AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has 10 cores and 10 threads. The Intel chip offers no simultaneous multithreading, so its thread count equals its core count.

Q: How do the two compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 leads in every recorded single-thread test. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 3655 versus AMD's 2018, a 81.1% advantage. PassMark single-thread also favors Intel, 4412 to 3973, an 11% edge.

Q: Which chip wins in multi-core workloads?

A: Results are split. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 wins Cinebench R15 multi-core (3409.5 vs 2609, a 23.5% lead) and PassMark multithread (35148 vs 30459, a 13.3% lead). However, Intel wins Cinebench R23 multi-core decisively, 25891 vs 21761, a 19% margin.

Q: What are the architecture and process node differences?

A: Intel uses Arrow Lake built on a 3 nm TSMC process, while AMD uses Zen 5 (Strix Point) on a 4 nm TSMC process. Intel's die measures 243 mm² with 17,800 million transistors; AMD's die is 233 mm² with no transistor count listed in the database.

Q: Which chip has faster memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 supports dual-channel DDR5 with a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 also uses dual-channel memory (DDR5 and LPDDR5X) but has a lower bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s.

Q: What is the market positioning of each processor?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a desktop part on Socket 1851 with a 65 W TDP and a launch MSRP of $246. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is a mobile processor on Socket FP8 with a 28 W TDP and no listed launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data paints a clear picture: Intel wins 9 of the 15 head-to-head tests, while AMD wins 6. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 dominates in single-threaded and latency-sensitive workloads. The largest Intel victory is in PassMark find prime numbers (358 vs 126, a 184.1% margin), a test that rewards raw integer throughput per thread. Intel also takes Cinebench R23 single-core (3655 vs 2018, 81.1% ahead), Cinebench R15 single-core (368 vs 306.5, 20.1% ahead), and PassMark physics (2342 vs 1881, 24.5% ahead). These results indicate a strong per-core design with high clock speeds and efficient execution.

The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, by contrast, excels in parallel integer workloads and data manipulation. Its biggest win is PassMark integer math (122933 vs 65345, a 46.8% lead), followed by PassMark data compression (445719 vs 302811, 32.1% ahead) and PassMark random string sorting (48723 vs 36590, 24.9% ahead). The AMD chip also wins PassMark extended instructions (31653 vs 27162, 14.2% ahead) and PassMark multithread (35148 vs 30459, 13.3% ahead). The 12-core, 24-thread configuration clearly helps in heavily threaded integer tasks.

For users prioritizing single-core responsiveness, the Intel part is the obvious choice. For those running compression, encryption, or highly parallel integer workloads, the AMD chip provides substantial advantages. The 3DMark results, available only for AMD, show strong scaling from 1153 single-thread to 9365 in 16-thread and 9725 at max threads, but no comparable Intel data exists in the database.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is built on Arrow Lake, a desktop-focused architecture using a 3 nm TSMC process. It features 10 cores with 10 threads, meaning no hyper-threading; each core handles a single thread. The cache hierarchy is notable: 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. Intel's integrated graphics is Arc Xe-LPG with 16 execution units.

The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 uses the Zen 5 architecture, specifically the Strix Point codename, built on a 4 nm TSMC process. It has 12 cores and 24 threads, combining Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores in a heterogeneous layout. The cache is smaller per core: 80 KB L1, 1 MB L2, and 16 MB of shared L3. AMD pairs this with a Radeon 890M integrated GPU, which is typically a more capable iGPU than Intel's 16 EU Arc solution, though the database provides no direct graphics benchmarks.

Both chips are produced by TSMC, but on different nodes: Intel uses the more advanced 3 nm process, while AMD uses 4 nm. Intel's die is slightly larger at 243 mm² versus AMD's 233 mm², and Intel has a listed transistor count of 17,800 million. The memory support differs: Intel supports DDR5 only, while AMD supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X. PCIe connectivity also differs, with Intel offering Gen 5 with 20 lanes and AMD offering Gen 4 with 16 lanes.

Specification Differences

The most striking specification gap is in TDP. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has a 65 W TDP, while the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is rated at 28 W. This reflects their different market segments: Intel is a desktop processor, AMD is a mobile processor. The Intel chip has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz; AMD starts lower at 2.00 GHz base but boosts higher to 5.10 GHz.

Core and thread counts differ substantially: 10 cores / 10 threads for Intel versus 12 cores / 24 threads for AMD. Intel's cache is larger per core for L1 and L2, but AMD's L3 is 16 MB versus Intel's 20 MB. Memory bandwidth favors Intel (102.4 GB/s vs 89.6 GB/s), and memory type support favors AMD (DDR5 and LPDDR5X vs DDR5 only). Intel supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes; AMD supports Gen 4 with 16 lanes. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The process node differs (3 nm vs 4 nm), as does the socket (Intel Socket 1851 vs AMD Socket FP8). Intel has a launch MSRP of $246, while AMD has no listed launch MSRP. Both are active production parts, but Intel's release date is 2025-01-06, while AMD's is 2024-06-30. The part numbers are SRQCZSRVF7 for Intel and 100-000000994 for AMD.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest victory in the entire comparison goes to Intel in PassMark find prime numbers. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 scores 358 against AMD's 126, a 184.1% lead. This test is highly sensitive to single-thread integer performance and clock speed, where Intel's 4.90 GHz boost and 3 nm process shine.

Intel also dominates in Cinebench R23 single-core with 3655 versus 2018, an 81.1% margin. This is a remarkable gap and suggests that Intel's single-core execution is far ahead of AMD's in this particular workload. In Cinebench R15 single-core, Intel leads 368 to 306.5, a 20.1% advantage. PassMark physics also goes to Intel, 2342 vs 1881, a 24.5% lead. PassMark floating point math favors Intel, 92038 vs 76892, a 19.7% edge. The two PassMark single-thread results (4412 vs 3973) give Intel an 11% win, and PassMark data encryption is essentially tied, with Intel ahead by just 0.1% (22285 vs 22252).

AMD's wins are equally decisive in their domains. PassMark integer math goes to AMD by a huge margin: 122933 vs 65345, a 46.8% lead. This reflects the 12-core, 24-thread design's ability to parallelize integer operations. PassMark data compression shows AMD ahead 445719 vs 302811, a 32.1% gap. PassMark random string sorting favors AMD, 48723 vs 36590, a 24.9% lead. PassMark extended instructions goes to AMD, 31653 vs 27162, a 14.2% win. PassMark multithread favors AMD, 35148 vs 30459, a 13.3% margin. Finally, Cinebench R15 multi-core goes to AMD, 3409.5 vs 2609, a 23.5% advantage.

Interestingly, Cinebench R23 multi-core flips the multi-core narrative. Intel wins 25891 vs 21761, a 19% lead, despite AMD having more than double the threads. This suggests that Intel's newer architecture and higher power envelope (65 W vs 28 W) allow it to sustain higher multi-core performance in this specific benchmark, even though AMD wins in other multi-threaded tests. The database shows Intel with 9 wins and AMD with 6, but the margin of victory matters: AMD's integer math win is nearly 47%, while Intel's prime number win is over 184%. Overall, the average benchmark scores are close: Intel at 36938 and AMD at 37904, with Intel ranking in the 85th percentile and AMD in the 86th percentile of all CPUs.