AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 265T Comparison

The AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 and Intel Core Ultra 7 265T represent two distinct approaches to modern CPU design, one targeting mobile efficiency and the other desktop performance. The recorded benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel part, which wins all 15 head-to-head comparisons in the database. However, the margin of victory varies dramatically across workloads, and the architectural philosophies behind each chip explain why these gaps exist. The Ryzen AI 9 365 is a 10-core, 20-thread mobile processor built on the Zen 5 architecture at a 4 nm node, while the Core Ultra 7 265T is a 20-core, 20-thread desktop chip on the Arrow Lake architecture at a 3 nm node. Their average benchmark scores place the Intel part at 47,697 versus 40,048 for the AMD, a difference that places the Intel chip in the 90th percentile of all CPUs compared to the AMD's 87th percentile.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265T wins every single recorded benchmark against the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365. There are no workloads in the database where the AMD part comes out ahead, so the use-case split is defined not by which chip wins, but by the size of the Intel advantage. The most lopsided results appear in floating-point math and prime number finding, where the Intel chip's lead is overwhelming. In passmark_floating_point_math, the Intel part scores 129,817 against 62,802 for the AMD, a gap of 51.6%. Similarly, passmark_find_prime_numbers shows the Intel chip at 322 versus 117, a 63.7% advantage. These are compute-heavy tasks that reward raw core count and clock speed.

The AMD chip's closest contests come in integer math and data compression, where it trails by only 3% and 4.2% respectively. In passmark_integer_math, the Intel part scores 104,943 versus 101,831, while in passmark_data_compression it records 370,158 against 354,510. These workloads rely less on peak frequency and more on sustained throughput, and the AMD chip's Zen 5 cores hold their ground better here. The data also shows the AMD part delivering competitive single-thread performance in the PassMark suite, with a score of 3,841 versus 4,338 for the Intel, a modest 11.5% deficit. However, in Cinebench single-core tests, the gap widens significantly, with the Intel chip scoring 4,455 in R23 single-core against the AMD's 1,992, a 55.3% difference. This suggests the two benchmark suites measure different aspects of single-thread performance, with Cinebench being more sensitive to the Intel chip's higher boost clock of 5.30 GHz versus 5.00 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architectural split is between a hybrid mobile design and a hybrid desktop design. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 uses the Zen 5 architecture in a Strix Point package, combining Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores in a 10-core, 20-thread configuration. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265T uses the Arrow Lake architecture from the Core Ultra Series 2, with 20 cores and 20 threads. Both chips have equal thread counts, but the Intel part achieves this with double the physical cores, meaning it does not rely on simultaneous multithreading. The AMD part uses 10 cores with 2 threads each, while the Intel part uses 20 cores with 1 thread each.

The process technology differs: AMD uses a 4 nm node at TSMC, while Intel uses a 3 nm node, also at TSMC. The Intel chip packs 17,800 million transistors onto a 243 mm² die, while the AMD die is slightly smaller at 233 mm². Cache hierarchies also diverge significantly. The AMD chip provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip offers 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. This larger cache pool gives the Intel chip a substantial advantage in data reuse and memory latency hiding.

Memory support further separates the two. The AMD chip supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel chip supports only DDR5, also dual-channel, but with a higher 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part also provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes, while the AMD part is limited to PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: the AMD chip uses the Radeon 880M, while the Intel chip uses the Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. The AMD socket is FP8, the Intel socket is 1851. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $384, while the AMD chip has no recorded launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265T has 20 cores, while the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 has 10 cores. Both processors have 20 threads, but the AMD chip achieves this through multithreading (2 threads per core), while the Intel chip uses single-threaded cores.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265T has an average benchmark score of 47,697, placing it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 has an average score of 40,048, placing it in the 87th percentile. The Intel chip sits close to rivals like the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D at 47,908 and the Intel Core Ultra X9 378H at 47,468.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two chips?

A: The largest recorded gap is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Intel chip scores 4,455 against the AMD's 1,992, a 55.3% advantage. The passmark_find_prime_numbers test shows a similar 63.7% gap, but in raw score terms the Cinebench difference is more pronounced.

Q: Which chip has a higher clock speed?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265T has a boost clock of 5.30 GHz compared to the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365's 5.00 GHz. The Intel chip also has a lower base clock of 1.50 GHz versus the AMD's 2.00 GHz.

Q: How do their memory bandwidth figures differ?

A: The Intel chip supports 102.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth over its dual-channel DDR5 interface. The AMD chip offers 89.6 GB/s, also over a dual-channel bus but with support for both DDR5 and LPDDR5X.

Q: What is the transistor count for each chip?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265T contains 17,800 million transistors. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 has no recorded transistor count in the database.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265T uses a 3 nm process node from TSMC, while the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 uses a 4 nm node, also from TSMC. The Intel chip has 20 cores and 20 threads; the AMD chip has 10 cores and 20 threads. Base clocks are 1.50 GHz for Intel and 2.00 GHz for AMD, while boost clocks are 5.30 GHz for Intel and 5.00 GHz for AMD. Thermal design power is 35 W for the Intel part and 28 W for the AMD part. The Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1851, the AMD chip uses AMD Socket FP8.

Cache configurations are markedly different. The Intel chip provides 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 30 MB shared L3. The AMD chip provides 80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB L3. Memory support on the Intel chip is limited to DDR5, while the AMD chip supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Memory bandwidth is 102.4 GB/s for Intel and 89.6 GB/s for AMD. PCIe connectivity favors Intel with Gen 5 and 20 lanes, versus AMD's Gen 4 and 16 lanes. Integrated graphics are the Arc Xe-LPG with 64 EUs on the Intel part and the Radeon 880M on the AMD part. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $384, while the AMD chip has no recorded launch MSRP. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core Ultra 7 265T across all 15 recorded comparisons, but the margins tell a nuanced story. The largest single advantage appears in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Intel chip scores 4,455 against the AMD's 1,992, a 55.3% lead. This is the most extreme gap in the dataset and indicates a substantial difference in per-core performance under this specific workload. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows a 40.8% lead for Intel, with scores of 31,558 versus 18,698. The Intel chip's advantage persists across Cinebench R15 as well, with a 32.5% lead in single-core (449 versus 303) and a 10.6% lead in multi-core (3,180 versus 2,842).

PassMark results confirm the Intel dominance but with varying intensity. The floating-point math test shows the Intel chip at 129,817 versus 62,802 for AMD, a 51.6% gap. The prime number test shows a 63.7% gap, with 322 versus 117. Data encryption is another strong Intel showing, at 29,687 versus 18,297, a 38.4% difference. Physics scores follow at 2,391 versus 1,704, a 28.7% gap. The multi-thread test gives Intel a 20.5% lead (37,084 versus 29,467), while extended instructions show a 12.2% gap (28,609 versus 25,113). Random string sorting favors Intel by 11.2% (44,400 versus 39,447).

The closest contests are in integer math and data compression. In integer math, the Intel chip scores 104,943 versus 101,831 for AMD, a mere 3% difference. Data compression shows Intel at 370,158 versus 354,510, a 4.2% gap. These two workloads demonstrate that the AMD chip's Zen 5 architecture can compete effectively when the task involves sustained integer operations rather than peak floating-point throughput. The single-thread PassMark score of 4,338 for Intel versus 3,841 for AMD, an 11.5% gap, sits between the extreme Cinebench single-core result and the near-tie integer math result, suggesting that the Intel chip's advantage varies substantially depending on the instruction mix.