AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D vs Intel Core 7 253PE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data presents a clear split between two very different performance profiles. The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D wins 11 of the 15 recorded comparisons, while the Intel Core 7 253PE takes 4. However, the magnitudes of those wins tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

The Intel part's most dominant victory comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 3512 against the AMD's 2080, a 68.8% advantage. That is an enormous gap in a workload that typically scales closely with clock speed and architecture efficiency. The Intel chip also leads in Cinebench R15 single-core, scoring 354 versus 328, a 7.9% edge. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core 7 253PE manages 24880 versus 23230, a 7.1% lead, despite having 10 cores and 20 threads against the AMD's 8 cores and 16 threads. The fourth Intel win is narrower: PassMark floating point math, 80870 versus 79456, a 1.8% margin.

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D counters with substantial wins in nearly every other category. The largest margin is in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 423 against 138, a 67.4% advantage. This is a workload that clearly favors the AMD architecture. PassMark extended instructions shows a 43.8% lead for AMD, 38808 versus 21806, indicating a significant advantage in vectorized or specialized instruction throughput. PassMark physics gives AMD a 54.8% edge, 4083 versus 1845, which is notable for simulation workloads. The AMD part also leads in data compression by 27.5% (468017 versus 339133), random string sorting by 32.5% (48526 versus 32777), and multi-threaded performance by 26.8% (40009 versus 29271).

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD wins by 31.3%, scoring 3647 against 2507. This is a striking reversal from the Cinebench R23 multi-core result, where Intel leads by 7.1%. The two Cinebench versions clearly stress the processors differently, with the older R15 test favoring the AMD configuration while the newer R23 test favors the Intel chip. PassMark data encryption shows a 17% AMD advantage (22158 versus 18385), and integer math is close, with AMD ahead by just 2.2% (116709 versus 114158). Single-thread PassMark also goes to AMD, 4430 versus 3955, a 10.7% margin.

Both processors sit at the 87th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they belong to the same overall performance tier. Their average benchmark scores are also close: the Intel Core 7 253PE averages 40557, while the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D averages 39768. The nearest rivals for the Intel chip include the Intel Core 5 223PE at 40585 (0.1% behind), the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H at 40518 (0.1% ahead), and the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H at 40431 (0.3% ahead). For the AMD chip, the closest competitors are the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 at 40081 (0.8% ahead), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 at 40048 (0.7% ahead), and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS at 39603 (0.4% behind). These rival lists confirm that both CPUs cluster in the same performance band despite their very different internal designs.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE scores 3512 in Cinebench R23 single-core, which is 68.8% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D's 2080.

Q: How do the two processors compare in multi-threaded PassMark performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D leads with a PassMark multi-thread score of 40009, which is 26.8% higher than the Intel Core 7 253PE's 29271.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core 7 253PE and the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D support ECC memory.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth for each processor?

A: Both processors have a dual-channel memory bus with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel chip supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD chip supports DDR5 only.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Core 7 253PE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

Q: Which processor wins in PassMark data compression?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D scores 468017 in PassMark data compression, which is 27.5% higher than the Intel Core 7 253PE's 339133.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core 7 253PE is built on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry, with the codename Bartlett Lake. It belongs to the Core 7 generation and is manufactured on a process node that is two generations behind the AMD part on paper. The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D uses a 4 nm process from TSMC, with the Zen 5 architecture and the codename Granite Ridge. It has 8,315 million transistors on a 70.6 mm² die, while the Intel chip has no listed transistor count or die size in the database.

Core counts differ significantly. The Intel part has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD part has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel chip has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The AMD chip runs at a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Intel chip has a higher boost clock by 0.30 GHz, but the AMD chip has a substantially higher base clock by 2.20 GHz. The Intel chip is not multiplier unlocked, while the AMD chip is multiplier unlocked, which matters for overclocking headroom. The Intel chip carries a 65 W TDP, while the AMD chip is rated at 120 W.

Cache hierarchies are distinctly different. Both chips have 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The Intel chip has 2 MB of L2 cache per core, while the AMD chip has 1 MB per core. For L3 cache, the Intel chip has 33 MB shared, while the AMD chip has 96 MB shared, a nearly threefold difference. This large L3 cache is a defining feature of the X3D lineup. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD chip supports DDR5 only. Both use a dual-channel memory bus with identical 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory.

Integrated graphics differ. The Intel Core 7 253PE includes UHD Graphics 730, while the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D includes Radeon Graphics. Both are desktop-class parts, and both are listed as Active in production status. The Intel chip was released in March 2026, while the AMD chip was released in November 2024.

The Verdict

The data points to different optimal choices depending on workload priorities. For users whose primary applications are single-threaded, the Intel Core 7 253PE is the clear selection. Its 68.8% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core over the AMD part is a decisive margin, and it also wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 7.9%. For multi-threaded Cinebench R23 workloads, the Intel chip also holds a 7.1% advantage, which is notable given that the AMD part has a higher base clock and a much larger L3 cache.

For users who prioritize data compression, encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, physics simulation, random string sorting, or general multi-threaded throughput, the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the stronger option. Its PassMark multi-thread score is 26.8% higher, its data compression score is 27.5% higher, and its physics score is 54.8% higher. The 67.4% lead in prime number finding is especially pronounced, and the 43.8% lead in extended instructions indicates a meaningful advantage for workloads that use advanced instruction sets.

The average benchmark scores are very close, with the Intel chip at 40557 and the AMD chip at 39768, a difference of less than 2%. Both sit at the 87th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel chip has a lower TDP at 65 W against 120 W, which may matter for system power budgets. The AMD chip offers more PCIe lanes at 24 versus 16, which matters for expansion. The AMD chip is multiplier unlocked, while the Intel chip is not. The Intel chip supports DDR4 in addition to DDR5, which could matter for users reusing existing memory. The AMD chip has a much larger L3 cache at 96 MB versus 33 MB.

The choice ultimately depends on whether the workload favors the Intel chip's higher boost clock and newer release date, or the AMD chip's higher base clock, larger cache, and architectural advantages in specific workloads. The recorded data does not identify a single overall winner, but rather two complementary profiles.

Specification Differences

The table below lists only the fields where the two processors differ, as recorded in the database.

| Specification | Intel Core 7 253PE | AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D |

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

| Series | null | 9000 series |

| Cores | 10 | 8 |

| Threads | 20 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.50 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 120 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | AMD Socket AM5 |

| Architecture | null | Zen 5 |

| Codename | Bartlett Lake | Granite Ridge |

| Generation | Core 7 (Bartlett Lake) | Ryzen 7 (Zen 5 (Granite Ridge)) |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 4 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | null | 8,315 million |

| Die Size | null | 70.6 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 33 MB (shared) | 96 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 24 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | Radeon Graphics |

| Release Date | 2026-03-08 | 2024-11-06 |

| Launch MSRP | $384 | $479 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | false | true |

| Part Number | SA4QE | 100-000001084 |

| Cinebench R15 Multi-core | 2507 | 3647 |

| Cinebench R15 Single-core | 354 | 328 |

| Cinebench R23 Multi-core | 24880 | 23230 |

| Cinebench R23 Single-core | 3512 | 2080 |

| PassMark Data Compression | 339133 | 468017 |

| PassMark Data Encryption | 18385 | 22158 |

| PassMark Extended Instructions | 21806 | 38808 |

| PassMark Find Prime Numbers | 138 | 423 |

| PassMark Floating Point Math | 80870 | 79456 |

| PassMark Integer Math | 114158 | 116709 |

| PassMark Multi-thread | 29271 | 40009 |

| PassMark Physics | 1845 | 4083 |

| PassMark Random String Sorting | 32777 | 48526 |

| PassMark Single-thread | 3955 | 4430 |

| Average Benchmark Score | 40557 | 39768 |