AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 226V Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, which wins 16 of the 17 recorded comparisons against the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V. The margin is not uniform across workloads, however, and the single Intel win reveals a distinct specialty where the roles reverse.

The largest gaps appear in multi-threaded and integer-heavy tasks. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the AMD part scores 18,698 against Intel's 9,848, a 89.9% advantage. Cinebench R15 multicore shows a similar 89.3% lead (2,842 versus 1,501). PassMark integer math delivers the single biggest delta at 163.5% (101,831 versus 38,647), and PassMark data compression shows 107.7% (354,510 versus 170,687). These results align with the core and thread counts, where AMD fields 10 cores and 20 threads versus Intel's 8 cores and 8 threads.

Multi-threaded aggregate scores reinforce the pattern. Geekbench multicore gives AMD 13,760 against Intel's 8,598, a 60% margin. PassMark multithread shows 29,467 versus 17,850, a 65.1% difference. PassMark random string sorting lands at 89.5% (39,447 versus 20,813), and PassMark extended instructions at 70.6% (25,113 versus 14,724).

Single-thread performance is closer but still favors AMD. Cinebench R23 singlecore shows 1,992 versus 1,744, a 14.2% lead. Geekbench singlecore gives 2,253 versus 1,930, a 16.7% gap. Cinebench R15 singlecore is 303 versus 267, a 13.5% margin. The narrowest overall result is PassMark single-thread, where AMD scores 3,841 against Intel's 3,754, only 2.3% apart.

The Intel part's sole victory comes in PassMark find prime numbers, scoring 166 versus AMD's 117, a 29.5% advantage for Intel. This is a specialized workload, but it is the only recorded test where Intel leads.

Other notable AMD wins include PassMark data encryption at 44% (18,297 versus 12,710), PassMark floating point math at 20.1% (62,802 versus 52,270), and PassMark physics at 17.6% (1,704 versus 1,449). The average benchmark score difference is stark: AMD's 40,048 versus Intel's 19,368, placing AMD in the 87th percentile of all CPUs and Intel in the 73rd.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. AMD's Ryzen AI 9 365 uses the Zen 5 architecture under the Strix Point codename, part of the Ryzen AI 300 generation that mixes Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. Intel's Core Ultra 5 226V uses the Lunar Lake architecture, part of the Core Ultra Series 2 generation.

Manufacturing nodes differ by one step. AMD is built on TSMC's 4 nm process, while Intel uses TSMC's 3 nm process. The die size is recorded only for AMD at 233 mm², with no figure available for Intel.

Cache layouts diverge significantly. AMD provides 80 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, plus 16 MB of shared L3. Intel provides 192 KB of L1 per core and 2.5 MB of L2 per core, but only 8 MB of shared L3. This means Intel has more private cache per core but half the total L3 capacity.

Memory support differs. AMD supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with dual-channel bus and a recorded bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Intel's memory support is listed as dependent on the motherboard, with dual-channel bus but no bandwidth figure recorded. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity is also asymmetric. AMD offers Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes, while Intel offers Gen 5 with only 4 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: AMD uses the Radeon 880M, Intel uses the Arc 130V.

Socket and packaging are entirely separate. AMD fits the FP8 socket, Intel uses BGA 2833. Both are mobile-market parts with active production status. AMD's release date is 2024-06-30, Intel's is 2024-09-23. Neither has a recorded launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The data splits cleanly by workload type. AMD dominates across essentially every general-purpose and multi-threaded category. Content creation, compilation, data compression, encryption, and floating-point math all favor AMD by double-digit margins. The Cinebench and Geekbench results confirm that both single-core and multi-core productivity tasks lean heavily toward AMD.

AMD's biggest wins are in integer math, data compression, and Cinebench multicore, where the deltas exceed 89%. These are workloads that scale with core count and thread count, and AMD's 10 cores with 20 threads provide the structural advantage. The 60% Geekbench multicore lead and 65.1% PassMark multithread lead reinforce this interpretation.

Intel's single win in prime number finding, at 29.5% over AMD, suggests a specialization in certain integer operations that benefit from its per-core cache configuration. Intel's larger L1 (192 KB per core) and L2 (2.5 MB per core) likely contribute to this result. However, this advantage does not extend to other integer-heavy tests, where AMD leads by 163.5% in integer math and 107.7% in data compression.

For single-thread performance, the gap is modest. AMD leads by 2.3% in PassMark single-thread, 13.5% in Cinebench R15, 14.2% in R23, and 16.7% in Geekbench. These are meaningful but not overwhelming margins, indicating that Intel's Lunar Lake architecture is competitive on a per-core basis despite losing the overall comparison.

The percentile rankings frame the overall picture. AMD sits at 87th percentile versus all CPUs, Intel at 73rd. AMD's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 with a -0.1% delta, while Intel's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS with a 0% delta. These comparisons place both processors in different competitive tiers.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every measurable specification. Core counts: AMD has 10, Intel has 8. Thread counts: AMD has 20, Intel has 8, meaning Intel has no hyperthreading. Base clocks: AMD runs at 2.00 GHz, Intel at 2.10 GHz, a small edge for Intel. Boost clocks: AMD reaches 5.00 GHz, Intel tops out at 4.50 GHz, a 0.50 GHz advantage for AMD.

TDP: AMD is rated at 28 watts, Intel at 17 watts. This indicates Intel targets lower power envelopes, though the benchmark data shows AMD delivers substantially higher performance despite the higher power draw. Process node: AMD uses 4 nm, Intel uses 3 nm, with both fabricated by TSMC.

Cache: AMD's L1 is 80 KB per core versus Intel's 192 KB per core; AMD's L2 is 1 MB per core versus Intel's 2.5 MB per core; AMD's L3 is 16 MB versus Intel's 8 MB shared. Memory bandwidth: AMD records 89.6 GB/s, Intel has no figure. PCIe: AMD uses Gen 4 with 16 lanes, Intel uses Gen 5 with 4 lanes. Integrated graphics: AMD Radeon 880M versus Intel Arc 130V. Sockets: AMD FP8 versus Intel BGA 2833. Release dates: AMD 2024-06-30 versus Intel 2024-09-23.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 has 10 cores and 20 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 226V has 8 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the performance gap in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD processor leads by 89.9% in Cinebench R23 multicore (18,698 versus 9,848) and by 60% in Geekbench multicore (13,760 versus 8,598).

Q: Does Intel win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V wins PassMark find prime numbers with a score of 166 versus AMD's 117, a 29.5% advantage.

Q: How do single-thread scores compare?

A: The AMD processor leads in all recorded single-thread tests. The smallest margin is PassMark single-thread, 3,841 versus 3,754, a 2.3% difference. The largest is Geekbench singlecore, 2,253 versus 1,930, a 16.7% gap.

Q: What are the process nodes for each?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 is built on a 4 nm TSMC process. The Intel Core Ultra 5 226V is built on a 3 nm TSMC process.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 has an average benchmark score of 40,048, placing it in the 87th percentile. The Intel Core Ultra 5 226V has an average of 19,368, placing it in the 73rd percentile.

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates that the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 is the stronger processor for virtually all recorded workloads. Its 16 wins out of 17 comparisons, combined with a 40,048 average benchmark score versus Intel's 19,368, establishes a clear performance hierarchy. The AMD part leads by 89.9% in Cinebench R23 multicore, 60% in Geekbench multicore, and 163.5% in PassMark integer math, making it the choice for multi-threaded productivity, content creation, and data-intensive tasks.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 226V offers one specialized advantage in prime number finding, with a 29.5% lead over AMD. Its lower 17 watt TDP versus AMD's 28 watts also indicates a more power-efficient design, which may matter for battery-constrained mobile use. However, the recorded data shows no other workload where Intel matches or exceeds AMD.

For users prioritizing raw performance, multi-threading, and single-thread speed, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 is the definitive pick. For users with workloads specifically involving prime number calculations, or those requiring the lowest power draw, the Intel part has a documented edge. The percentile rankings reinforce the verdict: AMD at 87th percentile versus Intel at 73rd, a 14-point gap in overall CPU ranking. The data is unambiguous in its conclusion.