AMD Ryzen 9 9950X vs Intel Core 7 350 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark database places these two processors in entirely different segments. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is a desktop flagship with 16 cores and 32 threads, built for maximum throughput. The Intel Core 7 350 is a mobile processor with 6 cores and 6 threads, designed for efficiency in a compact BGA package. The data shows a clean sweep: the Ryzen 9 9950X wins all 15 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with no wins recorded for the Intel Core 7 350.

The average benchmark score tells the story plainly. The Ryzen 9 9950X posts an average score of 74,640, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 7 350 averages 17,779, sitting in the 71st percentile. That is a 4.2x gap in aggregate performance. The Ryzen part belongs to the 9000 series with a 170 TDP, while the Core 7 350 uses just 15 watts. The verdict from the data: the Ryzen 9 9950X is for users who need maximum compute density, while the Core 7 350 serves low-power mobile systems where battery life and thermals matter more than raw speed.

The nearest rival data confirms the positioning. The Ryzen 9 9950X sits within 1.1% of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 (delta -1.1%) and within 1% of the AMD EPYC 4545P (delta -1%). The Intel Core 7 350 trades blows with the Intel Core 5 221TE (delta -0.5%) and the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT (delta -0.6%). This places the Core 7 350 in the same performance class as a Ryzen 5 3600XT, a mid-range desktop part from several generations back, while the Ryzen 9 9950X competes with server-class silicon.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 9 9950X wins every recorded benchmark. The largest margins appear in heavily parallel workloads. In PassMark integer math, the AMD part scores 242,097 versus 33,734, a 617.7% advantage. Data compression shows a 526.4% delta, with 896,544 points against 143,123. Extended instructions deliver a 494.1% gap. These are workloads that scale with core count and thread count, and the Ryzen 9 9950X has 16 cores and 32 threads against the Core 7 350's 6 cores and 6 threads.

The Intel Core 7 350 does not have a single benchmark win, but the data does reveal where it is comparatively less disadvantaged. In single-threaded tests, the gap narrows substantially. PassMark single-thread shows 4,737 versus 4,100, a 15.5% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 2,202 versus 2,046, a 7.6% delta. Cinebench R15 single-core shows 344 versus 292, a 17.8% delta. These results indicate the Core 7 350's individual cores are competitive, just not at the same level as the Zen 5 cores in the Ryzen 9 9950X.

The Core 7 350 also shows relatively smaller deficits in physics and prime number finding. PassMark physics scores 3,279 versus 1,173 (179.5% delta), and find prime numbers scores 345 versus 107 (222.4% delta). While still large, these are the smallest multicore gaps in the data, suggesting the Intel part handles certain integer workloads with reasonable efficiency per clock.

Architecture Differences

The Ryzen 9 9950X uses the Zen 5 architecture on the Granite Ridge codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It packs 16,630 million transistors across two 70.6 mm² chiplets. The Intel Core 7 350 uses the Wildcat Lake codename on a 3 nm process at Intel, with no transistor count or die size recorded in the database. The process node advantage goes to Intel at 3 nm, but the architectural approach differs fundamentally.

Cache organization separates the two clearly. The Ryzen 9 9950X allocates 80 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with a shared 64 MB L3 pool. The Intel Core 7 350 provides 192 KB L1 per core and 2.5 MB L2 per core, but only 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD part has over 10x more L3 cache, which benefits workloads with large working sets. The Intel part has larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations, which helps single-threaded latency but cannot compensate for the massive L3 deficit.

Memory architecture also diverges. The Ryzen 9 9950X supports DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, plus ECC memory. The Intel Core 7 350 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X but uses a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC. The Ryzen part offers PCIe Gen 5 with 24 lanes, while the Intel part provides PCIe Gen 4 with 6 lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: the Ryzen 9 9950X includes Radeon Graphics, while the Core 7 350 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores.

The socket and market positioning reinforce the split. The Ryzen 9 9950X fits AMD Socket AM5, a desktop platform with an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Core 7 350 uses Intel BGA 1516, a soldered mobile package with a locked multiplier. The Ryzen part launched in August 2024 with a $649 launch MSRP. The Intel part is dated April 2026 in the database with a $469 launch MSRP. The Ryzen 9 9950X is a desktop enthusiast part; the Core 7 350 is a mobile efficiency part.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 7 350 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The AMD part provides 10 additional cores and 26 additional threads.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multi-threaded workloads?

A: In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Ryzen 9 9950X scores 40,924 versus 8,030 for the Core 7 350, a 409.6% delta. PassMark multithread shows 66,030 versus 15,170, a 335.3% delta.

Q: Is the Intel Core 7 350 competitive in single-threaded tests?

A: The gap is much smaller but still favors AMD. PassMark single-thread shows 4,737 versus 4,100 (15.5% delta). Cinebench R23 single-core shows 2,202 versus 2,046 (7.6% delta). The Intel core is not faster, but it is closer.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Ryzen 9 9950X supports DDR5 with a dual-channel bus. The Intel Core 7 350 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X but uses a single-channel bus. Memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s for the AMD part and 59.7 GB/s for the Intel part.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 7 350 does not support ECC.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X boosts to 5.70 GHz. The Intel Core 7 350 boosts to 4.80 GHz. The base clocks are 4.30 GHz for AMD and 1.50 GHz for Intel.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest recorded delta in the entire comparison is PassMark integer math at 617.7%. The Ryzen 9 9950X scores 242,097 while the Core 7 350 scores 33,734. This workload heavily favors the AMD part's 16 cores and 32 threads. The second-largest margin is data compression at 526.4%, with 896,544 versus 143,123. Extended instructions follow at 494.1%, with 71,564 versus 12,045. Random string sorting shows a 447.4% delta, with 94,368 versus 17,238.

Cinebench R23 multicore delivers a 409.6% delta, with 40,924 versus 8,030. Cinebench R15 multicore shows a 419.3% delta, with 6,335 versus 1,220. PassMark multithread posts a 335.3% delta, with 66,030 versus 15,170. Data encryption shows a 305.8% delta, with 44,366 versus 10,933. Floating point math delivers a 271.6% delta, with 159,063 versus 42,809. Prime number finding shows a 222.4% delta, with 345 versus 107. Physics posts a 179.5% delta, with 3,279 versus 1,173.

The single-threaded results are the closest. PassMark single-thread shows 4,737 versus 4,100, a 15.5% delta. Cinebench R15 single-core shows 344 versus 292, a 17.8% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 2,202 versus 2,046, a 7.6% delta. The Ryzen 9 9950X wins all of these, but the margins are modest compared to the multicore deltas. This suggests the Core 7 350's per-core performance is respectable, but its lack of cores and threads makes it unsuitable for parallel workloads.

The 3DMark results recorded for the Ryzen 9 9950X show 16,780 at max threads, 16,263 at 16 threads, 9,298 at 8 threads, 4,958 at 4 threads, 2,543 at 2 threads, and 1,293 at single thread. No 3DMark results are recorded for the Intel Core 7 350 in the head-to-head set. The absence of these data points means the comparison relies on the Cinebench and PassMark suites, all of which favor the AMD part.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 9950X | Intel Core 7 350 |

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

| Cores | 16 | 6 |

| Threads | 32 | 6 |

| Base clock | 4.30 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.70 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 170 W | 15 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Process node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| 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 | 6 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory bus | Dual-channel | Single-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 59.7 GB/s |

| ECC support | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 24 lanes | Gen 4, 6 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon Graphics | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) |

| Multiplier | Unlocked | Locked |

| Market segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Launch MSRP | $649 | $469 |

The TDP difference is stark: 170 watts versus 15 watts. The Ryzen 9 9950X consumes over 11x the power budget of the Core 7 350. The clock speeds reflect this, with the AMD part running a 4.30 GHz base and 5.70 GHz boost against 1.50 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost. The Intel part compensates with a smaller 3 nm process, but the core count deficit dominates performance outcomes.

The cache hierarchy shows a trade-off. The Intel Core 7 350 has larger per-core L1 (192 KB versus 80 KB) and L2 (2.5 MB versus 1 MB) allocations. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X counters with 64 MB L3 versus 6 MB. For workloads that fit in per-core cache, the Intel part has an advantage. For shared data and large working sets, the AMD part wins decisively.

The platform features reinforce the different use cases. The Ryzen 9 9950X offers PCIe Gen 5 with 24 lanes, ECC memory, and an unlocked multiplier on a desktop socket. The Core 7 350 offers PCIe Gen 4 with 6 lanes, no ECC, and a locked multiplier on a soldered mobile BGA package. The AMD part is upgradeable and configurable; the Intel part is fixed and power-optimized. The database shows 15 wins for the Ryzen 9 9950X and 0 wins for the Core 7 350, with an average benchmark score of 74,640 versus 17,779.