AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 vs Intel Core 7 251TE Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents an unambiguous outcome: the Intel Core 7 251TE wins every single recorded head-to-head comparison against the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330. Across 15 benchmark tests, the Intel part claims all 15 wins, with margins ranging from a narrow 1.5% advantage in single-threaded PassMark tests to a dominant 70% lead in integer math and prime number finding. The average benchmark score tells a similar story: the Intel Core 7 251TE posts 41,650 in the database, while the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 manages 18,811. This places the Intel chip at the 88th percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD chip sits at the 73rd percentile.

The performance gap is not uniform, however. The most dramatic differences appear in heavily multithreaded workloads, where the Intel part's 24 cores and 32 threads overwhelm the AMD's 4 cores and 8 threads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel scores 25,518 against 7,840 for the AMD, a 69.3% deficit. The single-core picture is closer but still favors Intel: Cinebench R23 single-core sees Intel at 3,602 versus 1,812, a 49.7% gap, while PassMark single-thread shows only a 1.5% difference (3,568 versus 3,515). This suggests the AMD architecture is competitive on a per-thread basis in some metrics, but the massive core-count disparity dictates the overall result.

For users choosing between these two processors, the data indicates a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel Core 7 251TE is the stronger choice for any workload that scales with core count or demands high absolute throughput. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330, while offering a lower TDP and a more power-conscious design, does not win any recorded benchmark category. The Intel part also holds a higher percentile ranking, 88 versus 73, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 7 265H and Intel Core i7-14650HX, indicating it competes in a higher performance tier. The AMD's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-12400 and AMD EPYC 7643, a more mid-range grouping.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge fundamentally in their design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 uses the Zen 5 architecture under the Krackan Point 2 codename, belonging to the Ryzen AI 300 generation that mixes Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. It is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC and features 4 cores with 8 threads. The Intel Core 7 251TE, by contrast, uses the Bartlett Lake codename from the Core 7 generation, built on a 10 nm process at Intel with a die size of 215 mm². It offers 24 cores and 32 threads, a sixfold increase in core count and a fourfold increase in thread count.

Cache configurations also differ substantially. The AMD chip provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and only 4 MB of L3 cache. The Intel chip matches the L1 at 80 KB per core but offers 1.25 MB of L2 per core and a shared 36 MB of L3 cache. That ninefold difference in L3 capacity likely contributes to the Intel part's advantage in data-heavy workloads, particularly the PassMark data compression test where it scores 334,399 versus 152,012.

Platform support separates them as well. The AMD processor uses the AMD Socket FP8, a mobile-oriented socket, while the Intel processor uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop socket. The AMD chip supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory, whereas the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both run dual-channel memory with identical 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD part does not support ECC memory, while the Intel part does. PCIe connectivity also differs: the AMD offers Gen 4 with 14 CPU lanes, while the Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ too, with the AMD sporting a Radeon 820M and the Intel a UHD Graphics 770.

Power and clock behavior show a trade-off. The AMD runs at a 28 W TDP with a 2.00 GHz base clock and a 4.50 GHz boost clock. The Intel runs at a 45 W TDP with a 1.40 GHz base clock and a 5.40 GHz boost clock. The Intel's higher boost clock aligns with its single-core wins, while its higher TDP reflects the greater core count. The AMD's release date is recorded as July 2025, while the Intel's is January 2025, making the Intel part the earlier release.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: How much faster is the Intel part in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE scores 25,518 versus 7,840 for the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330, a 69.3% advantage for the Intel chip.

Q: Is the AMD processor competitive in single-threaded performance?

A: In PassMark single-thread tests, the AMD scores 3,515 versus 3,568 for the Intel, a 1.5% gap. However, in Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel leads by 49.7% with 3,602 against 1,812.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The Intel Core 7 251TE supports DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 does not.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 has a 28 W TDP. The Intel Core 7 251TE has a 45 W TDP.

Specification Differences

The recorded specification fields where these two processors differ are extensive. Core count differs: 4 for the AMD versus 24 for the Intel. Thread count differs: 8 versus 32. Base clocks differ: 2.00 GHz for the AMD versus 1.40 GHz for the Intel. Boost clocks differ: 4.50 GHz versus 5.40 GHz. TDP differs: 28 W versus 45 W. Socket types differ: AMD Socket FP8 versus Intel Socket 1700. Architecture differs: Zen 5 for the AMD versus no explicit architecture field for the Intel, though the codename is Bartlett Lake. Process nodes differ: 4 nm versus 10 nm. Foundries differ: TSMC versus Intel. Die size is only recorded for the Intel at 215 mm². L2 cache differs: 1 MB per core for the AMD versus 1.25 MB per core for the Intel. L3 cache differs: 4 MB for the AMD versus 36 MB shared for the Intel. Memory support differs: DDR5 and LPDDR5X for the AMD versus DDR4 and DDR5 for the Intel. ECC support differs: false for the AMD versus true for the Intel. PCIe generation and lanes differ: Gen 4 with 14 lanes for the AMD versus Gen 5 with 16 lanes for the Intel. Integrated graphics differ: Radeon 820M versus UHD Graphics 770. Market segment differs: Mobile versus Desktop. Release dates differ: July 2025 versus January 2025. The Intel part has a recorded launch MSRP of $384, while the AMD has no recorded launch MSRP. Part numbers differ: 100-000001897 for the AMD versus SRQAXQ5ZG for the Intel.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a comprehensive Intel sweep. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel scores 2,572 against 1,191 for the AMD, a 53.7% deficit for the AMD. Cinebench R15 single-core sees Intel at 362 versus 199.9, a 44.8% gap. Cinebench R23 multi-core delivers the largest margin in the Cinebench suite: Intel at 25,518 versus AMD at 7,840, a 69.3% deficit. Cinebench R23 single-core shows Intel at 3,602 versus 1,812, a 49.7% gap.

The PassMark suite reinforces the pattern. Data compression favors Intel 334,399 to 152,012, a 54.5% deficit. Data encryption shows Intel at 22,176 versus 7,251, a 67.3% gap. Extended instructions give Intel 16,974 versus 11,124, the smallest PassMark margin at 34.5%. Prime number finding sees Intel at 140 versus 42, a 70% deficit. Floating point math delivers Intel 85,607 versus 26,196, a 69.4% gap. Integer math shows Intel at 125,739 versus 37,771, another 70% deficit. Multithread performance gives Intel 30,022 versus 12,797, a 57.4% gap. Physics scores 1,938 for Intel versus 705 for AMD, a 63.6% deficit. Random string sorting favors Intel 39,643 to 16,188, a 59.2% gap. Single-thread tests show the closest result: Intel at 3,568 versus AMD at 3,515, only a 1.5% difference, recorded in both the passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread tests.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 7 251TE wins in every recorded benchmark category, so the use-case split is defined by the magnitude of its advantages rather than by any AMD victories. The largest Intel leads, at 70%, appear in integer math and prime number finding, tasks that scale directly with core count and are heavily parallelized. Floating point math follows closely at 69.4%, and Cinebench R23 multi-core at 69.3%. These results point to compute-heavy, multithreaded workloads as the Intel part's strongest territory.

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330, despite losing all benchmarks, shows relative strength in single-threaded PassMark tests where the gap narrows to 1.5%. This indicates that in lightly threaded scenarios, the AMD's Zen 5 architecture at a 4.50 GHz boost clock can nearly match the Intel's 5.40 GHz boost clock on a per-thread basis. The AMD also operates at a lower 28 W TDP, which may be relevant for power-constrained mobile environments, though the database records no power efficiency benchmarks to quantify this advantage.

The Intel part's 36 MB of L3 cache and 24 cores give it a clear edge in data-heavy and parallel workloads, as evidenced by its 54.5% lead in data compression and 59.2% lead in random string sorting. The AMD's 4 MB L3 cache and 4 cores limit its ability to sustain large working sets or distribute work across many threads. The Intel processor's desktop market segment, Socket 1700, and Gen 5 PCIe support suggest it is positioned for full-size desktop builds, while the AMD's mobile Socket FP8 and Gen 4 PCIe point toward compact or portable systems. The recorded data, however, offers no benchmark where the AMD chip takes a win, leaving the Intel Core 7 251TE as the definitive performance choice across all tested metrics.