AMD Ryzen 7 2700X vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225T Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T averages 30,468 points across its benchmark suite, slightly ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X’s 30,213 points. The Intel part also holds a marginally better percentile ranking, sitting at 82 versus the AMD’s 81 among all CPUs.

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

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T scores 21,971, while the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X does not have a listed R23 result. However, in Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel leads 2,214 to 1,762, a 25.7% advantage. The PassMark multithread test shows an even larger gap: 25,358 for Intel versus 17,468 for AMD, a 45.2% difference.

Q: Are there any workloads where the older AMD processor wins outright?

A: Yes, the data shows three clear wins for the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X. It leads in PassMark data compression (266,134 vs 233,998, a 12.1% edge), integer math (63,485 vs 59,543, a 6.2% edge), and random string sorting (30,563 vs 28,774, a 5.9% edge). These are the only benchmark categories where the older chip comes out ahead.

Q: What is the single biggest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark’s find prime numbers test, where the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T scores 284 versus just 41 for the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X. That is a 592.7% advantage for Intel. The second-largest gap is in floating point math, where Intel leads 82,751 to 32,563, a 154.1% difference.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: No. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD Ryzen 7 2700X uses DDR4 memory, also dual-channel, but with a much lower 46.9 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock and what does that suggest?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T boosts to 4.90 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X boosts to 4.35 GHz. The Intel part’s higher boost clock aligns with its dominant single-thread benchmark results, including an 79.9% lead in PassMark single-thread testing (4,348 vs 2,417).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different design eras. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T is built on Arrow Lake-S, a 3 nm process from TSMC, packing 17,800 million transistors into a 243 mm² die. The AMD Ryzen 7 2700X uses the older Zen+ architecture (codenamed Pinnacle Ridge) on a 12 nm GlobalFoundries process, with 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die. The Intel chip’s newer process node enables a dramatically higher transistor density, which shows up in its benchmark dominance.

Core and thread counts also diverge sharply. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has 10 cores and 10 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. The AMD Ryzen 7 2700X has 8 cores but 16 threads, using SMT to double its thread count. Despite having fewer threads, the Intel part wins most multi-threaded tests, which suggests its per-core efficiency and higher clocks more than compensate for the lack of SMT.

Cache hierarchies differ as well. Intel provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. AMD offers 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel cache layout is far more generous per core, likely contributing to its strong single-thread performance.

Memory support is another major architectural split. The Intel chip uses DDR5 with 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth, while the AMD chip uses DDR4 with 46.9 GB/s. That more than double memory bandwidth likely helps Intel in bandwidth-sensitive workloads, though the AMD chip still manages to win in data compression and integer math.

The integrated graphics situation is also different. Intel includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 16 execution units, while the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X has no integrated graphics at all. This makes the Intel chip a more complete package for systems without a discrete GPU.

Socket and platform support are generationally distinct. Intel uses Socket 1851 with PCIe Gen 5 (20 lanes from the CPU), while AMD uses Socket AM4 with PCIe Gen 3 (16 lanes from the CPU). The Intel platform offers newer connectivity standards, which matters for storage and GPU bandwidth in modern systems.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data tells a lopsided story, with the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T winning 10 of 13 head-to-head comparisons. The most striking wins come in compute-heavy workloads. In floating point math, Intel scores 82,751 against AMD’s 32,563 — a 154.1% lead. Physics calculations show a similar trend: 2,053 for Intel versus 792 for AMD, a 159.2% gap. The extended instructions test is nearly twice as fast on Intel (20,083 vs 10,155, a 97.8% delta).

Single-thread performance is where the Intel chip utterly separates itself. Cinebench R15 single-core shows 312 for Intel versus 175.7 for AMD, a 77.6% advantage. PassMark single-thread results echo this with 4,348 versus 2,417, a 79.9% lead. The find prime numbers test is the most extreme outlier, with Intel scoring 284 versus AMD’s 41 — a 592.7% blowout that points to a massive difference in integer-heavy single-thread efficiency.

Multi-threaded tests also favor Intel, despite the AMD chip’s 16 threads versus Intel’s 10. Cinebench R15 multi-core gives Intel a 25.7% win (2,214 vs 1,762). PassMark multithread shows a 45.2% advantage (25,358 vs 17,468). Data encryption is closer, but Intel still wins 18,289 to 16,929, an 8% margin.

The AMD Ryzen 7 2700X’s wins are narrow but real. Data compression is its best showing, at 266,134 versus 233,998 — a 12.1% lead. Integer math gives AMD a 6.2% edge (63,485 vs 59,543). Random string sorting is the closest contest, with AMD winning 30,563 to 28,774, a 5.9% margin. These three wins cluster around memory-access patterns and integer throughput, suggesting the AMD chip retains some strengths in specific legacy workloads.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core Ultra 5 225T | AMD Ryzen 7 2700X |

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

| Cores | 10 | 8 |

| Threads | 10 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.90 GHz | 4.35 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 105 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1851 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Arrow Lake | Zen (Pinnacle Ridge) |

| Process Node | 3 nm | 12 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 17,800 million | 4,800 million |

| Die Size | 243 mm² | 213 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 192 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 3 MB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 20 MB (shared) | 16 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 102.4 GB/s | 46.9 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 20 Lanes | Gen 3, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU | None |

| Release Date | 2024-12-31 | 2018-04-18 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $329 |

The Verdict

The benchmark data points decisively toward the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T as the stronger processor overall. It wins 10 of 13 head-to-head tests, including every single-thread test and the vast majority of multi-threaded workloads. The average benchmark scores are close — 30,468 for Intel versus 30,213 for AMD — but that narrow gap masks the lopsided nature of individual test results. Intel’s wins are often by massive margins (79.9% in single-thread, 154.1% in floating point), while AMD’s wins are comparatively modest (12.1% at most).

For users prioritizing raw compute, rendering, encryption, or physics simulation, the Intel chip is the clear choice. Its 3 nm process and DDR5 support give it a generational advantage that the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X cannot overcome with its extra threads. The Intel chip also consumes less power on paper, with a 65 W TDP versus AMD’s 105 W.

The AMD Ryzen 7 2700X does retain a niche. Its wins in data compression, integer math, and random string sorting suggest it handles certain data-manipulation tasks efficiently. For workloads that specifically rely on those patterns, the AMD chip could be preferable. However, these are narrow use cases, and the Intel chip’s overwhelming lead in most other categories makes it the better all-rounder.

One caveat from the data: the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has no listed launch MSRP, while the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X launched at $329. The AMD chip’s unlocked multiplier also gives overclockers flexibility that Intel does not offer, since the Ultra 5 225T is locked.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core Ultra 5 225T: This processor dominates in compute-heavy and modern workloads. Single-thread performance is its biggest strength, with a 79.9% lead in PassMark single-thread and a 77.6% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core. It also wins big in floating point math (154.1% ahead), physics (159.2% ahead), and extended instructions (97.8% ahead). Multi-threaded rendering favors Intel too, with a 45.2% lead in PassMark multithread and a 25.7% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core. Data encryption is also an Intel win at 8% ahead. The chip’s DDR5 memory support and PCIe Gen 5 connectivity make it the better fit for modern systems, and its integrated graphics provide a fallback for systems without a discrete GPU.

AMD Ryzen 7 2700X: The older chip wins in three specific data-oriented tasks. Data compression is its strongest category, at 12.1% ahead of Intel. Integer math shows a 6.2% edge, and random string sorting is 5.9% faster. These wins suggest the AMD chip retains an advantage in workloads that involve heavy data shuffling or integer arithmetic, perhaps due to its 16 threads and different memory access patterns. The unlocked multiplier is another point in its favor for overclocking enthusiasts, though the benchmark data does not show what gains are possible. For users running legacy software that favors these specific patterns, the AMD chip has a case, but the breadth of Intel’s wins makes it the safer choice for most.