AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 vs Intel Core 7 250H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a tightly contested matchup. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 secures 8 wins across the 15 head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core 7 250H takes 7. The most decisive victory belongs to AMD in the PassMark extended instructions test, where it scores 24,773 against Intel's 17,318, a commanding 43% advantage. This is not a marginal difference; it signals a fundamental capability gap in specialized instruction processing.

AMD also demonstrates clear superiority in data compression, scoring 349,463 versus 303,269, a 15.2% lead. The Ryzen chip wins the PassMark multithread test with 28,986 against 27,030, a 7.2% margin. In prime number finding, AMD posts 124 versus 106, a 17% advantage. Random string sorting favors AMD at 37,379 over 34,136, a 9.5% gap. Integer math is essentially a tie, with AMD at 99,156 and Intel at 99,100, a razor-thin 0.1% edge.

The Cinebench results are split by workload version. In Cinebench R23, AMD wins both multicore and singlecore. The multicore score is 17,462.5 versus 16,561, a 5.4% lead. The singlecore score is 1,996.5 versus 1,931, a 3.4% advantage. However, in the older Cinebench R15 tests, Intel wins decisively. Intel scores 3,147 versus 2,672.5 in multicore, a 15.1% lead. In R15 singlecore, Intel posts 298 versus 247, a 17.1% margin. This discrepancy between R15 and R23 results suggests the two processors handle different rendering workloads with varying efficiency.

Intel's other wins include PassMark data encryption, scoring 18,206 versus 17,601, a 3.3% edge. In floating point math, Intel records 65,094 against AMD's 62,411, a 4.1% advantage. The physics test favors Intel at 1,824 versus 1,689, a 7.4% margin. Most notably, Intel dominates in single-thread performance: both PassMark single_thread and singlethread tests show Intel at 4,148 versus AMD's 3,750, a 9.6% lead. This is Intel's largest win outside of the R15 tests.

The pattern that emerges is one of specialization. AMD leads in newer render tests, compression, encryption-adjacent workloads (though Intel wins encryption itself), extended instructions, and multithreaded throughput. Intel counters with older render tests, single-thread speed, floating point math, and physics simulations. The average benchmark scores reflect this split, with AMD at 43,431 and Intel at 35,728, though these averages are skewed by the different test suites each processor supports.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge substantially in their underlying designs. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 uses the Zen 5 architecture from the Gorgon Point codename, part of the Ryzen AI 400 generation that combines Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. It is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC with a die size of 233 mm². The Intel Core 7 250H uses the older Raptor Lake architecture from the Raptor Lake-H codename, specifically the Raptor Lake Refresh generation. Intel fabricates this chip on its own 10 nm process node.

Core counts differ significantly. AMD provides 10 cores and 20 threads, while Intel provides 14 cores and 20 threads. Both match in thread count, but Intel relies on more physical cores to reach that number. The base clocks are 2.00 GHz for AMD and 2.50 GHz for Intel, while boost clocks are 5.00 GHz and 5.40 GHz respectively. The TDP ratings also differ, with AMD at 28 watts and Intel at 45 watts. This power envelope difference is notable given the performance results.

Cache configurations show structural differences. Both use 80 KB of L1 cache per core. AMD allocates 1 MB of L2 per core and 16 MB of L3 cache. Intel allocates 2 MB of L2 per core and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. This gives Intel more total cache capacity, which may contribute to its single-thread and floating point advantages. AMD's smaller L3 cache does not prevent it from winning the Cinebench R23 multicore test, however.

Memory support diverges as well. AMD supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with dual-channel memory and a measured bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory, but no bandwidth figure is recorded for it. Neither chip supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs: AMD uses Gen 4 with 16 lanes, while Intel uses Gen 5 with 8 lanes. This means Intel offers a newer PCIe standard but fewer lanes.

The integrated graphics also differ. AMD pairs the CPU with a Radeon 880M, while Intel uses Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units. The sockets are incompatible: AMD uses AMD Socket FP8, and Intel uses Intel BGA 1744. The release dates are close, with AMD dated to late 2025 and Intel dated to late 2024. Intel lists a launch MSRP of $502, which is the only official price data available for either chip.

Where Each One Wins

The workload split is clear from the recorded data. AMD wins in Cinebench R23 multicore, indicating stronger performance in modern multi-threaded rendering tasks. The 5.4% lead there suggests that newer software optimized for Zen 5 benefits from the AMD architecture. AMD also dominates in data compression, extended instructions, prime number finding, and random string sorting. These are compute-heavy, parallelizable workloads that respond well to the Zen 5 core design. The multithread test result of 28,986 versus 27,030 reinforces this pattern: AMD handles many concurrent threads more effectively despite having fewer physical cores.

Intel wins in Cinebench R15, which is an older benchmark that may favor its higher base and boost clocks. The 15.1% multicore and 17.1% singlecore leads in R15 are substantial. Intel also wins in PassMark single-thread tests, floating point math, physics, and data encryption. The 9.6% single-thread lead is Intel's strongest modern benchmark showing. This suggests that Intel's higher clock speeds, reaching 5.40 GHz, provide an edge in latency-sensitive, lightly threaded tasks. The physics test, which often relies on specific instruction patterns, also favors Intel at 1,824 versus 1,689.

The data implies that AMD is better suited for throughput-oriented workloads: rendering in current benchmark versions, data compression, encryption-adjacent extended instructions, and heavy multithreading. Intel is better suited for single-thread responsiveness, older rendering workloads, floating point calculations, and physics simulations. The two chips are not simply faster or slower versions of the same design; they have distinct strengths that map to different software behaviors.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports a nuanced conclusion. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 delivers better results in the newer Cinebench R23 tests and in most PassMark throughput tests. It holds an 88th percentile ranking among all CPUs, compared to Intel's 85th percentile. Its average benchmark score of 43,431 exceeds Intel's 35,728. However, Intel wins the single-thread tests and the older Cinebench R15 tests, showing that raw clock speed still matters.

The choice between these two processors depends on which benchmark set reflects the target use case. For modern rendering workloads as represented by Cinebench R23, AMD is ahead by 5.4% in multicore and 3.4% in singlecore. For data compression and extended instruction workloads, AMD has decisive leads of 15.2% and 43% respectively. For multithreaded general computing, AMD leads by 7.2%.

For single-thread tasks, Intel leads by 9.6%. For floating point math, Intel leads by 4.1%. For physics simulations, Intel leads by 7.4%. The Intel chip also shows a higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz versus 5.00 GHz, which aligns with its single-thread wins. The higher TDP of 45 watts versus 28 watts does not translate into universal performance superiority, as AMD wins more total tests.

The data indicates that AMD is the stronger overall processor for modern, parallel-heavy software. Intel retains advantages in specific legacy and single-thread scenarios. Users prioritizing current render engines and data processing should favor AMD. Users needing maximum single-thread speed or running older software versions should consider Intel. The benchmark results do not show a clear winner across every test, but the majority of wins and the higher average score favor AMD.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core 7 250H has 14 cores, while the AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 has 10 cores. Both support 20 threads.

Q: What is the single-thread performance difference?

A: In the PassMark single_thread test, the Intel Core 7 250H scores 4,148 versus the AMD Ryzen AI 9 465's 3,750, giving Intel a 9.6% lead.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 wins with a score of 17,462.5 against the Intel Core 7 250H's 16,561, a 5.4% advantage.

Q: How do the cache sizes compare?

A: Both use 80 KB of L1 cache per core. AMD has 1 MB of L2 per core and 16 MB of L3 cache. Intel has 2 MB of L2 per core and 24 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 has a TDP of 28 watts, while the Intel Core 7 250H has a TDP of 45 watts.

Q: Which processor supports PCIe Gen 5?

A: The Intel Core 7 250H supports PCIe Gen 5 with 8 lanes. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 | Intel Core 7 250H |

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

| Cores | 10 | 14 |

| Base Clock | 2.00 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 5.40 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 45 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP8 | Intel BGA 1744 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Raptor Lake |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | Not recorded |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 16 Lanes | Gen 5, 8 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 880M | Iris Xe Graphics 96EU |

| Release Date | Late 2025 | Late 2024 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $502 |

| Part Number | 100-000001861 | SRQ6UQ5MK |