AMD Ryzen 7 7700X vs Intel Core 7 250H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X and Intel Core 7 250H sit nearly level in overall average benchmark score, with the Ryzen at 35,909 and the Intel at 35,728, a difference of just 0.5%. Both processors occupy the 85th percentile among all CPUs, and their closest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 and the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H. Despite this statistical tie in aggregate scoring, their individual benchmark results are heavily skewed in one direction, revealing very different workload strengths.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is the count of wins: the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X takes 14 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core 7 250H wins only a single test. That lone victory comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the Intel scores 3,147 against AMD's 3,113.5, a narrow 1.1% margin. This suggests that in this particular legacy render test, the Intel's higher core count can briefly assert itself, but the advantage is slim and does not carry into newer workloads.

Every other multi-threaded test favors AMD, often by wide margins. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen 7 7700X scores 19,088 versus Intel's 16,561, a decisive 15.3% lead. The PassMark multi-thread score amplifies this gap further, with AMD at 35,686 against Intel's 27,030, a 32% advantage. The data shows that the Ryzen's 8 cores and 16 threads, despite being fewer in number than the Intel's 14 cores and 20 threads, deliver substantially higher sustained throughput in modern rendering and general multithreaded tasks.

The largest single delta appears in PassMark extended instructions, where AMD scores 32,033 against Intel's 17,318, an 85% advantage. This test likely reflects the efficiency of AMD's Zen 4 architecture in executing complex instruction sequences. Similarly, PassMark data compression shows AMD at 420,240 versus Intel's 303,269, a 38.6% lead, and PassMark random string sorting favors AMD by 45.8% (49,782 vs. 34,136). These results indicate that the Ryzen's memory subsystem and cache hierarchy provide a substantial edge in data manipulation tasks.

Encryption workloads also strongly favor AMD, with PassMark data encryption showing 24,732 versus 18,206, a 35.8% delta. Prime number finding, a test of pure integer throughput, gives AMD a 69.8% advantage (180 vs. 106). Even in floating-point math, where Intel's architecture has historically been competitive, AMD leads 68,986 to 65,094, a 6% margin. Integer math follows a similar pattern, with AMD at 112,601 versus 99,100, a 13.6% lead.

Single-threaded performance is much closer. In Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD scores 1,987 against Intel's 1,931, a 2.9% lead. The older Cinebench R15 single-core test shows AMD ahead by 5.7% (315 vs. 298). PassMark single-thread results are nearly identical, with AMD at 4,190 and Intel at 4,148, a 1% difference. PassMark physics also favors AMD by 10% (2,007 vs. 1,824), suggesting better per-core efficiency in simulation workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X uses the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Raphael, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 7 250H uses the older Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-H refresh, built on a 10 nm process at Intel. This process node difference is significant: the 5 nm node allows AMD to pack 6,570 million transistors into a 71 mm² die, while Intel's die size and transistor count are not listed in the available data.

The core configurations diverge sharply. The AMD chip has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 4.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The Intel chip has 14 cores and 20 threads, with a much lower base clock of 2.50 GHz but an identical boost clock of 5.40 GHz. This explains the benchmark pattern: the Intel processor can reach high peak frequencies on a few cores, but its much lower base clock and likely power constraints in mobile form limit sustained all-core performance.

Cache layouts also differ. AMD provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. Intel provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, but only 24 MB of shared L3. The larger L3 on the AMD side likely contributes to its strong performance in data compression and random string sorting, where large working sets benefit from more on-chip storage.

The market segments are opposite: the Ryzen 7 7700X is a desktop part on AMD Socket AM5, while the Core 7 250H is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1744. The TDP reflects this, with AMD rated at 105 W and Intel at 45 W. Memory support differs as well, with AMD using only DDR5 in dual-channel mode with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 but does not list a bandwidth figure. AMD also supports ECC memory, which Intel does not.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X averages 35,909, while the Intel Core 7 250H averages 35,728, giving AMD a 0.5% lead. Both are in the 85th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core 7 250H has 14 cores and 20 threads, making it the higher-core-count part.

Q: Which chip wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X wins decisively, scoring 19,088 versus Intel's 16,561, a 15.3% advantage.

Q: Is the single-threaded performance close between the two?

A: Yes, it is very close. In PassMark single-thread, AMD scores 4,190 and Intel scores 4,148, a 1% difference. In Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD leads by 2.9% (1,987 vs. 1,931).

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in PassMark extended instructions, where AMD scores 32,033 against Intel's 17,318, an 85% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core 7 250H win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins Cinebench R15 multi-core, scoring 3,147 versus AMD's 3,113.5, a 1.1% margin.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification category. The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X is a desktop chip from the 7000 series with a TDP of 105 W, while the Intel Core 7 250H is a mobile chip with a TDP of 45 W. AMD uses 8 cores and 16 threads; Intel uses 14 cores and 20 threads. The base clocks are 4.50 GHz for AMD and 2.50 GHz for Intel, though both boost to 5.40 GHz.

The process nodes are 5 nm (TSMC) for AMD and 10 nm (Intel) for Intel. AMD's cache consists of 64 KB L1, 1 MB L2 per core, and 32 MB shared L3. Intel's cache is 80 KB L1, 2 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. Memory support shows AMD limited to DDR5, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. AMD has ECC memory support; Intel does not.

PCIe lanes differ significantly: AMD provides 24 Gen 5 lanes (CPU only), while Intel provides 8 Gen 5 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics are Radeon Graphics for AMD and Iris Xe Graphics 96EU for Intel. AMD has an unlocked multiplier, while Intel's is locked. The launch MSRP for the AMD is $399, and for the Intel it is $502. The AMD was released on September 26, 2022, while the Intel was released on December 17, 2024.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a clear performance hierarchy, despite the near-identical average scores. The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X is the stronger processor in 14 of 15 head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from 1% in PassMark single-thread to 85% in extended instructions. The Intel Core 7 250H's single win in Cinebench R15 multi-core is narrow and isolated, failing to translate into broader multi-threaded success.

For desktop users building a system on Socket AM5, the Ryzen 7 7700X offers a compelling combination of high boost clocks, large L3 cache, and substantial multi-threaded throughput. Its 105 W TDP is higher than the Intel's 45 W, but that is expected for a desktop part. The unlocked multiplier adds flexibility for those who wish to overclock.

The Intel Core 7 250H, as a mobile processor, serves a different purpose. Its lower TDP and BGA socket make it suitable for laptops, where power efficiency and thermal constraints are paramount. The fact that it matches the AMD in single-threaded performance while using significantly less power is notable. However, in pure compute benchmarks, it trails the Ryzen in most workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X is the clear choice for compute-heavy desktop workloads. Its wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core (15.3% ahead), PassMark multi-thread (32% ahead), and data encryption (35.8% ahead) make it suitable for rendering, video encoding, and data processing tasks. The 85% lead in extended instructions and 69.8% lead in prime number finding indicate strong performance in scientific computing and cryptographic workloads. The 38.6% advantage in data compression and 45.8% in random string sorting point to efficiency in database and file management applications.

The Intel Core 7 250H wins only in Cinebench R15 multi-core, a legacy benchmark where its 14-core configuration briefly outpaces the AMD's 8-core design. This might indicate that certain older software optimizations favor higher core counts over per-core efficiency. The Intel also offers DDR4 memory support, which could be relevant for systems using existing DDR4 modules, and its 45 W TDP makes it appropriate for thin-and-light laptops where sustained performance under thermal limits is more important than peak throughput. The Intel's Iris Xe Graphics 96EU may also be a factor for systems without a discrete GPU, though the benchmark data does not cover integrated graphics performance.