AMD Ryzen 9 9950X vs Intel Core Ultra 5 336H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a lopsided comparison between the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X and the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H. Across the fifteen head-to-head benchmarks, the AMD processor claims fourteen wins, while the Intel chip takes a single victory. The margins range from a narrow sub-1% edge to a dominant 290% lead, reflecting the fundamentally different positioning of these two parts.

The largest single delta appears in Passmark integer math, where the Ryzen 9 9950X scores 242,097 against the Ultra 5 336H's 62,070, a 290% advantage. This result aligns with the desktop chip's 32 threads versus the mobile chip's 16 threads, a doubling of thread count that shows up most clearly in integer-heavy workloads. Similarly, Passmark data compression shows a 219.8% delta, with the AMD part scoring 896,544 versus 280,340 for the Intel part.

Extended instruction throughput follows the same pattern. The Ryzen 9 9950X posts 71,564 in Passmark extended instructions, while the Core Ultra 5 336H manages 24,542, a 191.6% gap. Random string sorting favors the AMD chip by 174.3% (94,368 versus 34,402), and Passmark multithread shows a 131.3% difference (66,030 versus 28,545). Data encryption delivers a 108.4% delta (44,366 versus 21,291), while floating point math lands at 93% (159,063 versus 82,415).

Cinebench multicore results reinforce the same story. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Ryzen 9 9950X scores 40,924, while the Ultra 5 336H produces 23,991, a 70.6% advantage for AMD. The older Cinebench R15 multicore test shows an even larger relative gap at 162% (6,335 versus 2,418). Passmark physics favors the AMD chip by 22.3% (3,279 versus 2,682), and prime number finding shows a 15.4% edge (345 versus 299).

Single-thread results are closer but still favor AMD in most tests. Passmark single thread gives the Ryzen 9 9950X an 18% lead (4,737 versus 4,013). Cinebench R15 single core is essentially a tie, with the AMD chip scoring 344 against 341, a 0.9% margin. The one Intel victory comes in Cinebench R23 single core, where the Core Ultra 5 336H reaches 3,387 versus 2,202 for the AMD part, a 35% deficit for the Ryzen chip. This single win indicates that Intel's newer Panther Lake architecture can deliver strong per-thread performance in specific rendering workloads, even though it trails across the broader Passmark suite.

Looking at the overall averages, the Ryzen 9 9950X sits at 74,640 average benchmark score, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H averages 34,485, which puts it in the 84th percentile. The nearest rival data puts the AMD chip in the company of workstation and high-end desktop parts, with the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9745 just 0.2% ahead and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 475 only 0.2% behind. The Intel chip's nearest rivals are more mainstream, with the Intel Core i7-13700HX 0.2% ahead and the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 0.7% behind.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the majority of benchmark comparisons?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X wins 14 of the 15 recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The sole Intel victory comes in Cinebench R23 single core, where the Core Ultra 5 336H scores 3,387 versus 2,202.

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

A: The AMD chip leads by 70.6% in Cinebench R23 multicore (40,924 versus 23,991) and by 131.3% in Passmark multithread (66,030 versus 28,545). The largest multi-threaded margin is 290% in Passmark integer math.

Q: What is the difference in single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X leads Passmark single thread by 18% (4,737 versus 4,013) and Cinebench R15 single core by 0.9% (344 versus 341). The Intel chip wins Cinebench R23 single core by 35% (3,387 versus 2,202).

Q: How do the two processors compare in memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H supports a higher memory bandwidth at 115.2 GB/s, while the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is rated at 89.6 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory buses, and both support DDR5, though the Intel part also supports LPDDR5X.

Q: What are the thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H also has 16 cores but only 16 threads, meaning it lacks simultaneous multithreading.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X boosts to 5.70 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H boosts to 4.60 GHz. The AMD part also has a higher base clock at 4.30 GHz versus 1.90 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X dominates in almost every measured category, making it the clear choice for compute-heavy desktop workloads. Its 32 threads give it a massive advantage in parallel tasks, as shown by the 290% lead in integer math and the 219.8% lead in data compression. The 70.6% Cinebench R23 multicore advantage confirms that rendering and video encoding workloads will complete substantially faster on the AMD platform. The 131.3% Passmark multithread lead further supports this, as does the 108.4% encryption advantage, which matters for file and database security operations.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H wins exactly one benchmark: Cinebench R23 single core, with a 35% margin over the AMD part. This result suggests that for lightly threaded rendering tasks that rely on a single core, the Intel chip can outperform the AMD desktop part. The Intel processor's higher memory bandwidth (115.2 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s) also gives it a theoretical advantage in memory-bound scenarios, though the recorded benchmarks do not isolate this effect. The Intel part's mobile positioning, with a 25W TDP versus 170W for the AMD chip, makes it suitable for battery-powered systems where sustained multi-threaded performance is less critical.

For workloads that mix single-thread and multi-thread demands, the AMD chip still holds the edge in most recorded tests. The 18% lead in Passmark single thread shows that even in lightly threaded scenarios, the Ryzen 9 9950X generally stays ahead. The only exception is the specific Cinebench R23 single-core test, where Intel's newer architecture delivers a notable win.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H has 16 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are far apart: 4.30 GHz for AMD versus 1.90 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks also differ, with the AMD part reaching 5.70 GHz versus 4.60 GHz for Intel. The TDP ratings reflect their different market segments, with the AMD desktop chip rated at 170W and the Intel mobile chip at 25W.

Memory support differs in scope. Both support DDR5 and dual-channel buses, but the Intel part adds LPDDR5X support. Memory bandwidth is higher on the Intel chip at 115.2 GB/s, while the AMD part is rated at 89.6 GB/s. ECC memory is supported on the AMD chip but not on the Intel part.

The socket and platform differ completely: the AMD chip uses Socket AM5, while the Intel chip uses BGA 2540, which is a soldered mobile package. PCIe support also differs: the AMD part offers Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part provides Gen 5 with 12 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ as well, with the AMD chip featuring Radeon Graphics and the Intel chip featuring Intel Xe3 Graphics.

The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel chip is locked. The AMD part carries a launch MSRP of $649, while no MSRP is recorded for the Intel part. The AMD chip's release date is August 2024, while the Intel chip's release date is January 2026.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X uses the Zen 5 architecture on the Granite Ridge codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H uses the Panther Lake architecture on the Panther Lake-H codename, built on a 3 nm process at Intel's own foundry. These process differences reflect different design goals: AMD targets a high-power desktop part, while Intel targets a low-power mobile part.

Cache hierarchies diverge significantly. The AMD chip has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, with a 64 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has 192 KB of L1 per core and 2.5 MB of L2 per core, with an 18 MB shared L3 cache. The AMD part's larger L3 cache (64 MB versus 18 MB) supports its desktop workload pattern, while the Intel part's larger per-core L1 and L2 caches may help with latency-sensitive single-thread tasks. The transistor count is recorded only for the AMD chip at 16,630 million, with a die size of 2x 70.6 mm²; no transistor count or die size is recorded for the Intel part.

The generation labels confirm the strategic split: the AMD chip is from the Ryzen 9 series (Zen 5, Granite Ridge), while the Intel chip is from the Core Ultra Series 3 (Panther Lake-H). The AMD part belongs to the 9000 series, and the Intel part is a mobile-focused Ultra 5. The Intel chip's lack of multithreading, combined with its lower clocks, explains its reduced multi-threaded scores despite matching the AMD chip's core count. The AMD chip's 32 threads and higher boost clock drive its benchmark dominance, while the Intel chip's newer 3 nm process and higher memory bandwidth provide its single-core Cinebench R23 win and memory throughput advantage.