AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 and the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus represent two distinct approaches to high-end desktop computing, with the data showing a decisive performance advantage for the Intel part across every shared benchmark. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus wins all 11 head-to-head comparisons, with the largest margin reaching 53.2% in floating-point math, while the AMD part counters with a lower 65W TDP, a dual-die design, and a server/workstation market classification.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 has an average benchmark score of 96083, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus scores 93785. Despite this, the Intel part wins every individual head-to-head benchmark.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel part's average score of 93785 puts it 0% behind the Intel Xeon 6520P, 1.5% behind the AMD EPYC 4564P, 1.9% behind the AMD EPYC 9175F, and 2.1% behind the AMD EPYC 4565P.

Q: What is the core and thread configuration of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads, meaning the Intel part has double the cores but no hyper-threading advantage.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus boosts to 5.50 GHz, which is higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945's 5.40 GHz boost clock.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 and the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus support ECC memory, and both use dual-channel DDR5.

Q: What is the release date for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 was released on 2025-09-15, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus was released later on 2026-03-10.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge fundamentally in their physical design and manufacturing approach. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 is built on TSMC's 4 nm process node and uses a chiplet design with a die size of 2x 70.6 mm², containing 16,630 million transistors. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus uses a more advanced 3 nm process from the same foundry, TSMC, but employs a monolithic die that is significantly larger at 243 mm² and contains 17,800 million transistors.

The cache hierarchies reveal contrasting strategies. The AMD part allocates 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a substantial 64 MB of L3 cache. The Intel part provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, but only 36 MB of shared L3 cache. This means the AMD processor has nearly double the total L3 capacity, which can benefit certain workloads, while the Intel part's larger per-core L1 and L2 caches may reduce latency for frequently accessed data.

The memory bandwidth figures also differ notably. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 achieves 89.6 GB/s, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus reaches 115.2 GB/s, a substantial advantage for the Intel part in memory-intensive tasks. Both processors support PCIe Gen 5, but the AMD part provides 24 lanes from the CPU, whereas the Intel part offers 20 lanes.

Clock speeds show a modest edge for Intel. The AMD part has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, while the Intel part runs at 3.70 GHz base and 5.50 GHz boost. The TDP difference is more pronounced: the AMD processor is rated at 65W, while the Intel processor is rated at 125W, indicating the Intel part draws significantly more power to achieve its performance.

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 is classified for the Server/Workstation market segment and uses the AMD Socket AM5, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is a Desktop part on Intel Socket 1851. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, whereas the AMD part is locked. The integrated graphics also differ: AMD includes Radeon Graphics, while Intel provides Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points decisively to the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus for pure performance. It wins all 11 head-to-head tests, with the smallest margin being 2.7% in integer math and the largest being 53.2% in floating-point math. The Intel part's multithread score of 68574 is 29% higher than the AMD's 48664, and its single-thread score of 5068 is 8.9% higher than the AMD's 4619. For any workload where raw throughput matters, the Intel part is the clear choice.

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945, however, offers a 65W TDP compared to Intel's 125W, making it more power-efficient on paper. It also provides 24 PCIe Gen 5 lanes versus Intel's 20, and its 64 MB of L3 cache is nearly double Intel's 36 MB. The AMD part is positioned for server and workstation environments, which may value these characteristics alongside its lower power envelope.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, with its 24 cores and 24 threads, dominates in every measured category, including data compression, encryption, and physics simulations. The Intel part's 804322 score in data compression is 27.9% higher than AMD's 579972, and its 59097 encryption score is 48.5% higher. For users prioritizing maximum speed in multithreaded applications, the data is unambiguous.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads, meaning Intel offers double the physical cores but no additional threads. The base clocks are 3.40 GHz for AMD and 3.70 GHz for Intel, with boost clocks of 5.40 GHz and 5.50 GHz respectively.

The TDP is a major differentiator: 65W for the AMD part versus 125W for the Intel part. The sockets are incompatible, with AMD using Socket AM5 and Intel using Socket 1851. The process nodes differ, with AMD on 4 nm and Intel on 3 nm, both from TSMC. The die sizes are 2x 70.6 mm² for AMD and 243 mm² for Intel, with transistor counts of 16,630 million and 17,800 million respectively.

Cache configurations are distinct: AMD provides 80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 MB L3, while Intel provides 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB shared L3. Memory bandwidth favors Intel at 115.2 GB/s versus AMD's 89.6 GB/s, though both use dual-channel DDR5. PCIe lanes favor AMD with 24 Gen 5 lanes versus Intel's 20.

The market segments differ, with AMD targeting Server/Workstation and Intel targeting Desktop. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD part is locked. The integrated graphics are Radeon Graphics for AMD and Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU for Intel. Release dates are 2025-09-15 for AMD and 2026-03-10 for Intel, and the Intel part has a launch MSRP of $299.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus wins every head-to-head benchmark, with varying degrees of dominance. The most significant margin is in floating-point math, where Intel scores 229491 against AMD's 107340, a 53.2% advantage. This indicates a major difference in FPU performance that would affect scientific computing and rendering workloads.

Data encryption shows a similarly large gap, with Intel scoring 59097 versus AMD's 30450, a 48.5% difference. Prime number finding follows with Intel at 615 and AMD at 342, a 44.4% margin. Random string sorting favors Intel at 96945 versus 62458, a 35.6% spread, and extended instructions show Intel ahead by 30.1% with 63506 versus 44374.

The multithread benchmark gives Intel a 29% win with 68574 versus 48664. Physics simulation follows with Intel at 4064 and AMD at 2902, a 28.6% margin. Data compression shows Intel at 804322 versus AMD's 579972, a 27.9% advantage. Single-thread performance is closer, with Intel at 5068 and AMD at 4619, an 8.9% difference. The smallest margin is in integer math, where Intel scores 175986 and AMD scores 171175, a 2.7% gap.

The average benchmark scores tell a slightly different story. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 has an average of 96083, placing it 0.3% ahead of the AMD EPYC 4565P and 0.5% ahead of the AMD EPYC 9175F, while being 1.4% behind the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has an average of 93785, tying the Intel Xeon 6520P at 0% delta, while sitting 1.5% behind the AMD EPYC 4564P, 1.9% behind the AMD EPYC 9175F, and 2.1% behind the AMD EPYC 4565P. Both processors rank in the 96th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they are both top-tier performers despite the Intel part's head-to-head sweep.