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

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive sweep. Across the 11 shared benchmark metrics, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 wins every single test. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 does not secure a single victory. The margin of victory, however, varies wildly by workload, revealing distinct performance characteristics.

The most lopsided result is in PassMark's find prime numbers test. The Intel part scores 358, while the AMD part scores 57. This translates to a 528.1% advantage for Intel. This is not a close contest; it is a category-defining gap. Such a result indicates a massive difference in raw integer throughput on this specific workload.

Floating-point math also heavily favors Intel. The Core Ultra 5 225 scores 92,038, compared to the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435's 41,114. This is a 123.9% difference. Similarly, the physics test shows Intel at 2,342 versus AMD's 995, a 135.4% lead. These scores suggest Intel has a substantial edge in scenarios that rely on parallel floating-point calculations.

Data encryption shows a 97.8% advantage for Intel (22,285 vs. 11,267). Extended instructions follow with a 62.4% lead (27,162 vs. 16,724). The multithread benchmark, a broad measure of parallel performance, gives Intel a 59.5% lead (30,459 vs. 19,091). This is a significant overall throughput advantage.

The remaining benchmarks are closer but still favor Intel. Random string sorting shows a 46.7% lead (36,590 vs. 24,936). Data compression is 30.1% ahead (302,811 vs. 232,803). Single-thread performance, often a key indicator for everyday responsiveness, shows Intel at 4,412 versus AMD's 3,757, a 17.4% advantage. The smallest margin is in integer math, where Intel's 65,345 is just 7.3% higher than AMD's 60,879. Even in its weakest comparative test, Intel still wins.

Context from the database's nearest rival lists is important. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has an average benchmark score of 36,938, placing it near the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (36,945, 0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (37,018, -0.2% delta). The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435, with an average score of 37,762, sits near the Intel Core i5-13600K (37,685, 0.2% delta) and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (37,904, -0.4% delta). Interestingly, despite the Intel chip winning every direct comparison, the AMD chip has a higher average benchmark score (37,762 vs. 36,938). The AMD chip's percentile ranking is also slightly higher at 86, versus Intel's 85. This underscores that the head-to-head tests, while comprehensive, do not represent the entire performance landscape.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 wins. It scores 4,412 in the PassMark single-thread test, which is 17.4% higher than the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435's score of 3,757.

Q: How does the Intel chip compare in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has a significant lead. In the PassMark multithread test, it scores 30,459, which is 59.5% higher than the AMD chip's 19,091. This is a substantial advantage for heavily parallel tasks.

Q: What is the most extreme performance difference between the two?

A: The largest gap is in the PassMark find prime numbers test. The Intel chip scores 358, which is 528.1% higher than the AMD chip's score of 57.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the AMD chip is competitive?

A: The closest result is in PassMark integer math. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 scores 60,879, which is only 7.3% behind the Intel Core Ultra 5 225's score of 65,345. It is still a loss, but the margin is much smaller than in other tests.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each processor?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has an average benchmark score of 36,938. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 has a higher average score of 37,762.

Q: How do these chips rank against all CPUs in the database?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 is ranked in the 86th percentile, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is in the 85th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a desktop part built on the Arrow Lake architecture, specifically Arrow Lake-S. It is manufactured by TSMC on a 3 nm process node. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 is a mobile processor using the Zen 5 architecture, under the codename Gorgon Point. It uses a 4 nm process node, also from TSMC.

Core configuration is a major differentiator. The Intel chip has 10 cores and 10 threads, meaning it does not use simultaneous multithreading. The AMD chip has 6 cores and 12 threads, relying on SMT to double its thread count. The Intel chip uses a larger L1 cache at 192 KB per core, compared to AMD's 80 KB per core. The L2 cache shows a similar pattern: Intel has 3 MB per core, while AMD has 1 MB per core. The L3 cache is also different, with Intel providing 20 MB shared, versus AMD's 4 MB.

The integrated graphics differ completely. Intel uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 16 execution units. AMD uses the Radeon 840M. The memory support also diverges. Intel supports DDR5 only with dual-channel memory. AMD supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X, also with a dual-channel bus.

PCIe connectivity is another point of separation. The Intel chip has Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The AMD chip has Gen 4 with 14 lanes (CPU only). ECC memory support is present on the AMD chip but not on the Intel one. The transistor count for Intel is listed at 17,800 million, while the die size is 243 mm². No transistor count or die size is recorded for the AMD chip.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has 10 cores and 10 threads, while the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The base clock for Intel is 3.30 GHz, which is significantly higher than AMD's 2.00 GHz. The boost clock is closer: Intel reaches 4.90 GHz, while AMD reaches 4.50 GHz.

The thermal design power is a major differentiator. The Intel chip has a TDP of 65 watts, while the AMD chip has a TDP of 28 watts. This reflects their different market segments: Intel is a desktop processor, and AMD is a mobile processor. The sockets reflect this as well. Intel uses Socket 1851, while AMD uses Socket FP8.

Clock speed is not the only separator. The cache hierarchy is distinct. Intel's L1 cache is 192 KB per core, L2 is 3 MB per core, and L3 is 20 MB shared. AMD's L1 is 80 KB per core, L2 is 1 MB per core, and L3 is 4 MB shared. Memory bandwidth also differs: Intel lists 102.4 GB/s, while AMD lists 89.6 GB/s.

The launch MSRP for the Intel chip is $246. No launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD chip. The release dates are also different, with Intel released in January 2025 and AMD scheduled for January 2026. Both processors are currently marked as Active in production, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is the clear winner in raw computational performance across the board. Its 528.1% lead in prime number finding and 123.9% lead in floating-point math make it the obvious choice for number-crunching workloads. The 97.8% advantage in data encryption and 62.4% lead in extended instructions further cement its position for security-related and specialized instruction tasks. The 59.5% multithread lead and 30.1% data compression advantage show it is also superior for multi-threaded productivity. For users prioritizing maximum compute throughput, the Intel chip is the correct selection.

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 does not win any direct benchmark, but its profile still has strengths. Its 28-watt TDP is less than half of Intel's 65-watt TDP. For mobile or power-constrained environments, this is a critical advantage. The AMD chip also supports ECC memory, which is a feature absent from the Intel chip. Its support for LPDDR5X memory, in addition to DDR5, provides flexibility for system designers. The AMD chip's higher average benchmark score of 37,762 and its 86th percentile ranking, compared to Intel's 85th, suggest that in a broader context, its overall performance profile is competitive.

The data points to a simple conclusion. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 wins every performance test in this comparison. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 wins on power efficiency and platform features. The choice between them depends entirely on whether the priority is maximum speed or maximum efficiency.