AMD Ryzen AI 5 435 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive sweep: the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 wins 15 of 15 shared benchmark comparisons against the AMD Ryzen AI 5 435. No test in the head-to-head set favors the AMD processor. The margin varies dramatically by workload, from a near-tie in integer math to a crushing deficit in prime number finding.

The largest gap appears in PassMark's find prime numbers test. Intel scores 358 versus AMD's 58, a delta of -83.8%. This is not a small edge; it is a fundamental difference in how the two chips execute this workload. The Cinebench R23 multicore result tells a similar story at a larger scale: Intel posts 25,891 against AMD's 11,333, a -56.2% difference. The Intel part delivers more than double the multi-threaded rendering score. Cinebench R23 singlecore confirms the pattern, with Intel at 3,655 and AMD at 1,816, a -50.3% gap.

PassMark floating point math also separates the pair sharply. Intel scores 92,038 versus AMD's 40,627, a -55.9% difference. Data encryption shows Intel at 22,285 against AMD's 11,110, a -50.1% gap. The physics test in PassMark records Intel at 2,342 and AMD at 1,075, a -54.1% difference. Extended instructions follow at -40.4%, with Intel scoring 27,162 and AMD 16,197.

Not every workload shows such a wide split. PassMark integer math is the closest contest: Intel scores 65,345 while AMD manages 61,026, a modest -6.6% delta. Single-thread performance in PassMark also stays relatively tight, with Intel at 4,412 versus AMD's 3,734, a -15.4% difference. Data compression lands in the middle at -25.6%, with Intel scoring 302,811 and AMD 225,374.

The Cinebench R15 results, both multicore and singlecore, reinforce the pattern. Intel leads multicore with 2,609 against AMD's 1,686 (-35.4%) and singlecore with 368 against AMD's 260 (-29.3%). PassMark multithread shows Intel at 30,459 versus AMD's 19,000, a -37.6% gap. Random string sorting completes the sweep at -32%, with Intel scoring 36,590 and AMD 24,891.

The average benchmark score in the database confirms the overall positioning. Intel's average sits at 36,938, while AMD's average is 28,128. Intel also holds a higher percentile rank among all CPUs at 85, compared with AMD's 80. The nearest rival data places each chip in a different performance tier: AMD's closest match is the Intel Core i5-13490F at -0.2% delta, while Intel's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F at 0% delta.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. AMD uses Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, built as part of the Gorgon Point codename within the Ryzen AI 400 generation. Intel uses Arrow Lake architecture on a 3 nm TSMC process, part of the Core Ultra Series 2 generation with the Arrow Lake-S codename. Both foundries are TSMC, but the process nodes differ.

Core and thread counts diverge significantly. AMD provides 6 cores and 12 threads, while Intel provides 10 cores and 10 threads. Intel has more physical cores but no hyperthreading, while AMD uses simultaneous multithreading to double its thread count. Despite the thread disadvantage, Intel's higher core count drives its multicore wins.

Clock speeds favor Intel in both directions. AMD lists a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. Intel lists a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. Intel starts higher and finishes higher, which contributes to its single-thread advantage.

Cache hierarchies show a structural difference. AMD allocates 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a 4 MB L3 cache. Intel allocates 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and a 20 MB shared L3. Intel's larger L3 pool, five times AMD's total, helps explain its strength in data-heavy workloads like compression and encryption.

Memory support overlaps but not completely. Both support DDR5 and dual-channel memory buses. AMD adds LPDDR5X support and ECC memory, while Intel lists DDR5 only and no ECC. Memory bandwidth favors Intel slightly: 102.4 GB/s versus AMD's 89.6 GB/s.

PCIe connectivity differs by generation and lane count. AMD offers Gen 4 with 14 lanes (CPU only). Intel offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Intel's newer PCIe generation and more lanes matter for desktop expansion, though the benchmark data does not directly measure this.

The integrated graphics differ as well. AMD pairs its CPU with Radeon 840M graphics. Intel uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 16 execution units. Power targets diverge sharply: AMD lists a 28 W TDP, while Intel lists 65 W. The Intel part consumes more power and delivers more performance, consistent with its desktop market segment. AMD targets mobile with Socket FP8, while Intel uses Socket 1851 for desktop. Intel's die size is 243 mm² with 17,800 million transistors; AMD does not report die size or transistor count in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 wins across every benchmark category recorded in the head-to-head set. No workload in the database favors the AMD Ryzen AI 5 435. Still, the margin structure suggests where each part remains competitive.

Intel's biggest advantages cluster in compute-heavy, multi-threaded, and mathematically intensive tasks. The prime number test shows a -83.8% delta, the largest in the set. Floating point math, physics simulation, and Cinebench multicore all show deltas beyond -54%. These workloads benefit from Intel's 10 physical cores, higher clocks, and larger L3 cache. Rendering, scientific calculation, and encryption tasks will see the largest performance gap.

AMD's relative strength appears in integer math, where the delta shrinks to -6.6%. This is the only test where AMD comes within single digits of Intel. The Ryzen AI 5 435 also keeps the single-thread PassMark gap at -15.4%, which is closer than most other workloads. For integer-heavy code that does not scale perfectly to many cores, AMD's 6-core, 12-thread design with Zen 5 efficiency remains respectable. The Cinebench R15 singlecore gap of -29.3% shows AMD trailing but not by the catastrophic margins seen in prime finding.

The power envelope is a separate axis of comparison. AMD's 28 W TDP versus Intel's 65 W TDP means the AMD part draws less power while delivering its scores. The database does not include efficiency ratios, but the raw TDP figures indicate AMD operates at a substantially lower power target. In thermally constrained mobile chassis, that lower TDP is an advantage. Intel's 65 W TDP suits desktop systems with more cooling headroom.

The market segments confirm this split. AMD is listed as Mobile with Socket FP8, while Intel is listed as Desktop with Socket 1851. The Ryzen AI 5 435 targets thin-and-light laptops where the 28 W TDP and LPDDR5X support matter. The Core Ultra 5 225 targets desktop towers where the 243 mm² die, 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, and 65 W TDP fit a different use case.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear performance hierarchy. Intel Core Ultra 5 225 wins 15 of 15 head-to-head benchmarks and holds an average score of 36,938 against AMD's 28,128. Intel's percentile rank of 85 versus AMD's 80 places it higher in the overall CPU distribution. The nearest rival comparisons reinforce this: Intel's closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F at 0% delta, while AMD's closest competitor is the Intel Core i5-13490F at -0.2%. Both chips sit near their respective rival groups, but those groups are different performance tiers.

Buyers choosing between these two should weigh workload type and platform constraints. For multi-threaded rendering, physics simulation, floating point math, encryption, and data compression, the Intel part delivers scores from roughly 25% to 84% higher. The Cinebench R23 multicore result alone, 25,891 versus 11,333, shows more than double the rendering throughput. Anyone running CPU-bound desktop workloads should pick Intel based on the recorded data.

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 435 remains relevant for a different reason: its 28 W TDP and mobile socket. The database lists no launch MSRP for AMD, while Intel's launch MSRP is $246. The AMD part's lower power draw and LPDDR5X memory support fit laptop designs. Its integer math score of 61,026 versus Intel's 65,345 shows it is not far behind in that specific workload. For a mobile system where power efficiency matters more than raw throughput, the AMD part has a place. For raw performance in every measured benchmark, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is the choice the data supports.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 wins 15 of 15 head-to-head benchmark tests against the AMD Ryzen AI 5 435. The AMD part records zero wins in the shared test set.

Q: How large is the multi-threaded performance gap?

A: In Cinebench R23 multicore, Intel scores 25,891 versus AMD's 11,333, a delta of -56.2%. PassMark multithread shows Intel at 30,459 versus AMD's 19,000, a -37.6% gap.

Q: Is there any workload where the AMD processor comes close to Intel?

A: PassMark integer math is the closest test, with Intel scoring 65,345 and AMD scoring 61,026, a delta of only -6.6%. PassMark single-thread is the next closest at -15.4%, with Intel at 4,412 and AMD at 3,734.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: AMD provides 6 cores and 12 threads. Intel provides 10 cores and 10 threads. Intel has more physical cores but no hyperthreading, while AMD uses simultaneous multithreading.

Q: How do the power targets differ?

A: AMD lists a TDP of 28 W, while Intel lists a TDP of 65 W. AMD also lists LPDDR5X memory support and ECC memory, while Intel lists DDR5 only without ECC.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: Intel's average benchmark score is 36,938, and its percentile rank among all CPUs is 85. AMD's average benchmark score is 28,128, with a percentile rank of 80.