AMD Ryzen 7 260 vs Intel Core Ultra 9 386H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 260 and Intel Core Ultra 9 386H are both mobile processors aimed at high-performance laptops, yet the benchmark data shows they are not evenly matched. The Intel part wins 13 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons, often by significant margins, while the AMD chip manages only 2 wins. However, the single metric where AMD dominates is substantial enough to warrant attention from specific workloads. Both processors sit at the 88th percentile among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are close (43717 for AMD vs. 43210 for Intel), but the distribution of those scores tells a very different story about their respective strengths.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking difference appears in multi-threaded and floating-point workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H scores 20547 against the AMD Ryzen 7 260’s 17211.5, a 16.2% advantage. The gap widens further in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where Intel leads 3223 to 2747.5 (14.8% ahead). PassMark’s multi-thread test shows a 20.7% Intel lead (35399 vs. 28078), and the floating-point math test is a blowout: Intel scores 108527 versus AMD’s 59462, a 45.2% difference. The physics test is even more lopsided, with Intel at 3028 and AMD at 1218 — a 59.8% deficit for the Ryzen part.

Single-threaded performance also favors Intel, though by smaller margins. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel leads 2071.5 to 1770.5 (14.5% ahead). PassMark single-thread shows 4218 vs. 3736, an 11.4% edge for Intel. The Cinebench R15 single-core result is 303.5 vs. 276.5, an 8.9% Intel advantage. Data encryption is another clear Intel win: 27150 vs. 20267, a 25.4% gap. Extended instructions (SIMD) favor Intel by 8.9% (29138 vs. 26544). The prime number search test is unusual: Intel scores 341 versus AMD’s 77, a massive 77.4% difference.

The AMD Ryzen 7 260’s two wins are in integer math and random string sorting. In PassMark integer math, AMD takes 96737 against Intel’s 87284, a 10.8% lead — the only double-digit advantage AMD holds. The random string sorting win is narrow: 42383 vs. 42135, just 0.6% ahead. Data compression is essentially a tie, with Intel winning by only 0.2% (352365 vs. 351517). Overall, the data shows Intel winning 13 of 15 tests, with an average lead of 26.7% across those wins, while AMD’s average win margin is just 5.7%.

Architecture Differences

The two chips are built on fundamentally different designs. The AMD Ryzen 7 260 uses the Zen 4 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, with a die size of 178 mm² and 25,000 million transistors. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H uses the Panther Lake architecture on a 3 nm Intel process, with 16 cores and 16 threads, a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. Intel does not list transistor count or die size for this part.

Cache layouts differ significantly. AMD provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Intel offers 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip has a higher memory bandwidth rating at 115.2 GB/s versus AMD’s 89.6 GB/s, and supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while AMD lists only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory and do not support ECC. The TDP ratings are notably different: AMD is rated at 45 W, while Intel is rated at 25 W.

Connectivity and graphics also diverge. AMD uses AMD Socket FP8 with PCIe Gen 4 (20 lanes CPU-only) and integrated Radeon 780M graphics. Intel uses Intel BGA 2540 with PCIe Gen 5 (12 lanes CPU-only) and integrated Intel Xe3 Graphics. The AMD part is part of the Hawk Point generation with the Ryzen 7 (Zen 4) family, while Intel is in the Core Ultra Series 3, Ultra 9 (Panther Lake-H) generation. Both are active mobile parts with locked multipliers.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H is the clear choice for compute-heavy tasks that scale with cores and raw throughput. Its 16 cores and higher memory bandwidth translate directly into wins in rendering (Cinebench R23 multi-core 16.2% ahead), physics simulation (59.8% ahead), and floating-point math (45.2% ahead). The encryption test (25.4% ahead) and extended instruction workloads (8.9% ahead) also favor Intel. For users running video encoding, 3D rendering, scientific calculations, or any workload that uses AVX-512 or similar SIMD instructions, the data strongly points to Intel.

Single-threaded performance is also an Intel strength. The 11.4% lead in PassMark single-thread and 14.5% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core mean that everyday responsiveness, application launches, and lightly-threaded games should feel snappier on the Intel chip. The prime number test (77.4% Intel lead) suggests that workloads with heavy branching or integer-heavy algorithmic loops will vastly prefer the Intel design.

The AMD Ryzen 7 260’s wins are narrower but real. Its 10.8% lead in integer math is the most notable, indicating an edge in general-purpose integer workloads such as database operations, code compilation, or spreadsheet calculations. The 0.6% win in random string sorting is marginal but suggests AMD handles certain memory-access patterns at least as well. The data compression result (0.2% Intel win) shows these two are effectively tied in that area.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H is the superior processor for nearly every measurable workload. It wins 13 of 15 head-to-head tests, with particularly dominant margins in multi-core rendering (16.2%), floating-point math (45.2%), and physics (59.8%). Its single-threaded advantage (11.4% in PassMark) also makes it the better choice for general-purpose use. The only significant counter-signal is AMD’s 10.8% lead in integer math, which could matter for specific server-like workloads but does not offset Intel’s broader dominance. The Intel part also does this with a lower 25 W TDP versus AMD’s 45 W, suggesting better efficiency per watt, though the data does not include power consumption measurements.

The AMD Ryzen 7 260 is not without merit. It has a higher boost clock (5.10 GHz vs. 4.90 GHz), a smaller process node (4 nm vs. 3 nm is not an advantage, but TSMC’s 4 nm is mature), and it wins in integer math. For users whose primary workload is integer-heavy — think cryptography, certain database engines, or legacy code compilation — the 10.8% lead is meaningful. Its 16 MB of L3 cache and 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes might also appeal to those needing more expansion lanes. However, the average benchmark score (43717 vs. 43210) is within 1.2%, and the Intel chip’s wins are far more numerous and often much larger.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H wins all multi-core tests. It leads by 16.2% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (20547 vs. 17211.5), 14.8% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (3223 vs. 2747.5), and 20.7% in PassMark multi-thread (35399 vs. 28078).

Q: Does AMD win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 7 260 wins 2 of 15 tests: PassMark integer math (96737 vs. 87284, a 10.8% lead) and PassMark random string sorting (42383 vs. 42135, a 0.6% lead). Intel wins the remaining 13 tests.

Q: Which chip has better single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H is ahead in every single-thread test. It scores 2071.5 vs. 1770.5 in Cinebench R23 single-core (14.5% lead), 4218 vs. 3736 in PassMark single-thread (11.4% lead), and 303.5 vs. 276.5 in Cinebench R15 single-core (8.9% lead).

Q: How do their core counts and TDP compare?

A: Intel has 16 cores and 16 threads with a 25 W TDP, while AMD has 8 cores and 16 threads with a 45 W TDP. Intel’s base clock is 2.10 GHz and boost is 4.90 GHz; AMD’s base clock is 3.80 GHz and boost is 5.10 GHz.

Q: Is there a significant difference in memory bandwidth?

A: Yes, Intel is rated at 115.2 GB/s while AMD is rated at 89.6 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory, but Intel supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X while AMD supports only DDR5.

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: AMD has a slightly higher average benchmark score at 43717 versus Intel’s 43210, a difference of about 1.2%. Both sit at the 88th percentile among all CPUs.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 7 260 | Intel Core Ultra 9 386H |

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

| Cores | 8 | 16 |

| Threads | 16 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.80 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.10 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 25 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP8 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Panther Lake |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| 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 |