AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D vs Intel Core i7-14650HX Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database shows a decisive overall win for the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D, which takes 13 of the 15 shared tests. The Intel Core i7-14650HX manages only two wins, and both are narrow. The most lopsided result is in PassMark's find prime numbers test, where the AMD part scores 435 against 152, a lead of 186.2%. That gap is far larger than anything else in the comparison, and it points to a major advantage in integer-heavy iterative workloads. The extended instructions test also heavily favors AMD, with a 62.6% margin (39272 vs 24150), indicating that the Ryzen processor handles advanced instruction sets much more efficiently.

Single-thread performance strongly favors the AMD chip. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the 9850X3D scores 343 versus 285.5, a 20.1% advantage. The Cinebench R23 single-core gap is 13.2% (2228 vs 1969). PassMark single-thread results show a 22.5% lead (4704 vs 3841). These numbers indicate that the Zen 5 architecture delivers a substantial per-core performance uplift over the Raptor Lake-HX part, which matters for lightly threaded tasks like everyday responsiveness and legacy software.

Multi-threaded results are also in AMD's favor, though the margins vary. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the 9850X3D at 22807 versus 20454 for the Intel part, an 11.5% advantage. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the lead shrinks to 2.3% (3551 vs 3470.5). PassMark multi-thread gives AMD a 23.4% edge (41318 vs 33495). The physics test in PassMark is another large win for AMD, with a score of 4171 versus 2202, a 89.4% delta. That result suggests the Ryzen chip handles rigid-body and physics simulation workloads with significantly more headroom.

The Intel i7-14650HX wins PassMark floating point math by 3.5% (84999 vs 81998). It also edges out the AMD chip in data encryption by 0.3% (22917 vs 22856). Neither victory is large, and the encryption margin is effectively a tie. AMD takes data compression by 19.1% (474501 vs 398418), random string sorting by 15.6% (49764 vs 43035), and integer math by 5.6% (123140 vs 116661). In the aggregate, the AMD part records an average benchmark score of 58386, placing it in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs. The Intel part averages 41576, which lands in the 88th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D uses Zen 5 architecture on the Granite Ridge codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core i7-14650HX uses Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-HX Refresh codename, on a 10 nm process at Intel. The manufacturing node difference is significant: the AMD chip uses 4 nm, while the Intel part is on 10 nm. That node gap helps explain why the AMD part achieves higher clock speeds at a lower core count.

Core counts differ sharply. The AMD chip has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel chip has 16 cores and 24 threads. Despite having half the cores, the AMD processor wins most multi-threaded tests, which indicates that its per-core efficiency and higher clocks compensate for the core count deficit. The base clock of the AMD part is 4.70 GHz, versus 2.20 GHz for the Intel chip. Boost clocks are closer: 5.60 GHz for AMD, 5.20 GHz for Intel.

Cache configurations also diverge. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache differs: AMD uses 1 MB per core, while Intel uses 2 MB per core. The L3 cache is where AMD pulls ahead dramatically, with 96 MB shared versus 30 MB shared for Intel. That large L3 pool is a hallmark of the X3D line and contributes to performance in cache-sensitive workloads. The AMD processor also has a smaller die size at 70.6 mm², compared to Intel's 257 mm². The transistor count for the AMD chip is 8,315 million; the Intel chip has no listed transistor count in the database.

Memory support differs as well. The AMD chip supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and a recorded bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but no bandwidth figure is recorded. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity favors AMD: Gen 5 with 24 CPU lanes versus Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes for Intel. The integrated graphics also differ, with AMD using Radeon Graphics and Intel using UHD Graphics 710.

The AMD part is a desktop processor on Socket AM5, while the Intel part is a mobile processor on BGA 1964. The TDP figures reflect that split: 120 W for the AMD chip, 55 W for the Intel chip. Both have unlocked multipliers. The AMD processor was released on 2026-01-28 and carries a launch MSRP of $499. The Intel part was released on 2024-01-07 and has no recorded launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D wins in nearly every category where the two chips share a benchmark. Its 186.2% lead in prime number finding makes it the clear pick for workloads dominated by modular arithmetic and tight integer loops. The 62.6% advantage in extended instructions suggests strong SIMD and vectorized performance, which benefits scientific computation, media encoding, and any code compiled with aggressive instruction set extensions. The 89.4% physics win indicates that simulation-heavy applications, including physics engines in creative software and game engines, run markedly better on the AMD chip.

The Intel Core i7-14650HX has a narrow 3.5% win in floating point math and a 0.3% win in data encryption. The floating point result is the more meaningful of the two, as it shows the Intel part can keep pace in numerically dense tasks like certain rendering and signal processing workloads. The encryption result is negligible in practice. Outside of those two tests, the Intel chip does not outperform the AMD part in any other recorded benchmark.

For single-threaded responsiveness, the AMD chip leads by 20.1% in Cinebench R15 and 22.5% in PassMark single-thread. For multi-threaded productivity, the AMD chip leads by 11.5% in Cinebench R23 and 23.4% in PassMark multi-thread. The Intel chip's higher core count does not translate into a win in any multi-threaded test, which undercuts the usual argument for choosing a 16-core part over an 8-core part. The data suggests that the AMD chip's higher clocks, larger L3 cache, and more efficient architecture overcome the core count disadvantage across the board.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D scores 2228, while the Intel Core i7-14650HX scores 1969. That is a 13.2% advantage for AMD.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any benchmark by a large margin?

A: No. The Intel chip's largest win is 3.5% in PassMark floating point math (84999 vs 81998). Its only other win is 0.3% in data encryption.

Q: How does the core count compare?

A: The AMD chip has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel chip has 16 cores and 24 threads.

Q: What is the L3 cache difference?

A: The AMD chip has 96 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has 30 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The Intel Core i7-14650HX supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D supports DDR5 only.

Q: What are the process nodes for each chip?

A: The AMD chip is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel chip is built on a 10 nm process at Intel.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear winner for most use cases. The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D wins 13 of 15 shared benchmarks, including every multi-threaded test except for two narrow Intel victories in floating point math and encryption. Its single-thread lead ranges from 13.2% to 22.5% depending on the test, and its multi-thread lead is as high as 23.4%. The 186.2% lead in prime number finding and the 62.6% lead in extended instructions make it the stronger choice for compute-heavy and instruction-dense workloads.

The Intel Core i7-14650HX does have one structural advantage: it is a mobile processor with a 55 W TDP, versus 120 W for the AMD desktop chip. That makes it suitable for platforms where power draw and cooling are constrained. Its 16 cores and 24 threads also give it a theoretical thread-count advantage, but the benchmark results show that advantage never materializes into a win. The Intel chip also supports DDR4 memory, which could matter for systems reusing existing memory, and it has a lower die size footprint in terms of process maturity, though the 257 mm² die is larger than AMD's 70.6 mm².

For a desktop builder prioritizing raw performance, the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is the pick based on the data. For a mobile or low-power system where the 55 W TDP and BGA 1964 socket fit the platform, the Intel Core i7-14650HX remains a capable option, but it trails in almost every measurable benchmark.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D | Intel Core i7-14650HX |

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

| Cores | 8 | 16 |

| Threads | 16 | 24 |

| Base Clock | 4.70 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.60 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| TDP | 120 W | 55 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel BGA 1964 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Raptor Lake |

| Codename | Granite Ridge | Raptor Lake-HX |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | 70.6 mm² | 257 mm² |

| Transistors | 8,315 million | Not listed |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 96 MB (shared) | 30 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | Not listed |

| ECC Memory | Yes | Yes |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Graphics | UHD Graphics 710 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2026-01-28 | 2024-01-07 |

| Launch MSRP | $499 | Not listed |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | Yes |

| Part Number | 100-000001973 | SRMXH |