AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D vs Intel Core i7-14700HX Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data splits this comparison cleanly by workload type. The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D wins 10 of the 15 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel Core i7-14700HX takes 5. The AMD part leads in single-threaded performance, physics simulation, extended instruction throughput, and prime number finding, while the Intel part counters in multithreaded rendering, data encryption, floating point math, and integer math.

For users prioritizing per-core responsiveness, scientific calculation, or workloads that lean on the 96 MB shared L3 cache, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D is the stronger pick. For users running heavily threaded render jobs or encryption-heavy tasks, the Core i7-14700HX shows measurable advantages. The database places the AMD chip at the 92nd percentile among all CPUs, versus the 89th percentile for the Intel chip, and the average benchmark score of 58386 for the AMD part is substantially above the 45953 average for the Intel part.

The Core i7-14700HX is a mobile part with a 55 TDP and a BGA socket, so it is not a drop-in alternative to the desktop AM5 processor. The comparison is useful for understanding architectural trade-offs, not for choosing between two installable options in the same machine.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D dominates in single-core and physics-bound tests. In Cinebench R15 single-core it scores 343 against 296, a 15.9% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core it scores 2228 against 2103, a 5.9% lead. PassMark single-thread shows 4704 against 3947, a 19.2% margin. The physics test is an outlier in the other direction: 4171 against 2252, an 85.2% advantage for AMD. Prime number finding shows 435 against 165, a 163.6% lead, which suggests extremely strong integer throughput per thread or cache behavior that favors this workload.

The Intel Core i7-14700HX wins in multithreaded Cinebench tests and in math-heavy PassMark suites. Cinebench R15 multicore goes to Intel at 3812 versus 3551, a 6.8% lead. Cinebench R23 multicore goes to Intel at 24595 versus 22807, a 7.3% lead. PassMark floating point math favors Intel at 93836 versus 81998, a 12.6% advantage, and integer math favors Intel at 131296 versus 123140, a 6.2% margin. Data encryption also goes Intel's way at 26092 versus 22856, a 12.4% lead.

The AMD part wins in data compression at 474501 versus 438539, an 8.2% margin, and in multithread at 41318 versus 36566, a 13% margin. Random string sorting is close, with AMD ahead at 49764 versus 48544, a 2.5% difference.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is built on Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename, fabricated on TSMC's 4 nm process. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, a base clock of 4.70 GHz, and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The die size is 70.6 mm² with 8,315 million transistors. Cache configuration includes 80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 96 MB shared L3. It uses a dual-channel DDR5 memory bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth and supports ECC memory. PCIe is Gen 5 with 24 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics are Radeon Graphics. It is a desktop part on AMD Socket AM5 with a 120 TDP.

The Intel Core i7-14700HX uses Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-HX codename, fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process. It has 20 cores and 28 threads, a base clock of 2.10 GHz, and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The die size is 257 mm². Cache configuration includes 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 33 MB shared L3. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus, and it also supports ECC memory. PCIe is Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770. It is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1964 with a 55 TDP.

The core count difference is stark: 20 cores and 28 threads on the Intel side versus 8 cores and 16 threads on the AMD side. The AMD part compensates with a much higher base clock (4.70 versus 2.10 GHz), a larger shared L3 (96 MB versus 33 MB), and a smaller, denser process node. The Intel part has a larger L2 per core (2 MB versus 1 MB) and a larger die (257 mm² versus 70.6 mm²), which reflects the different transistor budgets and manufacturing approaches.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D boosts to 5.60 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-14700HX boosts to 5.50 GHz. The difference is 0.10 GHz.

Q: Which processor supports more PCIe lanes?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D provides 24 Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel Core i7-14700HX provides 16 Gen 5 lanes.

Q: How much larger is the L3 cache on the AMD part?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has 96 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i7-14700HX has 33 MB. That is a 63 MB difference.

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D records an average benchmark score of 58386, compared to 45953 for the Intel Core i7-14700HX.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and the Intel Core i7-14700HX support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700HX wins Cinebench R23 multicore with a score of 24595 versus 22807 for the AMD part, a 7.3% lead.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single benchmark margin in the entire comparison belongs to the AMD part in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 435 against 165, a 163.6% advantage. That result is far outside the range of typical CPU deltas and points to a workload that heavily favors the AMD architecture, likely due to the combination of high base clock and large L3 cache.

The second-largest margin is in PassMark physics, with AMD at 4171 versus 2252, an 85.2% lead. This test measures simulation and rigid-body physics, and the data shows a decisive AMD win. PassMark extended instructions also goes strongly to AMD: 39272 versus 25718, a 52.7% advantage, which indicates better throughput on advanced instruction sets.

On the Intel side, the largest wins are in floating point math and data encryption. Floating point math shows 93836 versus 81998, a 12.6% margin. Data encryption shows 26092 versus 22856, a 12.4% margin. These two results are the clearest evidence of Intel's strength in multi-threaded math and cryptographic workloads, likely helped by its 20-core configuration.

The multithreaded Cinebench results favor Intel by smaller margins: 6.8% in R15 and 7.3% in R23. The single-core Cinebench results favor AMD by 15.9% in R15 and 5.9% in R23. PassMark single-thread favors AMD by 19.2%.

In data compression, AMD leads by 8.2% (474501 versus 438539). In PassMark multithread, AMD leads by 13% (41318 versus 36566). Random string sorting is the closest result, with AMD ahead by 2.5% (49764 versus 48544).

The overall win count is 10 for AMD and 5 for Intel. The AMD part also holds a higher percentile rank (92 versus 89) and a higher average benchmark score (58386 versus 45953). The Intel part's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7303 and AMD EPYC 4364P, both with a 0% delta, while the AMD part sits between the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M and the Intel Xeon w5-2545, with deltas of 0.1% and -0.2% respectively.

Specification Differences

| Field | AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D | Intel Core i7-14700HX |

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

| Cores | 8 | 20 |

| Threads | 16 | 28 |

| Base clock | 4.70 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.60 GHz | 5.50 GHz |

| TDP | 120 | 55 |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel BGA 1964 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Raptor Lake |

| Codename | Granite Ridge | Raptor Lake-HX |

| Process node | 4 nm (TSMC) | 10 nm (Intel) |

| Die size | 70.6 mm² | 257 mm² |

| Transistors | 8,315 million | Not recorded |

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

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

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | Not recorded |

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

| Integrated graphics | Radeon Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Market segment | Desktop | Mobile |

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

| Launch MSRP | $499 | Not recorded |

| Part number | 100-000001973 | SRMXG |

The specification table shows the fundamental positioning difference. The AMD part is a desktop chip with a high base clock and a massive L3 cache, built for low-latency access to frequently used data. The Intel part is a mobile chip with more cores but a much lower base clock, relying on its core count to win multithreaded workloads. The process node difference (4 nm versus 10 nm) explains the transistor density gap, and the die size difference (70.6 mm² versus 257 mm²) reflects both the node and the divergent design goals.