AMD Ryzen 7 260 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 356H Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 260 boosts to 5.10 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H reaches 4.70 GHz. The AMD part holds the frequency advantage.

Q: How much faster is the Intel chip in single-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H scores 2040 in Cinebench R23 single-core, which is 13.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 260's 1770.5.

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has 16 cores, double the 8 cores of the AMD Ryzen 7 260. Both chips have 16 threads.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H supports 115.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the AMD Ryzen 7 260 offers 89.6 GB/s. Intel leads by 25.6 GB/s.

Q: Which chip wins in PassMark integer math?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 260 scores 96,737 in PassMark integer math, which is 16.4% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H's 83,111.

Q: What are the process nodes for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 260 uses a 4 nm TSMC process, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H uses a 3 nm Intel process.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 260 is built on the Zen 4 architecture with the Hawk Point codename, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H uses the Panther Lake architecture. The AMD chip is manufactured by TSMC on a 4 nm process, whereas Intel fabricates the 356H on its own 3 nm node. The AMD processor integrates 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die, while the Intel part has no recorded transistor count or die size in the database.

Core configurations differ substantially. The Ryzen 7 260 provides 8 cores and 16 threads, all based on Zen 4. The Core Ultra 7 356H delivers 16 cores and 16 threads, meaning it relies on a mix of performance and efficiency cores without hyperthreading. Cache hierarchies also diverge: AMD uses 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. Intel uses 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3. The larger per-core L1 and L2 on the Intel side reflect its different core layout.

Clock speeds favor AMD in raw frequency. The Ryzen 7 260 has a 3.80 GHz base and 5.10 GHz boost, compared to the Intel's 1.90 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost. However, the Intel chip has a lower 25 W TDP versus AMD's 45 W, indicating a different power envelope. Memory support shows Intel accepting both DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while AMD lists DDR5 only. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but Intel's peak bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s exceeds AMD's 89.6 GB/s.

PCIe connectivity differs by generation. AMD provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while Intel provides Gen 5 with 12 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics also differ: AMD uses Radeon 780M, Intel uses Intel Xe3 Graphics. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, and both target the mobile market segment. The AMD part uses AMD Socket FP8, the Intel part uses Intel BGA 2540.

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates a clear overall winner. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H wins 11 of the 14 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, including all Cinebench tests and most PassMark tests. Its average benchmark score is 41,215, compared to the AMD Ryzen 7 260's 43,717. The AMD chip holds a higher aggregate score, driven by its exceptional performance in specific integer and compression workloads, but the Intel chip dominates across a broader range of tests.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H is the stronger choice for users prioritizing multi-core throughput, physics simulation, floating-point math, and encryption. Its 16-core configuration delivers decisive wins in Cinebench R15 multicore (3055 versus 2747.5) and PassMark multithread (33,978 versus 28,078). The AMD Ryzen 7 260 is preferable for integer-heavy tasks, data compression, and random string sorting, where it outperforms the Intel chip by 16.4%, 4.6%, and 3.4% respectively.

Percentile rankings place both processors close: the AMD part sits at the 88th percentile, the Intel part at the 87th. The AMD chip's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7745, scores 43,704, a 0% delta. The Intel chip's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440, scores 41,208, also a 0% delta. This positions the two processors in slightly different performance tiers despite their similar percentile ranks.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 7 260 | Intel Core Ultra 7 356H |

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

| Cores | 8 | 16 |

| Threads | 16 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.80 GHz | 1.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.10 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 25 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP8 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Panther Lake |

| Codename | Hawk Point | Panther Lake |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 25,000 million | Not recorded |

| Die Size | 178 mm² | Not recorded |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 115.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 12 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 780M | Intel Xe3 Graphics |

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

| Part Number | 100-000001724 | SA4RGQ9EU |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H wins every Cinebench test. In Cinebench R15 multicore, Intel scores 3055 against AMD's 2747.5, a 10.1% margin. In R15 single-core, Intel leads 303 versus 276.5, an 8.7% advantage. Cinebench R23 multicore shows Intel at 18,395 versus 17,211.5, a 6.4% gap. The largest single-core Cinebench gap appears in R23 single-core: Intel's 2040 beats AMD's 1770.5 by 13.2%.

PassMark results split more evenly. AMD wins data compression with 351,517 versus 336,177, a 4.6% edge. AMD also takes integer math at 96,737 versus 83,111, a substantial 16.4% lead. Random string sorting goes to AMD by 3.4%, with scores of 42,383 versus 40,990.

Intel dominates the remaining PassMark workloads. Data encryption shows Intel at 26,345 versus 20,267, a 23.1% advantage. Extended instructions favor Intel by 4.9% (27,898 versus 26,544). The largest single-test gap in the entire comparison appears in find prime numbers: Intel scores 327 versus AMD's 77, a 76.5% difference. Floating-point math also heavily favors Intel: 103,128 versus 59,462, a 42.3% gap. PassMark multithread goes to Intel by 17.4% (33,978 versus 28,078), and physics shows Intel at 2,895 versus 1,218, a 57.9% margin. Single-thread PassMark favors Intel by 8.3% (4,072 versus 3,736).

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H wins in all CPU-architecture-intensive rendering tasks. Cinebench R15 and R23, both multicore and single-core, belong to Intel. For physics simulation, the Intel chip's 2,895 score is more than double the AMD's 1,218. Floating-point math workloads, such as scientific calculations or 3D rendering, strongly favor Intel: 103,128 versus 59,462. The prime number search benchmark shows an extreme Intel advantage, 327 versus 77, indicating superior algorithmic efficiency in that specific workload. Data encryption also goes to Intel by 23.1%, relevant for security-focused applications.

The AMD Ryzen 7 260 wins in three specific PassMark tests. Integer math is its strongest category, with a 16.4% lead over Intel. Data compression shows AMD ahead by 4.6%, which benefits file archiving and database workloads. Random string sorting also favors AMD by 3.4%, a niche but measurable win for sorting algorithms.

Overall, the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H is the more versatile processor across the recorded benchmarks, winning 11 of 14 comparisons. The AMD Ryzen 7 260, despite having half the cores, compensates with higher clock speeds and wins in integer-heavy and compression tasks. The data indicates that for general-purpose mobile computing, multithreaded rendering, and physics, the Intel chip is the stronger performer, while the AMD chip suits workloads dominated by integer operations and data compression.