AMD Ryzen 7 9700F vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark data is unusually one-sided. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins all 11 recorded comparisons against the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F. There is no recorded benchmark in the database where the AMD part takes the lead. That does not mean the Ryzen 7 9700F is without merit, it means its strengths lie in efficiency, platform features, and specific workload characteristics that are not captured by these particular tests.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus dominates in multi-threaded throughput. Its PassMark multithread score of 51596 is 29.3% ahead of the Ryzen's 36470. The gap widens further in floating-point math, where Intel scores 162692 versus 77955, a 52.1% advantage. Data compression shows a 25.8% lead (568721 versus 421988), and data encryption shows a 49% lead (42144 versus 21488). These are substantial margins in production-style workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F wins the efficiency argument, though the database records no direct efficiency benchmark. Its 65W TDP versus the Intel's 125W TDP suggests lower power draw, and its smaller 70.6 mm² die on a 4 nm process points to a more compact, lower-power design. The Intel part uses a 3 nm process but a much larger 243 mm² die with 17,800 million transistors.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split. If the workload is heavily multi-threaded, content creation, data processing, or anything that scales across many cores, the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the pick. It wins every recorded comparison, often by double-digit margins. The 18-core, 18-thread configuration gives it a structural advantage over the 8-core, 16-thread Ryzen in parallel tasks.

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F makes sense for builders prioritizing a lower-power platform. Its 65W TDP is nearly half the Intel part's 125W TDP. It also uses the AMD Socket AM5, which offers a different upgrade path than Intel Socket 1851. The Ryzen's 94th percentile versus all CPUs is one point higher than Intel's 93rd percentile, despite Intel's higher average score in the nearest-rival comparison. The Ryzen 7 9700F is the more efficient choice, the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the performance choice.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest margin in the entire comparison is in find prime numbers, where Intel scores 486 against AMD's 183, a 62.3% advantage. This is a classic integer-heavy, cache-sensitive workload, and the Intel part's larger per-core L2 cache (3 MB versus 1 MB) likely contributes to the result. Floating-point math shows a 52.1% gap (162692 versus 77955), again favoring Intel. Data encryption shows a 49% gap (42144 versus 21488), which points to the Intel part's stronger cryptographic instruction throughput.

The smallest margins are in single-thread tests. Intel wins PassMark single thread with 4757 versus 4691, a mere 1.4% difference. Integer math is similarly close: 125091 versus 120788, a 3.4% gap. These results indicate that for lightly threaded workloads, the two processors are near peers, with the AMD part's 5.50 GHz boost clock helping it stay competitive against Intel's 5.30 GHz boost.

Mid-range gaps include multithread at 29.3% (51596 versus 36470), random string sorting at 33.6% (69090 versus 45890), and physics at 39.3% (3494 versus 2122). Extended instructions show a 24.4% gap (44565 versus 33688). In every case, the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the winner, and the margins are consistent across different workload types.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus edges out the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F in PassMark single thread with 4757 versus 4691, a 1.4% difference. The database's separate singlethread test records the same scores. This is close enough that real-world differences would be negligible.

Q: How much faster is the Intel part in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 51596 in PassMark multithread versus the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F's 36470, a 29.3% advantage. The Intel part also wins data compression by 25.8% and data encryption by 49%.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F has 8 cores and 16 threads. Both support simultaneous multithreading on the AMD side, while the Intel part relies on its higher core count.

Q: Which processor has more cache?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 192 KB of L1 cache per core and 3 MB of L2 cache per core, with 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. Intel has more L1 and L2 per core, while AMD has slightly more L3 overall.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus support ECC memory. Both also support DDR5 with dual-channel memory buses.

Q: What are the launch MSRP values?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F has a launch MSRP of $289. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a launch MSRP of $199.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is built on Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename, part of the 9000 series. It uses a 4 nm process from TSMC with 8,315 million transistors on a 70.6 mm² die. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses the Arrow Lake Refresh codename with a 3 nm process from TSMC, packing 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The process node difference is notable: Intel uses a smaller 3 nm node, but the die is substantially larger.

Cache architectures differ significantly. AMD provides 80 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with 32 MB of shared L3. Intel provides 192 KB of L1 per core and 3 MB of L2 per core, with 30 MB of shared L3. The Intel part's larger per-core L1 and L2 caches likely explain its strong showing in cache-sensitive tests like find prime numbers, where it leads by 62.3%.

The Intel part includes integrated graphics: Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F has no integrated graphics, listed as N/A. This is a meaningful difference for builders who want a fallback display output or media acceleration without a discrete GPU.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. AMD provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only), while Intel provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Both platforms are current-generation desktop sockets: AMD Socket AM5 versus Intel Socket 1851. Both processors have unlocked multipliers for overclocking.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 7 9700F | Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus |

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

| Cores | 8 | 18 |

| Threads | 16 | 18 |

| Base clock | 3.80 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.50 GHz | 5.30 GHz |

| TDP | 65W | 125W |

| Process node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Transistors | 8,315 million | 17,800 million |

| Die size | 70.6 mm² | 243 mm² |

| L1 cache | 80 KB per core | 192 KB per core |

| L2 cache | 1 MB per core | 3 MB per core |

| L3 cache | 32 MB shared | 30 MB shared |

| Memory bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 115.2 GB/s |

| PCIe lanes | Gen 5, 24 lanes | Gen 5, 20 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | N/A | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Launch MSRP | $289 | $199 |

The Intel part has more cores, a higher base clock, more cache per core, higher memory bandwidth, and a lower launch MSRP. The AMD part has a higher boost clock, much lower TDP, more PCIe lanes, and a smaller die on a larger process node. Both support ECC memory and dual-channel DDR5. Both have unlocked multipliers. The Intel part includes integrated graphics; the AMD part does not.

The database records the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F with an average benchmark score of 69996 and a 94th percentile versus all CPUs. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has an average benchmark score of 66855 and a 93rd percentile. The AMD part's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-14700KF (0.2% behind), the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (0.7% ahead), and the Intel Core i7-14700K (0.9% ahead). The Intel part's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 4465P (0.1% behind), the Intel Xeon 6515P (0.2% behind), and the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX (0.9% behind). Despite losing every head-to-head test, the AMD part has a slightly higher percentile ranking and a higher average benchmark score.