AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX vs Intel Core Ultra X7 368H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive sweep in the head-to-head PassMark suite. The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX wins all 11 shared benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H, with the largest margins appearing in heavily parallel workloads.

The biggest single win comes in data compression, where AMD scores 662381 against Intel's 312927, a 111.7% advantage. That more than doubles the Intel part's output. Extended instructions follow closely, with AMD at 53817 versus 25669, a 109.7% lead. The Ryzen also dominates integer math at 172943 against 88083, a 96.3% delta, and random string sorting at 70175 versus 38093, an 84.2% edge.

Multithreaded performance tells a similar story. The AMD chip records 51722 in the PassMark multithread test, while the Intel chip manages 32956, a 56.9% advantage. This aligns with the core and thread configuration differences visible elsewhere in the database, as the AMD part carries 24 threads against the Intel part's 16.

Not every margin is enormous. The find prime numbers test is nearly a tie, with AMD at 323 and Intel at 321, a 0.6% difference. Physics also stays close, AMD at 3054 versus 2857, a 6.9% gap. Floating point math is closer than integer math, AMD at 115062 against 105681, an 8.9% lead. Still, these smaller margins do not change the overall result.

Single-thread performance also favors AMD, though by a moderate amount. The Ryzen 9 9850HX scores 4461 in both the passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread entries, while the Core Ultra X7 368H scores 4005 in both, an 11.4% difference. Data encryption shows a 27.4% lead for AMD, 32139 versus 25228.

The average benchmark score reinforces the gap. AMD's average sits at 106413, while Intel's average is 40518. In percentile terms, AMD ranks at the 97th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while Intel ranks at the 87th percentile. The nearest rival comparisons also differ sharply: AMD's closest competitor, the Intel Xeon w7-3555, scores 106192, just 0.2% behind, while Intel's closest rival, the Intel Core 7 253PE, scores 40557, only 0.1% behind the Core Ultra X7.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark comparisons in the database?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX wins all 11 shared head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Intel Core Ultra X7 368H does not win any of the 11.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multithreaded workloads?

A: The AMD chip scores 51722 in PassMark multithread, compared to 32956 for Intel, giving AMD a 56.9% advantage. In integer math, AMD leads 172943 to 88083, a 96.3% margin.

Q: Is single-thread performance also in AMD's favor?

A: Yes. AMD scores 4461 in the single-thread test, while Intel scores 4005, an 11.4% lead for AMD.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the two processors are nearly equal?

A: The find prime numbers test is very close, with AMD at 323 and Intel at 321, only a 0.6% difference. The physics test is also relatively tight at 6.9%, AMD at 3054 versus 2857.

Q: How do the two processors rank among all CPUs in the database?

A: AMD sits at the 97th percentile, with an average benchmark score of 106413. Intel sits at the 87th percentile, with an average benchmark score of 40518.

Q: What are the closest rival scores for each processor?

A: For AMD, the Intel Xeon w7-3555 is closest at 106192, just 0.2% behind. For Intel, the Intel Core 7 253PE is closest at 40557, only 0.1% behind.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. AMD uses the Zen 5 architecture under the Fire Range codename, part of the 9000 series generation. Intel uses the Panther Lake architecture, specifically the Panther Lake-H variant under the Core Ultra Series 3 generation.

The manufacturing processes differ. AMD builds the Ryzen 9 9850HX on a 4 nm node at TSMC, with 16,630 million transistors spread across a 2x 70.6 mm² die arrangement. Intel builds the Core Ultra X7 368H on a 3 nm node at Intel's own foundry. The database does not record transistor count or die size for the Intel part.

Cache layouts diverge significantly. AMD provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. Intel provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The per-core L1 and L2 figures favor Intel, but the total L3 pool heavily favors AMD.

The core counts also differ. AMD uses 12 cores with 24 threads, indicating simultaneous multithreading. Intel uses 16 cores with 16 threads, meaning no hyperthreading on this part. Clock strategy differs as well: AMD starts at a 3.00 GHz base clock and boosts to 5.20 GHz, while Intel starts at 2.00 GHz and boosts to 5.00 GHz. The AMD chip has a higher boost ceiling, and its base clock is a full 1.00 GHz higher.

Power characteristics point to different design targets. AMD has a TDP of 55, while Intel has a TDP of 25. The Intel part is configured for a lower power envelope, which likely explains part of the performance gap in sustained workloads.

Memory architecture differs on several fronts. AMD supports DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. Intel supports LPDDR5X, also dual-channel, but with 153.6 GB/s of bandwidth, a substantially higher figure. AMD includes ECC memory support; Intel does not.

PCIe lane allocation also separates the two. AMD provides PCIe Gen 5 with 28 lanes from the CPU. Intel provides PCIe Gen 5 with only 4 lanes from the CPU. This suggests different platform expectations, with AMD offering far more direct CPU-attached expansion capability.

Integrated graphics differ. AMD pairs the CPU with a Radeon 610M iGPU. Intel pairs its chip with an Arc B390 iGPU. The database does not include comparative graphics benchmarks between these two iGPUs.

The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part is locked. The socket types also differ: AMD uses AMD Socket FL1, while Intel uses Intel BGA 2540.

Specification Differences

The table below lists only the fields where the two processors differ in the database.

| Field | AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX | Intel Core Ultra X7 368H |

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

| Series | 9000 series | Core Ultra Series 3 |

| Cores | 12 | 16 |

| Threads | 24 | 16 |

| Base clock | 3.00 GHz | 2.00 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.20 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 55 | 25 |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Panther Lake |

| Codename | Fire Range | Panther Lake |

| Generation | Ryzen 9 (Zen 5 (Fire Range)) | Ultra X7 (Panther Lake-H) |

| Process node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 16,630 million | Not recorded |

| Die size | 2x 70.6 mm² | Not recorded |

| L1 cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 64 MB | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR5 | LPDDR5X |

| Memory bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 153.6 GB/s |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 28 lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 4 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 610M | Arc B390 |

| Release date | 2025-01-05 | 2026-01-04 |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part number | 100-000001366 | SA4R7Q9EJ |

Both processors share DDR5 or LPDDR5X memory support, dual-channel buses, and active production status. Neither has a recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX wins across every shared benchmark in the database, but the size of the win varies by workload type. The largest leads appear in workloads that scale with thread count and wide execution resources. Data compression at 111.7% ahead, extended instructions at 109.7%, and integer math at 96.3% all point to a processor built for heavy parallel throughput. The 24-thread configuration, 64 MB L3 pool, and higher 55 TDP envelope support this profile.

The Intel Core Ultra X7 368H does not win any shared benchmark, but its profile still indicates specific strengths outside the PassMark comparisons. The Intel part uses 16 cores without simultaneous multithreading, and its memory bandwidth of 153.6 GB/s exceeds AMD's 89.6 GB/s. That bandwidth advantage, combined with the lower 25 TDP, suggests a design oriented toward efficiency and memory-intensive tasks rather than raw compute throughput. The LPDDR5X support and 3 nm process node also point to a power-lean platform.

In single-thread performance, AMD holds an 11.4% lead, which is meaningful but far smaller than the multithreaded margins. The near-tie in find prime numbers, at 0.6%, shows that the Intel architecture can stay competitive in specific scalar workloads. The physics test, at 6.9% in AMD's favor, is another relatively close result.

The use-case split becomes clearer when considering the full data. AMD's 97th percentile ranking and 106413 average score place it in a different performance class than Intel's 87th percentile and 40518 average. The AMD part suits workloads that demand maximum multi-thread throughput, large cache residency, and high boost clocks. The Intel part suits scenarios where the 25 TDP envelope, higher memory bandwidth, and 16-core layout without SMT matter more than peak compute scores.

The database shows no scenario among the 11 shared benchmarks where the Intel chip takes the lead. Yet the Intel part's 3 nm node, newer release date of 2026-01-04 versus AMD's 2025-01-05, and higher memory bandwidth indicate that the two processors target different mobile segments. AMD's 28 PCIe Gen 5 lanes and ECC support position it for more expandable, workstation-like mobile systems. Intel's 4 PCIe Gen 5 lanes and lack of ECC point to a more integrated, efficiency-focused platform.

For buyers choosing between the two, the benchmark data is unambiguous on compute performance: the AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX wins all 11 shared tests, with margins ranging from 0.6% to 111.7%. The Intel chip's advantages live outside the PassMark suite, in memory bandwidth, process node, and power envelope. The data does not include graphics benchmarks, so the Arc B390 versus Radeon 610M comparison remains unmeasured in this database.