AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX vs Intel Core Ultra X9 388H Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H has 16 cores but only 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX has 12 cores and 24 threads, giving it a thread advantage despite fewer physical cores.

Q: What process nodes do these processors use?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX uses a 4 nm process from TSMC. The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H uses a 3 nm process from Intel.

Q: How do their cache hierarchies differ?

A: The AMD chip has 80 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core, plus 64 MB of L3. The Intel chip has 192 KB of L1 and 3 MB of L2 per core, but only 18 MB of shared L3.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX supports ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H does not.

Q: What is the single-thread benchmark score difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX scores 4461 in PassMark single-thread, which is 4.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H's 4280.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX has a TDP of 55 watts. The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H has a TDP of 25 watts.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits the two processors into distinct roles. The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX dominates the majority of the PassMark suite, winning 9 out of 11 head-to-head tests. Its largest margins come from integer math, data compression, extended instructions, and random string sorting. The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H wins only 2 tests: find prime numbers and physics.

For compute-heavy integer workloads, the AMD chip is the clear choice. Integer math shows a 90.3% advantage (172943 vs 90882), and data compression is 83.1% ahead (662381 vs 361763). These are substantial gaps that point to strong per-core efficiency and the benefit of simultaneous multithreading.

The Intel chip's wins are narrower. In find prime numbers, it leads by 9.8% (358 vs 323). In physics, it leads by 5.3% (3226 vs 3054). These are smaller margins, suggesting the Intel design has specific strengths in certain scalar or latency-sensitive operations, but it cannot sustain those advantages across the broader test suite.

For floating-point math, the AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX wins by only 2.2% (115062 vs 112550). This is the closest of its victories, showing that the two processors are nearly equal in this discipline. The AMD chip also wins multithread by 40.5% (51722 vs 36811), a strong result that reflects its 24-thread count versus the Intel chip's 16 threads.

The overall average benchmark score reinforces the split: the AMD chip averages 106413, while the Intel chip averages 44466. The AMD processor sits in the 97th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel processor sits in the 88th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX is built on Zen 5 architecture with the Fire Range codename. It is part of the 9000 series and uses a 4 nm process from TSMC. The chip integrates 16,630 million transistors across a die size of 2x 70.6 mm². It uses an AMD Socket FL1 and has an unlocked multiplier.

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H uses Panther Lake architecture with the Panther Lake-H codename. It is part of the Core Ultra Series 3 and uses a 3 nm process from Intel's own foundry. The chip does not have listed transistor counts or die size data in the database. It uses an Intel BGA 2540 socket and has a locked multiplier.

Cache design differs significantly. The AMD chip has 80 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core, plus a large 64 MB L3 cache. The Intel chip has 192 KB of L1 and 3 MB of L2 per core, but only 18 MB of shared L3. This means the Intel chip has more per-core cache for L1 and L2, but the AMD chip has over three times the L3 capacity.

Memory support also splits them. The AMD chip supports DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel chip supports LPDDR5X with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 153.6 GB/s. The Intel chip has higher memory bandwidth, which may help in bandwidth-sensitive tasks, though the benchmark data does not isolate that effect.

PCIe lane counts differ sharply. The AMD chip provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only). The Intel chip provides Gen 5 with only 4 lanes (CPU only). This is a major expansion difference for connecting peripherals or GPUs.

Integrated graphics also differ. The AMD chip uses Radeon 610M. The Intel chip uses Arc B390.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX | Intel Core Ultra X9 388H |

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

| Cores | 12 | 16 |

| Threads | 24 | 16 |

| Base clock | 3.00 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.20 GHz | 5.10 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 25 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Panther Lake |

| Process node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

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

| L2 cache | 1 MB per core | 3 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 | Gen 5, 4 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 610M | Arc B390 |

| Unlocked multiplier | Yes | No |

| Part number | 100-000001366 | SA4QWQ9EK |

The base clock of the AMD chip is 3.00 GHz versus 2.10 GHz for the Intel chip. Boost clocks are closer: 5.20 GHz versus 5.10 GHz. The AMD chip has a much higher TDP at 55 W versus 25 W, which reflects its higher power envelope and likely sustained performance capability.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX comes in PassMark integer math, where it scores 172943 versus 90882 for the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H. That is a 90.3% advantage, nearly doubling the Intel chip's result. This test exercises arithmetic operations without floating point, and the AMD chip's 24 threads provide a clear edge.

Data compression shows a similarly large gap. The AMD chip scores 662381, which is 83.1% higher than the Intel chip's 361763. This test benefits from the AMD chip's large L3 cache and high thread count. Extended instructions follow the same pattern: 53817 versus 29943, a 79.7% lead for AMD.

Random string sorting gives the AMD chip a 59.5% advantage (70175 vs 44010). This workload requires memory access patterns and sorting algorithms, where the AMD chip's cache hierarchy appears to perform well. The multithread score also favors AMD by 40.5% (51722 vs 36811), which aligns with the thread count difference.

The AMD chip wins data encryption by 12.8% (32139 vs 28490). Single-thread performance is closer: 4461 versus 4280, a 4.2% lead for AMD. Floating-point math is the tightest AMD win at 2.2% (115062 vs 112550).

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H secures two wins. In find prime numbers, it scores 358 versus 323, a 9.8% lead. This test often favors per-core scalar performance and lower latency. In physics, it scores 3226 versus 3054, a 5.3% lead. These wins show the Intel chip is not without merit, but they are isolated to specific workloads.

The average benchmark score difference is enormous: 106413 for AMD versus 44466 for Intel. The AMD chip's nearest rivals are Xeon w7-3555 (0.2% ahead), Xeon 6521P (0.5% ahead), and Xeon w7-2595X (2.1% behind). The Intel chip's nearest rivals are Ryzen 5 7500X3D (0.2% ahead), Core i9-13950HX (0.3% behind), and Ryzen AI Max 385 (0.4% behind). This places the AMD chip in a much higher performance tier overall.