AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX vs Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear split between the two processors across the PassMark test suite. The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX wins 3 of the 11 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus takes 8. The most decisive Intel victory occurs in floating point math, where the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 201,773 against the Ryzen 9 9850HX's 115,062, a 43% margin. This is the largest delta in either direction, and it dominates the rest of the field.

Intel also secures a substantial win in find prime numbers, scoring 519 versus 323, a 37.8% advantage. The data encryption test shows the Intel processor at 50,008 against AMD's 32,139, a 35.7% gap. These three results indicate that the Intel chip has a significant edge in workloads involving heavy mathematical computation and cryptographic operations.

The Ryzen 9 9850HX, however, posts narrower but consistent wins in integer math and extended instructions. In integer math, AMD scores 172,943 versus Intel's 164,839, a 4.9% advantage. The extended instructions test shows the same 4.9% delta, with AMD at 53,817 and Intel at 51,290. The data compression test is the closest result: AMD scores 662,381, Intel scores 658,724, and the margin is just 0.6%.

In multithread performance, the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus records 59,439 against AMD's 51,722, a 13% lead. The physics test shows Intel ahead by 9.8% (3,387 versus 3,054), and random string sorting favors Intel by 12.6% (80,327 versus 70,175). Single-thread performance also goes to Intel: 4,951 versus 4,461, a 9.9% advantage. The same 9.9% delta appears in the duplicate single-thread entry, confirming consistency in that measurement.

The average benchmark scores tell a different story. The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX has an average benchmark score of 106,413, placing it in the 97th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has an average score of 79,574, which lands in the 95th percentile. The gap comes largely from the fact that AMD's PassMark results include several tests where it is closer to Intel's performance, while Intel's Cinebench scores, which are not present in AMD's benchmark list, drag its average down. The nearest rivals for AMD include the Intel Xeon w7-3555 (average score 106,192, 0.2% behind AMD) and the Intel Xeon w7-2595X (average score 108,663, 2.1% ahead of AMD). The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus sits near the Intel Core i9-14900KF (average score 79,371, 0.3% behind Intel) and the Intel Core i9-14900K (average score 79,097, 0.6% behind Intel).

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX wins in integer math, extended instructions, and data compression. These are workloads that rely on efficient instruction handling and memory bandwidth. The 64 MB of L3 cache on the AMD chip likely contributes to its compression win, though the delta is slim. For users running code compilation, encryption key generation, or database queries that stress integer operations, the data shows AMD holding a modest but real edge.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus dominates in floating point math, prime number finding, and data encryption. The 43% margin in floating point is not a minor difference; it is a decisive advantage for scientific computing, simulation, and financial modeling. The prime number test, which measures integer throughput in a specific algorithmic pattern, also favors Intel by 37.8%. The encryption result suggests that Intel's implementation of AES or similar cryptographic instructions is markedly faster.

Multithread performance favors Intel across the board. The 13% lead in the multithread test, combined with wins in physics and random string sorting, indicate that the Intel chip scales better when all 24 threads are active. The AMD processor has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel has 24 cores and 24 threads, meaning Intel's physical core count gives it an advantage in parallel workloads without hyperthreading overhead.

Single-thread performance goes to Intel by 9.9%. This shows that the Intel architecture has a higher per-core performance ceiling, likely due to its 5.50 GHz boost clock versus AMD's 5.20 GHz. The Intel chip also has a larger L2 cache per core (3 MB versus 1 MB), which may explain its lead in latency-sensitive single-thread tasks.

The Verdict

The benchmark results indicate that the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is the stronger all-around performer for most compute-heavy tasks. It wins 8 of 11 head-to-head comparisons, including the most important ones for raw throughput: floating point math, multithread, and single-thread. The 43% margin in floating point is the single largest difference between the two processors, and it is a strong signal for anyone running scientific or engineering software.

The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX, however, holds a higher average benchmark score (106,413 versus 79,574) and a higher percentile ranking (97th versus 95th). This discrepancy is driven by the fact that AMD's benchmark set includes PassMark tests where it performs close to Intel, while Intel's set includes Cinebench scores that pull its average down. Users who rely on PassMark as a primary reference may see the AMD chip as the safer choice, but the head-to-head data shows that Intel wins more individual tests.

For data compression and integer-heavy workloads, the Ryzen 9 9850HX offers a narrow but real advantage. The 0.6% compression lead is statistically small, but the consistent 4.9% wins in integer math and extended instructions suggest that AMD's Zen 5 architecture handles general-purpose integer code slightly better. For floating point, encryption, and physics simulations, the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is the clear pick based on the data.

The verdict depends on workload. If the priority is maximum performance in multithreaded rendering, scientific computation, or encryption, the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is the better choice. If the priority is a balanced processor with a strong showing in integer tasks and data compression, the AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX is competitive, though it loses more tests than it wins.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 4,951 in the PassMark single-thread test, while the AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX scores 4,461, giving Intel a 9.9% lead.

Q: How large is the difference in floating point math performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 201,773 in floating point math, while the AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX scores 115,062, a 43% margin in favor of Intel.

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: What is the average benchmark score comparison?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX has an average benchmark score of 106,413, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus has an average score of 79,574. This places AMD in the 97th percentile and Intel in the 95th percentile.

Q: Does the AMD processor win any head-to-head tests?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX wins in data compression (662,381 versus 658,724), extended instructions (53,817 versus 51,290), and integer math (172,943 versus 164,839).

Q: What is the multithread performance difference?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 59,439 in the multithread test, while the AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX scores 51,722, giving Intel a 13% advantage.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX uses the Zen 5 architecture with the Fire Range codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus uses the Arrow Lake-HX Refresh codename, built on a 3 nm process, also at TSMC. The smaller process node gives Intel a manufacturing advantage in density, though the actual performance impact is visible in the benchmark data.

The AMD chip has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel chip has 24 cores and 24 threads. Intel's design uses physical cores without hyperthreading, while AMD uses simultaneous multithreading to reach 24 threads from 12 cores. The cache structures differ significantly. AMD provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3 cache. Intel provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The AMD L3 cache is nearly double Intel's, which may explain AMD's data compression win.

The transistor counts are close: AMD has 16,630 million transistors across a dual-die design of 2x 70.6 mm², while Intel has 17,800 million on a single 243 mm² die. The Intel die is larger and packs more transistors, but the AMD design uses two smaller chiplets. Memory support is DDR5 for both, with dual-channel buses. AMD has a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while Intel has 102.4 GB/s, giving Intel a 14% bandwidth advantage that likely contributes to its floating point and physics wins.

Both processors support ECC memory and have unlocked multipliers. AMD uses the Socket FL1, while Intel uses BGA 2114. The integrated graphics differ: AMD uses Radeon 610M, Intel uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. PCIe support also differs, with AMD offering Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only) and Intel offering Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only).

Specification Differences

The base clock differs: the AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX runs at 3.00 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus runs at 2.70 GHz. The boost clock favors Intel: 5.50 GHz versus 5.20 GHz. Both have a TDP of 55 watts.

The process node differs as noted: AMD uses 4 nm, Intel uses 3 nm. The release dates are also different, with AMD launching on 2025-01-05 and Intel on 2026-03-16. Both are mobile-segment processors with active production status.

The part numbers differ: AMD is 100-000001366, Intel is SADSS. The cache specifications show the most notable structural difference: AMD has 64 MB of L3 cache, Intel has 36 MB. AMD's L1 is 80 KB per core versus Intel's 192 KB per core, and AMD's L2 is 1 MB per core versus Intel's 3 MB per core. The memory bandwidth difference of 12.8 GB/s (102.4 versus 89.6) is the other key spec gap between these two mobile processors.