AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D vs Intel Core 7 253PQE Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D and Intel Core 7 253PQE serve two very different performance profiles, as shown by the recorded database scores. The AMD part, a mobile 16-core processor, dominates multi-threaded and throughput-heavy workloads, while the Intel part, a desktop 10-core processor, holds a clear edge in specific single-core tests. The benchmark results show a 13 to 2 split in favor of the AMD chip across the head-to-head comparisons, but the nature of those wins reveals distinct use cases for each processor.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D is the clear winner in almost every multi-core and parallel workload category. It takes all of the PassMark multithreaded tests, including integer math, floating point math, data compression, and data encryption. Its largest margin comes in prime number finding, where it leads by 154.9%, a sign of substantial advantage in tightly threaded iterative calculations. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test also goes to AMD with a 21.6% lead, confirming its dominance in rendering and CPU-bound content creation tasks.

The Intel Core 7 253PQE wins the two single-core Cinebench tests. Its Cinebench R15 single-core score of 446 beats the AMD's 332 by 25.6%, and its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4431 beats the AMD's 2159.5 by 51.3%. However, the PassMark single-thread test tells a different story: AMD wins narrowly at 4511 versus 4389, a 2.8% margin. This suggests that Intel's advantage is specific to the Cinebench workload, which may favor its higher boost clock of 5.70 GHz, whereas the broader PassMark single-thread measure shows the two are nearly equivalent.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different designs. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D uses the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Fire Range, and is manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It integrates 16,630 million transistors across a dual-die design with each die measuring 70.6 mm². It offers 16 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a large 128 MB L3 cache. The chip is a mobile part on AMD Socket FL1, with a 55 W TDP.

The Intel Core 7 253PQE uses the Bartlett Lake codename and is built on a 10 nm process at Intel. It has 10 cores and 20 threads, with a higher base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.70 GHz. Its cache configuration differs significantly: 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 33 MB of shared L3. This smaller L3 cache is a notable difference from the AMD's 128 MB, likely contributing to the AMD's strong performance in cache-sensitive workloads. The Intel chip is a desktop part on Socket 1700, with a 125 W TDP, and its multiplier is locked. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier.

Both processors support DDR5 memory and have the same dual-channel memory bandwidth rating of 89.6 GB/s. The AMD chip supports only DDR5, while the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both support ECC memory. The AMD chip provides PCIe Gen 5 with 28 CPU lanes, while the Intel chip provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: AMD uses a Radeon 610M, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 770. The AMD chip is listed as a mobile processor, while the Intel chip is a desktop processor.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive AMD win is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where it scores 525 against Intel's 206, a 154.9% advantage. This is followed by a 93.9% lead in extended instructions (62813 vs 32390) and a 91% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core (6042.5 vs 3163). The data compression test shows a 61.2% lead (785811 vs 487335), and integer math shows a 61.5% lead (222503 vs 137795). Floating point math goes to AMD by 36.9% (144122 vs 105279), and the PassMark multithread test shows a 50.5% lead (62674 vs 41656). Random string sorting is 54% faster on AMD (83497 vs 54222), and data encryption is 54.6% faster (39446 vs 25515). Physics simulation also favors AMD at 57.8% (4687 vs 2970).

The Cinebench R23 multi-core result is closer, with AMD scoring 38161.5 against Intel's 31390, a 21.6% lead. The only Intel wins are in Cinebench single-core tests. The R23 single-core test shows Intel at 4431 versus AMD's 2159.5, a 51.3% margin, and the R15 single-core test shows Intel at 446 versus AMD's 332, a 25.6% margin. The PassMark single-thread scores are nearly tied, with AMD at 4511 and Intel at 4389, a 2.8% difference in AMD's favor, which indicates that Intel's Cinebench single-core edge does not translate to a general single-thread dominance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core 7 253PQE has 10 cores and 20 threads.

Q: Does the Intel chip have a higher boost clock?

A: Yes, the Intel Core 7 253PQE boosts to 5.70 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D boosts to 5.40 GHz.

Q: How large is the L3 cache on each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D has 128 MB of L3 cache, while the Intel Core 7 253PQE has 33 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D wins with a score of 38161.5, which is 21.6% higher than the Intel Core 7 253PQE's 31390.

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core Cinebench tests?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PQE is faster in both Cinebench R15 and R23 single-core tests, with leads of 25.6% and 51.3% respectively.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D and the Intel Core 7 253PQE support ECC memory.

The Verdict

The recorded data indicates that the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D is the superior choice for any workload that scales with core count, cache size, or parallel execution. Its 16 cores, 32 threads, and 128 MB L3 cache deliver decisive wins in rendering, data compression, encryption, and math-intensive tasks. The 91% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and the 154.9% lead in prime number finding are strong indicators for users running multi-threaded applications.

The Intel Core 7 253PQE, with its higher boost clock and 10 cores, is competitive only in the specific Cinebench single-core tests, where it leads by 25.6% and 51.3%. Its PassMark single-thread score is nearly identical to the AMD chip, so its practical advantage is limited to that particular benchmark suite. For general single-threaded performance, the data shows no meaningful difference.

The Intel chip is a desktop part with a launch MSRP of $409, while the AMD chip is a mobile part with no listed MSRP. The AMD's 55 W TDP versus Intel's 125 W TDP also indicates a large efficiency gap, though the different market segments complicate direct comparison. Ultimately, the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D is the stronger processor overall, with 13 wins out of 15 head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core 7 253PQE only wins in the two Cinebench single-core tests. Users prioritizing multi-core throughput should choose AMD; users with workloads specifically modeled by Cinebench single-core may find the Intel chip adequate, but the broader data favors AMD.