AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 vs Intel Core 7 250H Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 7 250H records an average benchmark score of 35728, while the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 scores 19617. The Intel part also sits at the 85th percentile of all CPUs, compared to the AMD chip's 73rd percentile.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core 7 250H scores 16561 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, versus 8130 for the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430, a delta of -50.9% from the AMD side. This means the Intel processor delivers roughly double the multi-core score.

Q: Does the AMD processor win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The recorded head-to-head data lists 15 tests, and the Intel Core 7 250H wins all 15. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 has zero wins in this direct comparison.

Q: What is the single-thread performance difference?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel Core 7 250H scores 1931 versus 1797 for the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430, a 6.9% advantage. PassMark single-thread results show 4148 for Intel and 3683 for AMD, an 11.2% gap.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 7 250H boosts to 5.40 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 boosts to 4.50 GHz. The Intel part also has a higher base clock at 2.50 GHz versus 2.00 GHz.

Q: How do the two compare in memory encryption workloads?

A: PassMark data encryption scores are 18206 for Intel and 7591 for AMD, a 58.3% difference in favor of Intel. The Intel processor also supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD chip supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 uses the Gorgon Point codename and belongs to the Ryzen AI 400 generation built on Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. It is manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 7 250H is a Raptor Lake-H part, specifically from the Core 7 generation branded as Raptor Lake Refresh, built on Intel's 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry.

Core counts differ substantially. The AMD chip has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel part has 14 cores and 20 threads. This core disparity directly explains the large multi-threaded benchmark gaps observed across the test suite.

Cache hierarchy also diverges. Both processors use 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The AMD chip has 1 MB of L2 per core and 4 MB of L3 cache. Intel uses 2 MB of L2 per core and a larger 24 MB shared L3 cache. The larger shared L3 on Intel provides a significant pool for frequently accessed data across all cores.

Memory support differs. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with dual-channel access and a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. It also supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 7 250H supports DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but has no recorded memory bandwidth figure and no ECC support.

PCIe connectivity is another differentiator. The AMD chip uses PCIe Gen 4 with 14 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip uses PCIe Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The newer PCIe generation on Intel offers higher per-lane bandwidth, though with fewer total lanes.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 carries a Radeon 840M, while the Intel Core 7 250H uses Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units. Both target mobile segments, and both are currently listed as active production parts.

The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $502. The AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP. The AMD processor was released on 2026-01-04, while the Intel processor was released on 2024-12-17, roughly one year earlier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core 7 250H across all 15 benchmark tests. The smallest margin appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where Intel scores 298 versus AMD's 269, a 9.7% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 6.9% gap (1931 vs 1797), and PassMark single-thread shows an 11.2% difference (4148 vs 3683).

Multi-core tests reveal the largest disparities. Cinebench R15 multi-core gives Intel 3147 against AMD's 1195, a 62% deficit for AMD. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows Intel at 16561 versus AMD at 8130, a 50.9% gap. PassMark multithread scores are 27030 for Intel and 13320 for AMD, a 50.7% difference.

Compute-heavy PassMark workloads follow the same pattern. Integer math scores 99100 for Intel and 39637 for AMD, a 60% gap. Floating-point math shows 65094 versus 27193, a 58.2% difference. Physics scores are 1824 versus 726, a 60.2% gap. Prime number finding records 106 versus 44, a 58.5% deficit.

Memory-related workloads also favor Intel. Data compression scores 303269 versus 158912, a 47.6% gap. Data encryption shows 18206 versus 7591, a 58.3% difference. Random string sorting scores 34136 versus 16623, a 51.3% gap. Extended instructions score 17318 versus 11455, a 33.9% difference, which is the smallest margin among the PassMark sub-tests.

The average benchmark score comparison reinforces the pattern. Intel's 35728 average is roughly 82% higher than AMD's 19617. Intel's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 (35719, 0% delta), Intel Core Ultra 9 185H (35670, 0.2% delta), AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 (35802, -0.2% delta), and AMD Ryzen 7 7700X (35909, -0.5% delta). AMD's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 (19593, 0.1% delta), Intel Core i5-12500 (19668, -0.3% delta), Intel Core i5-11600KF (19723, -0.5% delta), and Intel Core i7-10700F (19499, 0.6% delta).

The Verdict

The data indicates a decisive performance advantage for the Intel Core 7 250H in every measured workload. The 14-core, 20-thread configuration combined with a 24 MB shared L3 cache and 5.40 GHz boost clock delivers multi-core scores that are roughly double those of the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 in Cinebench R23. Single-core performance also favors Intel, though by a smaller margin of 6.9% to 11.2% depending on the test.

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 occupies a different performance tier. Its 4-core, 8-thread design with 4 MB L3 cache and 4.50 GHz boost clock places it near desktop processors like the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and Intel Core i5-12500 in average score, while the Intel Core 7 250H aligns with higher-end parts such as the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 and Intel Core Ultra 9 185H.

For workloads that depend on parallel execution, such as Cinebench multi-core rendering, PassMark multithread, physics simulation, or data compression, the Intel processor is the clear choice from the recorded data. For tasks that rely more on single-thread responsiveness, the Intel part still leads, but the gap narrows to under 12%. The AMD chip offers ECC memory support and a lower 28 W TDP versus Intel's 45 W, which may matter for specific system requirements, but benchmark performance consistently favors Intel.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several recorded specifications. Core count: AMD has 4, Intel has 14. Thread count: AMD has 8, Intel has 20. Base clock: AMD 2.00 GHz, Intel 2.50 GHz. Boost clock: AMD 4.50 GHz, Intel 5.40 GHz. TDP: AMD 28 W, Intel 45 W.

Cache: AMD L2 is 1 MB per core, Intel is 2 MB per core. AMD L3 is 4 MB, Intel L3 is 24 MB shared. Process node: AMD 4 nm at TSMC, Intel 10 nm at Intel. Memory support: AMD DDR5 and LPDDR5X, Intel DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth: AMD 89.6 GB/s, Intel not recorded. ECC: AMD yes, Intel no.

PCIe: AMD Gen 4 with 14 lanes, Intel Gen 5 with 8 lanes. Integrated graphics: AMD Radeon 840M, Intel Iris Xe Graphics 96EU. Socket: AMD Socket FP8, Intel BGA 1744. Codename: AMD Gorgon Point, Intel Raptor Lake-H. Generation: AMD Ryzen AI 400 (Zen 5/Zen 5c), Intel Core 7 (Raptor Lake Refresh). Release date: AMD 2026-01-04, Intel 2024-12-17. Launch MSRP: Intel $502, AMD not recorded. Multiplier unlocked: both false.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 7 250H wins in all 15 recorded head-to-head benchmarks, so any workload represented in the data favors Intel. The largest wins come from multi-threaded and compute-intensive tasks: Cinebench R15 multi-core (62% lead), PassMark physics (60.2% lead), PassMark integer math (60% lead), PassMark find prime numbers (58.5% lead), PassMark data encryption (58.3% lead), and PassMark floating-point math (58.2% lead).

The Intel part also leads in memory-heavy workloads such as data compression (47.6% lead) and random string sorting (51.3% lead). Extended instructions show the narrowest gap at 33.9%, but still favor Intel. Single-thread tests show Intel leads by 6.9% in Cinebench R23 and 11.2% in PassMark, which is notable for lightly threaded applications.

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 has no recorded benchmark wins in this comparison. Its advantages are structural rather than performance-based: a lower 28 W TDP, ECC memory support, and a more recent release date. The AMD chip also uses a 4 nm process, which typically implies higher transistor density, though no transistor count is recorded. The Radeon 840M integrated graphics may offer different capabilities than Intel's Iris Xe 96EU, but no graphics benchmarks are recorded in the data.

For users prioritizing multi-core rendering, data processing, or any PassMark workload in the database, the Intel Core 7 250H is the stronger choice. For users who require ECC memory or prefer a lower thermal design power, the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 offers those features, but the benchmark data shows no performance scenario where it outperforms the Intel part.