AMD Ryzen 9 3900 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive overall margin for the Intel Core Ultra 5 245, which wins 11 of the 13 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The AMD Ryzen 9 3900 manages only two wins, both in specific PassMark workloads. The average benchmark scores reflect this gap, with the Intel part at 48995 versus 47918 for the AMD chip, a difference of roughly 2.2%. Both processors sit at the 90th percentile among all CPUs in the database, so the competition is between two very capable desktop parts, but the Intel silicon consistently posts higher peak results.

The largest single-core gap appears in Cinebench R15. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 scores 468 against 197 for the AMD Ryzen 9 3900, a 137.6% advantage. That is an enormous difference in legacy single-threaded rendering, and it sets the tone for the rest of the comparison. In PassMark single-thread, the Intel part leads by 68.7%, scoring 4394 versus 2604. The same 4394 score appears in the PassMark singlethread entry, confirming the result. For any workload that depends on lightly threaded performance, the Intel chip is clearly the faster option.

Multi-threaded results also favor Intel, although by a smaller margin than the single-core tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 scores 3318 against 2804, a lead of 18.3%. PassMark multithread shows a 26.5% advantage, with 38706 versus 30586. The floating-point math test is another strong Intel result: 120548 versus 56730, a 112.5% lead. Extended instructions also lean heavily toward Intel, at 33304 versus 26073, a 27.7% gap. Prime number finding shows a 79.8% edge for Intel, with 365 versus 203, and the physics test follows at 58.9% ahead, 2569 versus 1617.

The AMD Ryzen 9 3900 takes its wins in integer-heavy PassMark tasks. Data compression goes to AMD by 3.1%, with 413887 versus 400942. Integer math also favors AMD by 6.7%, at 97698 versus 91187. These are not trivial workloads, but they are narrow wins compared to the margins Intel posts elsewhere. Random string sorting goes to Intel by 9.4%, at 49140 versus 44902, and data encryption favors Intel by 13.4%, at 30236 versus 26657. The pattern is consistent: AMD holds ground in integer and compression tasks, while Intel dominates floating-point, encryption, single-thread, and most multi-thread workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is the pick for single-threaded responsiveness. Its 137.6% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core and 68.7% lead in PassMark single-thread translate directly to snappier application behavior, faster spreadsheet recalculations, and better performance in lightly threaded legacy software. The floating-point math advantage of 112.5% suggests strong scientific and analytical compute capability. Encryption workloads also favor Intel by 13.4%, which matters for disk encryption and secure communications. The 79.8% lead in prime number finding points to strong integer throughput in specific algorithmic tasks, and the 58.9% physics advantage indicates good performance in simulation-style workloads.

For users who prioritize integer math and compression, the AMD Ryzen 9 3900 has a role. Its 6.7% win in PassMark integer math and 3.1% win in data compression show that certain data-processing pipelines still favor the older Zen 2 design. These are not negligible gaps, but they are small compared to the margins Intel posts in most other tests. The AMD part also offers 24 threads versus 14 for Intel, which may help in highly parallel workloads that scale beyond core counts, even if the recorded benchmarks do not show a consistent win there. PassMark multithread favors Intel by 26.5%, so the thread-count advantage does not translate into a benchmark victory.

The overall average benchmark score puts the Intel part ahead by about 2.2%, and the nearest rival data for the Intel chip includes the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 at a delta of -0.5%, meaning the Core Ultra 5 245 effectively trades blows with a higher-tier AMD part. The AMD Ryzen 9 3900 sits near the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D in the database, with a delta of 0%, so it remains competitive in its own generation, but the head-to-head data against the newer Intel chip is lopsided.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is built on Arrow Lake architecture, using a 3 nm process from TSMC. The AMD Ryzen 9 3900 uses Zen 2 architecture on a 7 nm process, also from TSMC. The process node difference is significant: the newer 3 nm node allows Intel to pack 17,800 million transistors into a 243 mm² die, while AMD fits 7,600 million transistors across 2x 74 mm² dies. That is a substantial transistor count advantage for Intel, and it shows in the benchmark results.

Cache organization differs sharply between the two. Intel uses a per-core L1 of 192 KB and per-core L2 of 3 MB, with 24 MB of shared L3. AMD uses 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and a much larger 64 MB L3 cache. The larger L3 on the AMD part may help in certain cache-sensitive workloads, but the recorded benchmarks do not show a consistent AMD advantage outside of integer math and compression.

Memory support also diverges. Intel supports DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. AMD supports DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. That is exactly double the theoretical memory bandwidth for Intel, which likely contributes to its strong floating-point and encryption results. Intel also supports ECC memory, while AMD does not. PCIe connectivity differs as well: Intel provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while AMD provides Gen 4 with 24 lanes. Intel includes integrated graphics, specifically Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units, while the AMD part has no integrated graphics at all. That means the Intel chip can drive a display without a discrete GPU, while the AMD chip requires one.

Specification Differences

The Core Ultra 5 245 has 14 cores and 14 threads, while the Ryzen 9 3900 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel part has no multithreading, while AMD uses simultaneous multithreading to double its thread count. Base clocks are 3.50 GHz for Intel versus 3.10 GHz for AMD, and boost clocks are 5.10 GHz versus 4.30 GHz. Both parts carry a 65 W TDP, so power envelopes are identical on paper.

The Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1851, while AMD uses AMD Socket AM4. The Intel part is not multiplier unlocked, while the AMD part is, so the AMD chip offers more overclocking flexibility for users who want to push beyond stock settings. Release dates differ by several years: Intel launched on 2025-01-06, while AMD launched on 2019-09-23. The launch MSRP for Intel is $270, and the launch MSRP for AMD is $499. The Intel part has a part number of SRVFE, while AMD lists 100-000000070. Both are desktop parts and both remain in active production.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-thread score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 leads by 68.7% in PassMark single-thread, scoring 4394 versus 2604 for the AMD Ryzen 9 3900. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Intel lead is 137.6%, at 468 versus 197.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 9 3900 win any benchmark at all?

A: Yes. The AMD part wins PassMark data compression by 3.1%, scoring 413887 versus 400942, and PassMark integer math by 6.7%, scoring 97698 versus 91187.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 has 14 cores and 14 threads. The AMD Ryzen 9 3900 has 12 cores and 24 threads. Despite fewer cores, Intel wins PassMark multithread by 26.5%, at 38706 versus 30586.

Q: Which processor supports faster memory?

A: Intel supports DDR5 with a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. AMD supports DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. Intel also supports ECC memory, while AMD does not.

Q: Is the AMD multiplier unlocked?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 9 3900 has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 does not.

Q: Do both processors have the same power draw?

A: Both are listed with a 65 W TDP, so the nominal power envelope is identical, even though the architectures and process nodes differ.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 for almost every use case. It wins 11 of 13 head-to-head comparisons, leads by double digits in single-thread, floating-point, encryption, physics, and multithread tests, and posts a higher average benchmark score. Its DDR5 memory support, integrated graphics, and smaller process node make it the more modern and flexible choice. The 3 nm process and 17,800 million transistors give it a clear architectural edge over the 7 nm Zen 2 design with 7,600 million transistors.

The AMD Ryzen 9 3900 still makes sense for specific integer-heavy workloads. Its wins in data compression and integer math are real, and its 24 threads offer parallel capacity that the Intel part cannot match on paper. The unlocked multiplier is an advantage for overclockers, and the larger 64 MB L3 cache may help in cache-sensitive applications. But the benchmark record does not show those advantages translating into broad performance wins. For a builder choosing between these two today, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is the stronger performer in the majority of recorded workloads, with a lower launch MSRP and a newer feature set. The AMD part remains a viable option for integer-focused tasks, but the overall average score of 47918 versus 48995 tells the story: Intel is ahead, and the gap is consistent across most tests.