AMD Ryzen 7 8700F vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225T Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F and Intel Core Ultra 5 225T are two very different desktop processors that land in the same performance tier, separated by a mere 0.9% in average benchmark score. The Ryzen 7 8700F is an 8-core, 16-thread Zen 4 part on AMD Socket AM5, while the Core Ultra 5 225T is a 10-core, 10-thread Arrow Lake chip on Intel Socket 1851. Both are active, 65W desktop parts, but their benchmark profiles diverge sharply: the AMD chip wins 12 of 17 head-to-head tests, while the Intel chip takes 5, including several notable single-threaded and specialized workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F has an average benchmark score of 30746, compared to the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T's 30468. This puts the Intel part 0.9% behind the AMD chip in the nearestRivals data.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F scores 26646 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T scores 21971. This represents a 21.3% advantage for the AMD processor.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any single-threaded tests?

A: Yes. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T beats the AMD Ryzen 7 8700F in PassMark single-thread (4348 vs 3872) and PassMark singlethread (4348 vs 3872), each with a 10.9% delta. However, the AMD chip wins all Cinebench single-core tests by 21.2-21.3%.

Q: What is the biggest benchmark win for the AMD processor?

A: The largest delta for the AMD Ryzen 7 8700F is in PassMark integer math, where it scores 100371 versus the Intel's 59543, a 68.6% advantage. The AMD chip also wins PassMark data compression by 61.6% (378160 vs 233998).

Q: What is the biggest benchmark win for the Intel processor?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T's largest win is in PassMark find prime numbers, scoring 284 versus the AMD's 98, a 65.5% advantage. It also wins PassMark floating point math by 24.3% (82751 vs 62629) and PassMark physics by 24.4% (2053 vs 1553).

Q: Do both processors support DDR5 memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 7 8700F and Intel Core Ultra 5 225T support DDR5 memory with a dual-channel memory bus. However, the Intel chip has a higher memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s compared to the AMD's 83.2 GB/s.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split: the AMD Ryzen 7 8700F is the stronger all-around multi-threaded performer, winning 12 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, including every Cinebench test and several PassMark workloads. It is the choice for users who prioritize consistent multi-core throughput, with a 21.3% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore and a 68.6% lead in integer math. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T, despite having more cores, counters with wins in PassMark single-thread, floating point math, physics, and prime number finding. It is the better option for workloads that are heavily scalar or rely on specific instruction throughput, and it also offers integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics, which the AMD part lacks entirely. For a general-purpose desktop, the AMD's broader win count and higher average score make it the safer pick; for targeted floating-point or single-thread-heavy tasks, the Intel part has a distinct edge.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite is a complete sweep for the AMD Ryzen 7 8700F. In Cinebench R15, it scores 2685 multicore versus 2214, and 378 singlecore versus 312, each with a 21.2-21.3% delta. The pattern holds in R20 (11191 vs 9227 multicore, 1579 vs 1302 singlecore) and R23 (26646 vs 21971 multicore, 3761 vs 3101 singlecore), all with identical 21.3% deltas. This uniform margin suggests a consistent architectural advantage in rendering and heavily threaded workloads, not a test-specific quirk.

PassMark results are more polarized. The AMD chip dominates integer math (100371 vs 59543, +68.6%), data compression (378160 vs 233998, +61.6%), and random string sorting (45425 vs 28774, +57.9%). It also wins extended instructions (28474 vs 20083, +41.8%), multithread (30893 vs 25358, +21.8%), and data encryption (22117 vs 18289, +20.9%). These are large, decisive margins that reinforce the multi-core story.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T fights back in specific domains. Its PassMark find prime numbers score of 284 crushes the AMD's 98, a 65.5% reversal. It also wins floating point math (82751 vs 62629, +24.3%) and physics (2053 vs 1553, +24.4%). The single-thread PassMark result (4348 vs 3872, +10.9%) is notable, but it is the only single-thread test where Intel leads—the Cinebench single-core tests all favor AMD by over 21%. This creates an interesting tension: the Intel chip has a higher PassMark single-thread score, yet loses every Cinebench single-core test, indicating that benchmark methodology matters greatly for this comparison.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on core configuration: the AMD Ryzen 7 8700F has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has 10 cores but only 10 threads, meaning no hyperthreading. Clock speeds differ substantially: AMD's base clock is 4.10 GHz with a 5.00 GHz boost, versus Intel's 2.50 GHz base and 4.90 GHz boost. The AMD chip is unlocked (multiplierUnlocked: true), while the Intel chip is locked. Socket compatibility is entirely separate: AMD Socket AM5 versus Intel Socket 1851. The AMD part has a launch MSRP of $270; the Intel part has no listed launch MSRP. PCIe support differs: the AMD chip uses Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the Intel chip uses Gen 5 with 20 lanes. The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F has no integrated graphics, whereas the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F is built on TSMC's 4 nm process with a die size of 178 mm² and 25,000 million transistors. It uses the Zen 4 architecture (codename Phoenix) from the 8000 series. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T uses a 3 nm process (also TSMC) with a larger die of 243 mm² but fewer transistors at 17,800 million. Its architecture is Arrow Lake (codename Arrow Lake-S) from Core Ultra Series 2. Cache hierarchies are notably different: the AMD chip has 64 KB L1, 1 MB L2, and 16 MB L3 per its specifications, while the Intel chip has 192 KB L1, 3 MB L2, and 20 MB L3. The Intel part's larger per-core cache and 20 MB shared L3 may explain its single-thread PassMark advantage. Memory bandwidth also favors Intel at 102.4 GB/s versus AMD's 83.2 GB/s, despite both using dual-channel DDR5. Neither supports ECC memory. The Intel chip's integrated graphics and Gen 5 PCIe are additional architectural differentiators absent from the AMD part.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F wins every Cinebench test, making it the clear pick for rendering, video encoding, and other multi-threaded creative workloads. Its PassMark wins in data compression (+61.6%), integer math (+68.6%), and random string sorting (+57.9%) suggest strong performance in database operations, file archiving, and general integer-heavy computation. The 21.8% multithread win and 20.9% encryption win reinforce its suitability for parallel processing tasks. For users running heavily threaded applications on a 65W desktop part, the AMD chip is the data-driven choice.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T wins PassMark find prime numbers by a massive 65.5%, indicating a significant advantage in prime-number generation and related mathematical workloads. Its floating point math win (+24.3%) and physics win (+24.4%) point to strength in scientific computing and simulation tasks that rely on floating-point throughput. The 10.9% PassMark single-thread win is relevant for lightly threaded legacy applications, though the contradictory Cinebench single-core losses suggest this advantage may not translate to all single-threaded scenarios. The Intel chip's integrated graphics and Gen 5 PCIe support make it the better fit for systems that need a GPU for basic display output or future high-bandwidth peripherals, despite its 10.9% lower average benchmark score overall.