AMD Ryzen 7 250 vs AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 Comparison

AMD Ryzen 7 250 and AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 are both 28-watt mobile processors built on TSMC's 4 nm process for AMD Socket FP8 laptops, yet they represent two distinct design philosophies. The Ryzen 7 250 is an 8-core, 16-thread part based on Zen 4 with Hawk Point branding, while the Ryzen AI 5 430 is a 4-core, 8-thread chip using the Zen 5 / Zen 5c hybrid arrangement under the Gorgon Point codename. Across the recorded benchmark suite, the Ryzen 7 250 wins 12 of 15 head-to-head tests, with the Ryzen AI 5 430 taking the remaining three, including both single-thread PassMark runs and the Cinebench R23 single-core test. The average benchmark score for the Ryzen 7 250 sits at 38221 versus 19617 for the Ryzen AI 5 430, placing the former in the 86th percentile of all CPUs and the latter in the 73rd.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 250 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: How do their single-core scores compare?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ryzen AI 5 430 scores 1797, which is 4.6% ahead of the Ryzen 7 250's 1715. In PassMark single-thread, the Ryzen AI 5 430 leads by a slim 0.1% (3683 versus 3678). The Cinebench R15 single-core scores are identical at 269 for both.

Q: What is the biggest multi-core performance gap?

A: The largest multi-core delta appears in PassMark integer math, where the Ryzen 7 250 scores 91565 versus 39637 for the Ryzen AI 5 430, a 131% advantage. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the Ryzen 7 250 at 14676 versus 8130, an 80.5% lead.

Q: Do both chips use the same process node?

A: Yes, both are fabricated on TSMC's 4 nm process and use the AMD Socket FP8.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Ryzen 7 250 has 16 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Ryzen AI 5 430 has 4 MB.

Q: What are the integrated graphics options?

A: The Ryzen 7 250 uses the Radeon 780M, while the Ryzen AI 5 430 uses the Radeon 840M.

Architecture Differences

The Ryzen 7 250 is built on the Zen 4 microarchitecture under the Hawk Point codename, while the Ryzen AI 5 430 combines Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores under the Gorgon Point codename. This core-count split is fundamental: the Ryzen 7 250 offers 8 cores and 16 threads, whereas the Ryzen AI 5 430 provides only 4 cores and 8 threads. Both chips share a 4 nm TSMC process and a 28-watt TDP, but the transistor count and die size are recorded only for the Ryzen 7 250, which lists 25,000 million transistors across a 178 mm² die; those figures are absent for the Ryzen AI 5 430.

Cache configuration differs notably. The Ryzen 7 250 provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Ryzen AI 5 430 has a larger per-core L1 at 80 KB, the same 1 MB L2 per core, but a much smaller 4 MB of L3. The L1 size increase on the Ryzen AI 5 430 reflects the newer Zen 5 core design, yet the reduced L3 capacity and halved core count limit its aggregate throughput potential.

Memory support also splits the two. The Ryzen 7 250 supports DDR5 only, while the Ryzen AI 5 430 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Both run dual-channel memory with an identical 89.6 GB/s bandwidth figure. ECC memory is disabled on the Ryzen 7 250 but enabled on the Ryzen AI 5 430. PCIe lane counts differ as well: the Ryzen 7 250 has Gen 4 with 20 CPU-only lanes, while the Ryzen AI 5 430 has Gen 4 with 14 CPU-only lanes. The integrated GPU changes from Radeon 780M on the Ryzen 7 250 to Radeon 840M on the Ryzen AI 5 430.

Clock speeds favor the Ryzen 7 250 on both base and boost. The Ryzen 7 250 runs at 3.30 GHz base and 5.10 GHz boost, while the Ryzen AI 5 430 starts at 2.00 GHz base and reaches 4.50 GHz boost. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both carry active production status. Release dates are close: the Ryzen 7 250 launched on 2025-01-05, the Ryzen AI 5 430 on 2026-01-04. Part numbers differ as 100-000001722 for the Ryzen 7 250 and 100-000001787 for the Ryzen AI 5 430.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 7 250 dominates in every multi-threaded workload recorded. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 2302 versus 1195, a 92.6% lead. Cinebench R23 multi-core delivers 14676 versus 8130, an 80.5% advantage. PassMark multi-thread scores 25089 versus 13320, a 88.4% delta. The Ryzen 7 250 also wins heavily in math and data tasks: integer math at 91565 beats 39637 (131%), floating-point math at 53285 beats 27193 (96%), data compression at 300708 beats 158912 (89.2%), and data encryption at 17661 beats 7591 (132.7%). Extended instructions, prime number finding, random string sorting, and physics tests all go to the Ryzen 7 250 with deltas ranging from 58% to 115.7%.

The Ryzen AI 5 430 wins only where single-core efficiency matters most. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1797 is 4.6% higher than the Ryzen 7 250's 1715. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 3683 versus 3678, a 0.1% margin. The Cinebench R15 single-core result is a tie at 269. These wins indicate that the newer Zen 5 core design offers a modest per-thread advantage, but the Ryzen 7 250's two-fold core count and higher boost clock make it the clear choice for parallel workloads, rendering, compilation, or any task that scales across threads.

For users prioritizing raw multi-core throughput, the Ryzen 7 250 is the only option here. For those needing slightly faster single-thread response, the Ryzen AI 5 430 provides a small edge, but the overall average benchmark score gap of 38221 versus 19617 means the Ryzen 7 250 is the stronger processor in absolute terms.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 7 250 | AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 8 | 4 |

| Threads | 16 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.30 GHz | 2.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.10 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Zen 5 / Zen 5c |

| Codename | Hawk Point | Gorgon Point |

| Transistors | 25,000 million | Not recorded |

| Die Size | 178 mm² | Not recorded |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 4 MB |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 14 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 780M | Radeon 840M |

| Release Date | 2025-01-05 | 2026-01-04 |

| Part Number | 100-000001722 | 100-000001787 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest recorded win for the Ryzen 7 250 comes in PassMark data encryption, where it scores 17661 against the Ryzen AI 5 430's 7591, a 132.7% lead. That result highlights the impact of having twice the cores and threads when handling cryptographic workloads. Similarly, PassMark integer math shows 91565 versus 39637, a 131% gap, and random string sorting delivers 35861 versus 16623, a 115.7% difference. These are the kind of deltas that separate a mainstream productivity chip from a lower-core-count alternative.

Cinebench R23 multi-core confirms the same story: the Ryzen 7 250 posts 14676 versus 8130, an 80.5% advantage. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 2302 versus 1195, a 92.6% lead. Data compression in PassMark scores 300708 versus 158912, an 89.2% gap, while extended instructions run 21613 against 11455, an 88.7% delta. Floating-point math reaches 53285 versus 27193, a 96% lead, and the multi-thread aggregate sits at 25089 versus 13320, an 88.4% margin. Physics tests show 1147 versus 726, a 58% advantage, and prime number finding completes at 73 versus 44, a 65.9% gap.

The Ryzen AI 5 430 counters in single-thread tests. Cinebench R23 single-core records 1797 versus 1715, a 4.6% improvement. PassMark single-thread scores 3683 versus 3678, a marginal 0.1% win. Cinebench R15 single-core ties at 269. These results suggest the Zen 5 core design in the Ryzen AI 5 430 provides better per-thread efficiency, but the Ryzen 7 250's higher boost clock and core count still produce a higher overall average benchmark score of 38221 versus 19617.

Looking at nearest rivals, the Ryzen 7 250 sits within 0.2% of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T, Intel Core i5-14490F, and Intel Core i5-13600HX, with a 0.1% delta against the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H. The Ryzen AI 5 430 is comparably close to the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 (0.1%), Intel Core i5-12500 (-0.3%), Intel Core i5-11600KF (-0.5%), and Intel Core i7-10700F (0.6%). Those figures place the Ryzen 7 250 in a higher performance class, matching modern desktop-class Intel parts, while the Ryzen AI 5 430 aligns with older desktop i5 and i7 models.