AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 266V Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data splits these two mobile processors along clear lines. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 wins 5 of the 15 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V wins 10. The overall average benchmark score, however, favors AMD: the Ryzen AI 7 445 records 26936 against 23297 for the Intel part, placing it in the 79th percentile of all CPUs versus the 76th percentile for the Intel chip.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V is the choice for single-threaded responsiveness and heavily threaded productivity workloads like video rendering. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 16544 beats the AMD part by 36%, and its single-core score of 2335 leads by 22.7%. The Intel part also dominates in floating-point math, prime number finding, and physics simulations.

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 is the stronger option for integer-heavy work and compression tasks. It leads by 40.4% in PassMark integer math and by 15.4% in data compression. Its 6 cores with 12 threads provide better thread density per core for specific workloads, and its higher average benchmark score indicates more consistent overall performance across the full test suite.

Users who prioritize raw multi-core rendering should select the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V. Users who work with integer arithmetic, compression, or encryption-adjacent tasks should select the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445. The data does not support a single universal winner.

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 the Gorgon Point codename and a Ryzen AI 400 series generation label that includes both Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, meaning each core supports two threads simultaneously.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V uses the Lunar Lake architecture on a 3 nm TSMC process, part of the Core Ultra Series 2 generation. It has 8 cores and 8 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading; each core handles exactly one thread. The Intel chip also uses a higher base clock of 2.20 GHz versus 2.00 GHz on the AMD part, and a higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus 4.60 GHz.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The AMD part has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of L3 cache. The Intel part has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger L3 cache on the Intel chip likely contributes to its single-threaded advantage.

Memory bandwidth also favors Intel: 136.5 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s for AMD. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the Intel part supports LPDDR5X with bandwidth dependent on the motherboard, while AMD supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The Intel part enables ECC memory, while the AMD part does not. PCIe support differs as well: AMD provides Gen 4 with 14 lanes, Intel provides Gen 5 with 4 lanes.

The integrated graphics differ: AMD uses the Radeon 840M, Intel uses the Arc 140V. Both parts are active production mobile processors, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 comes in PassMark integer math, where it scores 58332 against 41558, a 40.4% advantage. This is the single most decisive result in the entire comparison. The AMD part also wins data compression with 215812 versus 187050, a 15.4% margin, and random string sorting with 23488 versus 22905, a 2.5% margin. In Cinebench R15, the AMD part wins both multi-core (1723 versus 1667, a 3.4% margin) and single-core (254 versus 235, an 8.1% margin).

The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V counters with its own decisive wins. The largest is in find prime numbers, where it scores 191 versus 56, a 70.7% advantage. Floating-point math shows a 30.9% lead (56923 versus 39362), and physics simulation shows a 39.3% lead (1608 versus 976). Data encryption favors Intel by 23.9% (13822 versus 10519). The Cinebench R23 results are particularly notable: multi-core gives Intel a 36% lead (16544 versus 10590), and single-core gives Intel a 22.7% lead (2335 versus 1806).

The extended instructions test is nearly a tie: Intel wins with 15928 versus 15826, just 0.6% ahead. PassMark multithread shows Intel ahead by 6.9% (19461 versus 18115), and PassMark single-thread shows Intel ahead by 8.9% (3943 versus 3591).

The overall pattern is consistent. The AMD part wins where integer operations and compression dominate. The Intel part wins where floating-point precision, prime number generation, and rendering workloads dominate. The Cinebench R15 results contradict the R23 results for multi-core, suggesting the older test suite favors AMD's threading model while the newer suite favors Intel's higher clock speeds and larger cache.

Specification Differences

| Field | AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 | Intel Core Ultra 7 266V |

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

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 8 |

| Base clock | 2.00 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.60 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 17 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP8 | Intel BGA 2833 |

| Process node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

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

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

| L3 cache | 4 MB | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | LPDDR5X (depends on motherboard) |

| Memory bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 136.5 GB/s |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 14 lanes | Gen 5, 4 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 840M | Arc 140V |

| Release date | 2026-01-04 | 2024-09-23 |

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V has 8 cores but only 8 threads. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 has 6 cores but 12 threads due to simultaneous multithreading.

Q: Which processor scores higher in the overall average benchmark?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 records an average benchmark score of 26936, placing it in the 79th percentile. The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V records 23297, placing it in the 76th percentile.

Q: How large is the Intel lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V scores 16544 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 36% higher than the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445's score of 10590.

Q: Where does the AMD processor show its biggest advantage?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 leads by 40.4% in PassMark integer math, scoring 58332 versus 41558. It also leads by 15.4% in data compression.

Q: What memory bandwidth does each processor support?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V supports 136.5 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 supports 89.6 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but Intel supports LPDDR5X only, while AMD supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, higher than the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445's 4.60 GHz. The Intel part also has a higher base clock at 2.20 GHz versus 2.00 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V wins in scenarios that demand high clock speeds and large cache. The 5.00 GHz boost clock and 12 MB of shared L3 cache drive its Cinebench R23 single-core win of 2335, which is 22.7% ahead of the AMD part. The same architecture advantages power its 36% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core (16544 versus 10590). Floating-point math workloads show a 30.9% Intel advantage, and prime number finding shows a 70.7% advantage. Physics simulation favors Intel by 39.3%, and data encryption favors Intel by 23.9%. These results indicate the Intel part is the stronger choice for 3D rendering, scientific computing, and any workload that relies heavily on floating-point arithmetic or single-threaded performance.

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 wins in scenarios that exploit its 12 threads and integer execution capabilities. The 40.4% lead in integer math (58332 versus 41558) is the clearest signal. Data compression shows a 15.4% advantage (215812 versus 187050), and random string sorting shows a 2.5% advantage (23488 versus 22905). The Cinebench R15 results also favor AMD, with an 8.1% single-core win (254 versus 235) and a 3.4% multi-core win (1723 versus 1667). The AMD part also carries a higher average benchmark score overall, 26936 versus 23297, and sits in a higher percentile of all CPUs. These results indicate the AMD part is the stronger choice for integer-heavy processing, compression utilities, and mixed workloads where its 12 threads provide better parallel efficiency.