AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D vs Intel Core 7 250H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive sweep. Across all 15 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D wins every single test. The Intel Core 7 250H does not take a single victory in any measured workload. This is not a close contest; it is a one-sided margin that appears in both single-threaded and multi-threaded tests.

The largest single gap appears in the PassMark find prime numbers test. The AMD part scores 435, while the Intel part scores 106. That is a 310.4% advantage for the Ryzen 7 9850X3D. This test is heavily dependent on integer arithmetic and cache behavior, and the 96 MB shared L3 cache on the AMD part likely explains much of the margin. The Intel Core 7 250H has only 24 MB of shared L3, so the difference in cache capacity is extreme.

In multi-threaded rendering, the Cinebench R23 multicore test shows the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D at 22807 points against 16561 for the Intel Core 7 250H. That is a 37.7% lead. The Cinebench R15 multicore test shows a smaller but still clear gap: 3551 versus 3147, a 12.8% margin. The R23 test stresses sustained all-core loads for longer periods, and the data indicates the AMD part sustains its advantage better under that extended load.

Single-core performance also favors AMD. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D scores 2228 against 1931 for the Intel part, a 15.4% win. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the margin is 15.1% (343 versus 298). PassMark single-thread shows 4704 versus 4148, a 13.4% advantage. The AMD part’s boost clock is 5.60 GHz versus 5.40 GHz for Intel, but the larger single-core lead suggests architectural efficiency matters more than the small clock difference.

In the PassMark multithread test, the AMD part scores 41318 against 27030, a 52.9% lead. The Intel Core 7 250H has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has only 8 cores and 16 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD part wins by over half. This points to the Zen 5 architecture’s per-core throughput being substantially higher than Raptor Lake’s per-core throughput.

The extended instructions test shows a 126.8% lead for AMD (39272 versus 17318). This test measures SIMD and vectorized workloads, and the gap is enormous. The floating-point math test shows a 26% lead (81998 versus 65094). Integer math shows a 24.3% lead (123140 versus 99100). Data compression shows a 56.5% lead (474501 versus 303269). Data encryption shows a 25.5% lead (22856 versus 18206). Random string sorting shows a 45.8% lead (49764 versus 34136). Physics simulation in PassMark shows a 128.7% lead (4171 versus 1824).

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D wins in every single recorded benchmark category. There is no workload in the database where the Intel Core 7 250H comes out ahead. The AMD part dominates in single-threaded tasks, multi-threaded rendering, integer math, floating-point math, encryption, compression, physics simulation, and SIMD-heavy extended instruction workloads.

The Intel Core 7 250H does not win any of the 15 head-to-head comparisons. Its only relative strengths, if they can be called that, appear in the smaller-margin tests. The Cinebench R15 multicore margin of 12.8% is the closest the Intel part gets to the AMD part. Similarly, the PassMark single-thread margin of 13.4% is the second-closest result. These are still decisive losses, but they indicate that in short-duration single-core bursts, the Intel part is less far behind than in longer all-core loads.

For use-case analysis, the data suggests the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is the clear choice for any compute-heavy desktop workload. The 96 MB shared L3 cache likely drives the massive 310.4% lead in prime number finding and the 126.8% lead in extended instructions. The Intel part, with its 24 MB L3 and 10 nm process, cannot match these cache-sensitive results.

The Intel Core 7 250H is a mobile processor with a 45 W TDP, while the AMD part is a desktop processor with a 120 W TDP. The power envelope difference is huge, and that explains part of the performance gap. The Intel part is designed for laptops where thermals and battery life matter. The AMD part is designed for desktop systems with adequate cooling. In a mobile context, the Intel part’s lower power draw is a practical advantage, but the benchmark data does not include any power efficiency metrics. The recorded scores only show raw performance, and in every raw performance test, AMD wins.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D scores 22807 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the Intel Core 7 250H scores 16561. The AMD part leads by 37.7%.

Q: Does the Intel Core 7 250H win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The database records 15 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, and the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D wins all 15. The Intel part has zero wins.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is in the PassMark find prime numbers test. The AMD part scores 435, the Intel part scores 106, giving AMD a 310.4% advantage.

Q: How do the core counts differ and does that affect the results?

A: The Intel Core 7 250H has 14 cores and 20 threads. The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has 8 cores and 16 threads. Despite fewer cores, the AMD part wins the PassMark multithread test by 52.9% (41318 versus 27030).

Q: What are the boost clock speeds for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The Intel Core 7 250H has a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The AMD part is 0.20 GHz higher.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has 96 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 7 250H has 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has four times the L3 capacity.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification. The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is a desktop processor on AMD Socket AM5. The Intel Core 7 250H is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1744. The AMD part has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel part has 14 cores and 20 threads. The AMD base clock is 4.70 GHz, while the Intel base clock is 2.50 GHz. The AMD boost clock is 5.60 GHz, while the Intel boost clock is 5.40 GHz.

The TDP differs significantly. The AMD part has a 120 W TDP. The Intel part has a 45 W TDP. This reflects their different market segments: desktop versus mobile. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking. The Intel part has a locked multiplier.

Memory support differs. The AMD part supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, with dual-channel memory, but no recorded memory bandwidth in the database. ECC memory is supported on the AMD part but not on the Intel part.

PCIe lanes differ. The AMD part has Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only). The Intel part has Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ: the AMD part uses Radeon Graphics, while the Intel part uses Iris Xe Graphics 96EU.

The launch MSRP differs slightly. The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has a launch MSRP of $499. The Intel Core 7 250H has a launch MSRP of $502. That is a $3 difference. The release dates differ: the AMD part released on 2026-01-28, while the Intel part released on 2024-12-17.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D uses the Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename. It is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC, with 8,315 million transistors and a die size of 70.6 mm². The Intel Core 7 250H uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-H codename. It is built on a 10 nm process at Intel, with no transistor count or die size recorded in the database.

The cache hierarchy differs substantially. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The AMD part has 1 MB of L2 cache per core, while the Intel part has 2 MB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache is the major difference: the AMD part has 96 MB shared, while the Intel part has 24 MB shared. This 72 MB difference is the single largest architectural gap between the two.

The process node difference is also significant. The AMD part uses 4 nm TSMC fabrication, while the Intel part uses 10 nm Intel fabrication. This gives the AMD part a denser transistor layout and likely contributes to its higher clock speeds at a higher TDP. The AMD part’s base clock of 4.70 GHz is nearly double the Intel part’s 2.50 GHz base clock, which is a direct result of the process advantage and desktop power budget.

The Intel part uses a hybrid architecture typical of Raptor Lake, with performance and efficiency cores, though the database does not specify the exact core mix. The AMD part uses a uniform set of Zen 5 cores. The Intel part’s L2 cache is 2 MB per core, which is double the AMD part’s 1 MB per core, but the AMD part’s massive L3 cache more than compensates in the benchmark results.

The AMD part supports ECC memory, which is a feature for workstation reliability. The Intel part does not. The AMD part has more PCIe lanes (24 versus 8), which matters for desktop expansion. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, which gives laptop manufacturers more memory flexibility, but the AMD part’s DDR5-only support pairs with its higher memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D wins every recorded comparison against the Intel Core 7 250H. The AMD part has a higher average benchmark score of 58386, placing it in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel part has an average benchmark score of 35728, placing it in the 85th percentile. The absolute difference in average score is 22658 points, which is a 63.4% higher score for the AMD part.

The nearest rivals for the AMD part include the Intel Core i9-14900 with an average score of 58115 and a delta of 0.5%, and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 with an average score of 58826 and a delta of -0.7%. The nearest rivals for the Intel part include the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 with a delta of 0% and the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H with a delta of 0.2%. These rival positions show that the AMD part competes at a much higher performance tier than the Intel part.

The choice between these two processors depends entirely on the intended system. The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is a desktop processor with a 120 W TDP, an unlocked multiplier, and a 96 MB L3 cache. It is built for AM5 motherboards with DDR5 memory and 24 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. It is the clear choice for any desktop workload where raw performance matters: rendering, simulation, encryption, compression, or physics. The data shows it outperforms the Intel part in every single test, often by margins of 25% or more.

The Intel Core 7 250H is a mobile processor with a 45 W TDP, a locked multiplier, and a 24 MB L3 cache. It is designed for laptops with BGA 1744 sockets. Its 14 cores and 20 threads provide more parallelism on paper, but the benchmark results show that the AMD part’s 8 cores and 16 threads deliver far higher actual throughput. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, which gives system integrators more memory options, and it has Iris Xe Graphics 96EU, which is a more capable integrated GPU than the AMD Radeon Graphics, though the database does not include GPU benchmark comparisons.

Users who need a desktop processor with maximum multi-threaded performance should pick the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D. The data confirms it leads by 37.7% in Cinebench R23 multicore and by 52.9% in PassMark multithread. Users who need a mobile processor with lower power consumption for a laptop should consider the Intel Core 7 250H, but they should be aware that its performance is substantially lower in every recorded test. The AMD part is the performance winner without exception, and the Intel part’s only advantages are its mobile form factor, lower TDP, and broader memory compatibility.