AMD Ryzen 7 9700X vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall benchmark standing?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X sits at the 86th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H sits at the 84th percentile. The AMD part also records a higher average benchmark score of 37,943 versus 33,989 for the Intel part.

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X wins 12 of the 15 recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins 3 tests: passmark_find_prime_numbers, passmark_floating_point_math, and passmark_physics.

Q: What are the core and thread configurations of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads, meaning the Intel part has more physical cores but no hyperthreading.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H supports LPDDR5X memory with a bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X supports DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel part offers roughly 52% more memory bandwidth, based on the recorded figures.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X boosts to 5.50 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H boosts to 4.70 GHz. The AMD part also has a higher base clock at 3.80 GHz versus 1.90 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H does not.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split is lopsided, with the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X taking the majority of tests, but the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has clear pockets of strength. The AMD part wins all Cinebench tests, all single-thread PassMark tests, and the heavy integer and compression workloads. The Intel part wins in prime number finding, floating point math, and physics simulation.

For multi-threaded rendering and content creation, the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X dominates. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 20,485 beats the Intel part's 16,331 by 25.4%. The gap is even larger in Cinebench R15 multicore, where the AMD part scores 3,178 against 2,504, a 26.9% advantage. This pattern extends to PassMark multithread, where the AMD part scores 37,161 versus 28,717, a 29.4% lead.

Single-thread performance also favors the AMD part. The Ryzen 7 9700X scores 2,211 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 2,044 for the Intel part, an 8.2% lead. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD part leads by 13.4% with a score of 346 against 305. PassMark single-thread shows an 11.3% advantage for the AMD part at 4,654 versus 4,180.

The AMD part is particularly strong in integer math and data compression. Its PassMark integer math score of 120,142 is 85% higher than the Intel part's 64,934. In data compression, the AMD part scores 437,140 versus 276,539, a 58.1% lead. Extended instructions also favor the AMD part by 47.7% (35,318 versus 23,906).

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins in a few specialized workloads. Its PassMark floating point math score of 84,067 beats the AMD part's 78,999 by 6%. In prime number finding, the Intel part scores 304 against 192, a 36.8% advantage. Physics simulation also favors the Intel part, with a score of 2,697 versus 2,241, a 16.9% lead.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X uses the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses the Panther Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process at Intel's own foundry. These process differences are reflected in the transistor counts: the AMD part has 8,315 million transistors on a 70.6 mm² die, while the Intel part's transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database.

The core layouts differ significantly. The AMD part has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel part has 12 cores and 12 threads. This means the Intel part relies on more physical cores without simultaneous multithreading, while the AMD part uses fewer cores with two threads per core. The cache hierarchy also differs. The AMD part has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with 32 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has 192 KB of L1 per core and 2.5 MB of L2 per core, with 18 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core L1 and L2 caches on the Intel part may help explain its wins in floating point and physics workloads.

Memory architecture diverges as well. The AMD part supports DDR5 memory with dual-channel access and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part supports LPDDR5X with dual-channel access and 136.5 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part's higher bandwidth is notable given its mobile positioning.

The platform targets are entirely different. The AMD part is a desktop processor on AMD Socket AM5 with PCIe Gen 5 across 24 lanes. The Intel part is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 2540 with PCIe Gen 5 across only 4 lanes. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part is locked. The AMD part includes Radeon Graphics as integrated graphics, while the Intel part includes Arc B370 graphics.

Specification Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and Intel Core Ultra 5 338H differ across nearly every major specification field. The AMD part has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel part has 12 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 3.80 GHz for the AMD part and 1.90 GHz for the Intel part. Boost clocks are 5.50 GHz for the AMD part and 4.70 GHz for the Intel part. Thermal design power is 65 watts for the AMD part and 25 watts for the Intel part.

The AMD part uses DDR5 memory with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel part uses LPDDR5X with 136.5 GB/s bandwidth. Both use dual-channel memory buses. ECC memory support is present on the AMD part but absent on the Intel part. PCIe connectivity differs sharply: the AMD part has 24 Gen 5 lanes, while the Intel part has 4 Gen 5 lanes.

The L3 cache is 32 MB shared on the AMD part versus 18 MB shared on the Intel part. Per-core L1 cache is 80 KB on the AMD part versus 192 KB on the Intel part. Per-core L2 cache is 1 MB on the AMD part versus 2.5 MB on the Intel part. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part is locked. The AMD part launched on 2024-08-07, while the Intel part has a recorded release date of 2026-01-04. The AMD part has a launch MSRP of $359; no launch MSRP is recorded for the Intel part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X comes in PassMark integer math, where it scores 120,142 against 64,934, a 85% advantage. This is the most decisive result in the head-to-head set. Data compression is nearly as lopsided: the AMD part scores 437,140 versus 276,539, a 58.1% lead. Extended instructions show a 47.7% gap in favor of the AMD part (35,318 versus 23,906). Random string sorting goes to the AMD part by 37.3% (46,782 versus 34,082). PassMark multithread favors the AMD part by 29.4% (37,161 versus 28,717).

Cinebench results consistently favor the AMD part. The R15 multicore test shows a 26.9% lead (3,178 versus 2,504). The R23 multicore test shows a 25.4% lead (20,485 versus 16,331). Single-core results are closer but still favor the AMD part: R15 single-core is 13.4% ahead (346 versus 305), and R23 single-core is 8.2% ahead (2,211 versus 2,044). PassMark single-thread shows an 11.3% lead (4,654 versus 4,180). Data encryption is nearly a tie, with the AMD part ahead by 2.1% (21,815 versus 21,367).

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins three tests, and each win tells a different story. In prime number finding, the Intel part scores 304 against 192, a 36.8% advantage. This is its largest margin of victory. In physics simulation, the Intel part scores 2,697 versus 2,241, a 16.9% lead. In floating point math, the Intel part scores 84,067 versus 78,999, a 6% lead.

The head-to-head data shows a clear split between workload types. The AMD part dominates integer-heavy, compression-heavy, and rendering workloads. The Intel part wins in physics, floating point math, and prime number finding, which may reflect its larger per-core caches and higher memory bandwidth.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear division of roles. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X is the stronger processor for multi-threaded rendering, data compression, integer math, and single-thread workloads. Its Cinebench R23 multicore lead of 25.4% and its PassMark multithread lead of 29.4% make it the choice for CPU-heavy content creation. Its 85% lead in integer math and 58.1% lead in data compression reinforce this position. The 12 head-to-head wins out of 15 tests, combined with an 86th percentile standing versus 84th for the Intel part, place it ahead in overall performance.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is the better option for workloads that favor its specific strengths. Its 36.8% lead in prime number finding, 16.9% lead in physics simulation, and 6% lead in floating point math indicate that certain scientific and simulation workloads run better on this processor. Its 136.5 GB/s memory bandwidth and larger per-core caches likely contribute to these results, although the recorded data does not directly confirm causation.

The platform differences are decisive for system builders. The AMD part is a desktop processor with 24 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, an unlocked multiplier, ECC memory support, and a 65 watt TDP. The Intel part is a mobile processor with 4 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, a locked multiplier, no ECC support, and a 25 watt TDP. These are not interchangeable products, and the choice will often be determined by the intended form factor rather than benchmark scores alone.

The Ryzen 7 9700X delivers higher average performance at 37,943 versus 33,989, and it wins in the majority of tested workloads. The Core Ultra 5 338H offers specialized strengths in physics, floating point, and prime number workloads, plus higher memory bandwidth and a lower TDP. Buyers seeking the broadest performance across rendering, compression, and general compute should follow the data toward the AMD part. Those with workloads matching the Intel part's three wins may find the Core Ultra 5 338H sufficient, but the recorded benchmark results show the AMD processor ahead in most measurable categories.