AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split: the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G wins 7 of the 11 head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H takes 4. The AMD part’s victories are often decisive, while Intel’s wins are concentrated in specific computational domains.

The largest margin belongs to the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G in PassMark integer math, where it scores 99,732 against Intel’s 64,934, a 53.6% advantage. Data compression follows a similar pattern: AMD scores 402,831 versus 276,539, a 45.7% lead. Random string sorting also favors AMD at 42,663 versus 34,082, a 25.2% gap. Extended instructions go to AMD by 18.1%, with scores of 28,223 and 23,906.

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G also wins the multithread test, scoring 30,422 against Intel’s 28,717, a 5.9% margin. Single-thread performance is close but favors AMD: 4,309 versus 4,180, a 3.1% edge. The duplicate single-thread entry confirms the same result.

Intel’s wins are equally telling. The largest Intel margin is in prime number finding, where the Core Ultra 5 338H scores 304 versus AMD’s 87, a 71.4% advantage. Physics simulation also goes heavily to Intel: 2,697 versus 1,440, a 46.6% lead. Floating-point math favors Intel by 24.2%, with scores of 84,067 and 63,683. Data encryption is the narrowest Intel win: 21,367 versus 18,937, an 11.4% edge.

The overall average benchmark score reinforces the split: AMD’s average is 63,331, while Intel’s is 33,989. That difference reflects the fact that AMD’s wins are in higher-weight tests, even though Intel wins several individual workloads. The percentile rankings also differ: AMD sits at the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, while Intel sits at the 84th.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G dominates integer-heavy and general productivity workloads. Its 53.6% lead in integer math and 45.7% lead in data compression indicate strong performance for tasks that rely on branching, logic, and data manipulation. The 25.2% edge in random string sorting points to efficient memory access and sorting algorithms. Extended instructions, with an 18.1% margin, suggest the AMD part handles advanced instruction sets effectively. The multithread win, albeit modest at 5.9%, shows that the 8-core, 16-thread configuration holds up against Intel’s 12-core, 12-thread design in overall parallel throughput. Single-thread performance, though close, still lands with AMD.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H takes the computational heavy-lifting categories. Prime number finding, a test that stresses integer division and branch prediction, goes to Intel by a massive 71.4%. Physics simulation, which often relies on floating-point calculations and vectorized code, favors Intel by 46.6%. Floating-point math itself is 24.2% ahead for Intel. These results indicate that Intel’s architecture, with its larger per-core L1 cache and higher memory bandwidth, excels at scientific and simulation-style workloads. Data encryption, a lighter but still notable win, adds a security-related advantage.

For users running compression, sorting, or general office and coding tasks, the AMD part is the stronger choice. For simulation, physics, and floating-point-heavy applications, the Intel part pulls ahead. The multithread and single-thread scores suggest that AMD is more balanced overall, while Intel is specialized.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different manufacturing and design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G uses a 4 nm process from TSMC, with a die size of 195 mm². It belongs to the Ryzen AI 400 generation, codenamed Gorgon Point, and uses a hybrid Zen 5 / Zen 5c core arrangement. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is built on Intel’s own 3 nm process, under the Panther Lake codename, part of the Core Ultra Series 3 and Panther Lake-H generation.

Core counts differ significantly. AMD provides 8 cores and 16 threads, while Intel provides 12 cores and 12 threads. Intel’s higher core count does not translate to more threads, which explains why AMD wins the multithread test despite having fewer cores. AMD’s base clock is 2.00 GHz with a boost of 5.10 GHz, while Intel runs a 1.90 GHz base and a 4.70 GHz boost. The higher boost clock helps AMD in single-thread tests.

Cache layouts diverge sharply. 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 larger caches likely contribute to its wins in prime number finding and physics, where repeated data access matters. AMD’s smaller L3, however, does not hinder its compression and integer results.

Memory support differs as well. AMD supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. Intel supports only LPDDR5X, also dual-channel, but with a higher 136.5 GB/s bandwidth. That bandwidth advantage may explain Intel’s floating-point and encryption wins. AMD also supports ECC memory, while Intel does not. PCIe lanes differ: AMD offers Gen 4 with 12 lanes, while Intel offers Gen 5 with 4 lanes. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier; Intel’s is locked.

Integrated graphics differ: AMD uses the Radeon 860M, while Intel uses the Arc B370. No benchmark data for these iGPUs appears in the database, so their relative performance is not assessed here. The AMD part targets the desktop segment on Socket AM5, while Intel is a mobile part on BGA 2540. The AMD part releases later, dated 2026-02-28, versus Intel’s 2026-01-04.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split decision based on workload. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G is the stronger general-purpose processor. Its 93rd percentile ranking, 63,331 average score, and wins in integer math, compression, sorting, extended instructions, multithread, and single-thread make it the better choice for everyday computing, data manipulation, and most productivity tasks. The 53.6% lead in integer math and 45.7% lead in compression are not marginal; they are dominant.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is the specialist for compute-heavy simulations. Its 84th percentile ranking and 33,989 average score trail AMD overall, but its 71.4% win in prime number finding and 46.6% win in physics indicate that for scientific, engineering, or floating-point-intensive workloads, Intel is the superior part. The 24.2% floating-point margin reinforces this. The higher memory bandwidth and larger caches support this specialization.

For a desktop user who runs a mix of applications, the AMD part wins on balance. For a mobile user whose primary tasks are simulation or math-heavy, the Intel part wins where it counts. The multithread test, which AMD wins by 5.9%, shows that AMD’s 16 threads beat Intel’s 12 threads in general parallel work. The single-thread test, won by AMD by 3.1%, confirms that AMD also leads in lightly threaded scenarios. Intel’s advantages are real but narrow in scope.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G scores 4,309 in PassMark single-thread, versus 4,180 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H, a 3.1% margin.

Q: How do the two compare in multithread performance?

A: AMD wins the PassMark multithread test with 30,422 against Intel’s 28,717, a 5.9% lead.

Q: Which CPU is better for floating-point calculations?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H scores 84,067 in PassMark floating-point math, 24.2% ahead of AMD’s 63,683.

Q: What is the difference in data compression performance?

A: AMD scores 402,831 in data compression, while Intel scores 276,539, giving AMD a 45.7% advantage.

Q: Which processor has the higher core count?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G has 8 cores. However, AMD has 16 threads versus Intel’s 12.

Q: How do their memory bandwidth figures differ?

A: Intel provides 136.5 GB/s, while AMD provides 89.6 GB/s, both over dual-channel buses. Intel supports only LPDDR5X, while AMD supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X.

Specification Differences

| Field | AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G | Intel Core Ultra 5 338H |

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

| Cores | 8 | 12 |

| Threads | 16 | 12 |

| Base clock | 2.00 GHz | 1.90 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.10 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 25 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Codename | Gorgon Point | Panther Lake |

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

| Process node | 4 nm (TSMC) | 3 nm (Intel) |

| Die size | 195 mm² | Not listed |

| 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 bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |

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

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 12 lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 4 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 860M | Arc B370 |

| Market segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release date | 2026-02-28 | 2026-01-04 |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part number | 100-000001917 | SA4REQ9EW |

The AMD part runs at a higher TDP of 65 W versus 25 W, which aligns with its desktop positioning. Intel’s lower TDP suits its mobile segment. AMD’s higher boost clock and unlocked multiplier give it an overclocking path that Intel lacks. Intel’s larger caches and higher memory bandwidth are its key structural advantages, while AMD counters with more threads and a higher single-thread score. The process node differs: TSMC 4 nm for AMD, Intel 3 nm for Intel. Neither part lists a launch MSRP in the database.