AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a dominant performance profile for the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX across nearly every benchmark in the comparison set. Out of 15 head-to-head tests, the AMD processor wins 14, with the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H taking a single, narrow victory.

The largest margin comes in PassMark integer math, where the Ryzen 9 9955HX scores 212,598 against 64,934 for the Intel part, a delta of 227.4%. This is the most decisive gap in the entire comparison and indicates a substantial advantage in workloads that rely heavily on integer arithmetic operations. Data compression shows a similarly lopsided result: the AMD chip scores 731,998 versus 276,539, a 164.7% lead. Extended instructions also favor AMD heavily, with 57,946 versus 23,906, a 142.4% difference.

Multi-core rendering benchmarks reinforce the pattern. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen 9 9955HX scores 37,159 compared to 16,331 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H, a 127.5% advantage. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a 135.8% lead, with scores of 5,905 and 2,504 respectively. Random string sorting, another heavily multi-threaded workload, shows a 128.5% delta in favor of AMD, with scores of 77,890 versus 34,082.

The PassMark multi-thread score follows the same trend: 56,171 for AMD versus 28,717 for Intel, a 95.6% difference. Data encryption shows a 74.7% lead for AMD (37,330 versus 21,367), while floating-point math shows a 62.6% margin (136,682 versus 84,067). Even the closest multi-core result, the PassMark physics test, goes to AMD, but only by 0.9% (2,720 versus 2,697). This near-tie suggests that physics simulation performance is not as dependent on the core count or thread count differences between these two parts.

Single-threaded results are much tighter. In Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD scores 2,174 versus 2,044 for Intel, a 6.4% lead. Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 10.2% margin (336 versus 305). PassMark single-thread shows 4,393 versus 4,180, a 5.1% difference. The one Intel win is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core Ultra 5 338H scores 304 against 287 for AMD, a 5.6% advantage. This is an isolated result and does not align with the broader single-thread trend, which otherwise favors the AMD part.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX wins in essentially every category of heavy computation. Its 16 cores and 32 threads provide a structural advantage in multi-threaded workloads, and the benchmark data confirms this with large margins in Cinebench multi-core, PassMark multi-thread, integer math, compression, and encryption. The 227.4% lead in integer math and the 164.7% lead in data compression suggest that content creation, database operations, and scientific computing tasks would all favor the AMD chip substantially. The 127.5% Cinebench R23 multi-core advantage points to strong performance in rendering and video encoding scenarios.

The single-thread results are closer, but AMD still holds the lead in every single-thread test except find prime numbers. The 6.4% margin in Cinebench R23 single-core and 5.1% in PassMark single-thread indicate that the Ryzen 9 9955HX also has a slight edge in lightly threaded applications, though this advantage is far less pronounced than in multi-core work.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins only in the find prime numbers test, with a 5.6% margin. This workload, which involves prime number searches, is the sole area where the Intel architecture shows a clear advantage. Given the narrow delta, this is not a compelling reason to choose Intel for general use, but it does indicate that the Panther Lake architecture handles this specific algorithmic pattern slightly better. The Intel part also comes close in the PassMark physics test, trailing by only 0.9%, so physics simulation is the other area where the two chips are effectively matched.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX is built on the Zen 5 architecture with the Fire Range codename, part of the 9000 series. It uses a 4 nm process from TSMC and contains 16,630 million transistors on a die size of 2x 70.6 mm². The chip has 16 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. Thermal design power is 55 W. Cache configuration includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3. The memory interface supports DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. ECC memory is supported. The chip uses AMD Socket FL1 and offers PCIe Gen 5 with 28 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are provided by the Radeon 610M. The multiplier is unlocked.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is built on the Panther Lake architecture, part of the Core Ultra Series 3 and the Panther Lake-H generation. It uses a 3 nm process from Intel. The chip has 12 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. Thermal design power is 25 W. Cache configuration includes 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The memory interface supports LPDDR5X in a dual-channel configuration with a bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported. The chip uses Intel BGA 2540 and offers PCIe Gen 5 with 4 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are provided by the Arc B370. The multiplier is locked.

Notable differences include the process node (4 nm TSMC for AMD versus 3 nm Intel for Intel), the thread count (32 versus 12), the TDP (55 W versus 25 W), the L3 cache (64 MB versus 18 MB), the memory bandwidth (89.6 GB/s versus 136.5 GB/s), and the PCIe lane count (28 versus 4). The Intel chip has a higher memory bandwidth despite its lower TDP, and its L1 and L2 per-core caches are larger. The AMD chip counters with a much larger shared L3 pool and eight additional cores.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear performance hierarchy. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX is the faster processor in 14 of 15 benchmark comparisons, with margins that range from 0.9% in physics to 227.4% in integer math. The multi-core advantage is overwhelming, driven by the 16-core, 32-thread configuration versus the 12-core, 12-thread Intel part. For any workload that scales across cores, the choice is unambiguous.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H does hold one win in find prime numbers, and it posts a near-tie in physics. Its higher memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s and larger per-core L1 and L2 caches do not translate into broad benchmark superiority in the recorded data. The locked multiplier and lower TDP of 25 W suggest a different design target, but the performance data does not show that target delivering competitive results against the Ryzen 9 9955HX.

The Ryzen 9 9955HX also maintains a single-thread lead, though the margins are smaller. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 6.4% advantage, and PassMark single-thread shows 5.1%. This means the AMD chip is not only the multi-core winner but also the better option for lightly threaded tasks. The percentile ranking reinforces this: the Ryzen 9 9955HX sits at the 96th percentile among all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 5 338H sits at the 84th percentile. The average benchmark score of 91,199 for AMD versus 33,989 for Intel reflects the overall gap.

For users who prioritize multi-threaded performance, rendering, data compression, or encryption, the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX is the superior part. For users who need the specific prime number search performance where Intel wins by 5.6%, or who require the lower 25 W TDP and the Arc B370 integrated graphics, the Core Ultra 5 338H has a narrower set of advantages. The benchmark evidence does not support a general recommendation for the Intel chip outside those specific cases.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher multi-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX scores 37,159 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, compared to 16,331 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H, a 127.5% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins the PassMark find prime numbers test with a score of 304 versus 287 for AMD, a 5.6% margin.

Q: How do the single-thread scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX leads in Cinebench R23 single-core with 2,174 versus 2,044 (6.4%), and in PassMark single-thread with 4,393 versus 4,180 (5.1%).

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which chip has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has a memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s, while the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX has 89.6 GB/s.

Q: What is the processor percentile ranking for each?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX ranks at the 96th percentile among all CPUs. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H ranks at the 84th percentile.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX | Intel Core Ultra 5 338H |

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

| Cores | 16 | 12 |

| Threads | 32 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 1.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.40 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 25 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Panther Lake |

| Codename | Fire Range | Panther Lake |

| 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 (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 136.5 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 28 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 4 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 610M | Arc B370 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | 100-000001028 | SA4REQ9EW |