AMD Ryzen 7 9700F vs Intel Core Ultra X9 378H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H are two very different processors aimed at different market segments, yet their benchmark results show a surprisingly close competition in several areas. The AMD chip is a desktop part built for high single-core performance and raw integer throughput, while the Intel chip is a mobile processor with a much lower power envelope and a focus on multi-threaded workloads. The recorded data reveals a clear split in strengths, with each processor dominating distinct types of tasks.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F secures the majority of the head-to-head wins, taking 6 out of 11 benchmark tests. Its most significant victories come in integer-heavy and latency-sensitive workloads. The AMD part leads by 30.4% in integer math, a substantial margin that indicates superior per-core execution efficiency. It also wins in data compression by 9.2%, extended instructions by 7.6%, and random string sorting by 2.8%. These results point to a processor that excels in general-purpose computing, database operations, and everyday application responsiveness where single-core speed and branch prediction are critical.

The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H wins the remaining 5 tests, and its victories are concentrated in floating-point, encryption, and heavily parallel workloads. The Intel chip dominates floating-point math with a 31.9% advantage, and it leads by 37.7% in the physics test, which relies heavily on floating-point calculations. Its 28% lead in data encryption shows a strong cryptographic acceleration pipeline. The Intel part also takes the multi-threaded PassMark score by 4.8%, despite having the same number of threads (16) as the AMD processor. This suggests that the Intel chip's higher core count (16 physical cores vs 8) provides a throughput advantage in well-parallelized tasks, even if each individual core is less potent.

The single-thread test is a decisive win for AMD, with a 5.3% margin. This is a key indicator for user-facing responsiveness, as most everyday applications rely on single-thread performance. The Intel part's higher core count does not translate into a single-thread lead, meaning the AMD chip is likely snappier in light, interactive workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures and manufacturing processes. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is based on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge, and is manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It uses 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. Its thermal design power (TDP) is rated at 65 watts. The cache hierarchy is notable: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. This large L3 cache is a hallmark of AMD's chiplet design, aiding in data reuse across cores.

The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H is a mobile part from the Panther Lake-H family, built on a 3 nm process at Intel's own foundry. It has 16 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its TDP is significantly lower at 25 watts, reflecting its mobile design. The Intel chip features a different cache layout: 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The larger L1 and L2 per core on the Intel part may help mitigate the smaller shared L3. Notably, the Intel processor includes integrated graphics in the form of Arc B390, while the AMD chip has no integrated graphics (N/A). The AMD part supports ECC memory and has a PCIe Gen 5 interface with 24 CPU lanes, while the Intel part has only 4 CPU lanes and does not support ECC. The Intel chip uses LPDDR5X memory with a higher theoretical bandwidth of 153.6 GB/s, compared to the AMD part's 89.6 GB/s with DDR5.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic difference in the data is in integer math, where the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F scores 120,788 against the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H's 92,603, a 30.4% advantage. This is the largest single-test margin in the head-to-head set. In contrast, the Intel part's biggest win is in floating-point math, scoring 114,500 versus AMD's 77,955, a 31.9% lead in the other direction. These two tests clearly separate the processors by workload type.

In the physics test, the Intel part scores 3,404 against AMD's 2,122, a 37.7% advantage. This test is often correlated with gaming physics simulations and scientific computing, where Intel's floating-point prowess shows. Conversely, in data compression, AMD scores 421,988 versus Intel's 386,591, a 9.2% edge. This suggests AMD is better at handling real-world file operations and archival tasks.

The encryption test is a notable Intel win, with a score of 29,840 versus AMD's 21,488, a 28% difference. The Intel chip's dedicated encryption acceleration appears effective. For find prime numbers, Intel scores 357 versus AMD's 183, a 48.7% advantage, which is the largest relative delta in the entire comparison, though the absolute scores are low. On the multi-threaded PassMark test, Intel leads with 38,298 against AMD's 36,470, a 4.8% margin. This indicates that even with equal thread counts, Intel's 16 physical cores provide better throughput in fully parallel workloads.

For single-thread performance, AMD is clearly ahead with 4,691 versus Intel's 4,453, a 5.3% margin. The AMD chip's higher boost clock of 5.50 GHz likely contributes to this. Random string sorting is close, with AMD winning 45,890 to 44,648, a 2.8% margin. Extended instructions also favor AMD, 33,688 to 31,315, a 7.6% lead, which relates to SIMD and specialized instruction set efficiency.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-thread score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F scores 4,691, which is 5.3% higher than the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H's 4,453 in the PassMark single-thread test.

Q: How does the core count differ between the two?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor is better for floating-point math?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H leads significantly, scoring 114,500 compared to the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F's 77,955, a 31.9% advantage.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F has a 65-watt TDP, while the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H has a 25-watt TDP, reflecting its mobile design focus.

Q: Does the Intel chip have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H includes Arc B390 integrated graphics, while the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F has 32 MB of shared L3 cache, whereas the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H has 18 MB of shared L3 cache.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 7 9700F | Intel Core Ultra X9 378H |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 16 / 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.80 GHz | 2.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.50 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 25 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Process Node | 4 nm (TSMC) | 3 nm (Intel) |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 32 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 153.6 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe Lanes (CPU) | Gen 5, 24 Lanes | Gen 5, 4 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | N/A | Arc B390 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |