AMD Ryzen 9 270 vs AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data compares the AMD Ryzen 9 270 and the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 across eleven Passmark benchmark tests. The Ryzen 9 270 wins nine of those tests, while the P164 wins two. The margin of victory varies widely between workloads, from a narrow 7.2% lead in data compression to a decisive 29.9% gap in data encryption.

The largest single win for the Ryzen 9 270 comes in data encryption, where it scores 20852 against the P164's 16055, a 29.9% advantage. This is followed closely by random string sorting, where the Ryzen 9 270 delivers 42819 versus 34801, a 23% lead. Prime number finding shows a 23.9% edge (88 against 71), and integer math shows an 11.7% advantage (98266 versus 87940). The Ryzen 9 270 also leads in multithreaded performance with a 12.4% margin (29089 against 25889), and in physics calculations with a 12.8% difference (1365 versus 1210). Extended instructions see a 10.5% advantage (26729 against 24193), while floating-point math and data compression show smaller but consistent leads of 7.7% (60122 versus 55799) and 7.2% (351398 versus 327891) respectively.

The P164's only wins come in single-threaded tests. Both the passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread entries record the same scores: 4029 for the P164 against 3784 for the Ryzen 9 270, a 6.1% advantage. This is the sole area where the P164 demonstrates superiority, and it does so consistently across both identical test entries.

Looking at the aggregate scores, the P164 holds a higher average benchmark score of 52901 compared to the Ryzen 9 270's 40246. This places the P164 in the 91st percentile among all CPUs, while the Ryzen 9 270 sits in the 87th percentile. The nearest rivals for the Ryzen 9 270 include the Intel Core i9-13905H at 40313 (-0.2% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 at 40081 (+0.4% delta). The P164's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 9500F at 52873 (+0.1% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X at 53288 (-0.7% delta). Notably, the P164's average score places it in company with desktop-class parts, while the Ryzen 9 270's average sits among mobile-class competitors.

The discrepancy between the head-to-head results and the average benchmark scores deserves attention. The Ryzen 9 270 wins nine of eleven direct comparisons, yet the P164 has a substantially higher average score. This suggests the P164's performance profile is more balanced across the full suite of tests used to compute the average, while the Ryzen 9 270 may excel in the specific workloads captured by the head-to-head list but lag in others. The data does not specify which additional tests contribute to the average, but the observed pattern indicates that the P164's single-thread advantage and possibly other uncaptured strengths lift its overall standing.

The Verdict

The benchmark results indicate a clear split in strengths. The AMD Ryzen 9 270 is the superior part for multi-threaded and compute-heavy tasks. It wins every multithreaded test in the head-to-head set, with margins ranging from 7.2% to 29.9%. Its 8 cores and 16 threads, paired with a 5.20 GHz boost clock, deliver strong parallel performance across data compression, encryption, integer math, floating-point math, and physics simulations.

The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164, despite having the same core and thread count, takes the single-thread crown. Its 4029 score in single-threaded tests beats the Ryzen 9 270's 3784 by 6.1%. This advantage, combined with its higher average benchmark score of 52901 and 91st percentile ranking, positions it as the better choice for workloads that rely on per-core performance or that benefit from the higher overall average across a diverse test suite.

The data suggests the P164 is not simply a weaker version of the Ryzen 9 270. It has a different performance profile, one that favors single-threaded responsiveness while sacrificing some multithreaded throughput. The Ryzen 9 270, by contrast, is a dedicated multithreaded workhorse that gives up some single-thread performance in exchange for broad parallel strength.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 9 270 wins in all parallel compute scenarios. Data encryption shows its largest margin at 29.9%, indicating strong cryptographic workload performance. Prime number finding follows at 23.9%, and random string sorting at 23%. These are tasks that scale well with multiple threads and benefit from the Ryzen 9 270's higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz and larger L3 cache of 16 MB. Multithreaded benchmarks such as passmark_multithread (12.4% lead) and physics (12.8% lead) confirm its suitability for rendering, simulation, and encoding workloads.

The P164 wins exclusively in single-threaded tests. Its 6.1% advantage in passmark_single_thread indicates better per-core efficiency, likely due to the newer Zen 5 architecture used in the Gorgon Point design. This makes it the preferable option for lightly threaded applications, legacy software, or any workload where a single core's speed is the limiting factor. Its higher average benchmark score also suggests it may perform better in tasks not covered by the head-to-head list, although the specific tests are not identified in the data.

For users prioritizing parallel throughput, the Ryzen 9 270 is the clear choice. For users who need maximum single-thread responsiveness or who value the higher overall average score, the P164 offers a distinct advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 270 boosts up to 5.20 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 boosts up to 5.00 GHz.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in data encryption, where the Ryzen 9 270 scores 20852 against the P164's 16055, a 29.9% advantage.

Q: Does the P164 win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes, the P164 wins both single-threaded tests (passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread) with a score of 4029 versus 3784, a 6.1% lead.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The P164 has an average benchmark score of 52901, while the Ryzen 9 270 has an average of 40246. The P164 ranks in the 91st percentile, compared to the Ryzen 9 270's 87th percentile.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What memory types does each CPU support?

A: The Ryzen 9 270 supports DDR5 only, while the P164 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X.

Architecture Differences

The two processors use different architectures and codenames. The AMD Ryzen 9 270 is based on Zen 4 and carries the codename Hawk Point, belonging to the Ryzen 9 generation. The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 uses a hybrid design with Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores, under the codename Gorgon Point, and belongs to the Ryzen AI Embedded generation.

The process node is identical at 4 nm, fabricated by TSMC. However, the die size differs: the Ryzen 9 270 measures 178 mm² with 25,000 million transistors, while the P164 measures 233 mm² with transistor count not recorded in the data. The P164's larger die likely reflects the more complex Zen 5 / Zen 5c hybrid architecture.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Ryzen 9 270 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The P164 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, but only 8 MB of L3 cache. The Ryzen 9 270's double L3 capacity likely contributes to its strong multithreaded performance in data-heavy workloads.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The Ryzen 9 270 uses a Radeon 780M, while the P164 uses a Radeon 880M. The P164 also supports ECC memory, which the Ryzen 9 270 does not. Both use the AMD Socket FP8 and have dual-channel memory buses with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth.

The P164's PCIe configuration provides 16 Gen 4 lanes (CPU only), while the Ryzen 9 270 provides 20 Gen 4 lanes. This gives the Ryzen 9 270 more expansion headroom for connectivity.

Specification Differences

The base clocks differ substantially. The Ryzen 9 270 runs at 4.00 GHz base, while the P164 runs at 2.00 GHz base. Boost clocks are closer: 5.20 GHz for the Ryzen 9 270 versus 5.00 GHz for the P164. The thermal design power also differs, with the Ryzen 9 270 rated at 45 W and the P164 rated at 28 W.

The L1 cache per core is larger on the P164 (80 KB versus 64 KB), while the L3 cache is larger on the Ryzen 9 270 (16 MB versus 8 MB). L2 cache is identical at 1 MB per core.

Memory support shows the P164 is more flexible, accepting both DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while the Ryzen 9 270 supports only DDR5. ECC memory is supported on the P164 but not on the Ryzen 9 270.

PCIe lane counts differ: 20 lanes for the Ryzen 9 270 versus 16 lanes for the P164, both at Gen 4. The integrated graphics are different models: Radeon 780M for the Ryzen 9 270 and Radeon 880M for the P164.

The release dates are recorded separately: the Ryzen 9 270 released on January 5, 2025, while the P164 released on March 8, 2026. Neither part has a recorded launch MSRP in the database. Both are listed as active production parts with locked multipliers, and both target the mobile market segment.

The part numbers differ: the Ryzen 9 270 has part number 100-000001836, while the P164's part number is listed as unknown.