AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 records an average benchmark score of 46,062, placing it in the 89th percentile against all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 averages 39,485, which puts it in the 87th percentile.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 scores 18,316 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 scores 14,769. This gives AMD a 24% lead in that workload.

Q: Which processor wins in PassMark single-thread testing?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 leads with a PassMark single-thread score of 4,516, compared to 3,901 for the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450, a 13.6% advantage.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has 14 cores and 14 threads, meaning Intel offers more physical cores but no hyper-threading.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 does not list ECC support.

Q: What are the release dates for the two processors?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 was released on January 6, 2025. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 followed on January 4, 2026.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 uses the Zen 5 architecture under the Gorgon Point codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It is part of the Ryzen AI 400 generation, which combines Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. The die size measures 195 mm². The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 uses Arrow Lake architecture under the Arrow Lake-S codename, built on a 3 nm process, also at TSMC. Its die is larger at 243 mm² and contains 17,800 million transistors.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The AMD processor allocates 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel processor provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger L3 pool on the Intel side likely contributes to its strong performance in data-heavy PassMark workloads.

Memory support also diverges. The AMD chip supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory across a dual-channel bus, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel chip supports DDR5 only, also dual-channel, but with a higher memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. ECC memory is supported on the AMD part, not on the Intel part.

PCIe capabilities differ as well. The AMD processor provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel processor provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics are different: AMD uses the Radeon 860M, while Intel uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU. The AMD chip is a mobile segment processor on AMD Socket FP8, whereas the Intel chip is a desktop segment processor on Intel Socket 1851.

Power characteristics also separate the two. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 has a TDP of 28 watts, base clock of 2.00 GHz, and boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has a TDP of 65 watts, base clock of 3.40 GHz, and boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a clear split between multi-core rendering and single-thread or specialized workloads. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 wins 4 of the 15 recorded benchmarks, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 wins 11.

The largest AMD victory comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the AMD scores 2,713 against Intel's 1,488, a 82.3% delta. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, AMD scores 18,316 versus 14,769, a 24% lead. The AMD chip also wins Cinebench R15 single-core narrowly, 215 versus 210, a 2.4% margin. In PassMark integer math, AMD scores 88,531 against Intel's 87,948, a slim 0.7% advantage.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 dominates the PassMark suite. Its largest win is in PassMark find prime numbers, scoring 371 versus AMD's 89, a 76% delta. In PassMark floating point math, Intel scores 117,951 against 54,447, a 53.8% lead. PassMark data encryption shows Intel at 29,293 versus AMD's 16,247, a 44.5% margin. PassMark physics gives Intel 2,570 against 1,578, a 38.6% delta. PassMark extended instructions favors Intel 32,752 to 22,400, a 31.6% lead. PassMark multithread shows Intel at 37,816 versus 26,350, a 30.3% advantage. PassMark random string sorting goes to Intel 48,980 against 35,648, a 27.2% margin. PassMark data compression favors Intel 390,711 to 315,906, a 19.1% delta. PassMark single-thread (recorded twice as passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread) gives Intel 4,516 against 3,901, a 13.6% lead.

In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel takes a modest win, scoring 2,085 versus AMD's 2,038, a 2.3% delta. This is the only Cinebench single-core test where Intel leads, and the margin is small.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has 14 cores and 14 threads. Base clocks are 2.00 GHz for AMD and 3.40 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 5.10 GHz for AMD and 5.00 GHz for Intel. TDP is 28 watts for AMD and 65 watts for Intel.

Cache configuration is another point of divergence. L1 cache is 80 KB per core on AMD versus 192 KB per core on Intel. L2 cache is 1 MB per core on AMD versus 3 MB per core on Intel. L3 cache is 8 MB on AMD versus 24 MB shared on Intel. The process node differs: 4 nm for AMD, 3 nm for Intel. Die size is 195 mm² for AMD and 243 mm² for Intel. Transistor count is listed only for Intel at 17,800 million.

Memory support differs: AMD supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, Intel supports DDR5 only. Memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s for AMD and 102.4 GB/s for Intel. ECC support is present on AMD, absent on Intel. PCIe generation and lanes differ: Gen 4 with 16 lanes for AMD, Gen 5 with 20 lanes for Intel. Integrated graphics are Radeon 860M on AMD and Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU on Intel. Sockets are AMD Socket FP8 versus Intel Socket 1851. Market segments are Mobile for AMD and Desktop for Intel. Release dates are January 4, 2026 for AMD and January 6, 2025 for Intel. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $257; the AMD part has no launch MSRP listed.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 wins in multi-core rendering workloads. Its Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 2,713 is 82.3% ahead of Intel, and its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 18,316 is 24% ahead. The AMD chip also edges out Intel in Cinebench R15 single-core by 2.4% and in PassMark integer math by 0.7%. These results suggest the AMD processor is better suited for CPU rendering tasks and integer-heavy computation.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 wins across nearly all PassMark workloads, including data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, find prime numbers, floating point math, multithread, physics, random string sorting, and single-thread tests. The margins range from 13.6% in single-thread to 76% in find prime numbers. Intel also takes Cinebench R23 single-core by 2.3%. The Intel chip appears stronger for general-purpose desktop computing, floating-point operations, encryption, and single-thread responsiveness.

The benchmark tally confirms the split: AMD wins 4 tests, Intel wins 11. The AMD wins are concentrated in Cinebench multi-core and one math test, while Intel wins dominate the PassMark suite. The average benchmark scores align with this pattern, with Intel at 46,062 and AMD at 39,485.

The Verdict

The data indicates two different usage profiles. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 is the choice for multi-core rendering workloads, specifically Cinebench R15 and R23 multi-core, where it leads by 82.3% and 24% respectively. Its 28-watt TDP and mobile socket also position it for power-sensitive or laptop environments. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is the choice for general desktop performance, with wins in 11 of 15 benchmarks, including all major PassMark workloads. Its higher average benchmark score, 46,062 versus 39,485, and 89th percentile ranking versus 87th, support this.

For users prioritizing Cinebench rendering or integer math, the AMD processor delivers clear advantages. For users prioritizing encryption, floating-point math, compression, physics simulation, or single-thread tasks, the Intel processor is consistently ahead. The Intel chip also offers more physical cores (14 versus 8) and a larger L3 cache (24 MB versus 8 MB), though the AMD chip provides more threads (16 versus 14) and ECC support. The Intel processor carries a launch MSRP of $257, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD part. The final choice depends on whether the workload leans toward multi-core rendering (AMD) or broad PassMark performance (Intel).