AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D vs Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and the Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus is heavily lopsided, with the Intel part taking 13 of 15 head-to-head tests. The AMD processor claims only 2 wins, but those wins are concentrated in specific workload types that reveal its design priorities.

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D wins in PassMark integer math, scoring 123,140 against 122,449 for Intel, a margin of 0.6%. It also wins in PassMark physics with 4,171 versus 3,843, a larger advantage of 8.5%. These two victories point toward integer-heavy computation and physics simulation as areas where the AMD architecture holds an edge, despite losing most other tests by wide margins.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus dominates the remaining categories, often by substantial double-digit percentages. Its biggest wins come in multi-threaded rendering workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 41,913 against AMD's 22,807, a 45.6% difference. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a similar pattern: 4,224 versus 3,551, a 15.9% gap. Single-core performance is even more skewed. Cinebench R23 single-core sees Intel at 5,917 versus AMD's 2,228, a 62.3% delta, while Cinebench R15 single-core shows 596 versus 343, a 42.4% difference.

The Intel processor also excels in floating-point math, scoring 163,567 against AMD's 81,998, a 49.9% advantage. Data encryption favors Intel at 37,813 versus 22,856, a 39.6% gap. Random string sorting goes to Intel with 60,020 versus 49,764, a 17.1% lead. Multi-threaded throughput in PassMark shows Intel at 48,270 versus 41,318, a 14.4% edge. Data compression is closer, with Intel at 493,179 versus 474,501, a 3.8% margin. Even the near-tie in extended instructions (39,283 versus 39,272, a 0.0% delta) technically goes to Intel, as does the single-thread test (4,764 versus 4,704, a 1.3% edge) and prime number finding (482 versus 435, a 9.8% lead).

In short, the Intel chip wins nearly everywhere except integer math and physics, and the magnitude of its wins in rendering and floating-point workloads dwarfs the AMD chip's narrow victories.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is a desktop part built for Socket AM5, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus is a mobile chip on BGA 2114. This market segment difference shapes everything else.

AMD uses 8 cores and 16 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge, part of the 9000 series. The process node is 4 nm at TSMC, with 8,315 million transistors on a 70.6 mm² die. The Intel chip uses the Arrow Lake-HX Refresh codename from Core Ultra Series 2, with 20 cores and 20 threads (no hyperthreading appears to be active, given equal core and thread counts). It is built on a 3 nm TSMC process with 17,800 million transistors and a 243 mm² die. The Intel part is roughly twice the die size with more than double the transistor count.

Cache configurations differ sharply. The AMD processor carries 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 96 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, but only 30 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip's 96 MB L3 is three times the Intel chip's 30 MB, which likely explains its physics win despite lower raw throughput elsewhere.

Clock speeds also separate the two. AMD lists a 4.70 GHz base clock and 5.60 GHz boost clock. Intel lists a 2.40 GHz base and 5.30 GHz boost. The AMD part runs at a higher base frequency by a large margin, yet the Intel chip achieves higher single-core scores in Cinebench, suggesting architectural efficiency differences beyond raw clocks.

Power and memory further distinguish them. The AMD processor has a 120 W TDP with dual-channel DDR5 and 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth. The Intel chip has a 55 W TDP, dual-channel DDR5, and 102.4 GB/s bandwidth, which is about 14% higher despite lower power. AMD supports ECC memory; Intel does not. AMD offers 24 PCIe Gen 5 lanes (CPU only); Intel provides 20 Gen 5 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ as well: AMD uses Radeon Graphics, while Intel uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 EUs. AMD's processor has a launch MSRP of $499; Intel's has no recorded launch MSRP.

Both processors have unlocked multipliers, but their sockets and market segments mean they are not interchangeable. The AMD part is a desktop enthusiast option with a high TDP and massive L3 cache. The Intel part is a mobile processor with a low TDP, high core count, and smaller cache but faster memory bandwidth.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 5,917 versus 2,228 for the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D. That is a 62.3% advantage, the most extreme gap in the entire comparison. This result indicates that for lightly threaded tasks such as typical application responsiveness or legacy software, the Intel chip has a commanding lead.

Cinebench R23 multi-core shows Intel at 41,913 versus 22,807, a 45.6% gap. The Intel chip nearly doubles the AMD score in this heavily threaded rendering test. Cinebench R15 multi-core is closer but still firmly Intel: 4,224 versus 3,551, a 15.9% lead. Cinebench R15 single-core favors Intel at 596 versus 343, a 42.4% margin.

PassMark floating-point math delivers the second-largest gap at 49.9%, with Intel scoring 163,567 against 81,998. This test exercises vector and floating-point pipelines, and the Intel part's advantage here is nearly identical to its multi-core Cinebench lead. Data encryption shows a 39.6% gap (37,813 versus 22,856), and random string sorting a 17.1% gap (60,020 versus 49,764). Multi-thread PassMark has Intel at 48,270 versus 41,318, a 14.4% edge. Prime number finding favors Intel by 9.8% (482 versus 435). Data compression is a modest 3.8% Intel win (493,179 versus 474,501). The single-thread PassMark test gives Intel 4,764 versus 4,704, a 1.3% margin. Extended instructions are effectively tied at 39,283 versus 39,272, a 0.0% delta.

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D takes PassMark physics with 4,171 versus 3,843, an 8.5% win. This test likely benefits from the AMD chip's 96 MB L3 cache, which reduces memory latency for physics calculations. The AMD part also wins PassMark integer math at 123,140 versus 122,449, a narrow 0.6% margin. These two wins are small in absolute terms compared to Intel's blowout victories, but they show that the AMD chip is not universally slower.

Across all recorded benchmarks, the Intel part leads in 13 tests and the AMD part in 2. The average benchmark scores reflect this: Intel sits at 61,834, AMD at 58,386. In percentile terms, Intel ranks at the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, AMD at the 92nd. The Intel chip's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core i9-13900KF (delta 0.0%), Core i9-13900K (+0.1%), Core i9-13900T (+0.2%), and Xeon 636 (+0.8%). The AMD chip's nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M (+0.1%), Xeon w5-2545 (-0.2%), Core i9-14900 (+0.5%), and AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 (-0.7%).

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus for most workloads. Its 13 wins include every Cinebench test, every PassMark floating-point test, and the majority of general-purpose integer tasks. The 62.3% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and the 45.6% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core are decisive. Anyone running rendering, video encoding, or other floating-point-heavy applications should prefer the Intel part based on these measurements.

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D retains a narrow but real advantage in integer math and a more substantial 8.5% win in physics. Its 96 MB L3 cache and higher base clock (4.70 GHz versus 2.40 GHz) likely contribute to these results. For software that depends on integer processing or physics simulation, the AMD chip is the better choice despite losing most other tests.

The market segments reinforce this split. The AMD part is a desktop processor with a 120 W TDP and a $499 launch MSRP, aimed at systems where power draw is less constrained. The Intel part is a mobile processor with a 55 W TDP, suggesting it is designed for laptops where efficiency matters. The Intel chip achieves higher average benchmark scores (61,834 versus 58,386) while consuming less than half the TDP, which is a notable efficiency result.

The choice depends on the use case. For desktop users prioritizing physics performance and integer throughput, the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D delivers those specific wins. For mobile users or anyone needing broad multi-threaded and single-threaded speed, the Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus wins nearly every category, often by wide margins. The 92nd versus 93rd percentile ranking shows both are high-end parts, but the Intel chip sits slightly higher in the overall distribution.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus has 20 cores and 20 threads. The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the biggest benchmark gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Intel chip scores 5,917 versus 2,228 for AMD, a 62.3% difference.

Q: Does the AMD chip win any tests?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D wins PassMark integer math (123,140 versus 122,449, a 0.6% margin) and PassMark physics (4,171 versus 3,843, an 8.5% margin).

Q: How do their cache sizes compare?

A: The AMD chip has 96 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel chip has 30 MB of shared L3. The AMD part also uses 80 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core; the Intel part uses 192 KB L1 and 3 MB L2 per core.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has a 120 W TDP. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus has a 55 W TDP.

Q: Which chip has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus has 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth. The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has 89.6 GB/s, a difference of about 14% in favor of Intel.