AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX vs Intel Core Ultra X9 378H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX and the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H are both premium mobile processors, but the benchmark data shows they are engineered for entirely different workloads. The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX, built on the Zen 5 architecture, is a high-core-count, high-power part designed for heavy parallel throughput. The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H, based on Panther Lake, is a more efficient chip with a higher boost clock for single-thread responsiveness. The performance split is decisive: the AMD chip secures 9 out of 11 benchmark wins, while the Intel chip takes 2.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX dominates in almost every PassMark workload category, establishing itself as the clear choice for compute-intensive applications. Its most significant victories come in integer math and extended instructions, where it leads by massive margins. In the passmark_integer_math test, the AMD processor scored 172943 against the Intel's 92603, a delta of 86.8%. Similarly, in passmark_extended_instructions, the AMD part scored 53817 versus 31315, a 71.9% lead. These results suggest the Zen 5 architecture handles complex arithmetic and modern instruction sets with far greater efficiency than the Panther Lake part.

The AMD chip also excels in data compression and sorting tasks. In passmark_data_compression, it scored 662381 compared to the Intel's 386591, a 71.3% advantage. In passmark_random_string_sorting, the AMD processor scored 70175 against 44648, a 57.2% lead. These are memory-heavy workloads, and the AMD chip's larger 64 MB L3 cache likely provides a significant advantage over the Intel's 18 MB shared L3 cache. The multithread score reflects the core and thread count disparity: the AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX scored 51722, beating the Intel's 38298 by 35.1%.

The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H wins in two specific areas: prime number finding and physics calculations. In passmark_find_prime_numbers, the Intel chip scored 357 against the AMD's 323, a 9.5% lead. This test is often sensitive to clock speed and integer division performance. In passmark_physics, the Intel part scored 3404 versus 3054, a 10.3% advantage. This suggests the Intel chip handles certain physics simulation workloads more efficiently, likely due to its higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

The Verdict

The data shows a clear split based on workload type. For users running heavily threaded applications like video rendering, 3D modeling, software compilation, or scientific computing, the AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX is the superior part. Its 12 cores and 24 threads provide a substantial parallel processing capability, and its lead in integer math and multithread scores confirms this. The 35.1% multithread advantage is decisive for any task that can utilize more than a handful of cores.

For users prioritizing single-thread performance and specific physics workloads, the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H is competitive, though its lead is narrow. The AMD chip actually wins the single-thread test, albeit by a margin of only 0.2% (4461 vs 4453). The Intel chip's wins in prime numbers and physics are notable, but they are isolated. The Intel processor operates at a lower TDP of 25 watts compared to the AMD's 55 watts, which may make it a better fit for thinner, more power-constrained chassis.

Based strictly on the recorded benchmark scores, the AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX is the more powerful processor for the majority of tasks. Its wins in 9 out of 11 benchmarks, including all of the most demanding math and data tests, make it the default recommendation for performance-focused mobile workstations. The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H is preferable only in scenarios where its physics and prime number performance is critical, or where its lower power draw is a primary constraint.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result is in passmark_integer_math, where the AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX scored 172943 against the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H's 92603. The 86.8% delta is the largest of any test and highlights a fundamental difference in per-clock integer execution capability.

In passmark_extended_instructions, the AMD chip scored 53817 versus 31315, a 71.9% lead. This test measures performance with newer, more complex instruction sets, where the Zen 5 architecture shows a clear advantage. The passmark_data_compression test showed a 71.3% margin, with the AMD chip scoring 662381 to the Intel's 386591.

The passmark_random_string_sorting test showed a 57.2% difference, with scores of 70175 for the AMD processor and 44648 for the Intel processor. The passmark_multithread test confirmed the core count advantage, with the AMD chip scoring 51722 against 38298, a 35.1% delta.

The Intel chip's wins are smaller but distinct. In passmark_physics, the Intel part scored 3404 versus 3054, a 10.3% advantage. In passmark_find_prime_numbers, the Intel chip scored 357 against 323, a 9.5% lead. The two chips are nearly identical in floating-point math, with the AMD chip scoring 115062 and the Intel chip scoring 114500, a negligible 0.5% difference. The data encryption test favored the AMD chip, with scores of 32139 and 29840, a 7.7% margin.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX has an average benchmark score of 106413, while the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H has an average score of 47468.

Q: How do their core and thread counts compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H has 16 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX has a 64 MB L3 cache, whereas the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H has an 18 MB shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the difference in their multithread performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX scored 51722 in the passmark_multithread test, which is 35.1% higher than the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H's score of 38298.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes, the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H wins in passmark_find_prime_numbers (357 vs 323) and passmark_physics (3404 vs 3054).

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H's boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX uses the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Fire Range. It is built on a 4 nm process node by TSMC and contains 16,630 million transistors across a dual-die design with a total die size of 2x 70.6 mm². The chip is based on AMD's 9000 series and has 12 cores with 24 threads. It supports ECC memory and features a Radeon 610M integrated GPU. The processor is unlocked for overclocking and uses the AMD Socket FL1.

The Intel Core Ultra X9 378H is based on the Panther Lake architecture, part of the Core Ultra Series 3. It is manufactured on Intel's 3 nm process node. The chip has 16 cores and 16 threads, meaning it lacks the simultaneous multithreading of the AMD part. It does support a higher memory bandwidth of 153.6 GB/s using LPDDR5X memory, compared to the AMD chip's 89.6 GB/s with DDR5. The Intel chip includes an Arc B390 integrated GPU and is not multiplier unlocked. It uses the Intel BGA 2540 socket.

The cache hierarchy differs significantly. The AMD chip has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, with a large 64 MB L3 cache. The Intel chip has 192 KB of L1 cache per core and 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core, but only 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The PCIe capabilities also differ: the AMD chip offers Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip offers Gen 5 with only 4 lanes (CPU only). The AMD processor has a higher base clock of 3.00 GHz and a higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz, compared to the Intel's 2.00 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost. The AMD processor also has a higher TDP of 55 watts, while the Intel chip is rated at 25 watts.