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

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 and Intel Core Ultra 5 338H are two mobile processors that target similar thin-and-light laptops, but the recorded benchmark data reveals they are optimized for very different workloads. The Intel chip wins the majority of head-to-head tests with 13 wins, but the AMD chip secures two significant victories that point to a distinct specialization. This analysis breaks down the data to show where each processor excels, what the architecture reveals, and which workloads favor which silicon.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark results in the database split the two processors into clear use-case categories. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H dominates the broader benchmark suite, claiming 13 of the 15 recorded tests. Its wins span across rendering, encryption, physics simulation, and single-thread performance. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 wins only two tests, but those wins are substantial and highly specific: data compression and integer math. This pattern suggests the AMD chip is tuned for specific data-heavy tasks, while the Intel chip provides a more balanced, high-performance profile across general computing.

For users running compression workloads, such as file archiving or database operations, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 shows a decisive edge. Its 6.4% advantage in data compression and 32.8% lead in integer math are the only areas where it pulls ahead. Conversely, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is the clear choice for floating-point calculations, encryption, and physics processing. Its 37% lead in floating-point math and 50.4% lead in physics are particularly stark. The data implies that creative professionals, researchers, and gamers who rely on physics and floating-point workloads would favor the Intel chip, while server-side or data-processing tasks could benefit from the AMD chip's integer strengths.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 uses the Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, with the codename Gorgon Point. It is built on a generation the database labels "Ryzen AI PRO 400 (Zen 5 / Zen 5c)," indicating a hybrid core layout. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses the Panther Lake architecture on a 3 nm Intel process, belonging to the "Ultra 5 (Panther Lake-H)" generation.

Core configurations differ significantly. The AMD chip has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel chip has 12 cores but only 12 threads. This means the Intel chip does not use simultaneous multithreading, relying instead on a higher physical core count. Cache hierarchies also diverge: the AMD chip has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of L3, while the Intel chip has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and a much larger 18 MB of shared L3. The larger L3 cache on the Intel part likely contributes to its strong performance in data-heavy tests.

Memory support is another differentiator. The AMD chip supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while the Intel chip only supports LPDDR5X. The Intel chip records a higher memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s compared to the AMD chip's 89.6 GB/s. The Intel chip also supports PCIe Gen 5 with 4 lanes, whereas the AMD chip uses PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes. The AMD chip supports ECC memory, which the Intel chip does not. Integrated graphics differ as well: the AMD chip uses the Radeon 860M, while the Intel chip uses the Arc B370.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results show a close contest in multi-core rendering but a larger gap in single-core. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H scores 16331 against the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450's 16054, a margin of just 1.7%. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a similar pattern, with the Intel chip at 2504 and the AMD chip at 2457, a 1.9% lead. These are near-parity results that suggest both processors are capable of sustained multi-threaded work.

Single-core performance is where the Intel chip pulls further ahead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel chip scores 2044 versus 2010, a 1.7% lead. The Cinebench R15 single-core test shows a much larger gap: the Intel chip scores 305 while the AMD chip scores 220, a 27.9% difference. This massive delta in the older Cinebench version is notable, although the newer R23 test shows a much smaller gap. PassMark single-thread results corroborate the Intel advantage, with the Intel chip scoring 4180 versus 3955, a 5.4% lead.

The PassMark suite reveals the most dramatic swings. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H dominates floating-point math, scoring 84067 against 52971, a 37% advantage. Physics is even more one-sided: the Intel chip scores 2697 versus 1337, a 50.4% lead. Prime number finding shows the Intel chip at 304 versus 84, a 72.4% lead, which indicates a major difference in integer-heavy algorithmic throughput. Data encryption also favors Intel, with scores of 21367 versus 14925, a 30.1% lead. Extended instructions and random string sorting both favor Intel, with leads of 13.1% and 5.1% respectively.

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 fights back in integer math, scoring 86227 against the Intel chip's 64934, a 32.8% lead. Data compression also goes to AMD, with scores of 294298 versus 276539, a 6.4% lead. These two wins show that AMD's 8-core, 16-thread design with its specific cache hierarchy can out-process the Intel chip in certain integer and compression algorithms. The overall PassMark multi-thread score favors Intel at 28717 versus 24779, a 13.7% lead, which suggests the Intel chip's 12 physical cores provide a better aggregate throughput despite lacking hyper-threading.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 has a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 18 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 has 8 MB of L3 cache.

Q: What is the biggest single benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H leads by 72.4%, scoring 304 versus 84.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H does not support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher memory bandwidth rating?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has a memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 has a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several key specification fields. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 uses 8 cores and 16 threads, a base clock of 2.00 GHz, a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, a TDP of 28 W, and an AMD Socket FP8. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses 12 cores and 12 threads, a base clock of 1.90 GHz, a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, a TDP of 25 W, and an Intel BGA 2540 socket. The AMD chip is built on a 4 nm process by TSMC, while the Intel chip is built on a 3 nm process by Intel. The AMD chip has 80 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core with 8 MB L3, while the Intel chip has 192 KB L1 and 2.5 MB L2 per core with 18 MB shared L3. Memory support differs: AMD supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while Intel supports only LPDDR5X. Memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s for AMD and 136.5 GB/s for Intel. The AMD chip uses PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes, while the Intel chip uses PCIe Gen 5 with 4 lanes. The AMD chip features the Radeon 860M integrated graphics, and the Intel chip features the Arc B370. ECC memory support is present on the AMD chip but absent on the Intel chip.

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is the more broadly capable processor for most mobile workloads. It wins 13 of the 15 head-to-head tests, including all Cinebench multi-core and single-core tests, all PassMark tests except two, and it holds a higher average benchmark score. Its 12 physical cores, larger 18 MB L3 cache, and higher memory bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s appear to drive its dominance in floating-point math, physics, encryption, and prime number finding. The Intel chip also scores higher in PassMark single-thread at 4180 versus 3955, confirming stronger per-core performance in the recorded data.

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 is the specialist. Its wins in data compression and integer math, with leads of 6.4% and 32.8%, point to workloads involving data transformation, sorting, and algorithmic integer processing. The 16 threads on the AMD chip may explain its strength in integer math, where the extra thread count helps parallelize tasks that are not purely floating-point. Users who prioritize compression or integer-heavy calculations could see measurable gains from the AMD chip. However, the 13.7% deficit in PassMark multi-thread and the 37% deficit in floating-point math make it a difficult recommendation for general productivity or creative work.

The database also places the two chips in different competitive brackets. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 sits at the 85th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H sits at the 84th percentile. The AMD chip's average benchmark score is 37093, slightly higher than the Intel chip's 33989. The nearest rivals for the AMD chip include the Intel Core i9-12900T and the AMD Ryzen 7 7735H, while the Intel chip's nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H and the Intel Core i7-12800HX. These comparisons show that both processors are competitive within their respective performance tiers, but the Intel chip consistently outperforms the AMD chip in the direct head-to-head measurements. The verdict is clear: the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is the superior all-rounder, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 serves a narrow but real niche in integer and compression performance.