AMD Ryzen 7 250 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a decisive outcome: the Intel Core Ultra 5 235H wins 14 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen 7 250 manages a single victory. The margin of Intel's dominance varies dramatically across workloads, from near-parity to overwhelming leads.

The largest performance gap appears in Cinebench R23 single-core testing, where the Intel part scores 3613 against AMD's 1715, a 52.5% advantage. This is not a marginal difference; it represents a fundamental single-threaded performance gap that will affect nearly every application. The Cinebench R15 single-core test tells a similar story, with Intel leading 364 to 269, a 26.1% delta.

Multi-threaded rendering workloads also favor Intel heavily. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core Ultra 5 235H posts 25598 versus 14676 for the Ryzen 7 250, a 42.7% lead. The R15 multi-core result shows Intel ahead at 2580 against 2302, a 10.8% margin. These results indicate that despite having fewer threads (14 versus 16), Intel's architecture delivers substantially higher sustained multi-core throughput in Cinebench's rendering scenarios.

The PassMark suite reveals a more nuanced picture. The AMD Ryzen 7 250 wins integer math with a score of 91565 against Intel's 74247, a 23.3% advantage. This is the only test where AMD comes out on top, and it suggests that certain integer-heavy instruction patterns favor the Zen 4 architecture. However, the Intel chip counters with a 43% lead in floating-point math (93509 versus 53285) and a 42.2% advantage in physics calculations (1985 versus 1147).

Prime number finding shows the starkest single-test disparity: Intel scores 239 while AMD manages only 73, a 69.5% gap. This workload, which is highly sensitive to branch prediction and integer throughput, exposes a major architectural weakness in the AMD part relative to Intel's design. Data encryption also favors Intel by 23.6% (23121 versus 17661), while extended instructions show a narrower 7.5% Intel lead (23354 versus 21613).

In mixed workload tests, the Intel part leads by smaller margins. Data compression shows near-parity at 301979 versus 300708, a mere 0.4% difference. Random string sorting is similarly close at 36208 versus 35861, a 1% gap. The PassMark multi-thread score gives Intel a 16.6% edge (30091 versus 25089), and single-thread performance favors Intel by 15.6% (4359 versus 3678).

The average benchmark scores reflect this overall picture: AMD's Ryzen 7 250 averages 38221 across all recorded tests, placing it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs tracked in the database. Intel's Core Ultra 5 235H averages 37522, ranking in the 85th percentile. Despite the near-identical percentile ranking, the head-to-head data shows that the Intel chip wins in specific workload categories far more often, while the AMD chip's single victory in integer math is its only standout.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235H wins all single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core it scores 3613 versus 1715 for the AMD Ryzen 7 250, a 52.5% lead. PassMark single-thread also favors Intel at 4359 against 3678, a 15.6% margin.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-threaded rendering?

A: The Intel part leads substantially in Cinebench R23 multi-core with 25598 against AMD's 14676, a 42.7% advantage. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, Intel scores 2580 versus 2302, a 10.8% edge.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 7 250 win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes, it wins exactly one head-to-head test: PassMark integer math. The AMD chip scores 91565 while Intel manages 74247, giving AMD a 23.3% advantage in that specific workload.

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 250 has an average benchmark score of 38221, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235H averages 37522. This puts AMD in the 86th percentile of all CPUs and Intel in the 85th percentile.

Q: How close are the two in memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235H supports higher memory bandwidth at 102.4 GB/s, while the AMD Ryzen 7 250 is rated at 89.6 GB/s. Intel also supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory, while AMD lists only DDR5.

Q: Which chip has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235H has 14 cores and 14 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 250 has 8 cores and 16 threads. Despite having fewer threads, Intel wins most multi-threaded benchmarks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 250 uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It integrates 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235H uses the Arrow Lake architecture, specifically Arrow Lake-H, built on a 3 nm process, also at TSMC. Intel does not disclose transistor count or die size for this part in the database.

Core configuration differs significantly. The AMD chip has 8 cores and 16 threads, indicating simultaneous multithreading is enabled. The Intel chip has 14 cores but only 14 threads, meaning it does not use hyperthreading on this design. The Intel core layout likely combines performance and efficiency cores, though the database does not specify the exact composition beyond the total core and thread counts.

Cache hierarchies reflect these architectural differences. AMD provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. Intel provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations on Intel suggest a design that relies more heavily on local cache residency, while AMD's smaller per-core caches are offset by a 16 MB shared L3 pool.

Clock speeds also differ. The AMD part has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Intel part has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Both processors carry a 28 watt TDP, placing them in the same power envelope for mobile designs.

Memory support shows another divergence. The AMD Ryzen 7 250 supports DDR5 only over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235H supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. This gives Intel a memory bandwidth advantage of roughly 14% on paper.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. AMD provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while Intel provides Gen 5 with 8 lanes from the CPU. The newer PCIe generation on Intel offers higher per-lane bandwidth, though the lane count is substantially lower.

Integrated graphics also differ. The AMD chip pairs with Radeon 780M graphics, while the Intel chip uses Arc Graphics 140T. Both are integrated solutions, but the database does not provide comparative graphics benchmarks for these specific iGPU configurations.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear conclusion for most workloads: the Intel Core Ultra 5 235H is the stronger processor in the vast majority of benchmark scenarios. With 14 wins out of 15 head-to-head tests, including decisive leads in Cinebench R23 multi-core (42.7% ahead), floating-point math (43% ahead), and prime number finding (69.5% ahead), Intel's Arrow Lake architecture demonstrates superior execution efficiency across diverse computational tasks.

The AMD Ryzen 7 250 is not without merit. Its 23.3% win in integer math shows that Zen 4 retains an edge in specific integer-heavy workloads. The near-parity results in data compression (0.4% difference) and random string sorting (1% difference) indicate that memory-bound or mixed workloads perform nearly identically. Its average benchmark score of 38221 is slightly higher than Intel's 37522, and it ranks one percentile point higher in the overall CPU distribution.

However, the single-core gap is the most consequential finding. Intel's 52.5% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and 26.1% lead in R15 single-core means that responsiveness in everyday applications, lightly-threaded software, and most games will favor the Intel chip. Multi-threaded rendering also goes decisively to Intel despite AMD having two additional threads.

The choice depends on workload priorities. Users whose primary tasks involve integer-heavy computation, where AMD has a proven 23.3% advantage, may prefer the Ryzen 7 250. Users who need maximum single-thread performance, floating-point throughput, or physics simulation should select the Intel Core Ultra 5 235H. For general-purpose mobile computing, the Intel chip's broader set of benchmark wins makes it the safer recommendation based on this data.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several specification fields. The AMD Ryzen 7 250 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235H has 14 cores and 14 threads. Base clocks differ at 3.30 GHz for AMD versus 2.40 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are closer: 5.10 GHz for AMD against 5.00 GHz for Intel.

Process node shows Intel at 3 nm and AMD at 4 nm, both fabricated by TSMC. AMD discloses 25,000 million transistors and a 178 mm² die size, while Intel does not provide these figures. Cache configurations differ in every level: L1 is 64 KB per core on AMD versus 192 KB per core on Intel; L2 is 1 MB per core on AMD versus 3 MB per core on Intel; L3 is 16 MB shared on AMD versus 18 MB shared on Intel.

Memory support lists DDR5 for AMD and DDR5 plus LPDDR5X for Intel. Memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s for AMD and 102.4 GB/s for Intel. PCIe connectivity is Gen 4 with 20 lanes on AMD versus Gen 5 with 8 lanes on Intel. Integrated graphics are Radeon 780M on AMD and Arc Graphics 140T on Intel. The sockets differ: AMD Socket FP8 versus Intel BGA 2049. Both chips have a 28 watt TDP, no ECC support, no unlocked multiplier, and are currently active in production.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235H dominates across nearly every measured category. In rendering workloads, it leads Cinebench R23 multi-core by 42.7%, R15 multi-core by 10.8%, and R23 single-core by 52.5%. In scientific and mathematical workloads, it wins floating-point math by 43%, physics by 42.2%, and prime number finding by 69.5%. Security and encryption tasks favor Intel with a 23.6% lead in data encryption and a 7.5% lead in extended instructions. General productivity metrics also go to Intel: multithread performance is 16.6% higher, single-thread performance is 15.6% higher, data compression is 0.4% higher, and random string sorting is 1% higher.

The AMD Ryzen 7 250 holds a single clear win in the head-to-head data: PassMark integer math, where it scores 23.3% higher than Intel. This makes AMD the preferred choice for workloads that are dominated by integer arithmetic operations, such as certain types of data processing, compression algorithms that are integer-based, and some financial modeling tasks. The near-tie results in data compression and random string sorting also indicate that AMD remains competitive in memory-oriented workloads, even if the raw numbers slightly favor Intel.

Overall, the Intel Core Ultra 5 235H is the more versatile processor for the majority of use cases, with wins in both single-threaded and multi-threaded scenarios, across rendering, encryption, physics, and floating-point workloads. The AMD Ryzen 7 250 should be considered specifically for integer-heavy applications where its architecture demonstrates a clear advantage over the Intel design.