AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive overall result: the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D wins 14 of the 15 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T taking a single victory. The scale of the AMD advantage varies dramatically by workload type.

In multi-threaded rendering, the AMD processor leads by a wide margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D scores 6042.5 against 2214 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T, a delta of 172.9%. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a smaller but still substantial gap: 38161.5 versus 21971, a 73.7% advantage for the AMD part.

PassMark integer math delivers the largest single delta in the entire comparison. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D posts 222503, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T manages 59543, a 273.7% difference. Data compression follows closely: 785811 versus 233998, a 235.8% lead for AMD. Extended instruction workloads show a 212.8% gap (62813 versus 20083), and random string sorting shows a 190.2% difference (83497 versus 28774).

Other PassMark workloads follow the same pattern. Floating point math favors AMD by 74.2% (144122 versus 82751). Find prime numbers shows an 84.9% advantage (525 versus 284). Multithread performance is 147.2% higher on the AMD chip (62674 versus 25358), and physics simulation is 128.3% higher (4687 versus 2053). Data encryption shows a 115.7% lead (39446 versus 18289).

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T wins one test: Cinebench R23 single-core. There, it scores 3101 against 2159.5 for the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D, a delta of -30.4% from the AMD perspective. This is a meaningful result, as it shows the Intel architecture can outperform in lightly threaded workloads.

In the remaining single-thread tests, AMD still edges ahead, but by narrow margins. PassMark single-thread shows 4511 versus 4348, a 3.7% lead for AMD. Cinebench R15 single-core shows 332 versus 312, a 6.4% lead for AMD. These small deltas in single-core performance contrast sharply with the enormous multi-core differences.

The average benchmark score tells a similar story. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D has an average score of 97453, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T averages 30468. This places the AMD chip at the 96th percentile of all CPUs in the database, versus the 82nd percentile for the Intel chip.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D uses the Zen 5 architecture on the Fire Range codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It packs 16 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T uses the Arrow Lake architecture on the Arrow Lake-S codename, built on a 3 nm process also at TSMC. It offers 10 cores and 10 threads, with the same 2.50 GHz base clock but a lower 4.90 GHz boost clock.

The transistor counts differ notably. The AMD chip contains 16,630 million transistors across a dual-die design with each die measuring 70.6 mm². The Intel chip contains 17,800 million transistors on a single monolithic 243 mm² die. Despite fewer total transistors, the AMD design uses two smaller dies, which can affect manufacturing yields and thermal density.

Cache hierarchies are strikingly different. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a massive 128 MB of L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T offers 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and only 20 MB of shared L3. The 128 MB L3 on the AMD part is the standout feature, likely contributing to its dominance in data-heavy workloads.

Memory support shows both processors using DDR5 with dual-channel buses. The AMD chip has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Intel chip reaches 102.4 GB/s. The Intel part has the higher theoretical memory bandwidth despite its lower overall performance. ECC memory is supported on the AMD chip but not on the Intel chip.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D offers Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The AMD part provides more PCIe lanes for expansion.

Integrated graphics also differ. The AMD chip includes a Radeon 610M GPU, while the Intel chip includes an Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU. Both are integrated solutions, but they represent different graphics architectures.

The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, indicating overclocking support. The Intel processor has a locked multiplier. The AMD part carries part number 100-000001030, while the Intel part number is listed as unknown.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D wins decisively in every multi-threaded and data-parallel workload recorded. Its 16 cores and 32 threads, combined with 128 MB of L3 cache, deliver enormous advantages in integer math, floating point math, compression, encryption, and rendering. The 273.7% lead in integer math and the 235.8% lead in data compression indicate workloads that scale with core count and cache capacity will strongly favor this chip.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T wins only in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it outperforms the AMD chip by 30.4%. This suggests that for applications that are strictly single-threaded and cannot utilize additional cores, the Intel architecture has an edge. The Intel chip also shows a higher theoretical memory bandwidth (102.4 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s), which could benefit certain memory-bound single-threaded tasks even if the benchmark data does not directly capture this.

In the other single-thread tests, the AMD chip still wins, but by small margins (3.7% in PassMark single-thread, 6.4% in Cinebench R15 single-core). This indicates the AMD part is not weak in single-thread performance; it simply faces a strong competitor in the Intel chip for that specific Cinebench R23 workload.

The Intel chip also has a higher boost clock disadvantage (4.90 GHz versus 5.40 GHz), yet it still wins the one single-core test. This points to architectural efficiency differences in single-thread execution rather than raw clock speed.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D | Intel Core Ultra 5 225T |

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

| Cores | 16 | 10 |

| Threads | 32 | 10 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.40 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Arrow Lake |

| Codename | Fire Range | Arrow Lake-S |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Transistors | 16,630 million | 17,800 million |

| Die Size | 2x 70.6 mm² | 243 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 128 MB | 20 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 102.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 28 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 610M | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

The TDP figures are notable: the AMD chip has a 55 W TDP despite its higher core count and larger cache, while the Intel chip has a 65 W TDP. The AMD part achieves its performance with a lower thermal design power.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D wins 14 of the 15 head-to-head benchmarks, with the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T winning only one (Cinebench R23 single-core).

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark integer math, where the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D scores 222503 versus 59543 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T, a 273.7% advantage.

Q: In which benchmark does the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T outperform the AMD chip?

A: The Intel part wins Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 3101 versus 2159.5 for the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D, a delta of -30.4% from the AMD perspective.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has 10 cores and 10 threads.

Q: What are the L3 cache sizes?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D has 128 MB of L3 cache, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has 20 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D has a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has a boost clock of 4.90 GHz.

The Verdict

The data clearly separates these two processors by workload type. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D is the dominant choice for multi-threaded and data-intensive workloads. Its 16 cores, 32 threads, and 128 MB of L3 cache produce leads ranging from 73.7% in Cinebench R23 multi-core to 273.7% in integer math. The 96th percentile standing among all CPUs in the database confirms its position as a high-end part.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T, at the 82nd percentile, is a capable mid-range desktop processor. Its single win in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it outperforms the AMD chip by 30.4%, shows that the Arrow Lake architecture can deliver strong single-thread performance. The higher memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s and the larger L1 and L2 per-core caches (192 KB and 3 MB, respectively) contribute to this efficiency.

The AMD chip also carries a lower TDP (55 W versus 65 W) despite its performance advantage, and it offers ECC memory support and an unlocked multiplier. The Intel chip is locked and does not support ECC memory.

For users running rendering tasks, compression workloads, encryption, or heavy multi-threaded computation, the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D is the clear choice based on the recorded benchmarks. For users whose primary workload is a single-threaded application that matches the Cinebench R23 pattern, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T shows a measurable advantage. The 14 to 1 win count, however, makes the AMD part the general-purpose recommendation from this dataset.