 192 KB of L1 per core, a much larger 3 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The Intel design allocates more cache per core, which aligns with its higher per-core performance in single-thread tests.

Memory architecture also diverges. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 supports DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus with 76.8 GB/s of bandwidth and includes ECC support. The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H uses LPDDR5X, also dual-channel, but doubles the bandwidth to 153.6 GB/s and does not support ECC. The PCIe interface differs as well: AMD provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while Intel offers Gen 5 with 4 lanes.

Integrated graphics are present on both. The AMD part uses the Radeon 680M, while the Intel uses the Arc B390. The production status for both is listed as active, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD part uses AMD Socket FP7, the Intel uses Intel BGA 2540. Release dates show the AMD chip arriving on 2025-09-30 and the Intel on 2026-01-04.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the recorded data, the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H wins every category. The largest margin appears in the find prime numbers test, where Intel scores 337 against AMD's 49, a difference of 85.5%. This suggests a major advantage in workloads that stress integer recursion or similar algorithmic patterns. The physics test shows a 70.5% gap (3021 versus 890), indicating a strong lead in simulated physics calculations. Floating point math also favors Intel heavily: 103842 versus 44979, a 56.7% advantage.

The Intel part leads by smaller but still decisive margins in other areas. Data encryption shows a 38.3% gap (26046 versus 16078), and the multithread score is 38.6% higher (33802 versus 20760). Extended instructions, random string sorting, and data compression all show Intel advantages between 20% and 33.6%. The narrowest margin is in integer math, where Intel leads by just 4.1% (83147 versus 79738).

The AMD Ryzen 7 170 does not win any of these tests, but its average benchmark score is higher than the Intel's. This discrepancy suggests the AMD part may perform relatively better in other workloads not captured in the head-to-head list. The database shows AMD's average across all its recorded benchmarks is 43689, which is 6.6% higher than the Intel's 40967. This could reflect strengths in areas outside the direct comparison set.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H has 16 cores, while the AMD Ryzen 7 170 has 8 cores. Both have 16 threads, meaning the AMD uses simultaneous multithreading while the Intel does not.

Q: What is the single-thread performance difference?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H scores 4124 in the passmark single-thread test, which is 24.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 170's score of 3128.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 7 170 win any benchmark?

A: No. In the 11 head-to-head benchmarks recorded, the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H wins all 11. The AMD part has zero wins in this comparison set.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 170 has an average benchmark score of 43689, placing it in the 88th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H has an average score of 40967, placing it in the 87th percentile.

Q: What memory types do the two processors support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 170 supports DDR5 memory, while the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H supports LPDDR5X. Both use a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: What are the closest rivals for each processor?

A: For the AMD Ryzen 7 170, the closest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 (average score 43704, 0% delta), the AMD Ryzen 7 260 (43717, -0.1%), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 (43431, 0.6%), and the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 (43326, 0.8%). For the Intel, the closest rivals are the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 (41208, -0.6%), the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H (41215, -0.6%), the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G (40718, 0.6%), and the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H (41263, -0.7%).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest victory for the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H comes in the passmark find prime numbers test. The Intel scores 337, which is 85.5% higher than the AMD's 49. This is an extreme outlier in the dataset and indicates a fundamental algorithmic advantage for the Intel architecture in this specific workload. The physics test shows a similarly one-sided result: Intel at 3021 versus AMD at 890, a 70.5% gap.

Floating point math is another major win for Intel. The Intel processor records 103842, while the AMD manages 44979, putting Intel 56.7% ahead. This is the largest absolute score difference in the entire comparison, a gap of 58863 points. The multithread score shows Intel at 33802 versus AMD at 20760, a 38.6% advantage, which is notable given that both parts have 16 threads. The Intel's wider core count appears to deliver more parallel throughput despite lacking SMT.

Data encryption favors Intel by 38.3%, with scores of 26046 and 16078 respectively. Extended instructions show a 33.6% gap (27274 versus 18107), and random string sorting has Intel ahead by 31.1% (40357 versus 27804). Data compression is the closest of the larger wins: Intel scores 332508 against AMD's 265920, a 20% margin.

The narrowest gap in the entire set is integer math. Intel scores 83147, AMD scores 79738, giving Intel a 4.1% lead. This is the only test where the two processors are within a single-digit percentage of each other. Single-thread performance shows Intel at 4124 versus AMD at 3128, a 24.2% gap that holds across both the passmark single-thread and passmark singlethread entries, which appear as duplicate tests with identical scores.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are the most visible divergence: AMD provides 8 cores and 16 threads, Intel provides 16 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks differ significantly, with AMD at 3.20 GHz and Intel at 1.90 GHz, but boost clocks are close: 4.75 GHz for AMD and 4.80 GHz for Intel. The Intel part has the higher boost by a small margin.

Thermal design power shows the Intel at 25 watts, which is lower than the AMD's 35 watts, indicating the Intel part may be more power-efficient despite its higher core count. Process nodes differ by manufacturing partner: AMD uses a 6 nm process from TSMC, Intel uses a 3 nm process from its own foundry. The AMD die is 210 mm², while the Intel die size is not recorded.

Cache allocations are distinct. AMD's L1 is 64 KB per core, L2 is 512 KB per core, and L3 is 16 MB shared. Intel's L1 is 192 KB per core, L2 is 3 MB per core, and L3 is 18 MB shared. The Intel L2 is six times larger per core, which helps explain its single-thread advantage.

Memory bandwidth is a clear Intel win: 153.6 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s, a 100% difference. The AMD supports ECC memory, the Intel does not. PCIe generations differ, with AMD on Gen 4 and 20 lanes, Intel on Gen 5 and 4 lanes. Integrated graphics are the Radeon 680M for AMD and the Arc B390 for Intel. Sockets are AMD Socket FP7 and Intel BGA 2540. Both have locked multipliers, and both are active in production. The AMD part number is 100-000000989, the Intel is SA4RAQ9ET.