AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 255H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results present a clear split between rendering workloads and general compute tasks. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 wins 3 of the 15 recorded comparisons, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H takes the remaining 12.

The AMD chip's strongest showing comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 10590 against Intel's 9240, a 14.6% advantage. Cinebench R15 multi-core follows a similar pattern: 1723 versus 1515, a 13.7% lead. The single-core Cinebench results are nearly tied, with AMD edging ahead in R15 at 254 versus 251 (1.2% delta), while Intel counters in R23 at 1843 versus 1806, a 2% margin in its favor.

Beyond Cinebench, the data shifts decisively toward Intel. PassMark multi-thread shows Intel at 30703 versus AMD's 18115, a 41% gap. Floating point math reveals the largest delta: Intel scores 98796 against 39362, a 60.2% advantage. Find prime numbers is even more lopsided, with Intel at 303 versus AMD's 56, an 81.5% deficit for the Ryzen part.

Other PassMark subtests reinforce Intel's dominance. Data encryption: 23395 versus 10519, a 55% difference. Physics: 2254 versus 976, a 56.7% margin. Extended instructions: 23755 versus 15826, a 33.4% gap. Random string sorting: 36058 versus 23488, a 34.9% delta. Integer math: 77975 versus 58332, a 25.2% spread. Data compression: 298850 versus 215812, a 27.8% difference. Single-thread performance also favors Intel, at 4317 versus 3591, a 16.8% lead.

The average benchmark score tells the same story: Intel records 33537, AMD 26936. The percentile rankings place Intel in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, AMD in the 79th.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split suggests distinct use-case strengths. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 wins specifically in Cinebench R15 multi-core, R15 single-core, and R23 multi-core. These results indicate a processor that handles short-duration, multi-threaded rendering bursts efficiently, likely benefiting from its Zen 5 architecture's instruction efficiency. The R23 multi-core win at 14.6% ahead is particularly notable for workloads that scale with sustained multi-thread execution.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H, by contrast, dominates every PassMark subtest in the comparison. Its wins span integer math, floating point math, encryption, compression, physics simulation, prime number finding, extended instruction sets, random string sorting, and single-thread performance. The breadth of these victories points to strong general-purpose throughput across varied computational patterns.

The 41% gap in PassMark multi-thread is significant for productivity workloads that use many threads simultaneously. The 60.2% floating point advantage suggests Intel holds a clear edge in scientific computing and simulation tasks. The 55% encryption delta indicates faster handling of security-related operations. Data compression at 27.8% ahead favors archiving and storage-heavy workflows.

For single-thread responsiveness, Intel's 16.8% lead in PassMark single-thread could translate to snappier application launches and better performance in lightly threaded software, despite the near-tie in Cinebench single-core tests.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 uses the Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, with a Gorgon Point codename from the Ryzen AI 400 generation. It contains 6 cores and 12 threads, relying on simultaneous multithreading to reach that thread count. The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H uses the Arrow Lake architecture on a 3 nm TSMC process, with 16 cores and 16 threads, meaning no multithreading per core; the thread count equals the core count.

Cache configurations differ sharply. AMD provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of L3 total. Intel provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The larger Intel caches, particularly the 24 MB L3, likely contribute to its PassMark advantages in data-heavy operations.

Memory bandwidth also favors Intel: 102.4 GB/s versus AMD's 89.6 GB/s, though both support DDR5 and LPDDR5X in dual-channel mode. PCIe connectivity differs, with Intel offering Gen 5 across 20 CPU lanes while AMD uses Gen 4 across 14 lanes.

Both processors run at a 28 W TDP and support ECC memory. Base clocks are identical at 2.00 GHz, but boost clocks differ: Intel reaches 5.10 GHz, AMD tops out at 4.60 GHz. The integrated graphics differ as well, with AMD using Radeon 840M and Intel using Arc Graphics 140T.

The socket types are incompatible: AMD Socket FP8 versus Intel BGA 2049. Release timing shows Intel launched on 2025-01-12, while AMD followed on 2026-01-04.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H has 16 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Does the AMD chip win any multi-core benchmark?

A: Yes. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 13.7% and Cinebench R23 multi-core by 14.6% over the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in the comparison?

A: The PassMark find prime numbers test shows the biggest delta, with Intel scoring 303 versus AMD's 56, an 81.5% difference.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H boosts to 5.10 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 reaches 4.60 GHz.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H averages 33537, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 averages 26936. Intel sits in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, AMD in the 79th.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Both support DDR5 and LPDDR5X in dual-channel mode with ECC enabled, but Intel has higher memory bandwidth at 102.4 GB/s versus AMD's 89.6 GB/s.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward choice based on workload type. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 delivers superior Cinebench multi-core performance, with a 14.6% lead in R23 and 13.7% in R15, making it the better option for applications that resemble those rendering workloads. Its lower core count and smaller cache, however, show clear limits in the PassMark suite.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H wins the majority of recorded benchmarks, including every PassMark subtest. The 41% advantage in multi-thread, 60.2% in floating point, and 55% in encryption indicate a processor that handles a wider range of computational tasks with more headroom. The 16-core configuration without multithreading, combined with 24 MB of shared L3, appears to provide substantial throughput advantages in data-intensive operations.

For users prioritizing Cinebench-style rendering performance, the AMD chip's wins are meaningful and measurable. For general computing that touches integer math, floating point, compression, encryption, physics, and single-thread responsiveness, the Intel chip dominates across every one of those categories. The 4 percentage point difference in percentile ranking (83 versus 79) reinforces the overall advantage held by Intel.

The specifications align with the benchmark outcomes. Intel's larger caches, higher boost clock, newer 3 nm process, and greater memory bandwidth all correspond to its benchmark superiority. AMD's Zen 5 architecture demonstrates competitive efficiency in specific multi-threaded rendering tests but cannot overcome the core and cache deficit in broader workloads.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 | Intel Core Ultra 7 255H |

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

| Cores | 6 | 16 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Boost Clock | 4.60 GHz | 5.10 GHz |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP8 | Intel BGA 2049 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Arrow Lake |

| Codename | Gorgon Point | Arrow Lake-H |

| Generation | Ryzen AI 400 (Zen 5 / Zen 5c) | Ultra 7 (Arrow Lake-H) |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

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

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 102.4 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 14 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 840M | Arc Graphics 140T |

| Release Date | 2026-01-04 | 2025-01-12 |

| Part Number | 100-000001935 | SRQAN |

Both processors share a 2.00 GHz base clock, 28 W TDP, DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory support, dual-channel memory bus, ECC memory support, and lack an unlocked multiplier.