AMD Ryzen 7 260 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 336H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear split between the AMD Ryzen 7 260 and Intel Core Ultra 5 336H across 15 benchmark comparisons. Intel wins 10 of those comparisons, while AMD wins 5. The margin of victory varies dramatically depending on the workload.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H posts its largest win in Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 3387 against the AMD's 1770.5, a 47.7% advantage. This is the single largest delta in the entire head-to-head set. The Intel part also dominates Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 23991 versus 17211.5, a 28.3% lead. In Cinebench R15 single-core, Intel leads 341 to 276.5, a 18.9% gap. The older R15 multi-core test tells a different story, with AMD winning 2747.5 to 2418, a 13.6% margin.

PassMark results further illustrate the workload-dependent nature of these processors. Intel wins floating point math by 27.9% (82415 versus 59462), physics by 54.6% (2682 versus 1218), and prime number finding by 74.2% (299 versus 77). Intel also edges out AMD in data encryption (21291 versus 20267, a 4.8% lead), multithread (28545 versus 28078, a 1.6% margin), and single-thread (4013 versus 3736, a 6.9% advantage).

AMD's wins are concentrated in integer-heavy and data-oriented tasks. The Ryzen 7 260 leads integer math by 55.9%, scoring 96737 against Intel's 62070. Data compression favors AMD by 25.4% (351517 versus 280340). Random string sorting goes to AMD by 23.2% (42383 versus 34402). Extended instructions also favor AMD, with 26544 versus 24542, an 8.2% lead.

The average benchmark scores reflect these mixed results. AMD's average is 43717, while Intel's is 34485, a difference that places AMD at the 88th percentile among all CPUs and Intel at the 84th percentile. AMD's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7745, scores 43704, a 0% delta. Intel's closest competitor, the Intel Core i7-13700HX, scores 34554, a 0.2% deficit for the Ultra 5 336H.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 260 establishes its strongest case in integer math and data compression. The 55.9% lead in integer math suggests the AMD architecture handles arithmetic-heavy workloads with notable efficiency. Data compression, where AMD leads by 25.4%, points to strong memory subsystem performance. Random string sorting, a 23.2% win, reinforces this pattern. Extended instructions, an 8.2% advantage, indicates the AMD part has an edge in vectorized or specialized instruction sets.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H claims dominance in single-core performance, as shown by the 47.7% Cinebench R23 single-core lead and the 18.9% R15 single-core advantage. Physics simulation, a 54.6% win, suggests strong floating-point throughput. Prime number finding, the largest Intel margin at 74.2%, indicates exceptional integer division and modular arithmetic capabilities. Floating-point math, a 27.9% lead, confirms Intel's strength in scientific and analytical workloads. The multithread result, though narrow at 1.6%, still favors Intel.

For users prioritizing raw single-thread responsiveness, Intel's 6.9% PassMark single-thread lead and the massive Cinebench single-core margins make it the clear choice. For those focused on compression, sorting, and integer-heavy database or scripting tasks, AMD's 25.4% and 23.2% leads in those areas are decisive. The data encryption result is nearly a tie, with Intel ahead by only 4.8%, suggesting parity in cryptographic workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher Cinebench R23 multi-core score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H scores 23991, which is 28.3% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 260's 17211.5.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap in Cinebench R23?

A: Intel leads by 47.7%, scoring 3387 versus AMD's 1770.5.

Q: Does AMD win any benchmark by a significant margin?

A: Yes. AMD leads integer math by 55.9% (96737 versus 62070) and data compression by 25.4% (351517 versus 280340).

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: AMD averages 43717, while Intel averages 34485. AMD sits at the 88th percentile, Intel at the 84th.

Q: Which processor is faster in PassMark single-thread?

A: Intel scores 4013 versus AMD's 3736, a 6.9% advantage.

Q: How do the two compare in physics simulation?

A: Intel wins by 54.6%, scoring 2682 against AMD's 1218.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 7 260 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H has 16 cores and 16 threads. Despite having twice the core count, Intel does not offer simultaneous multithreading, resulting in equal thread counts.

Base clocks differ substantially. AMD runs at 3.80 GHz, while Intel runs at 1.90 GHz. Boost clocks also favor AMD, with 5.10 GHz versus Intel's 4.60 GHz. Thermal design power tells a different story: AMD is rated at 45 W, while Intel is rated at 25 W.

Cache configurations diverge completely. AMD provides 64 KB L1 per core and 1 MB L2 per core, with 16 MB shared L3. Intel provides 192 KB L1 per core and 2.5 MB L2 per core, with 18 MB shared L3. Total L3 is 16 MB for AMD and 18 MB for Intel.

Memory support differs in scope. AMD supports DDR5 only, while Intel supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Both use dual-channel memory buses. Memory bandwidth favors Intel at 115.2 GB/s, versus AMD's 89.6 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory.

PCIe capabilities differ in generation and lane count. AMD uses Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes, while Intel uses Gen 5 with 12 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics also differ: AMD uses Radeon 780M, Intel uses Intel Xe3 Graphics.

Sockets are incompatible. AMD uses AMD Socket FP8, while Intel uses Intel BGA 2540. Both are mobile-market parts with active production status. AMD's release date is January 5, 2025; Intel's is January 4, 2026. Neither has a launch MSRP in the database, and both have locked multipliers.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 260 is built on Zen 4 architecture with the Hawk Point codename, part of the Ryzen 7 generation. It uses a 4 nm process from TSMC, with 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H uses Panther Lake architecture with the same codename, part of the Ultra 5 generation. Intel uses a 3 nm process from Intel's own foundry; transistor count and die size are not recorded.

The core organization differs fundamentally. AMD uses a symmetric 8-core design with 16 threads. Intel uses a 16-core design without hyperthreading, suggesting a heterogeneous core arrangement typical of Panther Lake-H, though the database does not specify performance or efficiency core counts. The L1 and L2 cache sizes per core are much larger on Intel: 192 KB versus 64 KB for L1, and 2.5 MB versus 1 MB for L2. Intel's shared L3 is 18 MB, slightly larger than AMD's 16 MB.

The process node advantage goes to Intel at 3 nm versus AMD's 4 nm. The memory bandwidth advantage also goes to Intel at 115.2 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s. PCIe generation favors Intel at Gen 5, though AMD offers more lanes at Gen 4. The integrated graphics differ in vendor and architecture: AMD's Radeon 780M versus Intel's Xe3 Graphics. Both architectures target mobile platforms, but the data shows Intel uses a newer process, newer PCIe standard, and higher memory bandwidth, while AMD counters with higher clocks and a larger transistor budget.

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates that the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H is the stronger overall performer in most measured categories, winning 10 of 15 comparisons. Its single-core dominance is substantial, with Cinebench R23 showing a 47.7% lead. For workloads that rely on single-thread performance, such as general desktop responsiveness, legacy applications, and lightly threaded productivity tasks, Intel is the clear choice.

The Intel part also excels in floating-point and physics workloads, as shown by the 27.9% floating-point math lead and the 54.6% physics win. The prime number finding result, a 74.2% margin, further confirms Intel's strength in modular arithmetic and division-heavy algorithms. These results suggest Intel suits scientific computing, simulation, and analytical workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 7 260 wins 5 comparisons, but its victories are decisive in specific areas. The 55.9% integer math lead and the 25.4% data compression advantage indicate AMD is better suited for integer-heavy data processing, compression tasks, and sorting operations. The 23.2% random string sorting win reinforces this pattern. The extended instructions lead of 8.2% suggests AMD handles specialized instruction sets competitively.

The average benchmark scores favor AMD, with 43717 versus Intel's 34485. However, this aggregate figure is influenced by AMD's large wins in integer math and data compression, which pull the average higher. Intel's narrower wins across more categories result in a lower average despite broader overall success.

The thermal design power difference is notable: AMD draws 45 W while Intel draws 25 W. This suggests Intel delivers its performance at a lower power envelope, which may matter in thin-and-light mobile designs. AMD's higher clock speeds, 5.10 GHz boost versus 4.60 GHz, come at that higher power cost.

For users prioritizing single-core speed, floating-point throughput, and physics simulation, the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H is the data-backed choice. For users focused on integer math, data compression, and sorting workloads, the AMD Ryzen 7 260 offers the strongest margins. The Intel part also provides higher memory bandwidth and a newer PCIe generation, while AMD offers more PCIe lanes. The choice depends entirely on the workload mix, with Intel winning most benchmarks but AMD winning the ones where it wins by large margins.