AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 256V Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the two processors compare on overall average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 records an average benchmark score of 46030, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V records 21112. The AMD part sits at the 89th percentile of all CPUs, whereas the Intel part sits at the 75th percentile.

Q: Which chip wins more head-to-head benchmark tests, and by how much?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 wins 14 of the 17 head-to-head tests. The Intel Core Ultra 7 256V wins the remaining 3 tests, which are PassMark find prime numbers, PassMark single thread, and PassMark singlethread (the latter two being duplicate listings of the same test).

Q: What is the largest performance gap in either direction?

A: The largest margin is in PassMark integer math, where AMD scores 121754 versus Intel's 43358, a delta of 180.8% in favor of AMD. The largest Intel win is in PassMark find prime numbers, where Intel scores 192 versus AMD's 122, a delta of -36.5% (meaning AMD trails by that margin).

Q: How do the single-core benchmark results compare?

A: The AMD chip wins Cinebench R15 single-core (301 vs 285.5, +5.4%), Cinebench R23 single-core (1988 vs 1877.5, +5.9%), and Geekbench single-core (2084 vs 1990, +4.7%). The Intel chip wins PassMark single-thread (4029 vs 3867, -4% for AMD).

Q: What are the core and thread counts, and the TDP difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 has 12 cores and 24 threads with a 28W TDP. The Intel Core Ultra 7 256V has 8 cores and 8 threads with a 17W TDP. Both are mobile parts.

Q: Which chip has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 boosts to 5.10 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V boosts to 4.80 GHz. The Intel part has a higher base clock at 2.20 GHz versus AMD's 2.00 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 uses the Zen 5 architecture under the Strix Point codename, part of the Ryzen AI 300 generation. It is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC with a die size of 233 mm². The Intel Core Ultra 7 256V uses the Lunar Lake architecture under the Core Ultra Series 2 generation, built on a 3 nm process also at TSMC, with no die size recorded.

The core configurations diverge sharply. AMD provides 12 cores and 24 threads, while Intel provides 8 cores and 8 threads. The AMD part has no threads per core beyond the physical count doubling, while Intel's chip does not use simultaneous multithreading at all. This structural difference explains much of the multi-threaded performance gap.

Cache hierarchies also differ. AMD allocates 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a total of 16 MB of L3. Intel allocates 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The per-core L1 and L2 figures are larger on Intel, but the total L3 is smaller.

Memory support shows a notable contrast. AMD lists DDR5 and LPDDR5X support with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. Intel lists memory support as dependent on the motherboard, with a dual-channel bus and no recorded bandwidth figure. Neither chip supports ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. AMD provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while Intel provides Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ: AMD uses the Radeon 890M, while Intel uses the Arc 140V. Both are mobile parts, both are active in production, and both have locked multipliers.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The multi-core results show a dominant AMD advantage. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD scores 3334 against Intel's 1583.5, a delta of 110.5%. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, AMD scores 21812 against 10399, a delta of 109.8%. Geekbench multi-core shows AMD at 13957 versus 8643, a delta of 61.5%. PassMark multithread gives AMD 32916 versus 19530, a delta of 68.5%. These results track the core and thread disparity: AMD has 12 cores and 24 threads, while Intel has 8 cores and 8 threads, so the AMD chip delivers roughly double the throughput in heavily parallel workloads.

Single-core results are much closer. Cinebench R15 single-core shows AMD at 301 versus Intel's 285.5, a delta of 5.4%. Cinebench R23 single-core shows AMD at 1988 versus 1877.5, a delta of 5.9%. Geekbench single-core shows AMD at 2084 versus 1990, a delta of 4.7%. The PassMark single-thread test flips the result: Intel scores 4029 against AMD's 3867, a delta of -4% for AMD. The data indicates that the two chips are within a few percent of each other on single-threaded integer performance, with Intel taking one test and AMD taking the other three.

PassMark specialty tests reveal where each architecture has strengths. AMD wins data compression with 404918 versus 184985, a delta of 118.9%. AMD wins data encryption with 20802 versus 13998, a delta of 48.6%. AMD wins extended instructions with 29269 versus 15643, a delta of 87.1%. AMD wins floating point math with 75153 versus 58576, a delta of 28.3%. AMD wins integer math with 121754 versus 43358, a delta of 180.8%. AMD wins random string sorting with 44552 versus 22481, a delta of 98.2%. AMD wins physics with 1819 versus 1595, a delta of 14%.

The single Intel win beyond the PassMark single-thread test is in find prime numbers: Intel scores 192 versus AMD's 122, a delta of -36.5% for AMD. This suggests the Intel core handles a specific prime-number workload more efficiently, despite trailing in most other PassMark sub-tests. The overall pattern is that AMD dominates in throughput-heavy and memory-bandwidth-sensitive tasks, while Intel holds a narrow edge in certain scalar or latency-sensitive operations.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 | Intel Core Ultra 7 256V |

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

| Cores | 12 | 8 |

| Threads | 24 | 8 |

| Base clock | 2.00 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.10 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 17 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP8 | Intel BGA 2833 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Lunar Lake |

| Codename | Strix Point | Lunar Lake |

| Generation | Ryzen AI 300 (Zen 5 / Zen 5c) | Ultra 7 (Lunar Lake) |

| Process node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Die size | 233 mm² | Not recorded |

| L1 cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 16 MB | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | Depends on motherboard |

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

| PCIe | Gen 4, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 4 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 890M | Arc 140V |

| Release date | 2024-06-30 | 2024-09-23 |

| Part number | 100-000001682 | SRPMPSRPMZ |

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 wins in every multi-threaded benchmark category recorded. The 24 threads versus 8 threads give it a decisive edge in Cinebench R15 and R23 multi-core, Geekbench multi-core, PassMark multithread, integer math, data compression, random string sorting, and extended instructions. The data suggests this is the chip for workloads that scale with core count, such as video rendering, code compilation, data compression, and heavy multitasking. The 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth also supports the large data-compression and encryption wins.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 256V wins in PassMark find prime numbers and the PassMark single-thread test. The single-thread win, 4029 versus 3867, is modest but real. The find prime numbers win, 192 versus 122, is a 36.5% margin, which is substantial for a single workload. This indicates that Intel's Lunar Lake core has a specific advantage in certain scalar or integer-iteration tasks, possibly due to the larger per-core L1 and L2 caches (192 KB and 2.5 MB per core versus AMD's 80 KB and 1 MB per core). The lower TDP of 17 W versus 28 W also suggests Intel's chip could fit into thinner or fanless designs, though the database does not record thermal or power efficiency scores.

The integrated graphics differ, with AMD using Radeon 890M and Intel using Arc 140V, but no graphics benchmarks are recorded in the data. The PCIe difference matters for expansion: AMD has 16 Gen 4 lanes, while Intel has 4 Gen 5 lanes. The Gen 5 interface carries more bandwidth per lane, but the lane count is much lower on Intel, which limits the number of directly attached devices.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 for users who need multi-threaded performance. It wins 14 of 17 head-to-head tests, and the margins in Cinebench R23 multi-core (109.8%), PassMark integer math (180.8%), and PassMark data compression (118.9%) are too large to ignore. The 24-thread configuration and 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth make it the stronger choice for content creation, server-style workloads, and any task that uses all available cores. Its 89th percentile ranking against all CPUs, versus Intel's 75th percentile, reinforces this.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 256V is the choice for the specific niches where it wins. The find prime numbers score of 192 versus 122 shows a 36.5% advantage in that workload, and the PassMark single-thread score of 4029 versus 3867 shows a 4% edge in that particular test. The lower 17W TDP versus 28W may also make it preferable for power-constrained mobile designs, though the database does not include battery-life or thermal measurements. For users whose primary applications hit those specific patterns, the Intel part delivers.

The overall average benchmark score, 46030 for AMD versus 21112 for Intel, is a direct summary of the performance gap. The AMD chip is in a different performance class, as its nearest rivals are the Intel Core Ultra 5 235, AMD EPYC 4364P, Intel Core i9-13900HX, and AMD EPYC 7303, all within 0.2% of its score. The Intel chip's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 7530U, AMD Ryzen 5 5600G, Intel Core i3-1220P, and Intel Core Ultra 7 155U, all within 0.3% of its score. The data places AMD among high-end desktop and mobile processors, while Intel sits among mid-range parts. Unless a workload specifically matches Intel's single-thread or prime-number strengths, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 is the better-performing processor according to the recorded measurements.