AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data delivers a clear verdict: the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H dominates this comparison, winning 10 of the 11 recorded head-to-head tests. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 secures a single victory, and that win is narrow. In integer math, the AMD scores 65991 against Intel's 64934, a 1.6% margin that represents its only advantage across the entire PassMark suite.

The scale of Intel's victories ranges from modest to overwhelming. The largest gap appears in prime number generation, where Intel scores 304 versus AMD's 77, a 74.7% deficit for the AMD part. Floating point math shows a similar pattern: Intel's 84067 crushes AMD's 42934, a 48.9% difference. Data encryption favors Intel at 21367 versus 12418, a 41.9% lead. Physics simulation shows Intel at 2697 against AMD's 1119, a 58.5% advantage.

Multithreaded performance tells the same story. Intel's 28717 score beats AMD's 21054 by 26.7%. Random string sorting goes to Intel at 34082 versus 27252, a 20% margin. Extended instruction workloads give Intel 23906 against AMD's 18456, a 22.8% lead. Even data compression, a workload where AMD's architecture might be expected to compete, goes to Intel: 276539 versus 256420, a 7.3% gap.

Single-thread performance also favors Intel. The Core Ultra 5 338H records 4180 in both single-thread tests, while the Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 records 3785, a 9.4% deficit. This single-thread advantage compounds across all workloads, since every thread benefits from the higher per-core throughput.

The average benchmark scores in the database confirm the overall picture. AMD's average is 41208, placing it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs. Intel's average is 33989, placing it in the 84th percentile. The percentile difference is modest, but the head-to-head deltas are decisive. The AMD part sits near rivals like the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H (41215) and Intel Core Ultra 7 366H (41263), while Intel's part sits near the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H (34083) and Intel Core i7-12800HX (33875). The average scores differ by 21.2%, but the head-to-head tests show Intel winning most workloads by wider margins.

Architecture Differences

The two processors take fundamentally different design approaches. AMD uses the Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, while Intel uses the Panther Lake architecture on a 3 nm Intel process. AMD's codename is Gorgon Point, part of the Ryzen AI PRO 400 generation with a hybrid Zen 5 / Zen 5c core configuration. Intel's codename is Panther Lake, part of the Core Ultra Series 3 generation with the Panther Lake-H variant.

Core counts differ significantly. AMD provides 6 cores and 12 threads. Intel provides 12 cores and 12 threads, meaning Intel's core count doubles AMD's while thread counts match. This explains why multithreaded workloads favor Intel so heavily: more physical cores handle parallel work more efficiently than simultaneous multithreading on fewer cores.

Cache hierarchies diverge substantially. AMD allocates 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. Intel allocates 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. Intel's L3 cache is more than double AMD's, and its per-core L1 and L2 allocations are larger as well. Larger caches reduce memory latency and improve data reuse, contributing to Intel's leads in data compression and random string sorting.

Memory bandwidth also favors Intel. AMD supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a dual-channel bus delivering 89.6 GB/s. Intel supports LPDDR5X only, also dual-channel, but delivers 136.5 GB/s. That is a 52.3% bandwidth advantage for Intel, which directly benefits memory-intensive workloads like encryption and floating point math.

Process node and foundry differ. AMD uses 4 nm TSMC fabrication and lists a die size of 195 mm². Intel uses 3 nm fabrication at its own foundry, with no die size recorded. The smaller node gives Intel a density advantage for its higher core count.

PCIe connectivity differs. AMD provides Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes. Intel provides Gen 5 with 4 CPU lanes. AMD's wider Gen 4 implementation suits devices needing more expansion lanes, while Intel's narrower Gen 5 lanes offer higher per-lane bandwidth.

Integrated graphics and memory features also separate the two. AMD includes the Radeon 840M and supports ECC memory. Intel includes the Arc B370 and does not support ECC. AMD's ECC support targets reliability-focused workloads, while Intel's graphics solution may serve different display and compute needs.

Clock speeds are close. AMD's base clock is 2.00 GHz with a 4.80 GHz boost. Intel's base clock is 1.90 GHz with a 4.70 GHz boost. AMD holds a slight clock advantage, 0.10 GHz at base and boost, yet Intel still wins single-thread tests. This indicates Intel's per-core efficiency and cache design overcome AMD's clock edge.

Thermal design power is comparable. AMD lists 28 W, Intel lists 25 W. The 3 W difference is minor, and both fit mobile platforms with similar thermal envelopes.

The Verdict

The data indicates the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is the stronger processor for nearly every measured workload. Its 12 physical cores, larger cache hierarchy, and higher memory bandwidth produce decisive wins in multithreaded, floating point, encryption, and physics workloads. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 wins only integer math, and by a 1.6% margin.

Users prioritizing raw parallel performance should choose Intel. The 26.7% multithread lead and 58.5% physics advantage show clear superiority in rendering, simulation, and heavily threaded productivity tasks. The 74.7% prime number advantage and 48.9% floating point lead further confirm Intel's dominance in compute-heavy scenarios.

Users with workloads that emphasize integer operations may find AMD acceptable, but the single win is narrow. The 9.4% single-thread deficit means even lightly threaded applications generally run faster on Intel. The 87th versus 84th percentile placement suggests both parts are competent, but the head-to-head record is unambiguous.

AMD retains advantages in specific areas not measured by PassMark. Its ECC memory support and 16-lane Gen 4 PCIe configuration serve reliability and expansion needs. Its 195 mm² die size and TSMC fabrication may appeal to platform integrators with specific requirements. But for raw benchmark performance, Intel wins 10 of 11 tests.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 | Intel Core Ultra 5 338H |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 12 |

| Threads | 12 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.00 GHz | 1.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.80 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 25 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP8 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Panther Lake |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 136.5 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 16 Lanes | Gen 5, 4 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 840M | Arc B370 |

| Die Size | 195 mm² | Not recorded |

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: Intel has 12 cores, AMD has 6 cores. Both provide 12 threads.

Q: How large is Intel's cache advantage?

A: Intel provides 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3. AMD provides 80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 8 MB L3.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: Intel delivers 136.5 GB/s versus AMD's 89.6 GB/s, a 52.3% advantage for Intel.

Q: Does AMD support ECC memory?

A: Yes, AMD supports ECC memory. Intel does not.

Q: What is the single-thread performance difference?

A: Intel scores 4180 versus AMD's 3785, giving Intel a 9.4% lead in single-thread tests.

Q: Which CPU wins in integer math?

A: AMD wins integer math with 65991 against Intel's 64934, a 1.6% margin. This is AMD's only head-to-head win.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins in data compression (276539 vs 256420), data encryption (21367 vs 12418), extended instructions (23906 vs 18456), prime number generation (304 vs 77), floating point math (84067 vs 42934), multithreaded workloads (28717 vs 21054), physics (2697 vs 1119), random string sorting (34082 vs 27252), and single-thread performance (4180 vs 3785).

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 wins in integer math (65991 vs 64934). This workload involves basic arithmetic operations and integer logic, where AMD's Zen 5 cores demonstrate a slight edge.

For broader use cases, the distribution is clear. Rendering, video encoding, scientific computation, and database operations benefit from Intel's floating point, physics, and multithread advantages. Security and compression tasks favor Intel's encryption and data compression scores. Single-threaded applications such as legacy software or lightly threaded games run faster on Intel.

AMD's only clear use case is integer-heavy calculation workloads, and even there the margin is thin. The ECC support and wider PCIe lane count (16 Gen 4 lanes vs Intel's 4 Gen 5 lanes) may matter for specific workstation or server-adjacent mobile platforms, but the PassMark data shows no other benchmark win for AMD. The 87th percentile placement for AMD versus 84th for Intel reflects their overall standing among all CPUs, but within this direct comparison, Intel is the dominant performer in 91% of the measured tests.