AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235T Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark data presents an unusually one-sided picture. Across all eleven recorded PassMark tests, the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T claims victory, leaving the AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G without a single win in the direct comparison. The database shows zero wins for the AMD part and eleven for the Intel part, which makes the use-case split straightforward: the Intel processor dominates every measured workload category.

The largest gaps appear in compute-heavy tasks. In floating-point math, the Intel part scores 106546 against 45711 for the AMD chip, a delta of 57.1 percent in Intel's favor. Prime number finding shows an even more dramatic separation, with Intel scoring 318 versus AMD's 90, a 71.7 percent advantage. These are not marginal differences; they represent fundamentally different throughput characteristics in mathematical workloads.

Multithreaded performance also favors Intel substantially. The PassMark multithread score sits at 30918 for the Core Ultra 5 235T versus 23487 for the Ryzen AI 5 440G, a 24 percent gap. The physics test, which often correlates with simulation and gaming-related CPU workloads, shows Intel ahead by 38.4 percent, scoring 2157 against 1329.

The AMD processor does not completely disappear from relevance. Its single-thread score of 4060 trails the Intel's 4339 by only 6.4 percent, which is the closest margin in the entire comparison. Data compression also shows near-parity: AMD scores 292735 versus Intel's 295100, a difference of just 0.8 percent. These narrow gaps suggest that in lightly threaded, memory-bound or compression-oriented tasks, the two processors behave similarly despite their architectural differences.

The average benchmark scores from the broader database place the AMD part at 46187 with an 89th percentile ranking across all CPUs, while the Intel part averages 38561 and sits at the 86th percentile. This apparent contradiction, where the AMD part has a higher average score and percentile despite losing every direct head-to-head test, reflects the different benchmark suites each processor was subjected to. The Intel part's Cinebench results, which include a multicore score of 26232 in Cinebench R23, are not part of the AMD processor's recorded benchmark set.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear conclusion: the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T is the stronger performer in every recorded benchmark category shared between the two processors. Users who prioritize raw computational throughput, particularly in floating-point, encryption, or multithreaded workloads, should favor the Intel part based strictly on these measurements.

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G does have traits that may appeal to a narrower set of use cases. Its single-thread deficit is modest at 6.4 percent, and its data compression score is essentially tied with Intel. The AMD chip also uses the AMD Socket AM5 platform, supports ECC memory, and has an unlocked multiplier, features that the Intel part lacks. For users who require error-correcting memory or plan to overclock, the AMD processor becomes the only option between the two, despite its performance disadvantage.

The Intel part counters with a higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus 4.80 GHz, a larger 24 MB shared L3 cache versus 8 MB, PCIe Gen 5 support with 20 CPU lanes versus Gen 4 with 12 lanes, and a launch MSRP of $247. Its 14 cores and 14 threads outnumber the AMD's 6 cores and 12 threads, though the thread count difference is smaller than the core count difference due to the AMD part's simultaneous multithreading.

The percentile rankings complicate the story slightly. The AMD part ranks at the 89th percentile across all CPUs, three points above the Intel's 86th percentile, and its average benchmark score of 46187 exceeds the Intel's 38561. These figures come from different benchmark sets and do not override the direct head-to-head results, but they indicate that the AMD processor performs strongly in the specific tests recorded for it. The Intel part's nearest rivals include the Core i5-14500 with an average score of 38531, a delta of 0.1 percent, while the AMD part's nearest rival is the Core i9-13900HX at 46098, a delta of 0.2 percent.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive Intel victory appears in the prime number test. The Core Ultra 5 235T scores 318, while the Ryzen AI 5 440G manages only 90, a 71.7 percent gap. This test often reflects integer division and branch prediction efficiency, and the result suggests the Intel architecture handles this workload class far more effectively.

Floating-point math shows the second-largest delta at 57.1 percent. Intel's 106546 score dwarfs AMD's 45711. This test typically exercises vector arithmetic and scientific computing patterns, indicating that the Intel processor has a substantial advantage in numerically intensive applications.

Data encryption favors Intel by 42.1 percent, with scores of 23457 versus 13585. Encryption workloads rely heavily on cryptographic instruction sets and data shuffling, where the Intel part demonstrates clear superiority. The physics test shows a 38.4 percent Intel advantage, scoring 2157 against 1329, which often correlates with constraint solving and rigid body simulation.

The multithread test puts Intel ahead by 24 percent, scoring 30918 versus 23487. This is a broad throughput measurement that reflects the Intel part's 14 cores against the AMD's 6 cores, though the AMD's 12 threads narrow the effective difference. Integer math shows a 15.4 percent Intel lead, with scores of 84244 versus 71251.

Random string sorting favors Intel by 12.1 percent, scoring 35377 against 31106. Extended instructions show an 11 percent Intel advantage, scoring 23212 versus 20648. The single-thread tests, recorded twice in the database as passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread with identical scores, show Intel ahead by 6.4 percent, 4339 versus 4060.

Data compression is the closest contest. Intel edges out AMD by just 0.8 percent, scoring 295100 versus 292735. This near-tie indicates that compression workloads, which often depend on memory bandwidth and cache behavior rather than raw core count, do not strongly favor either architecture.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T scores 4339 in the PassMark single-thread test, while the AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G scores 4060, giving Intel a 6.4 percent advantage.

Q: How do the two processors compare in multithreaded workloads?

A: The Intel part scores 30918 in the PassMark multithread test versus 23487 for the AMD part, a 24 percent difference in Intel's favor. The Intel chip has 14 cores and 14 threads, while the AMD chip has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G supports ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T does not.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T supports 102.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G supports 89.6 GB/s. Both use dual-channel DDR5 memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G boosts to 4.80 GHz.

Q: How do the cache sizes differ?

A: The Intel part has 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 3 MB of L2 per core. The AMD part has 8 MB of L3 cache and 1 MB of L2 per core. The Intel part also has 192 KB of L1 per core versus 80 KB per core for AMD.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G uses the Gorgon Point codename and belongs to the Ryzen AI 400 generation, built on a hybrid Zen 5 and Zen 5c core arrangement. The process node is 4 nm, produced by TSMC, with a die size of 195 mm². The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T uses Arrow Lake architecture with the Arrow Lake-S codename, part of the Core Ultra Series 2 generation, built on a 3 nm TSMC process with a die size of 243 mm² and 17,800 million transistors.

Core configurations differ sharply. The AMD part packs 6 cores and 12 threads, relying on simultaneous multithreading to reach its thread count. The Intel part offers 14 cores but only 14 threads, meaning it does not use hyperthreading in this configuration. This explains why the multithread score gap of 24 percent is smaller than the core count ratio might suggest.

Cache hierarchies reflect different strategies. Intel allocates 24 MB of shared L3 cache, three times the AMD's 8 MB. Per-core L2 also favors Intel at 3 MB versus 1 MB, and per-core L1 at 192 KB versus 80 KB. The larger Intel caches likely contribute to its advantage in data compression, where the near-tie between the two suggests cache sensitivity.

Memory and I/O capabilities also diverge. Both support dual-channel DDR5, but Intel's memory bandwidth reaches 102.4 GB/s versus AMD's 89.6 GB/s. The PCIe implementation differs by a generation: Intel provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes, while AMD provides Gen 4 with 12 CPU lanes. This gives Intel a substantial I/O throughput advantage for expansion cards and storage.

ECC memory support is exclusive to the AMD part. The Ryzen AI 5 440G also has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T is locked. The integrated graphics differ as well: AMD uses the Radeon 840M, while Intel uses the Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU.

Specification Differences

The base clocks differ slightly: the AMD part runs at 2.00 GHz, while the Intel part runs at 2.20 GHz. Boost clocks favor Intel at 5.00 GHz versus 4.80 GHz. Both have a 65 watt TDP.

The sockets are incompatible. AMD uses Socket AM5, while Intel uses Socket 1851. The AMD processor has part number 100-000001918, and the Intel processor has part number SRQES. Production status for both is listed as active.

The Intel part has a recorded launch MSRP of $247. The AMD part has no launch MSRP listed in the database.

Release dates differ by over a year. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T was released on January 6, 2025, while the AMD Ryzen AI 5 440G was released on February 28, 2026.

The market segment for both is desktop. The Intel part belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 family, while the AMD part belongs to the Ryzen AI 400 family. The AMD processor's generation is described as Ryzen AI 400 with Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores, while the Intel processor's generation is described as Ultra 5 with Arrow Lake architecture.