AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data splits cleanly along workload type. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT wins 13 of 17 head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H takes 4. The AMD part dominates heavily threaded rendering and data processing tasks, while the Intel part shows strength in specific single-thread and physics workloads.

The Ryzen 9 5900XT builds its case around multi-core throughput. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 37373 against 16331 for the Intel chip, a 128.8% advantage. The same pattern appears in PassMark integer math, where the AMD part scores 177566 versus 64934, a 173.5% lead. Data compression also favors AMD heavily: 597862 versus 276539, a 116.2% gap. These results confirm the Ryzen chip as the choice for compute-heavy tasks that scale across cores.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins in four specific areas. PassMark single-thread shows 4180 against 3474, a 16.9% lead. PassMark physics shows 2697 versus 1715, a 36.4% advantage. PassMark find prime numbers shows 304 versus 205, a 32.6% lead. These wins point to workloads that favor higher per-core efficiency or specialized instruction handling rather than raw core count.

The overall average benchmark scores reflect this split. The Ryzen 9 5900XT averages 50718 across all tests, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H averages 33989. The AMD part sits at the 90th percentile of all CPUs, the Intel part at the 84th. The gap in average score is roughly 49.2%, which aligns with the multicore-heavy test suite.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT uses Zen 3 architecture on the Vermeer codename, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It packs 16 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The thermal design power is 105 watts. It uses the AMD Socket AM4 platform and supports DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The chip includes 64 MB of L3 cache, with 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core. It has 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes from the CPU and no integrated graphics. ECC memory is supported, the multiplier is unlocked, and the launch MSRP is $349.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses Panther Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process at Intel. It has 12 cores and 12 threads, meaning no hyperthreading. Base clock is 1.90 GHz, boost clock is 4.70 GHz. The thermal design power is 25 watts, reflecting a mobile-focused design. It uses Intel BGA 2540 and supports LPDDR5X memory over dual-channel with 136.5 GB/s bandwidth. Cache configuration differs substantially: 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3. PCIe support is Gen 5 with 4 CPU lanes. The chip includes integrated Arc B370 graphics and does not support ECC. The multiplier is locked.

The transistor count and die size are recorded for the AMD part (8,300 million transistors, 2x 74 mm² dies) but are not available for the Intel part. The Intel chip uses a fundamentally different process node, 3 nm versus 7 nm, which explains its lower power envelope. The memory bandwidth advantage goes to Intel at 136.5 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s, though the AMD part uses DDR4 rather than LPDDR5X.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split by intended use case. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT is the desktop workhorse. It wins every Cinebench test, often by massive margins. The 158.1% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core (5276 versus 2044) is particularly striking, as it shows the AMD part is not merely ahead in multi-threaded tests but also in per-thread rendering performance. For users running rendering, compilation, data processing, or any workload that uses many threads, the 5900XT delivers roughly double the performance in several key metrics.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H targets a different segment. Its 25 watt TDP, mobile socket, and integrated graphics mark it as a laptop-oriented part. The four wins it records are in PassMark single-thread, physics, and prime number finding. The single-thread lead of 16.9% (4180 versus 3474) shows that in lightly threaded applications, the Intel chip can outperform the AMD part despite having fewer cores. The physics win, 2697 versus 1715, suggests better handling of certain simulation workloads.

The average benchmark score gap of roughly 49.2% in favor of AMD is substantial, but it reflects a test suite weighted toward the AMD part's strengths. The Intel chip's wins in single-thread and physics mean that users with those specific needs would find the Ultra 5 338H competitive. The AMD part's nearest rivals in the database are Intel Core i7-13850HX (0.1% behind), AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 (0.5% ahead), Intel Core i9-14900T (0.6% behind), and Intel Core i9-13980HX (0.6% ahead). The Intel part's nearest rivals are Intel Core Ultra 7 165H (0.3% behind), Intel Core i7-12800HX (0.3% ahead), Intel Xeon 6353P (0.4% ahead), and AMD EPYC 4244P (0.7% behind).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads.

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

A: The largest delta appears in PassMark integer math, where the AMD part scores 177566 versus 64934, a 173.5% advantage. The second largest is Cinebench R23 single-core with a 158.1% lead (5276 versus 2044).

Q: Does the Intel chip win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes, it wins 4 tests: PassMark single-thread (4180 versus 3474, a 16.9% lead), PassMark physics (2697 versus 1715, a 36.4% lead), PassMark find prime numbers (304 versus 205, a 32.6% lead), and the duplicate PassMark single-thread test.

Q: What memory types do the two processors support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT supports DDR4. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H supports LPDDR5X. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the Intel part has higher memory bandwidth at 136.5 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H includes Arc B370 integrated graphics. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has no integrated graphics.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has an average benchmark score of 50718, placing it at the 90th percentile. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H averages 33989, placing it at the 84th percentile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows the largest AMD advantages. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the AMD part scores 37373 against 16331, a 128.8% delta. This is the single biggest margin in the Cinebench tests. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 5276 versus 2044, a 158.1% lead. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 15696 versus 10213, a 53.7% lead, and R20 single-core shows the same 53.7% delta with scores of 2215 and 1441. Cinebench R15 multicore shows 3767 versus 2504, a 50.4% lead, while R15 single-core shows 531 versus 305, a 74.1% lead.

PassMark tests reveal a broader pattern. Data compression shows 597862 versus 276539, a 116.2% lead. Data encryption shows 37814 versus 21367, a 77% lead. Extended instructions show 39141 versus 23906, a 63.7% lead. Floating point math shows 99398 versus 84067, an 18.2% lead. Integer math shows the largest gap at 173.5%. Multithread shows 43810 versus 28717, a 52.6% lead. Random string sorting shows 62537 versus 34082, an 83.5% lead.

The Intel wins are smaller in count but notable in specific areas. PassMark physics shows 2697 versus 1715, a 36.4% lead. PassMark find prime numbers shows 304 versus 205, a 32.6% lead. PassMark single-thread shows 4180 versus 3474, a 16.9% lead. The same single-thread score appears twice in the data, confirming consistency.

The overall win count is 13 for AMD and 4 for Intel. The average benchmark score for AMD is 50718, for Intel 33989. The percentile ranking places AMD at 90 and Intel at 84.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ across nearly every field. The AMD part uses 16 cores and 32 threads; the Intel part uses 12 cores and 12 threads. Base clock differs: 3.30 GHz for AMD versus 1.90 GHz for Intel. Boost clock is closer: 4.80 GHz versus 4.70 GHz. Thermal design power is 105 watts for AMD versus 25 watts for Intel.

Socket and platform differ completely. AMD uses Socket AM4, Intel uses BGA 2540. Architecture differs: Zen 3 (Vermeer) versus Panther Lake. Process node differs: 7 nm TSMC versus 3 nm Intel. Cache configurations diverge: AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 64 MB L3. Intel has 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3.

Memory support differs: DDR4 for AMD, LPDDR5X for Intel. Memory bandwidth is 51.2 GB/s for AMD and 136.5 GB/s for Intel. ECC support is present on AMD, absent on Intel. PCIe lanes differ: 20 Gen 4 lanes for AMD, 4 Gen 5 lanes for Intel. Integrated graphics exist only on Intel (Arc B370). The AMD multiplier is unlocked; the Intel multiplier is locked. Market segment differs: Desktop for AMD, Mobile for Intel. Release dates differ: 2024-07-30 for AMD, 2026-01-04 for Intel. The AMD part has a launch MSRP of $349; no launch MSRP is recorded for Intel.