AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two processors into clearly different usage profiles. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D dominates the multi-threaded and mixed workload categories, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus takes the single-core crown in the Cinebench suite.

The AMD part wins 11 of the 15 recorded head-to-head comparisons. Its largest advantages appear in integer math, where it scores 243,209 against 123,030 for Intel, a 97.7% delta. Data compression also heavily favors AMD at 908,421 versus 553,155, a 64.2% gap. Extended instructions show a 70.3% advantage, and physics simulation shows a 78.1% edge. These are workloads that scale with core count, cache capacity, and memory bandwidth, all areas where the Ryzen 9 9950X3D holds a substantial hardware lead.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus wins 4 comparisons. The most notable is Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 6,030 against AMD's 2,259, a 62.5% advantage. It also wins Cinebench R15 single-core with 607 versus 350, a 42.3% edge. The Intel chip edges ahead in Cinebench R23 multi-core as well, scoring 42,718 versus 42,018, a slim 1.6% margin. Floating point math is a near-tie, with Intel at 159,824 and AMD at 159,724, a 0.1% difference.

The use-case split is straightforward. The AMD processor is the choice for heavily parallel workloads: rendering, physics simulation, data compression, encryption, and integer-heavy computation. The Intel processor shows strength in lightly threaded tasks where single-core clock speed and instruction efficiency matter most, particularly in the Cinebench single-core tests. However, the PassMark single-thread test tells a different story, with AMD winning narrowly at 4,737 versus 4,698, a 0.8% margin.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is built on the Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename, using a 4 nm process from TSMC. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus uses the Arrow Lake Refresh codename from the Core Ultra Series 2, fabricated on a 3 nm TSMC node.

Core and thread counts diverge sharply. AMD provides 16 cores and 32 threads, enabling simultaneous multithreading. Intel provides 18 cores and 18 threads, with no multithreading support. This explains the AMD advantage in multi-threaded benchmarks despite having fewer physical cores.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. The AMD part features 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a massive 128 MB of L3 cache. The Intel part offers 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. The 128 MB L3 on AMD is likely the primary driver for its strong data compression and extended instruction scores.

Transistor counts are close but not identical. AMD lists 16,630 million transistors across a dual-chip design with two 70.6 mm² dies. Intel lists 17,800 million transistors on a single 243 mm² die. The process node difference (4 nm versus 3 nm) partially offsets the die size disparity.

Memory bandwidth favors Intel. Both support DDR5 in dual-channel configuration, but Intel records 115.2 GB/s against AMD's 89.6 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. PCI Express connectivity differs: AMD offers Gen 5 with 24 lanes from the CPU, Intel offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes.

The AMD processor includes integrated Radeon Graphics, while the Intel part has no integrated graphics. Both have unlocked multipliers for overclocking. The AMD part carries the part number 100-000000719, while Intel uses SA4V3.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single delta in the dataset is PassMark integer math. AMD scores 243,209 against Intel's 123,030, a 97.7% advantage. This is nearly double the throughput, reflecting the combination of 32 threads, large L3 cache, and higher IPC in integer operations.

PassMark extended instructions shows a 70.3% gap. AMD records 73,011 against Intel's 42,880. This workload benefits from the AMD cache architecture and wider SIMD implementation.

Physics simulation favors AMD by 78.1%. The scores are 5,670 versus 3,183. This test typically scales with thread count and cache bandwidth, both favoring the 32-thread AMD part.

Data compression gives AMD a 64.2% lead. The score of 908,421 versus 553,155 represents one of the largest absolute differences in the dataset. The 128 MB L3 cache likely absorbs larger working sets during compression operations.

PassMark multi-thread shows AMD ahead by 40.1%, scoring 70,255 versus 50,146. Random string sorting shows a 42% advantage for AMD with 95,423 against 67,209. Prime number finding gives AMD a 35.6% edge at 613 versus 452.

Data encryption is closer. AMD wins with 44,536 against 41,292, a 7.9% margin. This suggests the encryption workload is less sensitive to the architectural differences.

The Intel wins are concentrated in Cinebench. The R23 single-core result of 6,030 versus 2,259 is a 62.5% margin, the largest Intel victory. The R15 single-core result of 607 versus 350 is a 42.3% margin. These are substantial wins, indicating a significant per-core performance advantage in this specific benchmark.

Cinebench R23 multi-core is nearly even. Intel wins with 42,718 against 42,018, a 1.6% margin. This is notable because AMD wins the R15 multi-core test by 51.8% (6,536 versus 4,305). The divergence between R15 and R23 multi-core results suggests different scaling characteristics between the benchmark versions.

Floating point math is a statistical tie. Intel scores 159,824 against AMD's 159,724, a 0.1% difference. Both processors deliver essentially identical throughput on this workload.

PassMark single-thread favors AMD slightly at 4,737 versus 4,698, a 0.8% margin. This is the opposite of the Cinebench single-core result, highlighting benchmark-specific sensitivity.

Specification Differences

The core counts differ by two physical cores. AMD provides 16 cores and 32 threads; Intel provides 18 cores and 18 threads. The AMD part has a base clock of 4.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.70 GHz. The Intel part has a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz.

Thermal design power differs substantially. AMD lists 170 W, Intel lists 125 W. This gives Intel a 45 W advantage in peak power envelope.

The AMD processor uses AMD Socket AM5, while Intel uses Intel Socket 1851. They are not interchangeable.

The L3 cache difference is the most dramatic specification gap: 128 MB on AMD versus 30 MB on Intel. The L1 and L2 caches are larger per core on Intel, but the total cache capacity favors AMD.

The process nodes differ by one generation step. AMD uses 4 nm, Intel uses 3 nm, both from TSMC. The transistor counts are close, but the die designs are very different: dual 70.6 mm² dies on AMD versus a single 243 mm² die on Intel.

The Intel processor has higher memory bandwidth at 115.2 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s. Both use DDR5 in dual-channel mode. Both support ECC memory.

AMD provides integrated graphics, Intel does not. PCI Express lane counts differ: 24 lanes on AMD, 20 lanes on Intel, both Gen 5 from the CPU.

Both processors have unlocked multipliers. The AMD part has a launch MSRP of $699. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $184.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads. The AMD part supports simultaneous multithreading, the Intel part does not.

Q: Why does the AMD processor win most multi-threaded benchmarks despite having fewer cores?

A: The AMD processor has 32 threads versus 18 on Intel, and it has a 128 MB L3 cache versus 30 MB on Intel. Benchmark results show AMD winning PassMark multi-thread by 40.1% and Cinebench R15 multi-core by 51.8%.

Q: Which processor has better single-core performance?

A: The data is mixed. Intel wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 62.5% and R15 single-core by 42.3%. However, AMD wins PassMark single-thread by 0.8%. The benchmark suite matters significantly for single-core comparisons.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel processor records 115.2 GB/s, while the AMD processor records 89.6 GB/s. Both support DDR5 in dual-channel configuration with ECC support.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D includes Radeon Graphics. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus has no integrated graphics.

Q: How close is the Cinebench R23 multi-core result?

A: The Intel processor wins by a slim 1.6% margin, scoring 42,718 against AMD's 42,018. This is the closest multi-core result in the dataset, aside from floating point math which shows a 0.1% difference.