AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT vs Intel Core Ultra 5 336H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive overall win for the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT, which takes 13 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H wins only 4. The margins, however, tell a more nuanced story about each processor's strengths.

The most lopsided result in the entire comparison is in PassMark integer math. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT scores 177,566 against 62,070 for the Intel part, a 186.1% advantage. This is the largest delta in the dataset and reflects the AMD processor's ability to sustain very high throughput on integer workloads. Data compression shows a similar trend, with the AMD winning 597,862 to 280,340, a 113.3% lead. Random string sorting also favors the AMD chip by 81.8%, with scores of 62,537 versus 34,402.

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent pattern. Across all six Cinebench tests, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT leads by exactly 55.8% in every single case. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the AMD scores 37,373 against 23,991 for the Intel. In R23 singlecore, the AMD scores 5,276 versus 3,387. The identical delta across R15, R20, and R23 in both single and multicore tests indicates a uniform scaling relationship between the two processors in these workloads.

PassMark data encryption favors the AMD by 77.6%, with scores of 37,814 and 21,291. Extended instructions show a 59.5% lead for AMD, 39,141 to 24,542. Floating point math is closer, with the AMD winning 99,398 to 82,415, a 20.6% margin. PassMark multithread shows the AMD ahead at 43,810 versus 28,545, a 53.5% difference.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H wins the remaining tests. PassMark single thread goes to Intel, 4,013 to 3,474, a 13.4% edge. PassMark physics shows Intel ahead by 36.1%, scoring 2,682 against 1,715. In PassMark find prime numbers, Intel wins 299 to 205, a 31.4% margin. These wins cluster around single-threaded execution and specialized math routines rather than broad multithreaded throughput.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has an average benchmark score of 50,718, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H averages 34,485. The AMD processor also sits at the 90th percentile of all CPUs in the database, compared to the 84th percentile for the Intel part.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H wins the PassMark single thread test, scoring 4,013 versus 3,474 for the AMD, a 13.4% advantage. However, in Cinebench R23 singlecore, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT scores 5,276 against 3,387 for the Intel part, a 55.8% lead. The two suites disagree on which is faster in single-threaded work.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark integer math, where the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT leads by 186.1%, scoring 177,566 versus 62,070 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H.

Q: Does the Intel processor win any tests?

A: Yes, the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H wins four tests: PassMark single thread (4,013 versus 3,474), PassMark physics (2,682 versus 1,715), PassMark find prime numbers (299 versus 205), and the duplicate PassMark singlethread entry with the same 13.4% delta.

Q: How does the AMD processor compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT averages 50,718, sitting 0.1% below the Intel Core i7-13850HX (50,761), 0.5% above the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 (50,448), 0.6% below the Intel Core i9-14900T (51,015), and 0.6% above the Intel Core i9-13980HX (50,398).

Q: How does the Intel processor compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H averages 34,485, which is 0.2% below the Intel Core i7-13700HX (34,554), 0.4% above the Intel Core i5-13450HX (34,333), 0.7% above the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X (34,260), and 0.8% above the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 (34,222).

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT uses the Zen 3 architecture under the Vermeer codename, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It is a desktop part in the 5000 series, released in 2024. The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H uses the Panther Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process at Intel, and is a mobile part in the Core Ultra Series 3, released in 2026.

Both processors have 16 cores, but thread counts differ. The AMD chip supports 32 threads via simultaneous multithreading, while the Intel chip has 16 threads with no SMT. This explains much of the multithreaded performance gap. The AMD processor runs at 3.30 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost, while the Intel part runs at 1.90 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost.

Cache structures differ substantially. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3. The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The AMD's larger L3 pool supports its multithreaded workloads, while the Intel's larger per-core L1 and L2 support its single-thread performance.

Memory support diverges by generation. The AMD part uses DDR4 with dual-channel memory and 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth, plus ECC support. The Intel part uses DDR5 and LPDDR5X with dual-channel memory and 115.2 GB/s of bandwidth, without ECC. The Intel processor has more than double the memory bandwidth, which helps in memory-intensive operations. PCIe support also differs: the AMD chip uses Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes, while the Intel chip uses Gen 5 with 12 CPU lanes.

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has no integrated graphics, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H includes Intel Xe3 Graphics. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part is locked. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket AM4, the Intel uses Intel BGA 2540. Transistor count and die size are recorded only for the AMD part: 8,300 million transistors across a 2x 74 mm² die. The Intel part has no recorded transistor count or die size. The AMD part launched with a launch MSRP of $349.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear split. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT is the stronger processor for multithreaded and throughput-heavy work. It wins the Cinebench multicore tests by 55.8% across R15, R20, and R23, and it dominates in integer math, data compression, random string sorting, data encryption, extended instructions, and floating point math. Its 32 threads and 64 MB of L3 cache give it a structural advantage in parallel workloads.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H is the better choice for single-threaded responsiveness and for tasks that stress the physics simulation or prime number finding routines in the PassMark suite. It also delivers significantly higher memory bandwidth at 115.2 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s, and it includes integrated graphics, which the AMD part lacks. Its 3 nm process node and 16 threads with higher per-core cache suggest a design tuned for efficiency and mobile operation.

The average benchmark score gap is substantial: 50,718 for the AMD versus 34,485 for the Intel. The AMD processor ranks at the 90th percentile of all CPUs, the Intel at the 84th. In the nearest rival comparisons, the AMD chip sits within 0.6% of three different high-end Intel HX and desktop parts, while the Intel chip sits within 0.8% of a mix of older HX mobile parts and desktop processors. The data indicates that the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT belongs in a higher performance tier overall, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H competes in a lower tier with a different set of trade-offs.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has 16 cores and 32 threads; the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H has 16 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 3.30 GHz for AMD and 1.90 GHz for Intel, with boost clocks of 4.80 GHz and 4.60 GHz respectively. TDP ratings diverge sharply: 105 watts for the AMD desktop part versus 25 watts for the Intel mobile part.

The AMD chip uses the Zen 3 architecture with the Vermeer codename, while the Intel chip uses Panther Lake. Process nodes are 7 nm (TSMC) for AMD and 3 nm (Intel) for the Intel part. The AMD processor has 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 64 MB L3, versus 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3 for the Intel chip.

Memory support: DDR4 for AMD versus DDR5 and LPDDR5X for Intel. Both use dual-channel memory, but bandwidth differs at 51.2 GB/s versus 115.2 GB/s. ECC is supported on the AMD part but not the Intel part. PCIe: Gen 4 with 20 lanes for AMD versus Gen 5 with 12 lanes for Intel. Integrated graphics: none for AMD, Intel Xe3 Graphics for Intel.

Sockets differ: AMD Socket AM4 versus Intel BGA 2540. The AMD multiplier is unlocked, the Intel multiplier is locked. Market segments are Desktop for AMD and Mobile for Intel. Release dates are 2024 for AMD and 2026 for Intel. The AMD part has a launch MSRP of $349; the Intel part has no recorded launch MSRP. The AMD part number is 100-000001581, the Intel part number is SA4RD.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT wins in every Cinebench test, with a uniform 55.8% margin across R15, R20, and R23 in both single and multicore modes. It also wins PassMark multithread by 53.5%, data compression by 113.3%, data encryption by 77.6%, extended instructions by 59.5%, floating point math by 20.6%, integer math by 186.1%, and random string sorting by 81.8%. These wins define the AMD part as the choice for rendering, compilation, data processing, encryption, and any workload that scales with thread count or large L3 cache.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H wins PassMark single thread by 13.4%, PassMark physics by 36.1%, and PassMark find prime numbers by 31.4%. The single-thread win suggests an advantage in lightly threaded applications and interactive responsiveness. The physics win points to strength in simulation workloads that follow the PassMark physics test pattern. The prime number result indicates a specialized math advantage in primality testing routines.

The data also shows the Intel part's memory bandwidth advantage, with 115.2 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s, which may benefit workloads that stream large datasets. The Intel part's integrated graphics capability is a functional advantage for systems that do not use a discrete GPU, though no graphics benchmarks are recorded in this dataset. The AMD part's 64 MB of L3 cache and 32 threads give it a structural edge in heavily parallel multithreaded scenarios, which the benchmark results confirm across the majority of tests.