AMD Ryzen 9 270 vs Intel Core Ultra 9 386H Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two mobile processors into clearly different competence zones. The AMD Ryzen 9 270 takes 5 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H claims 12. That raw count favors Intel, but the distribution matters more than the total.

AMD's wins cluster in single-threaded rendering and integer-heavy workloads. The Ryzen 9 270 dominates Cinebench R23 single-core with a 80.2% lead over the Intel part, and it also wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 28.7%. Those are the most modern rendering workloads in the dataset, which suggests the AMD architecture handles the latest Cinebench iteration particularly well. The AMD chip also takes PassMark integer math with a 12.6% advantage and random string sorting with a narrow 1.6% margin.

Intel's wins are broader and more numerous. The Core Ultra 9 386H dominates Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core tests, taking 17.3% and 13.4% leads respectively. It also wins Cinebench R20 single-core by 13.4%. The PassMark suite heavily favors Intel in floating point math (44.6% lead), prime number finding (74.2% lead), physics (54.9% lead), and data encryption (23.2% lead). Intel also edges out AMD in data compression by a razor-thin 0.3%, extended instructions by 8.3%, multithread overall by 17.8%, and single-thread by 10.3%.

The pattern suggests a workload-dependent split. For legacy Cinebench versions and math-heavy simulation tasks, Intel holds a commanding position. For the newest Cinebench release and integer-focused operations, AMD counters strongly. The average benchmark scores reflect this mixed picture: AMD sits at 40246 with an 87th percentile ranking, while Intel reaches 43210 with an 88th percentile ranking. Despite Intel's higher average, both processors occupy nearly the same position in the overall CPU distribution.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from fundamentally different design philosophies. AMD uses Zen 4 architecture on TSMC's 4 nm process, with the Hawk Point codename and a 178 mm² die containing 25,000 million transistors. Intel uses Panther Lake architecture on its own 3 nm process, with the Panther Lake codename and no transistor or die size data recorded.

Core configuration differs sharply. The AMD Ryzen 9 270 packs 8 cores and 16 threads, relying on simultaneous multithreading. The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H has 16 cores but also 16 threads, meaning no hyperthreading. Intel compensates with raw core count, doubling AMD's core tally while sacrificing SMT. The clock speeds reflect this: AMD runs at 4.00 GHz base and 5.20 GHz boost, while Intel runs at 2.10 GHz base and 4.90 GHz boost. AMD's higher clocks, especially the 5.20 GHz boost, help explain its single-core victories.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. AMD allocates 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Intel allocates 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. Intel's larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, combined with the higher core count, likely contribute to its strong showing in floating point and physics workloads. AMD's smaller cache per core but higher clock speeds favor latency-sensitive single-threaded tasks.

Thermal design power tells a contrasting story. AMD lists a 45 W TDP, while Intel lists 25 W. The Intel chip delivers its broad benchmark advantage at nearly half the thermal envelope, a significant efficiency indicator. Both use dual-channel memory, but Intel supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X at 115.2 GB/s bandwidth, while AMD supports DDR5 at 89.6 GB/s. PCIe generations also differ: AMD uses Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes, Intel uses Gen 5 with 12 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics differ as well, with AMD featuring Radeon 780M and Intel featuring Xe3 Graphics.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest margin in the entire dataset belongs to AMD in Cinebench R23 single-core. The Ryzen 9 270 scores 3732 against Intel's 2071.5, an 80.2% advantage. This is the clearest signal in the comparison: for single-threaded rendering in the newest Cinebench, AMD is in a different class. The R23 multi-core test also goes AMD's way, 26438 versus 20547, a 28.7% margin that flips the multi-core narrative established by older Cinebench versions.

Intel's biggest win comes in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core Ultra 9 386H scores 341 against AMD's 88, a 74.2% lead. This is an enormous gap in a pure computational workload. Intel also dominates PassMark physics with 3028 versus 1365, a 54.9% lead, and floating point math with 108527 versus 60122, a 44.6% lead. These three tests form a cluster where Intel's 16-core design without SMT appears to excel at parallel math operations.

The older Cinebench versions favor Intel consistently. In R15 multi-core, Intel scores 3223 against AMD's 2664, a 17.3% lead. In R20 multi-core, Intel scores 12820 against 11103, a 13.4% lead. Even R20 single-core goes Intel's way, 1809 versus 1567, another 13.4% margin. This contrast with R23 results raises questions about workload evolution and how each architecture responds to different rendering instructions.

PassMark single-thread and multithread tests both favor Intel by 10.3% and 17.8% respectively. Data encryption shows Intel ahead by 23.2%, while extended instructions favor Intel by 8.3%. AMD's remaining wins are integer math (98266 versus 87284, a 12.6% lead) and random string sorting (42819 versus 42135, a 1.6% lead). Data compression is essentially a tie, with Intel ahead by only 0.3% (352365 versus 351398).

The Verdict

The recorded data paints a nuanced picture with no universal winner. Intel's Core Ultra 9 386H wins more tests overall and holds a higher average benchmark score of 43210 compared to AMD's 40246. Its 16 cores, larger caches, 3 nm process, and 25 W TDP deliver broad strength across PassMark workloads and older Cinebench versions. For users prioritizing floating point math, physics simulation, encryption, or prime number computation, the data clearly favors Intel.

AMD's Ryzen 9 270 counters with decisive victories in the newest Cinebench release. The 80.2% single-core lead in R23 and 28.7% multi-core lead in R23 suggest that modern rendering workloads respond strongly to AMD's higher 5.20 GHz boost clock and Zen 4 architecture. The 45 W TDP is higher, but the performance per clock in R23 is exceptional. For integer math and string sorting, AMD also holds the edge, though by smaller margins.

The percentile rankings show both chips sitting at nearly the same level: AMD at 87, Intel at 88. The nearest rivals reinforce this parity. AMD's closest competitor is the Intel Core i9-13905H at a 0.2% higher average score, while Intel's closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 at a 0.3% higher average score. Both chips compete in the same performance tier despite their architectural differences.

Workload selection should drive the choice. The data supports Intel for math-heavy, physics-driven, or encryption-focused tasks, especially given the lower 25 W TDP. The data supports AMD for the latest Cinebench rendering workloads and integer processing, accepting the higher 45 W TDP. Neither chip dominates the other across the full benchmark suite.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H has an average benchmark score of 43210, compared to the AMD Ryzen 9 270's 40246.

Q: How large is AMD's single-core advantage in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 270 scores 3732 against Intel's 2071.5, a 80.2% lead in the Cinebench R23 single-core test.

Q: What is the core and thread configuration of each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 270 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 9 386H has 16 cores and 16 threads, meaning no SMT.

Q: Which processor has the higher TDP?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 270 has a 45 W TDP, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H has a 25 W TDP.

Q: How do the two chips compare in PassMark floating point math?

A: Intel leads significantly with a score of 108527 against AMD's 60122, a 44.6% advantage.

Q: What memory bandwidth does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 270 supports 89.6 GB/s, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H supports 115.2 GB/s.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 270 | Intel Core Ultra 9 386H |

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

| Cores | 8 | 16 |

| Threads | 16 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 4.00 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.20 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 25 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP8 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Panther Lake |

| Codename | Hawk Point | Panther Lake |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 25,000 million | Not recorded |

| Die Size | 178 mm² | Not recorded |

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

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 115.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 12 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 780M | Intel Xe3 Graphics |

| Release Date | 2025-01-05 | 2026-01-04 |