AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D vs Intel Core 7 150UL Comparison

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is the clear performance leader in this comparison. The database shows the AMD part sits at the 92nd percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 58386. The Intel Core 7 150UL sits at the 50th percentile with no recorded benchmark scores in the database, which means the Intel part cannot be compared directly on any measured workload. The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D targets desktop users who need high multi-threaded throughput, large cache capacity, and unlocked overclocking. The Intel Core 7 150UL is a low-power desktop chip with a 15 watt TDP, designed for systems where energy consumption takes priority over raw performance. The data indicates the AMD processor is the choice for demanding compute workloads, while the Intel part suits compact, power-sensitive desktop builds that still need integrated graphics with 96 execution units.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D uses the Zen 5 architecture on the Granite Ridge codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It packs 8 cores and 16 threads in a 70.6 mm² die with 8,315 million transistors. The Intel Core 7 150UL uses the older Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-PS codename, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It offers 10 cores and 12 threads, which means Intel provides more physical cores but fewer threads overall because of its hybrid efficiency-core arrangement.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The AMD part provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a massive 96 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part also has 80 KB of L1 per core, but its L2 is 1.25 MB per core, and its shared L3 cache is only 12 MB. That eightfold difference in L3 capacity is the single largest architectural gap between these two processors, and it directly impacts workloads that rely on data locality and repeated access to large datasets.

Clock speeds favor AMD decisively. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D has a 4.70 GHz base clock and a 5.60 GHz boost clock. The Core 7 150UL runs at a 1.70 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost. The Intel chip's low base clock reflects its 15 watt TDP, versus 120 watts for the AMD processor. The AMD part uses the AM5 socket with DDR5 memory support and a dual-channel memory bus delivering 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but the database lists no memory bandwidth figure. The AMD chip supports ECC memory; the Intel chip does not.

PCIe connectivity also diverges. AMD provides PCIe Gen 5 with 24 CPU lanes, while Intel provides PCIe Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes. For integrated graphics, the AMD chip includes Radeon Graphics, while the Intel chip has Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, the Intel part does not. The AMD chip launched on 2026-01-28 with a launch MSRP of $499. The Intel chip released on 2024-04-07 with no MSRP recorded in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark table in the database is empty, and the Intel Core 7 150UL has no recorded benchmark scores at all. This means a direct per-test comparison is impossible. However, the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has a full set of Cinebench and PassMark results that can be interpreted against its nearest rivals.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 22807. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 2228. The Cinebench R15 results show 3551 multi-core and 343 single-core. These scores place the Ryzen 7 9850X3D in strong standing among desktop processors.

PassMark results for the AMD part show a single-thread score of 4704 and a multi-thread score of 41318. The database also lists integer math at 123140, floating point math at 81998, and extended instructions at 39272. Data compression scores 474501, data encryption scores 22856, and random string sorting scores 49764. Prime number finding scores 435, and the physics test scores 4171.

The nearest rivals in the database for the AMD part are all high-end processors. The Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M has an average score of 58323, which is 0.1% behind the AMD chip. The Intel Xeon w5-2545 scores 58504, which is 0.2% ahead. The Intel Core i9-14900 scores 58115, which is 0.5% behind. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 scores 58826, which is 0.7% ahead. These delta percentages indicate the Ryzen 7 9850X3D sits in a tight competitive cluster where no rival exceeds a 0.7% margin in either direction. The average benchmark score of 58386 for the AMD part confirms it operates at the same performance tier as these established workstation and enthusiast chips.

The Intel Core 7 150UL has an average benchmark score of 0 in the database, which means no measured data exists for any workload. The percentile ranking of 50 places it at the midpoint of all CPUs, but without actual scores, that percentile likely reflects its specification-based classification rather than measured performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core 7 150UL has 10 cores, while the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has 8 cores. However, the AMD chip has 16 threads versus 12 threads for the Intel chip.

Q: How much L3 cache does each processor have?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has 96 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 7 150UL has 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has a 120 watt TDP. The Intel Core 7 150UL has a 15 watt TDP, which is an eightfold difference.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 7 150UL does not support ECC memory.

Q: What memory types does each support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D supports DDR5 only. The Intel Core 7 150UL supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: Does either processor have an unlocked multiplier?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Core 7 150UL does not have an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D wins in every measured category that the database records. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 22807 and single-core score of 2228 establish it as a high-performance desktop part. The PassMark single-thread score of 4704 and multi-thread score of 41318 reinforce that position. The 96 MB L3 cache provides a major advantage for workloads that repeatedly access large datasets, such as compression, encryption, and sorting tasks. The PassMark data compression score of 474501 and random string sorting score of 49764 indicate strong performance in memory-intensive operations. The 5.60 GHz boost clock and 4.70 GHz base clock give it a raw frequency advantage that shows in single-threaded responsiveness. The unlocked multiplier allows users to adjust clock speeds beyond stock settings, which the database confirms is not possible on the Intel part.

The Intel Core 7 150UL wins in power efficiency and platform flexibility. Its 15 watt TDP is dramatically lower than the AMD chip's 120 watts, making it suitable for systems with limited cooling or small power supplies. The support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory gives builders more options when selecting memory modules. The 10-core configuration provides more physical cores than the AMD chip, which can help in workloads that scale with core count rather than thread count. The Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units offers a more capable integrated graphics solution than the Radeon Graphics in the AMD chip, though the database does not provide benchmark scores to quantify that difference. The Intel part also supports PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes, which is sufficient for basic expansion needs, and its Intel Socket 1700 platform may be more familiar to existing Intel desktop users.

For a desktop build where maximum compute performance, large cache, and overclocking headroom are the priorities, the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is the only processor in this comparison with measured data to support those claims. For a low-power desktop system where energy consumption, memory flexibility, and integrated graphics capability matter more than raw benchmark scores, the Intel Core 7 150UL provides a specification-based alternative, though its actual performance remains unrecorded in the database.