AMD Ryzen 7 7736U vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225T Comparison

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T and AMD Ryzen 7 7736U are close in overall average benchmark scores, but they achieve that parity through wildly different performance profiles. The Intel chip is a desktop part that dominates multi-core rendering and single-threaded tasks, while the AMD chip is a low-power mobile processor that counters with wins in specific integer workloads. The data shows a decisive victory for Intel in 13 of 15 head-to-head tests, yet the average benchmark scores are separated by less than 1%, with the Intel part posting an average of 30468 against AMD's 30364.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest margin of victory belongs to Intel in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, where the Core Ultra 5 225T scores 21971 against the Ryzen 7 7736U's 12768. That is a 72.1% advantage, a massive gap that reflects the Intel part's higher core clock and desktop-oriented design. The single-core Cinebench R23 result is even more lopsided in percentage terms: Intel scores 3101 versus AMD's 1548, a 100.3% delta—meaning Intel is effectively twice as fast in that workload.

The Intel processor also wins decisively in Cinebench R15, both multi-core (2214 vs 2019, a 9.7% lead) and single-core (312 vs 246, a 26.8% lead). In PassMark's floating-point math test, Intel scores 82751 against AMD's 44499, an 86% advantage. The physics test shows a similar pattern: Intel's 2053 crushes AMD's 1007, a 103.9% delta. Intel also dominates in prime number finding, scoring 284 versus AMD's 56, a staggering 407.1% difference.

Intel wins the PassMark multi-thread test with 25358 versus 21725, a 16.7% lead, and the single-thread test with 4348 versus 3350, a 29.8% lead. Data encryption goes to Intel (18289 vs 15635, +17%), as do extended instructions (20083 vs 19384, +3.6%) and random string sorting (28774 vs 28172, +2.1%).

The AMD Ryzen 7 7736U takes only two wins, but both are notable. In PassMark data compression, AMD scores 274440 against Intel's 233998, a 14.7% advantage. In integer math, AMD posts 78821 versus Intel's 59543, a 24.5% lead. These are substantial margins, showing that AMD's architecture has specific strengths in integer-heavy, compression-oriented tasks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T is built on a 3 nm process node at TSMC, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7736U uses a 6 nm node, also at TSMC. Intel's die size is listed at 243 mm² with 17,800 million transistors; AMD's die is smaller at 208 mm², but the transistor count is not listed in the data.

Core configuration diverges sharply. Intel offers 10 cores and 10 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. AMD offers 8 cores and 16 threads, relying on SMT to double its thread count. Despite having fewer cores, AMD's 16 threads do not help it in most multi-threaded benchmarks, as Intel's higher clock speeds and newer architecture win out.

Clock speeds favor Intel on boost but AMD on base. Intel's base clock is 2.50 GHz with a boost of 4.90 GHz. AMD's base is higher at 2.70 GHz, but its boost is lower at 4.70 GHz. The thermal design power (TDP) tells the bigger story: Intel is rated at 65W, while AMD is rated at just 15W. This explains why AMD is a mobile part (Socket FP7) and Intel is a desktop part (Socket 1851).

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. Intel allocates 192 KB of L1 per core and 3 MB of L2 per core, with a shared 20 MB L3. AMD provides 64 KB L1 per core and 512 KB L2 per core, with a shared 16 MB L3. Intel's larger per-core caches contribute to its single-thread dominance.

Memory support is DDR5 for both, and both use dual-channel buses. However, Intel's memory bandwidth is rated at 102.4 GB/s versus AMD's 76.8 GB/s, a 33% advantage for Intel. PCIe support also differs: Intel uses Gen 5 with 20 lanes, while AMD uses Gen 4 with 20 lanes. ECC memory is supported on AMD but not on Intel.

Integrated graphics differ as well. Intel brings Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 16 execution units, while AMD offers the Radeon 680M. The market segments are explicit: Intel targets Desktop, AMD targets Mobile. Release dates are also distinct, with Intel launching on 2024-12-31 and AMD on 2023-01-03.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear conclusion for raw performance: the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T is the faster processor in the vast majority of scenarios. Its 13 wins out of 15 head-to-head benchmarks, including a 100.3% lead in single-core Cinebench R23 and a 72.1% lead in multi-core Cinebench R23, make it the obvious choice for anyone prioritizing compute throughput. The 65W TDP and desktop socket confirm it is designed for systems where power draw is not the primary constraint.

The AMD Ryzen 7 7736U is not without merit, but its wins are narrow in scope. Data compression and integer math are the only areas where it leads, with deltas of 14.7% and 24.5%, respectively. These are meaningful for specific workloads but do not offset Intel's dominance elsewhere. AMD's 15W TDP and mobile socket make it the only sensible option for ultra-portable laptops, but the benchmark data shows a significant performance trade-off.

For a desktop user, the choice is straightforward: the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T is the superior processor. For a mobile user, the AMD Ryzen 7 7736U offers acceptable performance with far lower power consumption, but the data shows it trails Intel in nearly every compute metric.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has an average benchmark score of 30468, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7736U scores 30364. The Intel part leads by 0.3% according to the nearestRivals deltaPct.

Q: How big is the gap in multi-core performance?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T scores 21971 versus the AMD's 12768, a 72.1% lead. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the gap is smaller at 9.7%, with Intel at 2214 and AMD at 2019.

Q: Does the AMD processor win any benchmark?

A: Yes. The AMD Ryzen 7 7736U wins PassMark data compression (274440 vs 233998, a 14.7% lead) and PassMark integer math (78821 vs 59543, a 24.5% lead).

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has 10 cores and 10 threads. The AMD Ryzen 7 7736U has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T boosts to 4.90 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7736U boosts to 4.70 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 7 7736U supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T does not.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T wins in rendering workloads, as evidenced by its 72.1% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 100.3% lead in single-core. It also wins in floating-point math (86% lead), physics simulation (103.9% lead), and prime number finding (407.1% lead). For users running video encoding, 3D rendering, or scientific simulations, the Intel part is the clear winner. Its 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth and 20 MB L3 cache support these compute-heavy tasks.

The AMD Ryzen 7 7736U wins specifically in data compression and integer math. The 14.7% lead in compression and 24.5% lead in integer math suggest it handles archive extraction, database operations, or encryption-related integer workloads with relative efficiency. Its 16 threads, despite lower clock speeds, help in these specific parallel integer tasks. For users in file-server or database-adjacent roles, the AMD part offers a targeted advantage.

The choice also depends on form factor. The Intel part's 65W TDP and desktop socket mean it belongs in a tower or workstation. The AMD part's 15W TDP and mobile socket make it suitable for thin-and-light laptops. The data does not show AMD winning in any general-purpose compute test, so its appeal rests on power efficiency and specific integer workloads.

Specification Differences

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T uses the Arrow Lake architecture on a 3 nm process, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7736U uses Zen 3+ on a 6 nm process. Intel has 10 cores and 10 threads; AMD has 8 cores and 16 threads. Intel's base clock is 2.50 GHz and boost is 4.90 GHz; AMD's base is 2.70 GHz and boost is 4.70 GHz.

TDP is a major split: Intel at 65W, AMD at 15W. Intel uses Socket 1851, AMD uses Socket FP7. Intel's L1 cache is 192 KB per core, L2 is 3 MB per core, and L3 is 20 MB shared; AMD's L1 is 64 KB per core, L2 is 512 KB per core, and L3 is 16 MB shared. Memory bandwidth favors Intel at 102.4 GB/s versus AMD's 76.8 GB/s. Intel supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes; AMD supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes. ECC memory is available on AMD only. Integrated graphics are Arc Xe-LPG (16 EU) for Intel and Radeon 680M for AMD. Intel is a desktop part, AMD is mobile. Intel launched on 2024-12-31, AMD on 2023-01-03. Both have a production status of Active and neither has an unlocked multiplier.