AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225 Comparison

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 are both 65W desktop processors, but they deliver completely different performance profiles. The data shows the Intel part wins 13 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, while the AMD part wins 4. However, the wins are not distributed evenly across workload types. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 dominates in single-threaded, floating-point, and encryption tasks, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 shows clear superiority in integer math and certain multi-core rendering tests. The choice between them depends entirely on whether the workload favors Intel's newer architecture or AMD's higher thread count.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is the clear winner for single-threaded performance and workloads that rely on modern instruction sets. It wins all single-core benchmarks by a wide margin: 17.2% in Cinebench R15 single-core, 16.9% in Cinebench R23 single-core, and 28.2% in Passmark single-thread. It also dominates in floating-point math (76.6% ahead), extended instructions (28.6% ahead), and prime number finding (211.3% ahead). The Passmark physics test shows an even larger gap, with Intel leading by 111.2%. Data encryption also favors Intel by 12.5%. These results indicate the Core Ultra 5 225 is better suited for scientific computing, encryption, and any application that benefits from rapid single-thread execution.

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 wins in a narrower set of scenarios, but its victories are significant. It leads by 32.1% in both Cinebench R20 multi-core and single-core tests, which is unusual and suggests the R20 workload favors AMD's architecture. It also wins in integer math by 31.1% and in data compression by 3.7%. These wins point toward AMD being the better choice for integer-heavy calculations, compression workloads, and specific rendering engines that respond well to its Zen 3 design. The AMD part also has 16 threads versus Intel's 10, which helps in heavily parallelized integer tasks.

The remaining benchmarks, including Cinebench R15 multi-core, Cinebench R23 multi-core, and Passmark multi-thread, all go to Intel by 16.9%. This means Intel holds the edge in most multi-threaded scenarios despite having fewer threads, likely due to its newer core design and higher boost clock.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design eras. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is built on Arrow Lake-S, part of the Core Ultra Series 2, using a 3 nm process at TSMC. It has 10 cores and 10 threads, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 uses Zen 3 architecture (Vermeer) on a 7 nm process, also at TSMC. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Intel's process advantage is clear: a 3 nm node versus 7 nm, which contributes to its higher boost clock and lower power draw per core.

Cache configurations also differ significantly. Intel provides 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. AMD offers 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a larger 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger L3 on AMD helps in certain workloads, particularly those with large working sets, but Intel's larger per-core L2 may benefit latency-sensitive single-thread tasks.

Memory support is another major divergence. Intel uses DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. AMD uses DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and a much lower memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. Intel's platform also supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes, while AMD is limited to PCIe Gen 4 with the same 20 CPU lanes. Intel includes integrated graphics (Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU), while the AMD part has no integrated graphics. AMD does support ECC memory, which Intel does not. The Intel socket is Socket 1851, while AMD uses Socket AM4.

Transistor counts and die sizes reflect the process differences. Intel has 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while AMD has 4,150 million transistors on a 74 mm² die. The Intel chip is much larger and more complex, which aligns with its newer architecture and integrated graphics.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is in Cinebench R20, where AMD wins by 32.1% in both multi-core and single-core tests. This is a massive reversal from the R15 and R23 results, where Intel wins by 16.9% and 17.2% respectively. The data shows a clear workload-specific response: AMD's Zen 3 architecture is highly optimized for the R20 rendering engine, while Intel's Arrow Lake performs better in R15 and R23. Users running Cinebench R20 specifically should prefer the AMD part.

In Passmark tests, Intel wins 6 of 8 categories. The biggest win is in find prime numbers, where Intel scores 358 versus AMD's 115, a 211.3% advantage. Floating-point math also favors Intel heavily: 92,038 versus 52,105, a 76.6% lead. Physics shows a similar pattern: 2,342 versus 1,109, a 111.2% lead. Extended instructions go to Intel at 28.6% ahead, and single-thread performance is 28.2% better. Data encryption is closer, with Intel ahead by 12.5%.

AMD wins Passmark integer math by 31.1% (94,884 versus 65,345) and data compression by 3.7% (314,363 versus 302,811). Random string sorting goes to Intel by 8.4%. The Passmark multi-thread test favors Intel by 16.9%, consistent with the R23 multi-core result.

Overall, the Intel part has a higher average benchmark score of 36,938 compared to AMD's 35,802. Both processors sit at the 85th percentile of all CPUs in the database. Intel's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F with a delta of 0%, while AMD's nearest rival is the Intel Core 7 250H with a delta of 0.2%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-threaded tasks?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is faster in every single-thread benchmark. It leads by 17.2% in Cinebench R15, 16.9% in Cinebench R23, and 28.2% in Passmark single-thread tests.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 ever beat Intel?

A: Yes, AMD wins 4 benchmarks: Cinebench R20 multi-core and single-core (both by 32.1%), Passmark integer math (31.1% ahead), and Passmark data compression (3.7% ahead).

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: Intel has 10 cores and 10 threads. AMD has 8 cores and 16 threads. AMD's higher thread count helps in some parallel workloads, but Intel wins most multi-threaded tests despite having fewer threads.

Q: Which processor has better memory bandwidth?

A: Intel supports DDR5 with 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. AMD supports DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s. Intel's memory bandwidth is double that of AMD.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. AMD supports ECC memory, while Intel does not.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Intel includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU. AMD has no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is required.

Specification Differences

| Component | Intel Core Ultra 5 225 | AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 |

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

| Cores | 10 | 8 |

| Threads | 10 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.30 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.90 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| Process Node | 3 nm | 7 nm |

| Transistors | 17,800 million | 4,150 million |

| Die Size | 243 mm² | 74 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 192 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 3 MB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 20 MB (shared) | 32 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 102.4 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 20 Lanes | Gen 4, 20 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU | None |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1851 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Arrow Lake | Zen 3 (Vermeer) |

| Release Date | 2025-01-06 | 2022-04-03 |

| Launch MSRP | $246 | Not available |

The Verdict

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is the better overall processor for most users. It wins 13 of 17 benchmarks, including all single-thread tests, all floating-point tests, and the majority of multi-threaded tests. Its 3 nm process and DDR5 support give it a modern platform advantage, and its integrated graphics provide a fallback for systems without a discrete GPU. The 28.2% lead in Passmark single-thread and 76.6% lead in floating-point math make it the clear choice for general productivity, scientific computing, and everyday tasks.

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 is the better choice for specific workloads. Its 32.1% lead in Cinebench R20 indicates it is optimized for that particular rendering engine, and its 31.1% lead in integer math makes it attractive for integer-heavy applications like compression algorithms or certain database workloads. The 16 threads and 32 MB of L3 cache also benefit parallel integer tasks. Additionally, ECC memory support makes it suitable for error-sensitive environments like file servers or workstations where data integrity is critical.

Choose the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 for general performance, single-thread speed, and modern features. Choose the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 if your primary workloads are Cinebench R20, integer math, or require ECC memory support. The data shows no single winner across all scenarios, but Intel's broader dominance makes it the default recommendation for most desktop applications.