AMD Ryzen 9 7900 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 and Intel Core Ultra 5 245 are both high-performance desktop processors that land within 0.5% of each other in average benchmark score, yet they achieve parity through radically different strengths. The data shows a clear split: the Ryzen 9 7900 dominates heavily threaded and integer-heavy workloads, winning 9 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons, while the Core Ultra 5 245 counterattacks with decisive victories in single-core and floating-point tests. Neither chip is a universal winner, making the choice entirely dependent on the specific application demands.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 is the undisputed champion of multi-threaded productivity and data manipulation. Its largest victory comes in PassMark integer math, where it scores 164,075 against Intel’s 91,187 — a commanding 79.9% lead. This advantage extends to data compression (577,847 vs 400,942, a 44.1% edge) and random string sorting (68,474 vs 49,140, a 39.3% lead). The Ryzen 9 also wins the PassMark multithread test with 48,347 points, a 24.9% margin over the Core Ultra 5’s 38,706. For workloads that hammer encryption, extended instruction sets, or prime number calculations, the AMD part holds an edge of 14.8%, 26.9%, and 4.1% respectively. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Ryzen 9 posts 4,020 versus 3,318 — a 21.2% win that reinforces its superiority in legacy multi-core rendering tasks.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 takes a different path to relevance, winning through raw single-core speed and floating-point throughput. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4,648 absolutely crushes the Ryzen 9’s 1,966, a staggering 57.7% advantage. The same pattern appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where Intel leads 468 to 315 (a 32.7% gap). The Core Ultra 5 also wins PassMark single-thread with 4,394 versus 4,130, a 6% edge. In floating-point math, the Intel chip scores 120,548 against 97,943 — an 18.8% victory. Interestingly, Intel also wins Cinebench R23 multicore with 32,924 versus 24,776 (a 24.7% lead), suggesting that its efficiency cores scale better in this particular modern rendering workload despite losing the older R15 multicore test. The data indicates Intel’s wins cluster around modern, latency-sensitive, and FPU-heavy tasks, while AMD’s wins span broader integer and legacy threaded workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors embody fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 uses the Zen 4 architecture on TSMC’s 5 nm process, packing 13,140 million transistors across a dual-chiplet design with a combined die size of 2x 71 mm². It features 12 cores and 24 threads with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The cache hierarchy is generous: 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3. This large L3 pool is a key factor in its data-compression and string-sorting victories. The chip is unlocked for overclocking and fits the AMD Socket AM5.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245, by contrast, uses the newer Arrow Lake architecture on TSMC’s 3 nm process, with 17,800 million transistors on a single 243 mm² die. It has 14 cores but only 14 threads — meaning no hyperthreading — with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. Its cache is structured differently: 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, but only 24 MB of shared L3. The much smaller L3 cache helps explain its losses in data-heavy integer tests. Intel’s chip also boasts higher memory bandwidth at 102.4 GB/s versus AMD’s 83.2 GB/s, and it carries a more powerful integrated GPU (Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU versus Radeon Graphics). Both support ECC memory and PCIe Gen 5, though AMD offers 24 CPU lanes versus Intel’s 20. Intel’s part is locked, while AMD’s is unlocked.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most extreme divergence in the benchmark data appears in Cinebench R23 single-core, where Intel’s 4,648 score is 57.7% higher than AMD’s 1,966. This is not a marginal difference; it suggests fundamentally different single-thread execution efficiency, likely stemming from the newer 3 nm process and higher per-core clock behavior in Intel’s design. The Cinebench R15 single-core result confirms the trend, with Intel leading 468 to 315 (32.7% ahead). However, AMD fights back in Cinebench R15 multicore, winning 4,020 to 3,318 (21.2% ahead), which highlights how the Ryzen 9’s 24 threads can dominate when the workload scales well with thread count in older rendering engines.

The Cinebench R23 multicore result is the biggest surprise, with Intel winning 32,924 to 24,776 (24.7% ahead). This reverses the R15 multicore outcome and suggests that Arrow Lake’s hybrid architecture (likely a mix of performance and efficiency cores, though core types are not specified in the data) scales more effectively in the newer Cinebench version. In PassMark integer math, AMD’s 79.9% lead (164,075 vs 91,187) is the single largest margin in any test, showcasing the benefit of 24 threads versus 14. The floating-point math test flips the script: Intel wins 120,548 to 97,943 (18.8% ahead), indicating superior FPU throughput per core. Data compression (AMD +44.1%) and random string sorting (AMD +39.3%) both heavily favor the Ryzen 9, while extended instructions (AMD +26.9%) and multithread (AMD +24.9%) round out AMD’s major wins. Intel’s single-thread victory in PassMark is modest at 6% (4,394 vs 4,130), showing that while Intel wins this category, it is not the blowout seen in Cinebench single-core tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better multi-core performance?

A: It depends on the benchmark. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 wins Cinebench R15 multicore (4,020 vs 3,318) and PassMark multithread (48,347 vs 38,706), but the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 wins Cinebench R23 multicore (32,924 vs 24,776). AMD leads in most PassMark threaded tests, while Intel wins in the modern Cinebench version.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 faster in single-core tasks?

A: Yes, decisively. Intel wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 57.7% (4,648 vs 1,966), Cinebench R15 single-core by 32.7% (468 vs 315), and PassMark single-thread by 6% (4,394 vs 4,130).

Q: Which CPU is better for data compression and encryption?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 is clearly superior. It wins data compression by 44.1% (577,847 vs 400,942) and data encryption by 14.8% (34,708 vs 30,236).

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 leads significantly, scoring 120,548 versus 97,943 in PassMark floating-point math, an 18.8% advantage.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 has 14 cores but only 14 threads (no hyperthreading).

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory and PCIe Gen 5?

A: Yes, both support ECC memory and PCIe Gen 5. However, AMD provides 24 CPU lanes while Intel provides 20.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 7900 | Intel Core Ultra 5 245 |

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

| Cores | 12 | 14 |

| Threads | 24 | 14 |

| Base Clock | 3.70 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.40 GHz | 5.10 GHz |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 3 nm |

| Transistors | 13,140 million | 17,800 million |

| Die Size | 2x 71 mm² | 243 mm² |

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

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 64 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | 102.4 GB/s |

| PCIe Lanes | 24 | 20 |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Graphics | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Release Date | 2023-01-13 | 2025-01-06 |

| Launch MSRP | $429 | $270 |

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for different user profiles. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 is the pick for anyone whose work is dominated by integer math, data compression, encryption, or legacy multi-threaded rendering. Its 79.9% lead in integer math and 44.1% lead in data compression are not small advantages — they represent transformative speedups for those specific tasks. The 24 threads and 64 MB of L3 cache make it a data-crunching monster, and the unlocked multiplier offers headroom for those who want to push further.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is the choice for single-thread-sensitive applications and modern rendering workloads. Its 57.7% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is extraordinary, and its 18.8% advantage in floating-point math makes it better suited for scientific computing and certain media encoders. The win in Cinebench R23 multicore (24.7% ahead) also suggests that modern, well-optimized renderers will favor Intel’s newer architecture.

The near-identical average benchmark scores (48,347 vs 38,706 in multithread, but 49,228 vs 48,995 overall) hide the fact that these chips are optimized for completely different workloads. If forced to choose based strictly on breadth of wins, AMD takes 9 of 15 head-to-head tests, but Intel’s wins are often by larger margins in their strongest categories. The final recommendation: choose the Ryzen 9 7900 for integer-heavy, high-thread-count, and data-processing workflows, and choose the Core Ultra 5 245 for single-core responsiveness, floating-point math, and modern Cinebench-style rendering.