AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX and Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus occupy different corners of the market, yet their benchmark results show a surprisingly close contest. The Intel part wins 6 of the 11 head-to-head tests, while the AMD part takes 5. The margin of victory, however, tells a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX delivers its most decisive victory in integer math, scoring 172,943 against Intel's 125,091, a 38.3% advantage. This is the largest delta in either direction across all recorded tests. The AMD chip also leads in data compression, posting 662,381 versus 568,721, a 16.5% edge. Extended instructions favor AMD by 20.8%, with scores of 53,817 against 44,565.

The remaining AMD wins are narrow. In multithread performance, the Ryzen 9 9850HX edges ahead with 51,722 versus 51,596, a margin of just 0.2%. Random string sorting goes to AMD by 1.6%, with scores of 70,175 and 69,090. These two results place the chips nearly on top of each other in overall throughput.

Intel's response comes in floating point math and prime number finding. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 162,692 in floating point math, a 29.3% lead over AMD's 115,062. In find prime numbers, Intel posts 486 against 323, a 33.5% advantage. Data encryption also goes Intel's way, 42,144 versus 32,139, a 23.7% gap. Intel additionally wins physics (3,494 vs 3,054, a 12.6% edge) and single-thread performance (4,757 vs 4,461, a 6.2% lead).

The single-thread result matters for real-world responsiveness. Intel's 4,757 score places it ahead of AMD's 4,461, and that difference appears consistently across both recorded single-thread test entries. The multithread scores being nearly identical (0.2% apart) suggests the two processors deliver equivalent overall parallel performance despite very different core configurations.

Architecture Differences

The Ryzen 9 9850HX uses Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, codenamed Fire Range. It packs 12 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The chip contains 16,630 million transistors across a dual-die design with each die measuring 70.6 mm². Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3. Memory support covers DDR5 on a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe connectivity reaches Gen 5 with 28 lanes from the CPU. The integrated Radeon 610M GPU handles graphics duties.

The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, codenamed Arrow Lake Refresh, on a 3 nm TSMC process. It offers 18 cores but only 18 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. Base clock sits at 4.20 GHz, boosting to 5.30 GHz. The chip has 17,800 million transistors on a monolithic 243 mm² die. Cache differs substantially: 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. Memory bandwidth reaches 115.2 GB/s on dual-channel DDR5. PCIe Gen 5 support provides 20 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics are Arc Xe-LPG with 64 execution units.

The socket difference is absolute: AMD Socket FL1 for the Ryzen part versus Intel Socket 1851 for the Core Ultra. Both support ECC memory and both have unlocked multipliers. The AMD chip targets the mobile segment, while the Intel part is a desktop processor. Release dates also differ, with AMD launching in January 2025 and Intel in March 2026.

Where Each One Wins

The data points to clear strengths for each chip. The Ryzen 9 9850HX dominates in integer-heavy workloads. The 38.3% lead in integer math and 20.8% lead in extended instructions indicate strong general-purpose compute. Data compression at 16.5% ahead reinforces this pattern. Tasks involving data processing, sorting, and encryption-adjacent operations that rely on integer throughput will favor the AMD part. The 64 MB L3 cache likely contributes to its compression advantage.

The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus excels in floating point operations and prime number calculations. The 29.3% floating point lead and 33.5% prime number lead suggest strong mathematical throughput. Physics simulation, a common gaming and scientific workload, goes to Intel by 12.6%. Single-thread performance also favors Intel by 6.2%, which benefits lightly threaded applications and general responsiveness. Data encryption shows Intel ahead by 23.7%, a notable win for security-related tasks.

For multithreaded workloads, the two chips tie within measurement noise. The 0.2% difference in the multithread test means neither offers a practical advantage in heavily parallel tasks. The AMD chip achieves parity with 12 cores and 24 threads, while Intel does so with 18 cores and 18 threads, suggesting higher per-thread efficiency on the Intel side.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 4,757 in the single-thread test, compared to 4,461 for the AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX, a 6.2% advantage for Intel.

Q: How do the two compare in multithread performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX scores 51,722 versus 51,596 for the Intel part, a difference of 0.2%. This is effectively a tie.

Q: What is the core and thread configuration difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads, with no hyperthreading.

Q: Which chip has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX has 64 MB of L3 cache, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 30 MB of shared L3.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX has a TDP of 55, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a TDP of 125.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX and Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus support ECC memory.

Specification Differences

The table of differences shows why these chips behave so differently.

• Cores: AMD has 12, Intel has 18.
• Threads: AMD has 24, Intel has 18.
• Base clock: AMD runs at 3.00 GHz, Intel at 4.20 GHz.
• Boost clock: AMD reaches 5.20 GHz, Intel reaches 5.30 GHz.
• TDP: AMD draws 55, Intel draws 125.
• Socket: AMD uses Socket FL1, Intel uses Socket 1851.
• Process node: AMD uses 4 nm, Intel uses 3 nm.
• Transistors: AMD has 16,630 million, Intel has 17,800 million.
• Die size: AMD uses 2x 70.6 mm², Intel uses 243 mm².
• L1 cache: AMD has 80 KB per core, Intel has 192 KB per core.
• L2 cache: AMD has 1 MB per core, Intel has 3 MB per core.
• L3 cache: AMD has 64 MB, Intel has 30 MB shared.
• Memory bandwidth: AMD has 89.6 GB/s, Intel has 115.2 GB/s.
• PCIe lanes: AMD has 28 Gen 5 lanes, Intel has 20 Gen 5 lanes.
• Integrated graphics: AMD uses Radeon 610M, Intel uses Arc Xe-LPG 64EU.
• Market segment: AMD is mobile, Intel is desktop.
• Release date: AMD launched January 5, 2025, Intel launched March 10, 2026.

The Verdict

The benchmark data shows two processors with different strengths that largely cancel out in overall multithread performance. The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX should be the choice for integer-heavy computing, data compression tasks, and workloads that benefit from its 64 MB L3 cache. Its 55 TDP also makes it suitable for mobile systems where power draw matters.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus appeals to users prioritizing floating point math, prime number calculations, physics simulation, and single-thread responsiveness. Its 6.2% single-thread lead and 12.6% physics advantage make it the stronger pick for lightly threaded applications and simulation work. The 125 TDP indicates a desktop-oriented design with more thermal headroom.

The multithread tie means neither chip dominates in rendering or encoding workloads. The AMD part achieves this with fewer cores but more threads, while Intel relies on higher clocks and more physical cores. The 0.2% multithread delta is meaningless in practice. The 38.3% integer math gap, however, is substantial and will show up in relevant applications.

The recorded data positions the AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX at the 97th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 106,413. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus sits at the 93rd percentile, averaging 66,855. The nearest rivals for each confirm their respective tiers: AMD sits among high-end Xeon and EPYC parts, while Intel compares closely with its own Ultra 9 275HX and the 250KF Plus variant. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus carries a launch MSRP of $199.