AMD Ryzen 7 4800H vs Intel Core Ultra 7 155U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a clear split between these two mobile processors. The AMD Ryzen 7 4800H wins 8 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 155U takes 7. The nature of those wins, however, tells a more nuanced story about workload suitability.

The AMD processor dominates in multi-threaded and data-heavy tasks. Its most decisive victory comes in PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 17035 against Intel's 9903, a 72% advantage. Data compression shows a similar pattern: the Ryzen posts 269334 versus 177122, a 52.1% lead. Random string sorting goes to AMD by 47.6% (29181 to 19767), and data encryption favors the Ryzen by 37% (15530 to 11333). These are not marginal differences; they represent substantial throughput advantages in workloads that stress parallel execution and memory bandwidth.

The multi-core compute benchmarks reinforce this trend. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen 7 4800H scores 11135.5 against the Intel chip's 9674.5, a 15.1% advantage. The older Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a 17% lead for AMD (1854 versus 1585). PassMark multithread and integer math both go to AMD by 11.2%, with scores of 18222 versus 16382 and 63999 versus 57564 respectively. The pattern is consistent: given enough threads, the Ryzen 7 4800H pulls ahead.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U, by contrast, wins decisively in single-threaded and latency-sensitive tests. Its largest victory comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 1666 against AMD's 1253.5, a 24.8% advantage. The Cinebench R15 single-core result shows a 21.2% lead for Intel (238.5 versus 188). PassMark single-thread and single-thread tests both record 3372 for Intel against 2597 for AMD, a 23% margin. PassMark find prime numbers also favors Intel by 49.2% (65 versus 33), a striking result that suggests strong performance in integer-heavy serial workloads. PassMark physics goes to Intel by 30.4% (1084 versus 754), and floating-point math edges to Intel by 7.3% (40256 versus 37312).

What emerges is a complementary picture. The Ryzen 7 4800H is the stronger parallel processor, while the Core Ultra 7 155U excels where single-thread efficiency matters most. The aggregate scores reflect this balance: the Ryzen averages 21749 across all benchmarks, the Intel 21174, a modest overall gap of roughly 2.7%. Both chips sit at the 75th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy similar standing in the broader performance hierarchy despite their divergent strengths.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gulf between these two processors is substantial, reflecting their different design philosophies and release timelines. The AMD Ryzen 7 4800H uses the Zen 2 architecture under the Renoir codename, fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It packs 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U, by contrast, uses the Meteor Lake architecture, also on a 7 nm process but fabricated by Intel itself. It offers 12 cores but only 14 threads, a configuration that speaks to its hybrid design approach. Its base clock is listed at 1700.00 MHz, though its boost clock reaches 4.80 GHz, higher than the AMD part.

The core count difference is notable: Intel lists 12 cores versus AMD's 8, yet Intel has fewer threads (14 versus 16). This suggests the Intel chip relies on a mix of performance and efficiency cores, a design that prioritizes power savings over raw thread count. The AMD part, with its symmetrical 8-core, 16-thread arrangement, is built for consistent parallel throughput.

Cache hierarchies also diverge significantly. The Ryzen 7 4800H provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 7 155U offers more generous per-core allocations: 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. That larger cache footprint likely contributes to Intel's single-thread advantage, as more data can reside closer to the execution units.

Memory support separates the two further. The AMD chip supports DDR4 and LPDDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus, delivering 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel chip supports DDR5, also dual-channel, with a substantially higher 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Intel part's memory support is noted as depending on the motherboard, while the AMD part's is fixed to DDR4/LPDDR4. PCIe connectivity also differs: AMD offers PCIe Gen 3, while Intel provides PCIe Gen 4 with 12 lanes (CPU only). The Intel chip's newer memory and PCIe standards give it a platform-level advantage, even if benchmark results do not always reflect it.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Ryzen 7 4800H carries Radeon Graphics with 448 shader processors. The Core Ultra 7 155U features Arc Xe-LPG with 64 execution units. Both target the mobile segment, but their GPU architectures are entirely distinct, with Intel's Arc branding indicating a newer graphics design.

The physical and manufacturing details also differ. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket FP6, while Intel uses Intel BGA 2049. AMD's die is 156 mm² with 9,800 million transistors; Intel's die size and transistor count are not recorded in the database. Power envelopes diverge sharply: the Ryzen 7 4800H has a TDP of 45 watts, while the Core Ultra 7 155U draws only 15 watts. That 30-watt gap likely explains much of the performance difference, as the AMD chip has far more thermal headroom to sustain high clocks across all cores.

Release dates also separate them. The AMD part launched on January 5, 2020, while the Intel part arrived on December 13, 2023, nearly four years later. The Intel chip is the newer design by a wide margin, yet the older AMD part still holds its own in multi-threaded workloads.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion: choose based on workload, not brand loyalty. The AMD Ryzen 7 4800H is the better choice for users who prioritize parallel compute, data compression, encryption, and multi-core rendering. Its 72% lead in extended instructions and 52.1% lead in data compression are decisive margins that will translate into real-world speedups for content creation, scientific computing, and data processing tasks. Its 15.1% advantage in Cinebench R23 multi-core confirms it as the stronger renderer of the two.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U is the better option for single-threaded responsiveness and power-sensitive applications. Its 24.8% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and 23% lead in PassMark single-thread make it the faster chip for everyday desktop tasks, web browsing, and lightly threaded applications. The 49.2% advantage in find prime numbers suggests it excels in serial integer calculations. Its 15-watt TDP, one-third of the AMD chip's 45-watt envelope, makes it the more appropriate choice for thin-and-light laptops where battery life and thermals are paramount.

The aggregate scores are close enough that neither chip is a universal winner. The Ryzen 7 4800H averages 21749 across all benchmarks, the Core Ultra 7 155U averages 21174, a difference of roughly 2.7% in AMD's favor. Both sit at the 75th percentile among all CPUs. The decision comes down to whether the task at hand is parallel or serial, and whether power consumption matters more than peak multi-threaded output.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every major specification field. The AMD Ryzen 7 4800H offers 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 155U offers 12 cores and 14 threads. Base clocks are 2.90 GHz for AMD and 1700.00 MHz for Intel; boost clocks are 4.20 GHz for AMD and 4.80 GHz for Intel. TDP is 45 watts for AMD and 15 watts for Intel. Sockets differ: AMD Socket FP6 versus Intel BGA 2049. Architectures are Zen 2 (Renoir) for AMD and Meteor Lake for Intel. Both use 7 nm processes, but AMD's foundry is TSMC while Intel uses its own fabs. AMD's die measures 156 mm² with 9,800 million transistors; Intel's die size and transistor count are not recorded.

Cache allocations differ at every level: AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3; Intel has 112 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR4/LPDDR4 for AMD and DDR5 for Intel, both dual-channel, with bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s for AMD and 89.6 GB/s for Intel. PCIe is Gen 3 for AMD and Gen 4 with 12 lanes (CPU only) for Intel. Integrated graphics are Radeon Graphics 448SP for AMD and Arc Xe-LPG 64EU for Intel. Both are mobile parts, both are active in production, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. Release dates are January 5, 2020 for AMD and December 13, 2023 for Intel. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $490; the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4800H wins the multi-core comparisons. It leads by 17% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (1854 versus 1585) and by 15.1% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (11135.5 versus 9674.5). It also wins PassMark multithread by 11.2% (18222 versus 16382).

Q: Which processor has better single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U is clearly ahead in single-threaded tests. It leads by 24.8% in Cinebench R23 single-core (1666 versus 1253.5), by 21.2% in Cinebench R15 single-core (238.5 versus 188), and by 23% in PassMark single-thread (3372 versus 2597).

Q: How do their core and thread counts compare?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U has 12 cores and 14 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H has 8 cores and 16 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD chip has more threads and wins most multi-threaded benchmarks.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4800H has a TDP of 45 watts, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 155U has a TDP of 15 watts. This makes the Intel chip significantly more power-efficient on paper, which is relevant for battery life in mobile devices.

Q: Which processor supports faster memory?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U supports DDR5 memory with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H supports DDR4 and LPDDR4 with 51.2 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: What is the overall average benchmark score for each?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4800H has an average benchmark score of 21749, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 155U has an average of 21174. Both processors sit at the 75th percentile among all CPUs in the database.