AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results between the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and Intel Core Ultra 5 235 reveal a split personality. The Intel part wins 10 of the 15 shared tests, but the AMD chip wins the tests that matter most for heavily threaded productivity. The largest margin in the entire comparison belongs to AMD in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the Ryzen scores 3409.5 against Intel's 1488, a 129.1% advantage. That is more than double the Intel result.

Cinebench R23 multi-core tells a similar story, with AMD at 21761 versus Intel at 14769, a 47.3% lead. The gap narrows in single-core Cinebench R23, where Intel actually takes the win at 2085 versus 2018, a 3.2% margin. Cinebench R15 single-core is again AMD's, at 306.5 versus 210, a 46% lead. The database shows AMD winning the older single-thread test but losing the newer one.

PassMark results are where Intel builds its case. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 leads in floating point math, scoring 117951 against AMD's 76892, a 34.8% margin. Intel also dominates prime number finding at 371 versus 126, a 66% lead, and physics at 2570 versus 1881, a 26.8% advantage. Data encryption goes Intel's way, 29293 versus 22252, a 24% margin. Intel also takes extended instructions at 32752 versus 31653, a 3.4% edge, and random string sorting at 48980 versus 48723, a narrow 0.5% lead.

AMD fights back with integer math, scoring 122933 versus 87948, a 39.8% win. Data compression also favors AMD at 445719 versus 390711, a 14.1% lead. The PassMark multi-thread score goes to Intel, 37816 versus 35148, a 7.1% margin, and PassMark single-thread is Intel's at 4516 versus 3973, a 12% gap. The overall average benchmark score in the database confirms Intel's aggregate edge: 46062 for the Core Ultra 5 235 versus 37904 for the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. Intel also sits in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, while AMD holds the 86th percentile.

The pattern is clear: AMD wins the Cinebench render loops and integer workloads, while Intel dominates math-heavy, encryption, and single-thread tasks. What the data does not show is a universal winner. Each processor claims a distinct performance territory.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 uses the Zen 5 architecture under the Strix Point codename, built on a 4 nm TSMC process. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 uses Arrow Lake, the Arrow Lake-S die, on a 3 nm TSMC node. Both are TSMC products, but the process generations differ.

Core counts diverge sharply. AMD packs 12 cores and 24 threads, while Intel offers 14 cores and 14 threads. Intel's cores do not support simultaneous multithreading, which explains the equal core and thread counts. AMD's 24 threads give it a scheduling advantage in heavily parallel workloads, which the Cinebench R15 and R23 multi-core results confirm.

Cache hierarchies also differ. AMD allocates 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Intel allocates 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The Intel L3 pool is 50% larger, and its per-core L1 and L2 allocations are substantially bigger. The database does not list transistor counts for AMD, but Intel's is recorded at 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. AMD's die is 233 mm².

Memory support separates the two as well. AMD supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Intel supports DDR5 only, also dual-channel, but at a higher 102.4 GB/s. Neither chip supports ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity shows a generational difference. AMD provides PCIe Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes. Intel provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics also differ: AMD uses the Radeon 890M, while Intel uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU.

Socket and market positioning diverge completely. AMD uses the FP8 socket and is a mobile part. Intel uses Socket 1851 and is a desktop part. The thermal design power reflects that split: AMD is rated at 28 W, Intel at 65 W. The release dates also differ, with AMD launching on 2024-06-30 and Intel on 2025-01-06. The Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $257. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD part number is 100-000000994, and the Intel part number is SRQAS.

Where Each One Wins

The workload split follows the benchmark categories. AMD's wins cluster around rendering and integer-heavy operations. Cinebench R15 multi-core, R15 single-core, R23 multi-core, PassMark integer math, and PassMark data compression all belong to AMD. The 129.1% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core suggests a workload that scales with thread count, which makes sense given AMD's 24 threads. The 39.8% integer math win reinforces the same pattern.

Intel's wins cover a broader range. Cinebench R23 single-core, PassMark data encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating point math, multi-thread, physics, random string sorting, and single-thread all go to Intel. The floating point math lead of 34.8% and the prime number lead of 66% indicate strong per-core execution. The physics win at 26.8% and the encryption win at 24% point to a chip that handles latency-sensitive or math-dense tasks efficiently.

The PassMark multi-thread result complicates the simple thread-count story. Intel wins that test at 37816 versus 35148 despite having 10 fewer threads. That suggests Intel's per-core throughput can compensate for its lack of multithreading in at least some synthetic workloads. The single-thread PassMark score, 4516 versus 3973, reinforces the idea that Intel has the faster individual core in many scenarios.

AMD's Cinebench wins are the counterweight. The R23 multi-core gap of 47.3% is large enough that any render-heavy or compilation-heavy workload would favor AMD. The R15 multi-core gap of 129.1% is even more decisive. The data indicates that AMD's advantage is most pronounced when the workload can use all available threads, while Intel's advantage appears when the workload is narrower or math-dense.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46062, while the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 scores 37904. Intel also ranks in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, compared to AMD's 86th.

Q: Which chip wins the multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: AMD wins both. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD scores 3409.5 against Intel's 1488, a 129.1% lead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, AMD scores 21761 against Intel's 14769, a 47.3% lead.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has 14 cores and 14 threads, with no simultaneous multithreading.

Q: Which processor is faster in single-thread tests?

A: It depends on the test. Intel wins Cinebench R23 single-core at 2085 versus 2018, a 3.2% margin, and PassMark single-thread at 4516 versus 3973, a 12% margin. AMD wins Cinebench R15 single-core at 306.5 versus 210, a 46% lead.

Q: What are the process nodes for each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 uses a 4 nm TSMC process. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 uses a 3 nm TSMC process.

Q: Which processor supports PCIe Gen 5?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is limited to PCIe Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear decision framework. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is the choice for workloads that scale with thread count. Its 24 threads and Cinebench R15 multi-core lead of 129.1% make it the stronger candidate for rendering tasks. The 47.3% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and the 39.8% lead in integer math reinforce that position. The 28 W TDP also indicates a more power-efficient part, though the database does not provide direct power consumption measurements.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is the choice for math-dense, single-thread, and encryption-heavy workloads. Its 66% lead in prime number finding, 34.8% lead in floating point math, and 12% lead in single-thread performance demonstrate strong per-core capability. The 89th percentile ranking and higher average benchmark score of 46062 give it the aggregate advantage in the database.

The market segments differ, and the data respects that boundary. AMD is a mobile part on the FP8 socket. Intel is a desktop part on Socket 1851. A buyer choosing between them is really choosing between a 28 W mobile processor and a 65 W desktop processor. The launch MSRP of $257 applies only to the Intel part.

The benchmark results indicate that neither chip dominates universally. AMD wins 5 of the 15 head-to-head tests, Intel wins 10. The wins are not evenly distributed. AMD's are concentrated in rendering and integer workloads, while Intel's span floating point, encryption, and single-thread tasks. The verdict depends entirely on the workload mix.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in the following recorded specifications:

• Cores: AMD has 12 cores; Intel has 14 cores.
• Threads: AMD has 24 threads; Intel has 14 threads.
• Base clock: AMD runs at 2.00 GHz; Intel runs at 3.40 GHz.
• Boost clock: AMD boosts to 5.10 GHz; Intel boosts to 5.00 GHz.
• TDP: AMD is rated at 28 W; Intel is rated at 65 W.
• Socket: AMD uses AMD Socket FP8; Intel uses Intel Socket 1851.
• Architecture: AMD uses Zen 5; Intel uses Arrow Lake.
• Codename: AMD is Strix Point; Intel is Arrow Lake-S.
• Process node: AMD uses 4 nm; Intel uses 3 nm.
• Die size: AMD measures 233 mm²; Intel measures 243 mm².
• L1 cache: AMD has 80 KB per core; Intel has 192 KB per core.
• L2 cache: AMD has 1 MB per core; Intel has 3 MB per core.
• L3 cache: AMD has 16 MB; Intel has 24 MB (shared).
• Memory support: AMD supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X; Intel supports DDR5 only.
• Memory bandwidth: AMD has 89.6 GB/s; Intel has 102.4 GB/s.
• PCIe: AMD has Gen 4 with 16 lanes; Intel has Gen 5 with 20 lanes.
• Integrated graphics: AMD uses Radeon 890M; Intel uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU.
• Market segment: AMD is mobile; Intel is desktop.
• Release date: AMD launched 2024-06-30; Intel launched 2025-01-06.
• Launch MSRP: Intel is $257; AMD has no recorded MSRP.
• Part number: AMD is 100-000000994; Intel is SRQAS.
• Transistors: Intel has 17,800 million; AMD has no recorded figure.