AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H vs Intel Core Ultra 7 155H Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H and Intel Core Ultra 7 155H split their benchmark wins along clear lines of specialized workloads. The Intel part dominates the broader set of tests, winning 10 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons, while the AMD chip claims 5 wins, but those victories are concentrated in specific processing types that matter for certain professional tasks.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H takes the lead in the most demanding multi-threaded rendering workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it posts 15028 against the AMD's 13501, a 10.2% advantage. The Cinebench R15 multi-core result follows the same pattern, with Intel at 2450 versus AMD's 2153, a 12.1% gap. This makes the Intel chip the stronger choice for content creation, 3D rendering, and any workload that scales heavily across cores and threads.

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H, however, wins decisively in security and data processing tasks. Its PassMark data encryption score of 18673 beats Intel's 16358 by 14.2%. The PassMark extended instructions test shows an even larger margin, with AMD at 20302 versus Intel's 16456, a 23.4% advantage. Data compression also favors AMD, 297936 to 277353, a 7.4% edge. These results indicate the AMD chip excels when the workload involves cryptography, compression algorithms, and SIMD-heavy instruction paths.

For single-threaded performance, the Intel chip leads in most tests. Cinebench R23 single-core shows Intel at 1743 versus AMD's 1615, a 7.3% gain. PassMark single-thread also favors Intel, 3468 to 3326, a 4.1% difference. The sole exception is Cinebench R15 single-core, where AMD edges ahead 260 to 255, a 2% margin.

The Intel chip's advantages extend into math-heavy and physics-based workloads. PassMark floating point math shows a 23.4% Intel lead, 63703 to 48821. PassMark physics shows an even larger 35.4% gap, 1727 to 1115. Prime number finding is the single biggest Intel win, with a 45.1% advantage, 113 to 62. These results suggest the Intel architecture handles floating-point throughput and computational physics more efficiently.

Multithreaded general performance favors Intel modestly. PassMark multithread shows 24873 for Intel versus 23770 for AMD, a 4.4% lead. Random string sorting also goes to Intel, 31990 to 30859, a 3.5% margin. The integer math test is essentially tied, with AMD at 87132 and Intel at 86870, a negligible 0.3% difference in AMD's favor.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H is built on the Zen 3+ architecture, codenamed Rembrandt, using a 6 nm process from TSMC. It packs 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H uses the Meteor Lake architecture on Intel's 7 nm process, with 16 cores and 22 threads, a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz.

The core counts tell a story of different strategies. AMD uses a uniform 8-core layout with simultaneous multithreading, while Intel's 16-core design relies on a heterogeneous arrangement of performance and efficiency cores, which explains the 22-thread count despite the higher core number. The Intel chip also has a lower TDP of 28 watts compared to AMD's 45 watts, meaning Intel achieves its multi-threaded wins while consuming less power according to the official specifications.

Cache configurations differ substantially. AMD provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. Intel counters with 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger L3 allocation on the Intel side likely contributes to its advantages in workloads with repeated data access patterns.

Memory bandwidth favors Intel. Both support DDR5 in dual-channel mode, but Intel's memory bandwidth is rated at 89.6 GB/s versus AMD's 76.8 GB/s. The Intel platform also offers PCIe Gen 5 with 8 CPU lanes, while AMD provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes. This creates a tradeoff: Intel has faster per-lane bandwidth, while AMD has more total lanes for expansion.

The integrated graphics differ as well. AMD uses the Radeon 680M, while Intel employs the Arc Xe-LPG 128EU. Both are designed for mobile platforms, but the database does not include direct graphics benchmark comparisons between them.

The release timeline also separates these parts. AMD launched on April 18, 2022, while Intel arrived on December 13, 2023. The Intel launch MSRP is $503, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD part. Both remain in active production and target the mobile market segment.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H comes in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 113 against AMD's 62, a 45.1% advantage. This is the most lopsided result in the comparison and highlights Intel's strength in integer-heavy computational loops that stress branch prediction and core efficiency.

The second-largest Intel win is in PassMark physics, 1727 to 1115, a 35.4% margin. Physics simulations typically rely on floating-point calculations and multi-threaded scaling, areas where Intel shows clear superiority in this data. PassMark floating point math confirms the trend, with Intel at 63703 versus AMD's 48821, a 23.4% gap that mirrors the extended instructions result in reverse.

AMD's largest win is in PassMark extended instructions, 20302 to 16456, a 23.4% advantage. This test measures performance with advanced CPU instruction sets, and the AMD chip's Zen 3+ architecture handles these workloads more efficiently despite having fewer cores. PassMark data encryption shows a 14.2% AMD lead, 18673 to 16358, which may reflect architectural differences in cryptographic acceleration.

The Cinebench results show a consistent Intel advantage in both multi-core and single-core tests, except for one anomaly. Cinebench R23 multi-core gives Intel a 10.2% lead, while Cinebench R15 multi-core gives a 12.1% lead. In single-core, Cinebench R23 favors Intel by 7.3%, but Cinebench R15 single-core goes to AMD by 2%. This inconsistency suggests the older R15 test favors AMD's higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz, while the newer R23 test responds better to Intel's architecture.

The closest contest is PassMark integer math, where AMD wins by just 0.3%, 87132 to 86870. This effectively indicates parity in integer-heavy general computing. PassMark random string sorting shows a modest Intel lead of 3.5%, while PassMark multithread gives Intel a 4.4% advantage. PassMark data compression swings back to AMD with a 7.4% edge, and PassMark single-thread tests show Intel ahead by 4.1%.

The overall averages place both processors in the same performance tier. AMD's average benchmark score is 33201, while Intel's is 32697. Both rank in the 83rd percentile among all CPUs. AMD's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-14701E with a 0% delta, the AMD Ryzen 5 8645HS at -0.1%, the AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX at 0.3%, and the Intel Core i7-13650HX at 0.3%. Intel's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-14600T at 0%, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 at 0.1%, the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F at -0.2%, and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H at -0.4%. These rival comparisons indicate that both chips sit near the center of a tight cluster of similarly performing mobile and desktop processors.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H scores 15028, which is 10.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H's 13501.

Q: Does the AMD chip win any benchmark by a large margin?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H leads by 23.4% in PassMark extended instructions, scoring 20302 against Intel's 16456, and by 14.2% in PassMark data encryption.

Q: Which chip has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H has 16 cores and 22 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel chip wins PassMark single-thread by 4.1% (3468 to 3326) and Cinebench R23 single-core by 7.3% (1743 to 1615), but AMD wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 2% (260 to 255).

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H has a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, slightly higher than the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H's 4.80 GHz.

Q: Are these processors in the same overall performance tier?

A: Yes, both rank in the 83rd percentile among all CPUs. AMD's average benchmark score is 33201, and Intel's is 32697.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear recommendation for different use cases. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is the better choice for users who prioritize multi-threaded rendering, floating-point computation, and physics-based workloads. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core lead of 10.2%, combined with a 35.4% advantage in PassMark physics and a 23.4% lead in floating point math, makes it the superior option for 3D rendering, scientific computing, and engineering simulations.

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H is the better choice for security-sensitive workloads and data processing tasks. Its 14.2% lead in data encryption and 23.4% lead in extended instructions suggest strong performance in cryptography, compression, and applications that leverage advanced instruction sets. The 7.4% advantage in data compression further supports this positioning.

For general productivity and mixed workloads, the Intel chip holds a narrower but consistent edge. PassMark multithread favors Intel by 4.4%, and random string sorting favors Intel by 3.5%. The integer math results are effectively tied, so spreadsheet work, programming, and database operations will perform similarly on both.

The power envelope adds another dimension. Intel achieves its performance with a 28-watt TDP, while AMD's 45-watt TDP is higher. This suggests the Intel chip may be better suited for thinner, lighter laptops where thermal constraints are tighter, although battery life depends on many factors beyond the processor.

Both processors sit in the same performance percentile, and their average benchmark scores differ by only about 1.5%. Users who need maximum encryption throughput or specific instruction set performance should choose AMD. Users who need the best multi-core rendering and physics performance should choose Intel. The Intel chip's higher core count, larger L3 cache, and higher memory bandwidth likely contribute to its overall benchmark win count of 10 out of 15 tests.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H uses the Zen 3+ architecture, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H uses Meteor Lake. AMD is built on a 6 nm TSMC process, while Intel uses a 7 nm process from its own foundry. The die size is recorded as 208 mm² for AMD, with no die size listed for Intel.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. AMD has 8 cores and 16 threads, while Intel has 16 cores and 22 threads. Base clocks favor Intel at 3.80 GHz versus AMD's 3.30 GHz, but boost clocks favor AMD at 4.90 GHz versus Intel's 4.80 GHz. The TDP ratings are 45 watts for AMD and 28 watts for Intel.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. AMD allocates 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Intel allocates 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The total L3 cache is not recorded for either processor.

Memory support shows both use DDR5 in dual-channel mode, but bandwidth differs. AMD offers 76.8 GB/s, while Intel offers 89.6 GB/s. Neither processor supports ECC memory. PCIe capabilities differ: AMD provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while Intel provides Gen 5 with 8 lanes.

The integrated graphics differ: AMD uses the Radeon 680M, and Intel uses the Arc Xe-LPG 128EU. Sockets are incompatible, with AMD using FP7 and Intel using BGA 2049. The AMD processor was released on April 18, 2022, while Intel launched on December 13, 2023. The Intel part has a recorded launch MSRP of $503, while no launch MSRP exists for the AMD part. Both processors are in active production, are not multiplier-unlocked, and target the mobile market segment.