AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D vs Intel Core 7 350 Comparison

FAQ

Q: What are the core and thread counts for the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and the Intel Core 7 350?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 7 350 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds of these two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D boosts up to 5.70 GHz, while the Intel Core 7 350 boosts up to 4.80 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has 128 MB of L3 cache, whereas the Intel Core 7 350 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus. The Intel Core 7 350 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X, but operates on a single-channel bus.

Q: What is the difference in their process nodes?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is built on a 4 nm process by TSMC. The Intel Core 7 350 is built on a 3 nm process by Intel.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score and percentile ranking?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has an average benchmark score of 75779 and ranks in the 95th percentile. The Intel Core 7 350 has an average score of 17779 and ranks in the 71st percentile.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D belongs to the 9000 series and uses the Zen 5 architecture under the Granite Ridge codename. It is a desktop part manufactured by TSMC on a 4 nm process with 16,630 million transistors across a dual-die design of 2x 70.6 mm². The Intel Core 7 350 uses the Wildcat Lake codename and is a mobile part built by Intel on a 3 nm process. The AMD processor features 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading on the Intel side.

Cache organization differs substantially. The AMD part provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and a total of 128 MB of L3 cache. The Intel part offers 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and only 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD processor also supports ECC memory, whereas the Intel does not. Memory bandwidth reflects the platform split: the AMD chip uses dual-channel DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s, while the Intel chip uses single-channel DDR5 or LPDDR5X with 59.7 GB/s.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes from the CPU. The Intel Core 7 350 provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes. The AMD chip includes Radeon Graphics as integrated graphics, while the Intel includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The AMD multiplier is unlocked, allowing overclocking, while the Intel multiplier is locked. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket AM5, the Intel uses Intel BGA 1516, which is a soldered mobile package.

The process node difference is notable: Intel's 3 nm node is smaller than AMD's 4 nm node, but the AMD design uses two chiplets and far more total silicon. The TDP values reflect the intended use: the AMD desktop flagship runs at 170 W, while the Intel mobile chip runs at 15 W. The release dates also separate them, with the AMD launching earlier and the Intel arriving later.

The Verdict

The data separates these two processors by design intent. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is a desktop flagship with 16 cores, 32 threads, a 5.70 GHz boost, and a 95th percentile ranking among all CPUs. It dominates every recorded benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. The Intel Core 7 350 is a 6-core, 6-thread mobile processor with a 4.80 GHz boost, a 71st percentile ranking, and a 15 W TDP that places it in an entirely different power envelope.

For workloads that demand maximum multi-threaded throughput, the AMD part is the only choice between these two. The benchmark results show leads of hundreds of percentage points across compression, encryption, and math workloads. For anyone constrained by a mobile platform with minimal power draw, the Intel part exists in a different category. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D sits near the top of the desktop CPU stack, while the Intel Core 7 350 targets low-power mobile systems. The recorded data shows no benchmark where the Intel processor wins, which makes the decision purely a matter of platform and power requirements.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every hardware specification. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core 7 350 has 6 cores and 6 threads. Base clocks are 4.30 GHz for the AMD and 1.50 GHz for the Intel. Boost clocks reach 5.70 GHz on the AMD and 4.80 GHz on the Intel. TDP is 170 W versus 15 W.

Cache sizes show a wide gap. The AMD part has 80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 128 MB L3. The Intel part has 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. Memory support: the AMD uses DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel uses DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel bus and 59.7 GB/s. ECC is supported on the AMD only.

PCIe generations and lane counts differ: AMD has Gen 5 with 24 lanes, Intel has Gen 4 with 6 lanes. Integrated graphics are Radeon Graphics on the AMD and Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) on the Intel. The AMD socket is AMD Socket AM5, the Intel uses Intel BGA 1516. The AMD multiplier is unlocked; the Intel is locked. The process node is 4 nm for AMD and 3 nm for Intel. The AMD chip has 16,630 million transistors and a die size of 2x 70.6 mm², while the Intel chip lists no transistor count or die size in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D wins all 15 recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The largest margin appears in PassMark integer math, where the AMD scores 243209 against the Intel's 33734, a 621 percent advantage. Data compression shows a 534.7 percent lead, with the AMD at 908421 and the Intel at 143123. Extended instructions follow with a 506.2 percent delta, 73011 versus 12045.

Cinebench multi-core results reinforce the trend. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD scores 42018 versus 8030, a 423.3 percent lead. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 6536 versus 1220, a 435.7 percent delta. PassMark find prime numbers gives the AMD a 472.9 percent edge, 613 versus 107. Random string sorting shows a 453.6 percent lead, 95423 versus 17238.

The multi-thread workload results are similarly lopsided. PassMark multi-thread scores 70255 on the AMD and 15170 on the Intel, a 363.1 percent difference. PassMark physics shows 5670 versus 1173, a 383.4 percent delta. Floating point math results in a 273.1 percent lead, 159724 versus 42809.

Single-threaded gaps are smaller but still favor the AMD. PassMark single-thread scores 4737 versus 4100, a 15.5 percent lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 2259 versus 2046, a 10.4 percent delta. Cinebench R15 single-core gives 350 versus 292, a 19.9 percent edge. The 3DMark tests recorded for the AMD only, so no comparison is available there. Data encryption shows a 307.4 percent lead for the AMD, 44536 versus 10933.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D wins in every measured category. Multi-threaded rendering, data compression, encryption, extended instruction workloads, prime number calculations, floating point math, integer math, physics simulation, and random string sorting all show overwhelming AMD leads. The smallest margins appear in single-threaded tests, where the AMD still leads by roughly 10 to 20 percent. This makes the AMD the stronger part for heavy desktop workloads, content creation, and any task that scales across 32 threads.

The Intel Core 7 350 has no recorded benchmark wins. Its strengths are not visible in performance data but in platform characteristics: a 15 W TDP, a 3 nm process node, mobile packaging with BGA 1516, and support for LPDDR5X memory. The single-channel memory bus and 6 PCIe Gen 4 lanes indicate a low-power mobile design. The AMD part cannot be used in such a power envelope, and the Intel part cannot be used on a desktop AM5 platform.

The use-case split is therefore defined by power and platform, not by performance. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D delivers flagship desktop performance with 16 cores, 32 threads, a 5.70 GHz boost, and 128 MB of L3 cache. The Intel Core 7 350 serves low-power mobile systems where the 6-core, 6-thread configuration and 15 W TDP fit a compact, battery-conscious design. Buyers choosing between these two are actually choosing between a desktop workstation CPU and a mobile efficiency chip.