AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D vs Intel Core Ultra X7 358H Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D records an average benchmark score of 75,779, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H scores 40,967 on average, which places it in the 87th percentile.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H also has 16 cores but only 16 threads, meaning it lacks simultaneous multithreading.

Q: What are the clock speed differences between the two?

A: 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 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has 128 MB of L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H has 18 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has a TDP of 170 W. The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H has a TDP of 25 W.

Q: How does single-thread performance compare?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD scores 2,259 versus 2,080 for Intel, a delta of 8.6%. In PassMark single-thread, the AMD scores 4,737 versus 4,124, a delta of 14.9%.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D uses the Zen 5 architecture with the codename Granite Ridge, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It integrates 16,630 million transistors across a dual-chip design with a die size of 2x 70.6 mm². The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H uses the Panther Lake codename from the Core Ultra Series 3, built on a 3 nm process at Intel. The Intel part does not have listed transistor count or die size data.

Cache organization differs substantially. The AMD processor provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, with a large 128 MB L3 cache. The Intel processor provides 192 KB of L1 cache per core and 3 MB of L2 cache per core, with 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD design thus carries a much larger total cache pool, while the Intel design gives each core more private L1 and L2 capacity.

Memory support also separates the two. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D supports DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth and includes ECC memory support. The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H supports LPDDR5X memory over a dual-channel bus with 153.6 GB/s of bandwidth but does not support ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity differs sharply. The AMD processor offers Gen 5 with 24 lanes from the CPU. The Intel processor offers Gen 5 with only 4 lanes from the CPU. This reflects their market positioning: the AMD part is a desktop processor on AMD Socket AM5, while the Intel part is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 2540.

Integrated graphics also differ. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D includes Radeon Graphics. The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H includes Arc B390. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel processor has a locked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D wins all 15 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H recording zero wins. The margin varies considerably across workloads.

Multi-core rendering shows the largest gaps. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD scores 42,018 against 18,747 for Intel, a delta of 124.1%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD scores 6,536 against 3,027, a delta of 115.9%. These results indicate that the AMD processor delivers more than double the multi-threaded render performance in these tests.

Integer math shows the single biggest delta. PassMark integer math has the AMD at 243,209 and the Intel at 83,147, a difference of 192.5%. Data compression follows closely: the AMD scores 908,421 against 332,508, a delta of 173.2%. Extended instructions also favor AMD heavily, at 73,011 versus 27,274, a delta of 167.7%.

Random string sorting shows a 136.4% advantage for AMD, with scores of 95,423 and 40,357. PassMark multithread shows a 107.8% delta, with 70,255 versus 33,802. Physics testing gives the AMD a 87.7% lead, scoring 5,670 against 3,021.

Prime number finding shows an 81.9% delta, with 613 versus 337. Data encryption shows a 71% delta, with 44,536 versus 26,046. Floating point math has a 53.8% delta, with 159,724 versus 103,842.

Single-threaded tests show narrower but still consistent wins. PassMark single-thread gives the AMD 4,737 versus 4,124, a 14.9% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core gives 2,259 versus 2,080, an 8.6% delta. Cinebench R15 single-core shows the smallest margin, with 350 versus 301.5, a 16.1% delta.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several specification fields. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is from the 9000 series with a Ryzen 9 generation label, while the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H is from the Core Ultra Series 3 with an Ultra X7 generation label.

Clock speeds differ as noted: the AMD base clock is 4.30 GHz and boost is 5.70 GHz, while the Intel base clock is 1.90 GHz and boost is 4.80 GHz. TDP differs dramatically: 170 W for AMD versus 25 W for Intel.

The AMD processor uses AMD Socket AM5, while the Intel processor uses Intel BGA 2540. The process node is 4 nm at TSMC for AMD, versus 3 nm at Intel for the Intel part. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel part does not.

Cache specifics differ: AMD has 80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 128 MB L3. Intel has 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3.

Memory support differs: AMD uses DDR5 with ECC support, while Intel uses LPDDR5X without ECC support. Memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s for AMD and 153.6 GB/s for Intel.

PCIe lanes differ: AMD has Gen 5 with 24 lanes, while Intel has Gen 5 with 4 lanes. Integrated graphics differ: Radeon Graphics for AMD, Arc B390 for Intel.

The AMD part has a launch MSRP of $699. The Intel part has no recorded launch MSRP. The AMD part was released with a date of 2025-01-05, while the Intel part was released with a date of 2026-01-04.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D wins every recorded benchmark, so its advantages span both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads. The largest deltas appear in integer math, data compression, and extended instructions, which are common in content creation, scientific computing, and data processing tasks. The 124.1% delta in Cinebench R23 multi-core indicates strong performance in 3D rendering and video encoding workloads.

The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H does not win any recorded benchmarks. However, its specification sheet shows areas where it holds a technical edge that does not translate into the benchmark results. The Intel processor has a higher memory bandwidth at 153.6 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s for AMD. Its process node is smaller at 3 nm versus 4 nm. Its L1 cache per core is 192 KB versus 80 KB, and its L2 cache per core is 3 MB versus 1 MB.

The Intel part also has a much lower TDP at 25 W versus 170 W. This suggests that in power-constrained environments, the Intel processor may operate within a smaller thermal envelope. The data does not include power consumption measurements, so any efficiency conclusion must remain qualitative.

The Intel processor includes Arc B390 integrated graphics, while the AMD processor includes Radeon Graphics. Since no graphics benchmarks are recorded, the relative graphics performance cannot be quantified from this data.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D outperforms the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H in every recorded test, with an average benchmark score of 75,779 versus 40,967. The AMD processor sits in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel processor sits in the 87th percentile.

The AMD processor is the pick for workloads that depend on multi-core throughput. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42,018 is more than double the Intel score of 18,747. Its PassMark integer math score of 243,209 is nearly triple the Intel score of 83,147. Data compression, encryption, and extended instruction workloads all show deltas above 70%.

The AMD processor also leads in single-threaded performance, though by smaller margins. The Cinebench R23 single-core delta of 8.6% and the PassMark single-thread delta of 14.9% indicate that the AMD architecture holds a clear but narrower advantage in lightly threaded tasks.

The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H does not win a single recorded comparison. Its strengths appear in its specification sheet: a 3 nm process, higher memory bandwidth, larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, and a much lower TDP of 25 W. These characteristics may suit a mobile platform where thermal limits are strict, but the recorded benchmark results do not show a performance advantage in any measured workload.

For users selecting based on the database results, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D delivers superior performance across all tested categories. The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H may offer efficiency-oriented features from its specification sheet, but the recorded data shows no benchmark where it comes out ahead.